Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, with a capacity of approximately 18,000 people, recently completed significant offseason upgrades after four decades of hosting outdoor concerts. These improvements included the refurbishment and replacement of some of the venue’s blue seats, as well as new concrete walkways and in the pit area. The stage was also in the process of being re-painted.
The 30th anniversary of this Kansas country music festival is taking place this month in Bonner Springs. But it will be last at that venue.
Country Stampede, set for June 25 to 27 at Azura Amphitheater, is moving to the Wichita area in 2027, live entertainment and music festival company Kustom Entertainment said in a statement. A multiyear agreement between the live entertainment company and Gilley’s Park City includes hosting more than 20 show days, three of which will be filled by the country festival.
The new location can host up to 35,000 people. The 2027 Country Stampede Kansas event is scheduled for June 25-27 in Park City.
Kustom Entertainment said the move to Gilley’s will allow the festival to expand the festival experience with larger crowds, camping, food and beverage options, and other on-site amenities. Fans attending the festival this year will get a first look at what the future festival experience includes, because Kustom plans to showcase early details of the Park City festival concept throughout the event.
“This partnership with Gilley’s is an exciting step for Kustom Entertainment as we continue to grow our festival footprint,” Stan Ross, CEO of Kustom Entertainment said in a statement. “Though we know there will be some fans who love the current setting, we assure fans that this partnership will provide an even better overall experience.”
Azura Amphitheater had been the home of Country Stampede since 2024 after it was hosted in Topeka from 2019-2023. Its festival origins start at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, where country artists played from its debut in 1996 to 2018.
It’s another loss for the amphitheater, which just announced that its one-day Global Frequencies festival set for Sunday, June 28, is canceled. The EDM festival featured headliners Alison Wonderland and DJ Diesel, better known as Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
Officials with Azura Amphitheater did not respond to requests from The Star related to the festival moving to Wichita.
Headlining acts at Country Stampeded this year include Treaty Oak Revival (Thursday, June 25), Zach Top (Friday, June 26) and Rascal Flats (Saturday, June 27). Officials with Country Stampede said Thursday single-day general admission and Party Pit inventory is sold out, and that Friday and Saturday single-day tickets are nearing a sellout.
Tickets are available to purchase online.
The Kansas City Star
Joseph Hernandez joined The Kansas City Star’s service journalism team in 2021. A Cristo Rey Kansas City High School and Mizzou graduate, he now covers trending topics and finds things for readers to do around the metro.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.kansascity.com ’
