OKEECHOBEE -- A fan who did not buy tickets in advance went to Walmart where he hoped to find someone with an extra ticket to Okeechobee Music Festival. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Lake Okeechobee News]

OKEECHOBEE -- Monster Energy set up a booth with music and breakdancers outside the Okeechobee Walmart store on March 19. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Lake Okeechobee News]

• 
• 

OKEECHOBEE – As Okeechobee Music Festival fans poured into Okeechobee County on Wednesday and Thursday, many headed for Walmart.

Walmart Store Manager Cheryl Phillips said Walmart was ready to supply everything fans need for the four-day camping festival. She explained they set up a “shop” inside the store with camping gear, supplies and “Okeechobee” t-shirts.

Phillips said the store’s parking lot was full of campers on Wednesday night. The festival grounds opened at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

She said they are happy to see the festival return after two “fallow” years.  The event is a boost for the Okeechobee community.

Phillips said on Thursday morning, some small businesses came to Walmart for supplies as well. “A coffee shop bought all our half-and-half and some whipped cream,” she said. Another store bought 30 gallons of milk.

Just outside the store on Thursday Monster Energy set up a booth with music and break dancers, handing out free energy drinks. Phillips said Red Bull and Bloom energy drinks had also been at the store to hand out free beverages.

Near the entrance, a hopeful music fan held a sign “NEED TIX.” Slim said he is “just a traveler,” who lives his life on the road. He said he was in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the summer and headed to Florida for the winter.

Elsewhere in the parking lot, Carolina Arnaud from St. Petersburg waited for her friends to finish shopping.  She said she is excited for the chance to see some of the performers like GRIZ and the Lumineers, but she also came for the vibe.

“I love camping,” she said. “It’s fun and the energy’s great. Everyone’s so nice.”

This is Carolina's second OMF. She also attended the 2023 event.

Okeechobee Music Festival is March 19-22 at Sunshine Grove in northeastern Okeechobee County (about 20 miles from the City of Okeechobee.) Previous Okeechobee Music Festivals – held in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023 – attracted 30,000 fans or more.