It's Not Summer Until You're In A Jam
bonfires and bands with your best friends – what more do you need?
For over 30 years, Country Jam has marked the heart of Summer, and with the second year of Summer Jam falling on the Summer Solstice, it’s only fitting that summer can’t start without a Jam to kick it off. When Jam finally hits, Eau Claire turns the Chippewa Valley into a hub of campers, coolers, headliners, and laughter. Each festival has its own personality, its own music – but this year is different. This year, we’re celebrating 250 years of America.
COUNTRY JAM: THE LONG-RUNNING HEARTBEAT
Country Jam is the veteran — born in 1990, raised on tailgates and twang, and still growing. This year’s lineup leans big and bold, with Koe Wetzel, Jordan Davis, Riley Green, Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio and more anchoring the weekend.
But the magic of Country Jam isn’t just the headliners. It’s the sunset over the main stage turning into the neon beacon, and it’s the way strangers become campsite neighbors and neighbors become friends to return together for years to come.
The festival’s newer grounds — bigger, cleaner, easier to navigate — have given it room to breathe. More space for RVs. More room for food trucks. More shade structures (thank goodness). An air conditioned side stage with more music than ever. And more opportunities for Eau Claire to show off what it does best: hospitality.
Country Jam feels like a reunion — even if you don’t know a single person there.
SUMMER JAM: THE GENRE‑HOPPER’S PLAYGROUND
If Country Jam is tradition, Summer Jam is the wildcard. It’s newer, louder, more eclectic — built for the playlist generation. This year’s lineup swings wide: with Third Eye Blind, Gin Blossoms, Bret Michales, Styx and more.
Summer Jam is where Eau Claire’s playlist of rock classics transitions from your pontoon or backyard BBQ to the main stage. The festival’s vibe is pure summer: cold drinks sweating in the heat, bass guitars blasting and the same unmistakable Eau Claire energy — laid‑back but fully alive.
THE EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE THE JAMS MATTER
Both festivals have evolved beyond concerts.
Together, Summer Jam and Country Jam create a two‑week cultural crescendo. They bring in tourism dollars, sure — but they also bring identity. They remind the region that music isn’t just entertainment here, it’s an incredible thing for our community as an economic driver and the biggest fundraisers for a lot of nonprofits. This year alone, over two dozen charities will receive funding through volunteer opportunities at Jam ranging from auctions to bartending.
The biggest recipient this year will be America’s veterans. With the 250th anniversary of America’s birth falling between the festivals, the Jams will be celebrating with fireworks, drone shows, patriotic tributes, as well as a ticket for any active duty soldier or veteran to come to Jam for free.
Any ticket purchased between now and Memorial Day will include a $35 donation to the Chippewa Valley Veterans Tribute’s Match Campaign for the Vietnam Memorial and a Field of Flags will line the drive to the Jams with 100% of the sale to put a flag up being made as a donation as well.
For more details on how you can support these local nonprofits, buy a ticket or learn more online.
Eau Claire Event District
Address: 5775 20th Ave., Eau Claire
Website: EauClaireEventDistrict.com
Phone: (715) 829-7500
Socials: @EauClaireEventDistrict
