Country time

Grand Junction’s loss is Aztec’s gain. Last week, Tico Time announced that in addition to its regular slate of concert and festivals, it will also be hosting a country music festival, which will take place at the nearby venue June 26–28.

The decision came in response to the cancellation of Grand Junction’s long-running Country Jam festival. Robert Holmes, owner of Tico Time, said the idea came together quickly after news spread that the popular western Colorado festival would not be happening this year.

“When we heard Country Jam wasn’t going to happen in 2026, we realized there would be a lot of country music fans and artists without a place to gather,” Holmes said. 

Situated along the Animas River about 40 miles south of Durango, Tico Time has become an emerging music destination in the Four Corners, hosting multiple events each year that bring together music, camping, art and recreation along the riverside property near the Colorado–New Mexico border.

The new festival comes at a time when many music festivals across the country are facing increasing challenges, Holmes said. Rising costs for artists, staging and production have led to a number of festivals canceling or pausing operations in recent years.

Tico Time organizers say early excitement has been strong as soon as the lineup was released with many major national touring artists (for a list, please go to ticotimecountry.com)

Holmes added that all festivals are fundraisers for his nonprofit Pura Vida for Good, which funds substance abuse recovery efforts in the area. Holmes himself has been in recovery for 23 years.