Fans doubled down on country music last weekend as hometown stars Jake Owen and Scotty Emerick took to the stage during the Beach Town Music Festival. Festival-goers were thrilled to finally settle into their beach chairs for the two-day concert in Vero Beach, the inaugural event having been postponed when Hurricane Matthew made its visit to Florida in 2016.

Two large screens ensured everyone could see the performers, which also included Clare Dunn and David Nail, and cute little 6-year-old J.D. Sorensen singing a duet with Emerick. The crowd surged to their feet to welcome home headliner Jake Owen, who peppered his performance with references to his favorite old haunts, such as Riverside Café and Waldo’s, roller skating and hot summer days.

“I don’t care if I’m at Walmart buying fishing lures or out to dinner, year after year the people of this community say the nicest things,” said Owen, giving heartfelt thanks to his fans. “I just hope you guys know how much you mean to me. It’s been 11 years that we’ve been doing the Jake Owen Foundation concert. And without a community like this we wouldn’t be raising the money we’re raising for the people that need it and I wouldn’t be standing on this stage here today playing for you guys. I’m proud of Vero Beach.”

On Saturday night some fans enjoyed a more intimate evening with their hometown hero at An Evening with Jake to benefit the Jake Owen Foundation, held at the Vero Beach Country Club. Guests packed the VIP reception and enjoyed a bountiful buffet, drinks and a silent auction before auctioneer Wesley Davis cajoled them into a live-auction bidding frenzy that raised more than $63,000.

After the dust settled singer/songwriter Scotty Emerick joined Owen on stage and the two got down to business, playing some of their favorites and reminiscing with the audience about growing up in Vero Beach. The guests, comprised in large part of friends and family, had plenty of tales to tell about the pair as well, giving the evening the feeling of a laid-back family reunion.

Sunday morning the day dawned bright with a crisp nip in the air as golfers headed to the greens for the Hale Groves Indian River Grapefruit Pro-Am, also at the Vero Beach Country Club, where Owen raised even more money for the foundation playing with champion golfer John Daly.

The Jake Owen Foundation has raised more than $1.25 million, with 80 percent of the funds remaining in Indian River County to benefit such nonprofits as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County, Hibiscus Children’s Center and the Mardy Fish Foundation. Nationally, Owen’s foundation supports the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for children battling cancer and other childhood diseases.

Other dedicated music fans returned to the Beach Town Music Festival, trekking through the mud Saturday night for performances by Beyond Blondes, David Ray, Edwin McCain, the Gin Blossoms and headliner Bret Michaels.

The Festival returns to Vero Beach next Dec. 7-8 featuring Vince Neil of Motley Crue.