With the ACM Party For A Cause Festival just a few short days away, I thought it might be fun to post a recap of my very first PFAC experience! Prior to the introduction of this multiple day star-studded music filled event, there were free shows on Freemont Street at night during The Week Vegas Goes Country. While those free shows continued during the 2013 ACM Week, they were discontinued the following year.

The first annual Party For A Cause Festival was hosted at The Orleans Hotel and took place Friday April 5th and Saturday April 6th, 2013. This event provided fans with an entire “ACM Experience,” as well as introducing fans to some philanthropic causes including Outnumber Hunger and the Wounded Warrior Project. The ACM Expo was free, but you had to pay to get to the festival inside to see the artists performances.

Just look at the list of autograph signings and performances! Such a FULL packed schedule of country music FUN for the fans!

Day 1, Friday 3/5/13:

Performances by Cassadee Pope, Florida Georgia Line, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, and headlining the first night was The Band Perry!

Florida Georgia Line performing on the Outnumber Hunger stage!

2013 was also the first year that Luke Bryan co-hosted the Awards Show with Blake Shelton, replacing his previous co-host Reba McEntire. The Academy cleverly named this duo “Bluke” and there were “Flat Blake’s” and “Flat Luke’s” passed out at the festival.

Fans inside a restaurant at The Orleans propped their “Flat Luke’s” up in the window for all to see!

Along with this, there was also an amazing contest to win PIT TICKETS at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards!!

The First Annual Party For a Cause Festival is also where I met the owner of this website, Jencita. I had orginally found her on Twitter, met her in person in Vegas… and now, 3 years later, we will be road-tripping together to Vegas for the 4th Annual Party For A Cause Festival!

Contributing author Jess & site owner, Jencita!

As you can see from that photo, night had fallen. I had won myself a pair of VIP bracelets to Kip Moore‘s late night performance at Freemont Street, so I had to hurry back to the hotel and change and get ready to see one of my favorite artists up close from the pit! Freemont Street was insane, so many people because there were such great artists, all performing for free! It was just a matter of how early you wanted to get there so you could be close enough to see! I definitely miss that aspect of ACM Week!

Day 2, Saturday 4/6/13

Day 2 of the party hosted Dustin Lynch, Love and Theft, Kix Brooks, Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes, Eli Young Band and headliner Dierks Bentley.

Dustin Lynch cranking everyone’s tractors!

The First Annual Party For A Cause Festival was obviously such a success that they are still continuing the tradition 3 years later. If you are heading there this year, make sure to check out our Party For A Cause Survival Guide!

Which artist performance or event are you most excited for this year?! Besides the opportunity to see and meet some of my favorite artists, I’m kind of most excited for the free Red Bull as you leave the festival gates at night to give me some energy for some late night fun! It will also be my first chance to see Maren Morris, Chris Lane, Chris Janson and Granger Smith. I’m very excited to see all of them for the first time!