Big Barrel bows out after fun weekend

Alesha Cintron, of Wilmington, singing and dancing with the music of Steven Lee Olsen at the Big Barrel Music Festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Steven Lee Olsen performing at the Big Barrel Music Festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Steven Lee Olsen performing at the Big Barrel Music Festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Steven Lee Olsen performing at the Big Barrel Music Festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Eileen Igo, left, of Wilmington and Kathy Nagle of Fair Hill, Md., hugging the “Big Barrel” Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Del McCoury Band performing on the Wildwood stage at the Big Barrel music festival Sunday afternoon. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

A few remnants of Saturday’s heavy rain were evident but the weatherman made up for it. Cool temperatures, low humidity and gentle breeze for country music lovers at the Big Barrel Music festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Del McCoury Band performing on the Wildwood stage at the Big Barrel music festival Sunday afternoon. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Bill Cubbage, of Hartly, making his way through the crowd for Sunday performances at the Big Barrel music festival. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Oak Ridge Boys performing on the Wildwood stage at the Big Barrel music festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

A few remnants of Saturday’s heavy rain were evident but the weatherman made up for it. Cool temperatures, low humidity and gentle breeze for country music lovers at the Big Barrel Music festival Sunday (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Bob Riddagh, of Smyrna, relaxing to the sound of guitars and banjos at the Big Barrel music festival Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Kathleen Mullins, 14, of Hampstead, N.C. traveled to Dover to attend the Big Barrel music festival with her step-mother Kathy Wilson, of Newark. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Country western great Merle Haggard gets a huge Delaware “Big Barrel” welcome as he came out on stage to perform Sunday night. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Thousands packed into the Wildwood Stage tent to see and hear country western great Merle Haggard Sunday night at the Big Barrel music festival in Dover. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Meagan Torres, of Newark, sure performers on stage knew she was celebrating her 21st birthday Sunday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

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Country Music Hall of Famer and living legend Loretta Lynn performs Saturday evening on the Wildwood Stage at Big Barrel. (Delaware State News/Dave Chambers)

Andrea Giordano of Kennett Square, PA has her cowgirl hat firmly planted on her poncho covered head Saturday by a fellow Big Barrel Country Music Festival fan.

Big Barrel fans wear rain gear Saturday afternoon and ease the pain of the storm with a few beers.

Robert Thompson of Ruther Glen, VA has help with his rain poncho Saturday at Big Barrel

Nancy Stratton of Pasadena, MD didn't let a few raindrops damper her day at Big Barrel.

Brad Ryan of Wilmington and Heather Perri of Philadelphia party Saturday before the raindrops start to fall.

Wearing a rain poncho, Big Barrel fan Mark Stump of Wilmington was ready to party regardless of a few raindrops.

Glennon Crowell of Crofton, MD sits back and enjoys the scenery at Big Barrel Saturday.

Kristen and Kara Zack of Kennett Square, PA, better known as country music act Born Sisters, kicked off the music on the Main Stage Saturday afternoon.

From right, Lindsey Marxen of Baltimore shows her sister Dana Marxen of Parsippany, NJ and friends Erika Kincaid of New York City and Jesse Moore of Patterson, NJ how to "two-step" inside the Harvest Moon Dance Hall at Big Barrel Saturday.

Sam Lewis opened Big Barrel Saturday with a performance on the Wildwood Stage.

John and Blythe Pruitt of Shrewsbury, PA steal a kiss Saturday at Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover.

The Deslondes perform Saturday at Big Barrel Country Music Festival.

Kim Rydholm of Brielle, NJ devours her ear of corn on the cob Saturday as she makes the rounds at Big Barrel.

Liam Lafferty, 6 of Wilmington and his little brother Nick, 4, spent Saturday trying to catch raindrops in their mouths at Big Barrel.

Lynyrd Skynyrd performs at Big Barrel Friday evening

Marcie and Bill Norris of Fredericksburg, VA enjoy the country tunes Friday evening at Big Barrel

Preston Plows, 4 of Newark sits on his daddy Barry's shoulders to enjoy the Sturgill Simpson show at Big Barrel.

The legendary Budweiser Clydesdales, in town for Big Barrel, walk around Dover International Speedway Thursday as folks snap photos happy to catch a glimpse of the nationally famous animals as they kickoff the Big Barrel Country Music Festival.

The legendary Budweiser Clydesdales walk into Dover Downs Hotel and Casino Thursday evening.

Trainer Curtis Kentner of Merrimack, NH walks a giant Clydesdale past a Budweiser trailer Thursday at Dover International Speedway

The legendary Budweiser Clydesdales, in town for Big Barrel, walk around Dover International Speedway Thursday

A close-up look at a Budweiser Clydesdale.

Chris Wiegert of Merrimack, NH and dog Barley ride on the antique beer wagon pulled by the mighty horses.

The giant horses dwarf an average-sized man.

The Budweiser trainers put on the horses fancy gear before the Big Barrel kickoff event

Folks line the side of the parking lot of Dover International Speedway to view the impressive animals.

Two Budweiser Clydesdales wear their ceremonial brass as they snuggle together for a photo

The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way towards Dover Downs Hotel and Casino Thursday evening.

Treking through a field of mud, from left, John Wolbert, Dominic Bridi, Dan Harp and Cody Marchese, all 20 of Pottstown, PA , don't seem to mind the dirty conditions.

Joe Loy of Newark, center, and his fellow country music fans cheer the music at Big Barrel County Music Festival Friday afternoon.

The members of country music act Whiskey Shivers perform on the Wildwood Stage Friday afternoon

From left, Angie Sipple of Milton, Cindie and Dale Carey of Milford, Candie Ennis of Milford and Phyllis Walker of Milford celebrate a day off Friday enjoying a perfect Summer day at Big Barrel Country Music Festival.

Ashley Hayes, 17 of Georgetown and her sister Macey, 13, pose next to Big Barrel logo during the first day of the country music festival.

John and Anne Popowski of Abbington, MD take a photograph in front of the Big Barrel main stage Friday afternoon.

Drake White performs on the main stage at Big Barrel Friday

Newlyweds Mike and Christi Gianoulos of Edgewood, NJ, right, enjoy the country music inside the Wildwood Stage pavilion Friday

Patricia Thompson of Ruther Glen, VA was a true country music fan Friday at Big Barrel.

Katrina Hoffman of Lancaster, PA and Scott Coberly of Glen Burnie, MD pose next to the trademark giant guitars on display at Big Barrel.

The Bros. Landreth opened Big Barrel Friday morning with a bang.

Phyllis Hayes of Georgetown took home a nice cowgirl hat after a day of shopping at Big Barrel.

Joe Hoherchak of Sandy Hook, NJ feeds a baby donkey inside The Stable - the petting zoo at Big Barrel.

Mark Mosely of Rocksbury, NJ takes a photograph of one of the Big Barrel bands on the main stage.

Jim Keithly of Bel Air, MD and his daughter Izetta, 16 clap along to the tunes Friday at Big Barrel

A crowd of people watched the dancers to learn the new steps in the cool, dark Harvest Moon Dance Hall on Sunday afternoon.

Big Barrel Country Music Festival, in the Woodlands at Dover International Speedway, wrapped up Sunday.

At the dance hall, Elizabeth Clayton, Grace Clayton and Kelly Albanese said they gave line-dancing a try and learned moves like “the hitch” and “the grapevine.”

“It was fun trying to learn — as well as you have seasoned people who were really good,” said Grace Clayton, from Newark.

Ms. Clayton, who described herself as “the aunt who like R&B,” said the music festival had been relaxed so far.

“There’s no tension,” she said.

She had just arrived that night to hang out, she said.

Her niece, Kelly Albanese, from Hockessin, had been there all weekend. She said that singer Blake Shelton, who headlined Friday, “was awesome.”

She came to the festival later on Saturday, when it rained, but she stopped at Tractor Supply Company on the way to buy rain boots.

The grounds were muddy at Big Barrel, and most visitors stomped around in dirty boots.

Despite the gloomy weather, though, most people said they enjoyed their weekend.

By 7 p.m., said Bill Lesmerises, from Felton, said that the rain had cleared up. “It was beautiful the rest of the night,” he said.

“It’s been laid back and mellow,” Mr. Lesmerises said.

Next year, he said, “they’ll get it ironed out a little bit” and it will be even better. One complaint, he said, was the high prices — $4 for a soda.

Mr. Lesmerises said that Blake Shelton was also was one of his favorite acts.

“He was good because he was a hell of a comedian as well as an entertainer,” he said.

He said that the festival seemed to draw a diverse crowd — attendees included all ages, from  teenagers to older folks.

But Anaiz Hernandez and Katelyn Gregory, who both went to Firefly Music Festival at the Woodlands last week, said that Big Barrel isn’t as friendly.

“I feel like Firefly is a lot more fun,” Ms. Hernandez said.

For Sunday night, Hope Cananen, from Wilmington, said that she was looking forward to Carrie Underwood.

She and Dave Doyle Sr. said they came to the festival because they love country music. Their favorite acts so far included Blake Shelton — “He is a premier entertainer,” Mr. Doyle said — Jake Owen and Chris Young.

They said they spent a few minutes at the dance hall and plan to go back later Sunday night. “That was really cute,” Ms. Cananen said.

“We have had a great time so far,” she said.