Facebook post sends optimistic message about Nelson's July 4th picnic

CAMDEN — Willie Nelson sent an optimistic message to fans in southern New Jersey after missing another show on his Outlaw Music Festival tour.

“Willie Nelson is looking forward to seeing everyone in Camden on July 4th,” according to a post on the singer’s Facebook page.

Nelson plans to hold his July 4 picnic at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on the Camden waterfront.

However, the July 2 Facebook post indicated that Nelson would not appear that night with the Outlaw tour in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

On the road once again: Independence Day Trips

The 91-year-old singer, citing an unspecified illness, has missed every show since the tour began on June 21.

His Facebook page indicated on June 28 that doctors had cleared Nelson to return to the stage this week.

Nelson missed shows over the weekend in Wantagh, New York, and Holmdel, in Monmouth County.

The music festival also went on without him during stops in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and upstate New York.

Nelson is the scheduled headliner for the all-star show, which includes Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Mavis Staples and others.

The tour is scheduled to end on September 20 with a performance in New Hampshire.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and Daily Journal. Email: [email protected].