State Fair adds acts to Delaware’s busy summer of music

More big name performers will be heading to the First State for what will be an unprecedented summer of music.

From the fourth annual Firefly Festival to the inaugural Big Barrel and Delaware Junction country music festivals, music fans in Delaware will have no shortage of options for entertainment this summer.

For years, fans who wanted to see nationally recognized stars had one hope: the Delaware State Fair. This year, there is an almost overwhelming number of music events in the state. But the fair might be a better option for music fans who want to pick just one concert night rather than having to pay for a three or four-day festival ticket, which is all that’s being sold for Firefly, Big Barrel and Delaware Junction.

The fair has traditionally relied heavily on country music acts, and 2015 is no different.

This year’s fair will see performances from Little Big Town (July 31) and Josh Turner (July 29) on the country side. Former (and probably current) tweens will likely be squealing for the (former) boy band New Kids on the Block (July 26). Rounding out the announced lineup is rock crooner Bryan Adams (July 28) and Christian music’s Casting Crowns and For King & Country.

There are still two nights of performances yet to be announced. The fair will also host the traditional demolition derby and rodeo nights, along with harness racing.

The 2015 Delaware State Fair runs July 23-August 1. That follows the Firefly Festival at the Woodlands in Dover which runs June 18-21 and the Big Barrel Country Music Festival, also at the Woodlands, the following weekend, June 26-28. The Delaware Junction Country Music Festival will take over the fairgournds in Harrington two weeks after the State Fair on Aug. 14-16.