A crowd gathered for the Pendleton Whisky Music Fest July 15, 2023, at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. This year’s event is July 13, 2024, at the Round-Up Grounds. A free kickoff party is July 12, 2024, in downtown Pendleton.

PENDLETON — Billed as “the best day of summer,” Pendleton Whisky Music Fest returns to the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds on Saturday, July 13 — the gates open at 3 p.m.

The event features a full afternoon and night of music — and Pendleton Whisky. In its eighth year, this year’s concert lineup begins with country musicians Thomas Mac at 3:45 p.m. and Jo Dee Messina at 5 p.m.

The tone shifts at 6:30 p.m. with a 1990s throwback featuring Sugarhill Gang, Vanilla Ice of “Ice, Ice Baby” fame and Tone Loc — before returning to country sounds with Dustin Lynch at 8 p.m. The evening’s headliner, multi-platinum country singer Thomas Rhett, takes the stage at 9:30 p.m.

DJ Sovern-T will perform between acts, keeping a continuous stream of music until after the bars close at 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are still available, ranging from $99-$175. The event is cash only — credit cards are not accepted on the day of the show. Organizers recommend bringing cash to the show to avoid long lines at the on-site ATMs.

Whisky Music Fest also features the “Party In Pendleton.” The free Friday night kick-off party runs from 6 p.m. to midnight on Main Street. It features Joel Gibson Jr., Precious Byrd and DJ Sovern-T.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit pendletonwhiskymusicfest.com. Read a full story in Go! Eastern Oregon, in the Wednesday, July 10, East Oregonian.