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It’s starts with The Dweebs and ends with country superstar Toby Keith.
And the line-up in between is peppered with notables such as Gary Allan, Phil Vassar, Brad Paisley, Terri Clark and more.
Country Jam, the annual country music juggernaut, takes over Mack starting today and ends Sunday.
The festival has evolved into something more than the music. Though a great line-up helps, thousands make the pilgrimage for all that the four-day event has to offer — a mini-city set up for the hedonistic country fan.
Here’s what you need to know to get started on the adventure:
Tickets
At the gate:
• 1-day general admission $70 ($55 at area Stop N Saves)
• 4-day general admission $150 ($129 at area Stop N Saves)
• 1-day reserved seating $120 (based on availability)
• 4-day reserved lawn seating $230
• Thursday VIP seating $150
• 1-day (Fri., Sat. or Sun.) VIP seating $220
• 4-day VIP $600 (based on availability)
• 4-day VIP suites $1,000
Reserved and VIP seating are no longer on sale on the Internet. Folks can only buy these tickets at the gate, and tickets are subject to availability.
Camping and Lodging
The mini-city that is Country Jam’s campground has been known to accommodate 15,000 festival goers. And according to Julie Shafer, Country Jam sponsorship and marketing director, there are campsites still available. Folks can buy them only on location at the campground gate. There are no more Internet sales for campsites.
For out-of-towners who don’t want to live like refugees, hotel rooms are sparse. Random calls to Horizon Drive hotels revealed weekend sell-outs at the Holiday Inn, Grand Vista Hotel, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Affordable Inn. DoubleTree is forecasting a sell-out, while Mesa Inn still has rooms available. Closer to Mack is LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 570 Raptor Road in Fruita, and as of Wednesday at 5 p.m., that hotel had 12 rooms left, but reservations are a two-night minimum this weekend, said Tasha Martz, front office manager.
The bottom line, according to Jennifer Grossheim Harris, Visitor and Convention Bureau marketing and public relations coordinator, is that the mix of business folks, oil and gas industry employees and Country Jammers, and the fact that this is a busy tourist season makes for a possible lodging sell-out this weekend in Grand Junction.
Shuttle service
The shuttle provided by Laidlaw has pick-up points at Central and Grand Junction high schools, Holiday Inn Express (24 Road), Super 8 Fruita, Super 8 Horizon Drive, DoubleTree Hotel, La Quinta Inn, Grand Vista Hotel and Holiday Inn on Horizon. Thursday’s first shuttle pick-up begins at 1 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Sunday shuttles start running at 11 a.m. Buses will return to Grand Junction following the evening’s last act.
Cost is $8 round-trip, or $20 for the weekend. For more information, call Laidlaw at 241-1570.
“We’re really encouraging people to take the Laidlaw shuttle; we don’t want drinking and driving so we’re really working with Mesa County to improve and better the safety for everyone,” Shafer said.
For those dwelling in tent city, there is a campground shuttle with stops at the farthest reaches of the park.
“Laidlaw will provide two buses running continuously for most of the day and bringing folks to the east gate. They’ll also run shuttles back to the campground after the show at the end of the night,” Shafer said.
And new this year is the Fruita shuttle.
“A free Fruita shuttle will run 8 a.m. to noon. Two shuttles will run from the campground to Fruita, running about every 30 minutes,” she said.
For Jammers needing a weekend fitness fix, or maybe a cool shower and a healthy smoothie, Country Jam has partnered with Fruita Fitness Center to provide such amenities. For $35, Jammers get a five-day passport to the gym. Just hop on the free Fruita shuttle which will drop folks off at Circle Park near the fitness center. For those interested, call the center at 858-5300.
Special Sunday event
As a tribute to our servicemen and women, Sunday is designated Military Day at Country Jam.
All active military reserved and National Guard personnel will be allowed free entrance Sunday with a military I.D. card.
Five thousand small American flags will be handed out to Jammers at the gate.
An elite force of former soldiers will drop in to the concert site for Military Day.
Before Sunday headliner Toby Keith takes the stage, the Blackwater Parachute Team will drop in from the sky holding a giant American flag.
Members include former military members of the Army Rangers, Marine Recon, Navy SEAL and Special Forces/Golden Knights, said Greg Merschel, a former Marine recruiter in Grand Junction.
New to Country Jam this year
• VIP suites — “It’s air-conditioned with your own shaded location; it is fully catered with top-shelf food and beverage, very limited seating, and a great view,” Shafer said. Reservations run $1,000 for the entire festival.
• A second JumboTron screen on the right side facing the stage.
• Free Fruita shuttle departing from the Mack campground.
• Country Jam Country Club — For a $50 membership fee, members receive an official program, commemorative Country Jam mug, Country Club pin, exclusive access to the members only tent complete with snacks, cash bar and daily drawings. Members have the opportunity to win tickets to future jams, meet and greets with performers and more. For more information, call (800) 530-3020.
Side entertainment
Expect the usual sideshow events to pass the time between concert acts such as a mechanical bull, two side bars — Jack Daniels’ Saloon and Southern Comfort voodoo lounge — and live entertainment stages.
In addition, several major companies will be bringing in their promotional RVs.
“The mass merchandising displays will be the biggest ever this year,” Shafer said.
Bringing massive mobile marketing units is Carhartt, Country Music Television, BFGoodrich, U.S. Army, National Guard and more. Stage sponsor Murdoch’s is handing out 30,000 scratch-and-win cards to concert goers.
Country Jam does good
It takes thousands of local folks to put on a successful jam.
Most of those workers come in the form of volunteers, working on behalf of a nonprofit organization.
“For many local nonprofits, this is their major fundraiser,” Shafer said.
She expects that $50,000 to $75,000 will be donated back to organizations such as Fruita Little League, Central High volleyball and many others for their volunteer service.
One more thing
Take lots of pictures, so you can post them on the Free Press Country Jam photo gallery at gjfreepress. Bring lawn chairs and blankets if seated in general admission.
Slop on the sunscreen, bring tons of water, and expect to melt.
The forecast is predicting to hit the 90s and low 100s.
Reach Tracy Dvorak at tdvorak@gjfreepress.com.
And the line-up in between is peppered with notables such as Gary Allan, Phil Vassar, Brad Paisley, Terri Clark and more.
Country Jam, the annual country music juggernaut, takes over Mack starting today and ends Sunday.
The festival has evolved into something more than the music. Though a great line-up helps, thousands make the pilgrimage for all that the four-day event has to offer — a mini-city set up for the hedonistic country fan.
Here’s what you need to know to get started on the adventure:
Tickets
At the gate:
• 1-day general admission $70 ($55 at area Stop N Saves)
• 4-day general admission $150 ($129 at area Stop N Saves)
• 1-day reserved seating $120 (based on availability)
• 4-day reserved lawn seating $230
• Thursday VIP seating $150
• 1-day (Fri., Sat. or Sun.) VIP seating $220
• 4-day VIP $600 (based on availability)
• 4-day VIP suites $1,000
Reserved and VIP seating are no longer on sale on the Internet. Folks can only buy these tickets at the gate, and tickets are subject to availability.
Camping and Lodging
The mini-city that is Country Jam’s campground has been known to accommodate 15,000 festival goers. And according to Julie Shafer, Country Jam sponsorship and marketing director, there are campsites still available. Folks can buy them only on location at the campground gate. There are no more Internet sales for campsites.
For out-of-towners who don’t want to live like refugees, hotel rooms are sparse. Random calls to Horizon Drive hotels revealed weekend sell-outs at the Holiday Inn, Grand Vista Hotel, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Affordable Inn. DoubleTree is forecasting a sell-out, while Mesa Inn still has rooms available. Closer to Mack is LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 570 Raptor Road in Fruita, and as of Wednesday at 5 p.m., that hotel had 12 rooms left, but reservations are a two-night minimum this weekend, said Tasha Martz, front office manager.
The bottom line, according to Jennifer Grossheim Harris, Visitor and Convention Bureau marketing and public relations coordinator, is that the mix of business folks, oil and gas industry employees and Country Jammers, and the fact that this is a busy tourist season makes for a possible lodging sell-out this weekend in Grand Junction.
Shuttle service
The shuttle provided by Laidlaw has pick-up points at Central and Grand Junction high schools, Holiday Inn Express (24 Road), Super 8 Fruita, Super 8 Horizon Drive, DoubleTree Hotel, La Quinta Inn, Grand Vista Hotel and Holiday Inn on Horizon. Thursday’s first shuttle pick-up begins at 1 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Sunday shuttles start running at 11 a.m. Buses will return to Grand Junction following the evening’s last act.
Cost is $8 round-trip, or $20 for the weekend. For more information, call Laidlaw at 241-1570.
“We’re really encouraging people to take the Laidlaw shuttle; we don’t want drinking and driving so we’re really working with Mesa County to improve and better the safety for everyone,” Shafer said.
For those dwelling in tent city, there is a campground shuttle with stops at the farthest reaches of the park.
“Laidlaw will provide two buses running continuously for most of the day and bringing folks to the east gate. They’ll also run shuttles back to the campground after the show at the end of the night,” Shafer said.
And new this year is the Fruita shuttle.
“A free Fruita shuttle will run 8 a.m. to noon. Two shuttles will run from the campground to Fruita, running about every 30 minutes,” she said.
For Jammers needing a weekend fitness fix, or maybe a cool shower and a healthy smoothie, Country Jam has partnered with Fruita Fitness Center to provide such amenities. For $35, Jammers get a five-day passport to the gym. Just hop on the free Fruita shuttle which will drop folks off at Circle Park near the fitness center. For those interested, call the center at 858-5300.
Special Sunday event
As a tribute to our servicemen and women, Sunday is designated Military Day at Country Jam.
All active military reserved and National Guard personnel will be allowed free entrance Sunday with a military I.D. card.
Five thousand small American flags will be handed out to Jammers at the gate.
An elite force of former soldiers will drop in to the concert site for Military Day.
Before Sunday headliner Toby Keith takes the stage, the Blackwater Parachute Team will drop in from the sky holding a giant American flag.
Members include former military members of the Army Rangers, Marine Recon, Navy SEAL and Special Forces/Golden Knights, said Greg Merschel, a former Marine recruiter in Grand Junction.
New to Country Jam this year
• VIP suites — “It’s air-conditioned with your own shaded location; it is fully catered with top-shelf food and beverage, very limited seating, and a great view,” Shafer said. Reservations run $1,000 for the entire festival.
• A second JumboTron screen on the right side facing the stage.
• Free Fruita shuttle departing from the Mack campground.
• Country Jam Country Club — For a $50 membership fee, members receive an official program, commemorative Country Jam mug, Country Club pin, exclusive access to the members only tent complete with snacks, cash bar and daily drawings. Members have the opportunity to win tickets to future jams, meet and greets with performers and more. For more information, call (800) 530-3020.
Side entertainment
Expect the usual sideshow events to pass the time between concert acts such as a mechanical bull, two side bars — Jack Daniels’ Saloon and Southern Comfort voodoo lounge — and live entertainment stages.
In addition, several major companies will be bringing in their promotional RVs.
“The mass merchandising displays will be the biggest ever this year,” Shafer said.
Bringing massive mobile marketing units is Carhartt, Country Music Television, BFGoodrich, U.S. Army, National Guard and more. Stage sponsor Murdoch’s is handing out 30,000 scratch-and-win cards to concert goers.
Country Jam does good
It takes thousands of local folks to put on a successful jam.
Most of those workers come in the form of volunteers, working on behalf of a nonprofit organization.
“For many local nonprofits, this is their major fundraiser,” Shafer said.
She expects that $50,000 to $75,000 will be donated back to organizations such as Fruita Little League, Central High volleyball and many others for their volunteer service.
One more thing
Take lots of pictures, so you can post them on the Free Press Country Jam photo gallery at gjfreepress. Bring lawn chairs and blankets if seated in general admission.
Slop on the sunscreen, bring tons of water, and expect to melt.
The forecast is predicting to hit the 90s and low 100s.
Reach Tracy Dvorak at tdvorak@gjfreepress.com.
