Thousands of people will head to Rhinelander this week to enjoy some of the top names in country music.

The Hodag Country Festival kicks off Thursday, but some people have been camping since Saturday enjoying their week off. Organizers say the event draws so many people because it is among the top country festivals in the country.

Jay Nieuwenhuis, the stage manager, says, "Hodag is the second oldest festival in the U.S. We are now into our 28th year. We have a really exciting lineup this year."

Some of this year's bands include the Charlie Daniels Band, Cowboy Troy, Neil McCoy and Big and Rich.

A one-day ticket will cost you $50 at the gate. Some country fans will do whatever it takes to get a good seat at the Hodag Festival, even if it means waiting in line in the wee hours of the morning.

The line to get a top seat in the lawn at Hodag really isn't much different than the actual event itself, but they say it's still necessary to get there at 5:30 in the morning.

People are partying and socializing with their family and friends while enjoying some outdoor food vendors and country music; it's just that in a few hours, the music will be live.

These devoted fans go through a complicated process to ensure a good spot.

Jack Debauche has been coming to Hodag for 11 years. He says, "They got six different colors out there, and there's people lined up behind each one and they draw from the lottery, and the color they call first that bunch of people comes through the maze."

Debauche's family was lucky enough to have their color picked first, which means they'll get their first pick of any spot on the lawn when they're let loose at 1 Thursday afternoon, but they say it wasn't always this organized.

Debauche says, "Years ago they used to have two lines; people were pushing and shoving and getting ahead of each other. Now everything kinda smoothened."

But the maze isn't the only point of preparation for these country fans.

Carol Magolski is now in her 24th year attending Hodag, and she says she plans for months in advanced.

She says, "Oh yeah, we order tickets in December because then we're guaranteed our camping spot every year."

Show-goers can either go for one day or camp out until Monday, and although they may be fighting strangers for a spot right now, by the end they say they'll all be best friends.