Detroit Lakes / Minnesota / United States
Since WE Fest’s inception in 1983, it has been one of the leading country music festivals in the nation. Twice nominated for the Country Music Association’s prestigious Best Special Event award, the WE Fest is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding events of its kind in the nation. WE Fest offices are located on the Scenic Soo Pass Ranch, which also contains a natural amphitheater that accommodates up to 50,000 people, including 7,000 reserved seats, and 10 separate campgrounds with a total camping capacity of 35,000 people. WE Fest employs a year-round staff of professional sales, marketing and administrative staff. Fully developed as a concert venue, the Soo Pass Ranch has a permanent stage and backstage compound, including air-conditioned dressing rooms with running water, catering and production facilities, including permanent sound towers and mix station. The concert bowl also contains 50 permanent concession stands, and locations for dozens of additional portable concessions. The company has invested heavily in developing the concert site, including bringing city sewer and water lines to the ranch, which allows for running water, and permanent rest rooms in the concert bowl. Situated on the shores of Lake Sallie, and in the meadows and woods surrounding the concert bowl, the Soo Pass Ranch campgrounds are easily accessed through pedestrian underpasses beneath the two highways that flank the concert bowl. The campgrounds are well groomed, with lighting and permanent shower houses. There are multiple lane entrances to each campground, which allows for faster ingress for camping vehicles at major events. The Soo Pass Ranch boasts over 9,000 campsites.
