There’s a moment every June when Ventura remembers it’s one of the best-kept secrets in Southern California. The marine layer burns off early, the jacarandas have done their thing, and somewhere down near the water, someone fires up a speaker and the whole city seems to exhale. This year, that moment comes on Saturday, June 13, when Boots & Brews Country Music Festival rolls back into Plaza Park for another afternoon and evening of country music, cold pours, and the kind of easy Ventura energy that makes the rest of the state jealous.
If you’ve been before, you already know the vibe. If you haven’t, here’s the pitch: gates open at noon, music kicks off at 2 PM, and the whole thing runs until 10. Eight hours in one of downtown Ventura’s most beloved outdoor spaces, with live music, food trucks, a vendor market, and a Honky Tonk stage with line dancing. No camping, no muddy fields, no three-hour drives to a desert fairground. Just a Saturday afternoon in your own backyard — with a seriously stacked lineup.
This year’s bill has something for just about every flavor of country fan. Cole Swindell headlines — the Georgia-born singer-songwriter who’s racked up multiple number ones and built a reputation as one of the most reliably crowd-pleasing live acts in the genre. If you know “You Should Be Here” or “Single Saturday Night,” you know the energy he brings to a stage.
Opening for him is Gretchen Wilson, which is honestly a gift. The woman behind “Redneck Woman” is one of country music’s most singular voices — unfiltered, powerful, and genuinely funny. Seeing her at an outdoor festival in Ventura is the kind of experience you’ll be telling people about.
Rounding out the bill are LANCO, the Nashville band known for “Greatest Love Story,” along with rising artists Jayden Secor and Caiden Wallace — the kind of newer names that Boots & Brews has always been good at surfacing early.
Beyond the music, Boots & Brews leans hard into the full festival package. Local food trucks and vendors set up across the grounds, and the craft beer selection is the real deal — not an afterthought. The festival’s branding has always put cold pours on equal footing with the music, which means the downtime between sets is actually enjoyable rather than something to endure. The Honky Tonk stage with line dancing is a Boots & Brews staple, and if you’ve never tried it, this is the year.
VIP options are available for those who want a little more breathing room, and the festival recommends arriving early — this event draws from all over the county and beyond, and Plaza Park fills up.
Ventura doesn’t always get the big events. We’re not Coachella, we’re not Hollywood Bowl, and honestly, most of us prefer it that way. But Boots & Brews has carved out something real here over the years — a genuinely local-feeling festival that happens to bring nationally touring talent to our downtown doorstep.
June 13. Plaza Park. 2 PM to 10 PM. Dust off your dancing boots, grab a friend, and get there early enough to snag a good spot before Cole Swindell takes the stage.
Tickets are available at bootsandbrews.com.
