Record crowds stampede into 2025 Savannah in the Round at Mareeba

The Savannah in the Round festival has already shattered attendance records as music lovers flood Mareeba's campgrounds days ahead of the star-studded event.

Chloe Head, 8, Allira Head, 10, Harlee Bacon, 4, and Emilie Bacon, 7, at Savannah in the Round music festival, held at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Savannah in the Round festival has kicked off its strongest year in true country style.

More than 5000 country music fans rolled into the Mareeba Rodeo Arena on opening night, many pitching their tents for a weekend of boot-stomping tunes and outback fun.

The festival is expected to draw record crowds with a star-studded lineup lighting up the stage.

Liana Hastie and Kadence Hastie, 12, at Savannah in the Round music festival, held at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. Picture: Brendan Radke

Festival director James Dein said campers arrived well ahead of schedule.

“We had a lot of people roll in from Wednesday which really surprised us,” he said.

“The camping grounds are full and we are even using overflow space at the Mareeba International Club.”

With more than 30,000 people expected through the gates across the weekend, nearly half travelling from outside the region, Savannah in the Round has quickly become one of the country’s premier outback music festivals.

Alice Taylor, Sophia Wearn, Shani Miller and Niki Smith dance to the music of Zac and George in the Big Top music tent at Savannah in the Round, held at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. Picture: Brendan Radke

Thursday night’s Campers Concert and Great Northern Bullriding Series launched Savannah in the Round with a bang, featuring Austin Mackay, champion bull rider Brayden Wellby, Will Day, and Beccy Cole setting the stage for an unforgettable weekend.

The fulll program was launched on Friday across four stages—the Cape Stage, Ariat Big Top Music Hall, Bendigo Bank Backyard Stage, and Bull Bar Stage—showcasing a mix of local and national talent.

Saturday promises big names like Fanny Lumsden, Daryl Braithwaite, James Johnston, and international headliner Zac Brown Band.

Cairns musician Eddie Skiba and the Eddie Skiba Band play the Bull Bar stage at Savannah in the Round music festival, held at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds. Picture: Brendan Radke

Zac Brown Band’s first widely distributed studio album, The Foundation, sold more than five million copies making the album 5x platinum following its release in 2008.

Their lead song “Chicken Fried,” which was the band’s first national release, also notched up over 255 million streams.

In 2025, Zac Brown Band is hitting the road again with 22 shows announced across the U.S, Canada, and Australia.

Savannah in the Round festival will close on Sunday with performances by Casey Barnes, The Black Sorrows, Rose Tattoo, and The Road Hammers.

Originally published as Record crowds stampede into 2025 Savannah in the Round at Mareeba