What do you get when you take four days, 20 performers and 120,000 country music fans?

You guessed it: Jamboree in the Hills.

The country music spectacular began in 1977 as a two-day weekend event. Due to its popularity, Jamboree moved to larger area in nearby Morristown in the 1990s and expanded to four days.

"It's a great atmosphere along with great entertainment. We actually have groups of people that have friends that they only see that one time a year. I think you have people that make friends and it becomes a vacation and a getaway," said Shannon Wall, JITH marketing director.

Today, the event attracts people from all 50 states and countries like Canada, Sweden and France.

"It really is an international event," Wall said.

So what makes Jamboree bigger and better than other music festivals?

"We always want to have a main headliner all four days, which is one of the biggest names in country music every year. Then we like to bring back old-time favorites," Wall said.

She said they also always schedule a local act and upcoming artists "because our fans have always been so welcoming to the acts we bring in and treat every act like they were a headliner."

The event is always held the third Saturday in July, and planning for next year's festival begins immediately after.

"Right after Jamboree in the Hills ends, we have a meeting at the beginning of August and begin planning for the next year. It takes all year to get ready," Wall said.

The team makes changes based on fans' suggestions.

"When you're planning for that many people for a four-day event, we want to make sure it's ready to go," she said. "Any plan, big or small, we do discuss."

A newsletter gives fans the opportunity to talk about the festival and make suggestions about the lineup -- people they would like to see or who their favorite entertainers were the year before.

Wall said the biggest challenge each year is choosing the lineup.

"We want to make sure there is something for every type of fan. There are lots of different fans -- traditional country, newer country, southern rock -- and we want to have something for everybody," she said.

And what best compliments great music and company? A terrific location.

"The big thing over there is the Redneck Run, where fans run in to stake their place. They've lovingly given themselves that name. They're very proud of it," Wall said.

She said the Redneck Run is typical of the fun-loving crowd.

"With all the people there, we honestly don't have any major problems. They all stand up for each other and just have a really, really good time with each other," she said.

Kathy Tucker, merchandise manager, said every year the fans show off their pride by displaying Jamboree gear.

"We sell out of the lineup T-shirts every year. We sell blankets and sports bottles, lighters, glasses -- anything with the Jamboree in the Hills logo on it, they love it," Tucker said.

And the performers enjoy Jamboree just as much. Wall said many acts will show up before they perform, then stay after simply because of the atmosphere.

"The entertainers have a great setup backstage where they hang out and talk to each other and their families can talk to each other," Wall said. "It's a very nice secure area that's very relaxed and they can look out and see the crowd that we love."

Tucker said the workers also look forward to Jamboree each year.

"You get to see people you haven't seen all year and then it's a good time for all of us. We're working and we're having fun," Tucker said. "It's a good group of people."

But without a doubt, Wall said the best thing about Jamboree is consistently the fans.

"We work on it every year and when you get out there and actually see the fans having fun, you know it was all worthwhile."

-Renee Cardelli, NEWS9