Cox to bring Chris Young concert to downtown Fort Smith

In the midst of his cross-country tour across the United States and Canada, CMA Triple Play Award winner and Academy of Country Music Awards nominee for Male Vocalist and Single Record of the Year country music singer Chris Young will make a stop in Fort Smith as the headlining act for the 6th Annual Fort Smith Cox Community Concert.

The Cox Community Concert presents Chris Young is scheduled for Oct. 3 at downtown Fort Smith River Park and is FREE to the public. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, concert tickets will be available while they last at Cox Stores in Fort Smith, Van Buren, Rogers, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Siloam Springs, Harrison and Berryville. While tickets are complementary, they will be required for entry to the concert and are limited to four at the time of request.

The Cox Community Concert presents Chris Young is a result of a six-year partnership between Cox and the City of Fort Smith. Cox’s commitment to underwriting the Oct. 3 event seeks to bring locals and out-of-towners into the downtown Fort Smith area, showcasing the beautiful River Park with the presentation of outstanding live music in a way that offers everyone a chance to participate without concert ticket prices being a limiting factor.

This year’s community partners are the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs and Mercy Foundation of Fort Smith. The non-profit partners will split the proceeds from the sale of food and beverages inside the concert venue, and 100% of the money raised will stay in the Fort Smith area to directly support local programs and needs.

“We have so enjoyed bringing a live concert to the River Valley over the past five years, and we expect this year’s event to be bigger than ever, given the current popularity of Chris Young. Continuing this tradition of offering outstanding family entertainment that also benefits important local nonprofit agencies is important to us, and we are grateful for the fantastic support we receive from the City of Fort Smith to make this possible,” Cox Arkansas market leader and vice president of field services Kim Rowell said in a statement.

On the day of the show, gates open at 6 p.m., and the opening act, Backroad Anthem, will perform at 6:30 p.m., with Young set to take the stage by 7:45 p.m.

According to Cox, guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the performance, as no seating will be provided. No food or drinks from outside the gate will be allowed on the premises. Food and beverages will be available at the venue for purchase, with the proceeds coming directly back to the community through local charitable initiatives.