Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Youngsters rushed to the walkway in front of the stage to see rising country star Kellie Pickler up close at the beginning of her concert Saturday night at the Trails West! festival in Civic Center Park. The festival continues today.

Hundreds of country music fans packed Civic Center Park on Saturday, some even several hours before the concerts began.

Rising country music stars Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepard performed in front of a tightly packed Trails West! crowd.

The concert didn’t start until 7:30 p.m., but people were saving their perfect spots hours beforehand.

A group of five girls ages 13 to 15 with matching homemade shirts and a giant homemade sign could be found near the stage.

“We got here around 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.,” Tori Blevins said as she held one side of their sign.

The girls were there to see Kellie Pickler.

“We wanted her to win,” Ms. Blevins said. “We love her,” added Ms. Blevins’ sister Taylor Blevins.

Elizabeth Briley and Veronica Boulson could be found in the front row. They picked a spot big enough for their two lawn chairs around 3 p.m.

The 20-year-old and 18-year-old also had a sign which read “Pick us to see Pickler” in hopes of winning backstage passes courtesy of a local radio contest.

“Kellie Pickler’s a great singer, and she’s coming to St. Joseph, of all places,” Ms. Briley said.

The girls took a break from saving their spots long enough to walk through the various tents and vendors. They returned to find strangers in their lawn chairs but were later able to regain their seats.

By 5 p.m., drum beats and guitar riffs could be heard throughout the park as the sound check began. The chairs and blankets quickly added up. They could even be found on the hill south of Francis Street.

At 6 p.m., hundreds of empty blankets, lawn chairs and homemade signs littered the grass in front of the stage. The lines for funnel cakes and waffle fries weaved around the trees.

Ashton Shepard took the stage first at 7:30 p.m., followed by Kellie Pickler.

Throughout the night, the sounds of the country stars and smell of fried foods flowed through Downtown, and for several hours there wasn’t an open spot in the park.

Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.