What you need to know about the Carolina Country Music Fest

The third annual Carolina Country Music Fest kicks off tonight.

Thousands of country music lovers will flock to the former Pavilion site to hear some big national country music acts, and up-and-comers, perform through Sunday night.

We’ve broken down the changes this year, how to navigate around the closed roads in that area and more.

DO I NEED TO UPLOAD MONEY TO MY CCMF WRISTBAND THIS YEAR?

Nope! You can pay by cash, credit or your wristband. If you want to use your wristband to pay for all your on-site purchases, you just register it with your credit card. It will only charge your card for purchases you make on site. It’s just like carrying your credit card around, but on your arm. You can do that here: http://CCMF.com/Wristbands.

WHAT IS ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE FESTIVAL?

You are allowed to bring in the following:

Phones, Sunscreen, Small Purses or Backpacks, Blankets, Festival Flags without metal or wooden poles

Leave the following at home or in your car:

Fireworks, Explosives of Any Kind, Weapons or Firearms of Any Kind, Bladder Style Backpacks, Bota Bags, Drugs

Drug Paraphernalia, Outside Food, Alcohol, or Drinks INCLUDING water bottles. Kites, Coolers, Umbrellas, Audio Recording Devices, Professional Video or Photography Equipment, Tents, Framed Backpacks, Chairs of Any Kind, Laser Pointers, Pets and Animals

These items are off limits for the safety and comfort of guests and performers, we appreciate your cooperation.

WHO’S PLAYING?

The McDonald’s Kickoff Party will have Brett Young and Montgomery Gentry. Friday’s performers include Darius Rucker, Luke Combs, Billy Currington, Kip Moore and Parmalee. On Saturday, Kenny Chesney, Lee Brice, Granger Smith, Chris Lane and Love & Theft take the stage. And Sunday’s headliner is Jason Aldean, with performances by Chris Young, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Runaway June. Dee Jay Silver will be playing Thursday though Sunday.

HOW DO I GET WRISTBANDS?

Super VIP, VIP and general admission wristbands are still available, as well as tickets for the kickoff party on Thursday with Montgomery Gentry. To buy tickets, click here.

Once you make your purchase, you will be sent a wristband that acts as your ticket, which needs to be activated before use. You can add credit to your wristband, which can be used to buy food and drinks at the concert. To activate your wristband, click here.

WHERE CAN I PARK?

For local festival-goers, $69.99 parking passes are available for the entire weekend, or one for $24.99 per day that will allow people to park in the former Myrtle Square Mall parking lot between 23rd Avenue North and 27th Avenue North. Shuttles will transport people between the festival and the parking lot between 5 p.m. and midnight on Thursday and between noon and midnight Friday through Sunday. For more information about parking or to purchase your pass, click here.

HOW DO I DRIVE AROUND ALL THE BLOCKED ROADS?

Closures included Ocean Boulevard between Eighth and Ninth Avenue North, and Eighth Avenue North between Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard.

Ninth Avenue North will be closed to eastbound traffic between Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard, and westbound traffic will be redirected to Kings Highway.

On Kings Highway North, northbound traffic between Sixth Avenue North and Ninth Avenue North will be reduced to one lane to allow traffic on Seventh Avenue North to make a continuous right-hand turn onto Kings Highway.

Ninth Avenue North will be closed between Broadway Street and Kings Highway for shuttle drop-off, as well as Chester Street between Ninth Avenue North and Mr. Joe White Avenue.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LOOKING LIKE?

The early prediction for the weekend of the Carolina Country Music Fest is looking good, with mostly clear skies and high temperatures in the upper-70s, lower 80s, which a little cooler than last year.

THURSDAY – AM Cloudy/Afternoon/Early evening sunny; High of 76, low of 63 degrees

FRIDAY – Mostly Sunny; High of 80, low of 69 degrees

SATURDAY – Partly Cloudy; High of 83, low of 70 degrees

SUNDAY – Mostly Sunny; High of 84, low of 72 degrees

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 9:40 PM with the headline "What you need to know about the Carolina Country Music Fest."