{"id":33150,"date":"2026-06-30T16:21:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/?page_id=33150"},"modified":"2026-06-30T16:46:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:46:56","slug":"pontoon-beach-announces-the-14th-annual-party-at-the-beach-country-edition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/pontoon-beach-announces-the-14th-annual-party-at-the-beach-country-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Pontoon Beach Announces the 14th Annual Party at the Beach \u2013 \u201cCountry Edition\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"fonts-plugin-block \" style=\"font-weight: normal;font-size: 20px;line-height: 1.3;text-align: center\"><strong>Pontoon Beach Announces the 14th Annual Party at the Beach  \u201cCountry Edition\u201d<\/strong><br><strong>Two Nights of National Recording Artists Set for August 7 &amp; 8, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>GraniteCityGazette.com, July 1, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-1024x341.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-1536x512.png 1536w, https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-2048x683.png 2048w, https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-30-2026-03_48_47-PM-1200x400.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Pontoon Beach\u2019s biggest summer tradition returns this August as the 14th Annual Party at the Beach \u201cCountry Edition\u201d brings two nights of national entertainment to Randall D. Dalton Memorial Veterans Park. The beloved event, now well over a decade old, has grown from a small community gathering into one of the Metro East\u2019s most anticipated free outdoor concerts and this year\u2019s lineup continues that legacy in a big way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Village has officially announced that Grammy Award\u2011winning artist Ashley McBryde will headline Friday, August 7th, followed by ACM Award\u2011winning country star Rodney Atkins on Saturday, August 8th. Both performances are free, open to the public, and require no tickets. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for two evenings of high\u2011energy country music under the summer sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>A Tradition Built on Big\u2011Name Entertainment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, Party at the Beach has earned a reputation for bringing major touring acts to Madison County \u2014 all without charging admission. Past performers have included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Well Hungarians<\/strong>, who headlined the very first Party at the Beach in 2012 and returned multiple times in the early years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Southern Justice<\/strong> and <strong>Little River Band<\/strong>, featured during the event\u2019s third year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Charlie Daniels Band<\/strong>, a crowd\u2011favorite national act that drew one of the largest audiences in event history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drake White<\/strong>, <strong>Vote for Pedro<\/strong>, and other touring artists who helped shape the festival\u2019s country\u2011rock identity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Night Ranger<\/strong>, headlining a later year with classic rock flair<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>38 Special<\/strong> in 2017<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bad Company<\/strong> in 2018<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gary Allan<\/strong> and <strong>Drake White &amp; The Big Fire<\/strong> in 2023<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>LOCASH<\/strong>, <strong>Devon Allman\u2019s Blues Summit<\/strong>, <strong>Sara Evans<\/strong> and other nationally recognized acts in recent years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The festival\u2019s consistent ability to attract chart\u2011topping performers has made it a standout among free municipal events in the region. Each August, thousands of residents and visitors gather at Dalton Park to enjoy professional staging, lighting, food vendors, and a welcoming community atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>This Year\u2019s Headliners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ashley McBryde \u2013 Friday, August 7th<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A powerhouse vocalist and songwriter, Ashley McBryde has earned multiple Grammy nominations and a Grammy win for her bold, storytelling\u2011driven country sound. Known for hits like <em>\u201cOne Night Standards\u201d<\/em> and <em>\u201cGirl Goin\u2019 Nowhere,\u201d<\/em> McBryde brings a mix of authenticity, humor, and heart that resonates with audiences nationwide. Her appearance at Party at the Beach marks one of the most decorated artists ever to take the Pontoon Beach stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Rodney Atkins \u2013 Saturday, August 8th<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rodney Atkins has been a staple of country radio for more than two decades, with chart\u2011topping hits including <em>\u201cWatching You,\u201d \u201cIf You\u2019re Going Through Hell,\u201d<\/em> and <em>\u201cTake a Back Road.\u201d<\/em> His warm, relatable style and long list of ACM honors make him a perfect fit for the festival\u2019s \u201cCountry Edition\u201d theme. Atkins\u2019 performance is expected to draw a large crowd eager to sing along to his familiar favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event will once again be held at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Randall D. Dalton Memorial Veterans Park 5111 Route 111, Pontoon Beach, Illinois<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The park\u2019s setting, wide open lawn, and easy access have made it an ideal home for the festival since its earliest years. Families often arrive early to claim their favorite spots, enjoy food vendors, and take in the relaxed summer atmosphere before the music begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Party at the Beach remains proudly <strong>free, family\u2011friendly<\/strong>, and open to all, reflecting the Village\u2019s commitment to providing high\u2011quality entertainment and community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Village finalizes additional details, including opening acts, vendor lists, and event schedules, updates will be posted closer to August. But with two nationally acclaimed artists already confirmed, the 14th Annual Party at the Beach is shaping up to be one of the strongest lineups in its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pontoon Beach continues to prove that a small community can deliver big entertainment, and this year\u2019s \u201cCountry Edition\u201d promises two unforgettable nights of music, celebration, and hometown pride.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GraniteCityGazette.com, July 1, 2026 Pontoon Beach\u2019s biggest summer tradition returns this August as the 14th Annual Party at the Beach \u201cCountry Edition\u201d brings two nights of national entertainment to Randall D. Dalton Memorial Veterans Park. The beloved event, now well over a decade old, has grown from a small community gathering into one of the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/pontoon-beach-announces-the-14th-annual-party-at-the-beach-country-edition\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Pontoon Beach Announces the 14th Annual Party at the Beach \u2013 \u201cCountry Edition\u201d&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33150","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33150"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33152,"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33150\/revisions\/33152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}