Willie Nelson's 7th Annual Fourth of July Picnic 1979: A Look Back

Willie Nelson's 7th Annual Fourth of July Picnic

• 🎶 The event, hosted by Willie Nelson, kicked off at noon and was touted by attendees as potentially the best one yet.
• 📍 A significant factor in its success was the new location: the old Pedernales Country Club outside Austin, which Nelson purchased himself for $250,000 after facing previous location issues.

Attendance and Conditions

• 👥 Promoters estimated around 25,000 fans attended, half of the 50,000 the 78-acre property could accommodate.
• ☀️ Attendees endured near-100-degree heat, with many requiring treatment for heat exhaustion from the 150 first aid volunteers.
• 💧 Some fans found relief by cooling off under water streams from tank trucks or devising their own methods.

Fan Dedication

• ⛽ Despite a nationwide gas shortage, fans were undeterred, expressing their willingness to brave the heat and fuel concerns because Willie was worth it.
• ⚠️ While 150 first aid volunteers treated numerous cases of heat exhaustion, they also reported treating a number of drug overdoses.