1975 - Liberty Hill, TX

The 3rd annual Willie's Picnic drew in the largest crowd of over 70,000 picnic fans. What a shock that must have been for the rural town Liberty Hill, TX, as today, they only have a population of around 1,000. The attendance record would be beaten the following year.

Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush, Rita Coolidge and Pointer Sisters shared the stage on July 4th.

A quote from a Williamson County deputy sheriff, you can tell how great the festival must have been:

"If we had arrested all the naked and drunk people I saw, we'd have filled our jail and yours and all of the jails from here to Dallas,"

Legend has it that Willie was fined $1000 for violating the Texas Mass Gatherings Act.

1976 - Gonzales, TX

The legend of '76 is one we will never fully know in detail! If you were not there you have probably heard the stories of what took place and if you did attend, you probably can't repeat most of them.

After being fined $1,000 for violating the Texas Mass Gatherings Act with 70,000 people in '75, he drew an even larger crowd of 80,000 in Gonzales in '76. No indication of another ticket was issued!

I've heard that David Allan Coe pulled out his ole six-shooter and shot holes through the tarp that was protecting the stage from all the rain. Some people remember seeing many people working on their "full body tan."

The town of Gonzales took more of a liberal approach according to deputy sheriff, Don Kincaid, "If an officer sees someone smoking a marijuana cigarette, he won't arrest him", "But if someone is making a sale or has heroin, he or she will be taken in." Liberal or they just didn't have the man power to arrest everyone.

Estimated attendance in the upwards of 80,000.

The rambunctious festival of '76 could have been in part from such a power packed lineup. Willie, Waylon, Kristofferson, Ernest Tubb, Roger Miller, Jerry Jeff Walker, Leon Russell, Ray Wiley Hubbard, George Jones and more.