Country Thunder kicks off in Wisconsin despite smoky skies
By Tj Dysart
Published on July 17, 2026.
The Country Thunder music festival in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, began as planned despite hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota. The conditions included high humidity and dangerous air conditions as tens of thousands of people prepared to attend the weekend-long event. Many attendees expressed their determination to enjoy the event, despite the smoky skies. Country Thunder officials announced that the festival would continue as scheduled and are working with local health officials and monitoring air quality.
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