By Brett Regan ~ Little Apple Post

The moment Lucas Hoge took the main stage at Tuttle Creek State Park on Thursday, the 17th annual Country Stampede officially began.

The anticipated four-day music festival near Manhattan is expected to draw anywhere between 150,000 and 160,000 from the surrounding area and across the country.

The event is jam packed with country music stars like Luke Bryan, Travis Tritt, John Michael Montgomery, The Zac Brown Band, The Band Perry and Toby Keith.

“It’s an atmosphere that you really can’t explain unless you experience it,” Stampede president Wayne Rouse said. “It’s really difficult to describe, but it’s a lot of fun, everybody is walking around here with a smile on their face, a lot of high-fivin’ going on.

“It’s just a really great atmosphere”

And Rouse said there is a lot more than just country music. There are a plethora of food vendors, craft shows, extreme rides and activities for all ages.

There are even thousands of people camping out.

Since there is another large crowd expected, there will be several law enforcement agencies patrolling the concert site and campground areas. They include the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Riley County Police Department, Topeka Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Geary County Emergency Management and several others.

Riley County EMS Director Larry Couchman said there are multiple levels of medical response as well.