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This year is the 17th anniversary of travelingfan.net. When I first launched this blog back in 2008 after my 11th show, I never could have dreamed that I'd still be here 17 years later writing about my 245th. What began as a way to document my journey for myself and my closest friends has grown to reach an audience of fans all over the world, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and befriending in person. Through so many life changes, this blog has remained a constant space of comfort and clarity for me, and through it all, you, dear readers, have sat in the passenger seat along for the ride. Thank you for trusting me behind the wheel!
One particular staple for this blog has been my annual HANSON DAY reviews. For 15+ years, HANSON DAY has been a landmark gathering of the fan community in Hanson’s home town featuring special activities, concerts, and other chances for members to connect with each other. I dove in from the very first one and have continued to report back, year after year, always looking for a fresh spin on how to share the true HANSON DAY experience with fans far and wide.
Today, I’m sharing my official plan for covering HDAY 2025 and beyond.
travelingfan.net HDAY coverage is going to change.
Given the annual challenge to create fresh, new ways to review an event that is so similar from year to year, and the current uncertainty of the future of HDAY as a whole, I have decided that the best way to continue providing quality content is to fictionalize this event. The idea was born when the 2020 cancellation of in-person HDAY had me joking that I could still write a plausible in-depth review, even without the actual event. I’d like to test that theory. It was a tough decision, but after months of consideration, I believe that I can create an exciting new experience for all of us, perhaps even better than the real thing.
travelingfan.net's genre is going to change.
I will continue to share my usual HDAY coverage and any other shows I may attend through March 31, 2026. After that date, the current non-fiction format of this blog will conclude. This will allow me to continue to create content while the band embraces their own year of reflection, regardless of any decisions they may make that do not align with the future of this blog. That’s right, I’m going independent. Rest assured, the longevity of this blog and, by extension, your ability to live vicariously and experience a show without ever setting foot at it will no longer be reliant on Hanson.
Other benefits of a fictionalized travelingfan.net:
-I will be able to put out content more consistently without the constraints of a tour schedule or a budget
-I will have the creative license to bring you more exciting and eventful “trips” and “encounters” than ever before.
-Fans who have been begging Hanson to visit their hometown can finally have those dreams realized. Leave a comment with what city you’d like to see Hanson “visit”!
2025 Show Reviews
Show reviews are a key component of this blog. Because of the outpouring of love I have felt for so many of my favorite posts from past tours, during this year of reflection and transition, I have decided to share not just a new show review or two, but also 40 of my best non-fiction posts that have been edited and remastered, exclusively for my readers.
What is most important is that you know how incredibly grateful I am to YOU. Thank you for sticking with me through so many overly-wordy attempts at sharing my experience, including this one. I have been so incredibly blessed to have you as a reader and a fellow fan. What a gift it has been to be part of a community that has been shared by so many around the globe. I’m excited to see you in Tulsa this May and whatever destination you can dream up in 2026! Pick the destination, and I'll pick the road.
"Cause I've been raised on the open road, just spinning yarn and big fish tales."
P. S. we will be partnering with hansonstage to determine how fictional shows will be reflected in ongoing show counts.
