Boots in the Park is back in South County. The country music festival returns to The Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with Jon Pardi headlining and Corey Kent, Jackson Dean, The Wilder Blue, Myles Morgan, and Presley Tennant filling out the bill. General admission is already sold out, so if you don’t have a ticket yet, your options are VIP or the official resale waitlist.
This is the second year for the Orange County edition. The 2025 festival, headlined by Miranda Lambert, was billed as the inaugural Boots in the Park Orange County. Activated Events produces the series, which also runs editions in Fresno, Tucson, and other cities. Here is what you need for the day, pulled from the festival’s Orange County pages as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Saturday, October 17, 2026. Doors at 1 p.m. |
| Where | The Riding Park, 30753 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 |
| Headliner | Jon Pardi |
| Ages | All ages. Kids under 5 get in free with a paying adult. 21+ with ID to drink. |
| Tickets | GA sold out. VIP at $279 all-in (Tier 2) as of September 28 |
| Re-entry | No |
| Payment | Box office and bars are card only |
| Parking | Advance purchase only, not yet on sale |
| Official site | events.bootsinthepark.com/oc |
Who’s playing
Six acts are on the Orange County lineup. Set times and stage details have not been posted.
The headliner
Jon Pardi, the California-raised honky-tonk singer. The festival’s lineup page notes his fifth studio album, Honkytonk Hollywood, and his run of No. 1 singles, including “Head Over Boots” and “Dirt on My Boots.” Expect boots jokes all day.
The rest of the bill
Corey Kent, the Oklahoma-born country rocker. Jackson Dean, whose debut single “Don’t Come Lookin'” went to No. 1 in 2022. The Wilder Blue, a five-part harmony band. Plus Myles Morgan and Presley Tennant. Doors open at 1 p.m., so the early sets are a good reason to get there on time.
Know the song, find the stage
A short cheat sheet for anyone tagging along with a country fan:
| If you know… | Go see |
|---|---|
| “Head Over Boots” or “Dirt on My Boots” | Jon Pardi |
| “Wild as Her” | Corey Kent |
| “Don’t Come Lookin'” | Jackson Dean |
Line dancing and tequila
The Orange County page highlights two extras. The Cactus Cantina is a tequila tasting experience featuring 101 tequila brands (21+ only, and items are sold separately). The Country Club Dance Hall is a line dancing tent, and the festival’s experiences page says it runs periodic lessons with an instructor through the day, so beginners can learn a few steps before the headliner.
Boots in the Park tickets
Tickets are sold through the official Boots in the Park ticket page. Prices are listed all-in, including fees, with taxes added at checkout. Each tier is the same ticket; prices move up as each tier sells out.
- General Admission: Sold out. Tiers 1 through 3 ran $104, $124, and $149 all-in. There is a waitlist.
- VIP: Tier 1 ($254) is sold out. Tier 2 was $279 all-in ($249 plus fees) as of September 28. VIP adds express entry, a VIP viewing area, partial upfront stage access, a commemorative lanyard, VIP-only food vendors and bar, and private flushable restrooms. Food, drinks, and merch cost extra.
- Payment plans: Available for an extra $10 service fee per product.
- Resale: There are no refunds or exchanges. Tixel is the official resale partner. You can join the Tixel waitlist or set up an auto-purchase, and resale is capped at 20% above face value.
- Delivery: Tickets are emailed 14 days before the festival. Check your spam folder.
- Kids: Children under 5 get free general admission with a parent or guardian ticket of any type.
Getting there
The Riding Park sits on Avenida La Pata in San Juan Capistrano. Two things to know before you plan your ride:
- Parking must be bought in advance. The festival says parking at The Riding Park is only available for purchase before the event, and it is listed as “available soon.” The ticket page also mentions parking at San Juan Hills High School, with shuttles to the park.
- No rideshare drop-off at The Riding Park. The festival says this directly on its location page, so check back for drop-off details before you book a car.
- No tailgating, no overnight parking, and no oversize vehicles such as box trucks or trailers.
- Plan a designated driver. The festival asks every group to have one.
What to bring
- Bags: Purses and handbags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches and small backpacks up to 12 x 8 x 4 inches.
- A chair: Chairs under 35 inches are allowed.
- Something to sit on: A standard beach towel (about 30 x 60 inches). Larger blankets are not allowed.
- Water: An empty, refillable plastic bottle.
- Sun protection: Sealed lotion sunscreen, plus small tote umbrellas or parasols.
- Signs: Handmade signs, flags, and banners are fine as long as there are no hard poles and no company branding.
- Little ones: Small umbrella strollers only.
- Medications: Prescriptions are allowed; the name on the prescription should match a valid ID.
What to leave at home
- Hydro Flasks, Stanleys, and other canteens. This one surprises people. Bring a plastic bottle instead.
- CamelBaks.
- Outside food and drinks, including water and alcohol, plus glass, cans, cups, and coolers.
- Aerosol cans of any kind.
- Pets, including emotional support animals. Trained service animals are allowed.
- Wagons, carts, tents, and canopies.
- Professional cameras with detachable lenses, tripods, and big zooms. Laptops and tablets too.
- Frisbees, drones, laser pointers, fireworks, and weapons.
- Moshing, crowd surfing, and stage diving are also on the no list.
Inside the gates
- No re-entry. Once you leave, you are done for the day.
- Mostly cashless. The box office and bars take credit and debit only. Some vendors may take cash.
- Rain or shine. The event runs in any weather.
- Bring ID if you plan to drink. You must be 21 with a valid government-issued ID.
Accessibility
The festival says Boots in the Park is fully ADA accessible. Across the series, accessible viewing areas are first come, first served, with one companion per guest in most cases. ADA parking is available with a valid placard or plate, and details for each venue are released closer to the date. Wheelchairs and scooters are allowed, but charging is not guaranteed, so arrive fully charged. Only trained service animals are allowed.
For special requests, including ASL interpretation, email customerservice@activatedevents.com at least 14 days before the festival. For October 17, that means by October 3, 2026. Include the event city, your name, and the accommodation you need.
Still to come
Set times, the closing time, the festival map, parking passes, the shuttle schedule from San Juan Hills High School, and rideshare drop-off details have not been posted yet. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are released.
Sources
- Boots in the Park Orange County, official page
- Boots in the Park OC: Tickets (tiers, prices, parking and shuttle note)
- Boots in the Park OC: Lineup
- Boots in the Park OC: Location, parking, and FAQ (doors, re-entry, ages, allowed and prohibited items, cash, tailgating, refunds, resale)
- Boots in the Park: Experiences
- Boots in the Park: ADA Info
- Jon Pardi: Boots in the Park, San Juan Capistrano, October 17, 2026
- MusicRow: Miranda Lambert to Headline Boots in the Park Orange County (August 2025)
Featured photo: Bernard Gagnon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
