CMA FEST

Our first day at Fan Fair was long, but fun!
The weather predicted a bad thunderstorm, and sure enough a big one hit just as we got to the LP Parking field. We waited it out and the rest of the daytime was sunny and warm.
We picked up our materials, did a quick tour of the Convention Center, hustled down to Riverfront Park to watch a parade of stars (Phil Vassar, Heidi, Diamond Rio, and more). We sat by some new friends from Australia- Darren, Joan, and Brett. They do a lot of traveling! (Brett's a golf pro at a club near Syndney.)
We tried to find Heartland, but they were moved from the Hard Rock Stage to Chevy and we never found them.
En route we bumped into Lee Roy (from the Roys) whom we'd met in Myrtle Beach at the Beachwagon. They are playing here today and Saturday too.
We walked across the bridge to the LP Stadium, ate and relaxed in the car (all the venues had an hour wait to eat!) and then went in.
Our seats were good and Brooks and Dunn put on a great show...including soldiers during their "Only in America" finale. Reba had a cameo with them in "Cowgirls Don't Cry".
Reba was next and doing a great show when the emcee came out after song three and said dangerous weather was coming and they'd let us know when to come back in, but we had to leave our seats. Two hours later (who even thought it would happen?) they let us back in (a lot of folks left before the heavy rains came...following an hour of lightning).
Darius Rucker was awesome, Dierks Bently, too, and Brad Paisley was ready to sing all night!
We got home around 2:40 a.m. (Central zone time!) and now we're heading out for Day 2.