Thousands of country music fans will be entertained during the 35th Annual Hodag Country Festival, fans that are also helping the Rhinelander community with their economic support.

Any business owner in Rhinelander will tell you the Hodag Country Festival brings in the dollars.

Though Hodag has lots of amenities for festers, many will hit the town for supplies and food.

The owner of Rhinelander Cafe and Pub says the Hodag gives local businesses, like his, a big boost.

"It's good news for me, it's good news for my staff, for the people in the kitchen, the servers are making more money," Mark Gutteter said.

He says the morning time is the busiest, when festers come in for breakfast and bloody marys. He expects about a 10-15 percent increase in sales for the week of Hodag.

When people spend money in Rhinelander, those dollars stay in the local community all thanks to the festival that brings country to the Northwoods.