SAND IN MY BOOTS FESTIVAL

New Music Fest to Debut at The Hangout

Grab your cowboy hats, slip on your boots and crack open a cold one—it’s time for the first annual Sand In My Boots festival!

Sand In My Boots (SIMB) is a brand-new music festival that will take over the white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama this month. This new three-day music festival was brought to life through a collaboration between country star and Grammy-nominee Morgan Wallen and live entertainment production company AEG Presents. Hosted May 16 to 18, the SIMB festival will take the place of the widely known Hangout Music Festival (HMF) in 2025.

Wallen, best known for his songs Last Night, Whiskey Glasses and I Had Some Help with Post Malone, has worked alongside AEG Presents to curate the festival of his dreams. AEG Presents is the same company behind HMF, as well as other popular music festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Stagecoach and Coachella Music & Arts Festival.

“Sand In My Boots is taking the place of the HMF this year. This festival was Morgan Wallen’s vision—he approached us (AEG Presents) to create his own festival, and his description matched perfectly with the beaches of Gulf Shores. Because our team has extensive experience operating in Gulf Shores through HMF, we knew we could help Morgan bring his vision to life. We have the perfect venue and team to do so, so it just made sense,” AEG Presents and SIMB Festival Producer Reeves Price said.

Despite sharing the same location and production company, SIMB and HMF are set to be different festivals with different vibes. The SIMB entertainment lineup, festival activities and overall aesthetic will be much different than HMF. “We made changes to many of the on-site activities, amenities and art installations to align more with Morgan and his fans’ passions. Patrons who have attended HMF in the past are sure to notice and experience a lot of new things at Sand In My Boots,” Price explained.

The festival grounds will be centered around two main stages—the SIMB Stage Presented by Boot Barn and the Dangerous Stage Presented by Cody James. Performances will primarily take place on these two stages, apart from DJ sets taking place at the Malibu Oasis.

SIMB features a unique lineup of artists carefully curated by Wallen himself. From country, rock and hip-hop to rap, indie, EDM and more, this festival lineup is stacked with a variety of notable artists spanning a variety of music genres.

The lineup includes a mix of well-known acts like T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa, Diplo and 3 Doors Down, as well as up-and-coming artists like Ole 60, John Morgan, Hailey Whitters and Real Estate. The festival will be headlined by popular acts including Wallen himself, as well as Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn and HARDY.

In addition to a stacked artist lineup, SIMB also offers attendees fun on-site experiences and activities. Two main sections of the festival grounds are the ‘98 Braves Park and The Midway. The ‘98 Braves Park provides a tailgate environment that any country fan is sure to enjoy. This section will feature all of your favorite tailgate classics like games of cornhole, barbecue grills, country music and more.

The Midway brings a classic beach boardwalk vibe, including boardwalk essentials and all the best parts of your hometown fair. From shooting hoops to sipping cold brews, The Midway offers plenty of activities perfect for relaxing and hanging out with friends.

Attendees will be able to stay energized at the Monster Beach Club, enjoying music, dancing and of course, Monster Energy drinks. The popular HMF ferris wheel will also be on-site for those looking to take in the picture-perfect views of the beautiful Gulf.

“All of our on-site experiences are curated by Morgan Wallen himself, reflecting the things he loves the most while embracing the one-of-a-kind white sand beaches of Gulf Shores,” Price said.

Due to the festival’s unique location, festivalgoers can take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico to cool off. For those who prefer to keep their festival look fresh, the Sunset Salon offers men’s and women’s hair styling services including braids, space buns, beard trims and more. After getting a fresh look at the salon, attendees can head over to Love Somebody Lane to get hitched!

One of the more unique experiences at the festival will be the Up Down Cap n’ Gown Commencement Ceremony. This activity will celebrate the 2025 graduates, especially those who skipped their graduation ceremonies to attend the festival. Grads are invited to bring their cap to the beach for a commencement ceremony and cap toss.

SIMB knows that all this fun would make anyone hungry, so food and drink options will be located throughout the festival grounds. Gulf Shores’ iconic restaurant, The Hangout, is on-site and will be open for festivalgoers to dine both inside and outside.

In addition to these dining options and activities that every ticket holder can enjoy, VIP, Super VIP and “Livin’ The Dream” ticket holders will enjoy special access to dedicated viewing areas, dipping pools, private restrooms, premium dining options and more.

“As we gear up for the event and put the finishing touches on everything, I get more and more excited for what will be an unbelievable weekend on the beach in Gulf Shores. The excitement and anticipation from everyone involved has been contagious. From the artists and the vendors to the production team, everyone is really looking forward to this, and I know it will be a very special weekend on the Gulf Coast,” Price said.

Although tickets are completely sold out for SIMB, the festival website provides an official waitlist form for those hoping to secure passes if any become available.

To make the most of your festival experience, be sure to download the Sand In My Boots app. Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the official app allows users to view the festival lineup, register wristbands, view general festival information and more.

For the complete schedule, details on available tickets and more, visit sandinmybootsfest.com or follow @sandinmybootsfest on Instagram and Facebook.