DEL NORTE — The South Fork Music Association, which puts on the San Luis Valley's oldest and largest music festival, announced the lineup Wednesday. It includes more than a dozen musical acts and a wide variety of musical styles.  

It has been held every year since 2006, except 2020 and 2021, to raise money for school music programs in the San Luis Valley. Last year's festival raised $20,000 and saw 2,100 attendees from all over the state and region.  

"We've conservatively built this thing over 18 years. These are national touring acts. These are bands people are seeing across the country. And they're seeing their names on much bigger festivals than ours. And people are like, 'I can see them in Del Norte," said association president Scott Stecken.  

The Friday night headliner is Andy Frasco & the UN, whose danceable funk jams will get the party started with a bang. Saturday's main act is the "acousta-delic jamgrass" band The Kitchen Dwellers. Sunday night will feature rising star Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country.  

The latter act was supposed to headline last year's festival but travel difficulties forced Donato to cancel. From a New York airport, he pledged on social media to return this year, with an even larger following than in 2024. 

Said Stecken, "He held to his promise. He said last year he would be back and they're coming back for sunday. This year he's doing other shows in Colorado so we know he'll make it here." 

"I am excited. It's got a little bit of everything. We've held true to what we've given people every year, what they expect of us." 

New this year will be a separate fee for camping, which Stecken said was necessary to comply with the county lodging tax. He said 85 to 90 percent of attendees camp on site, which is just north of the Rio Grande bridge in Del Norte.  

Also new this year will be a second stage, where smaller artists will perform during breaks in-between the main bands. There will also be late-night sets.  

For San Luis Valley residents, this year will also have discounted day passes. Attendees will need to have a driver's license with a local zip code. The discounted price has yet to be determined.  

It will be the fourth year it's been held in Del Norte, after owners of the South Fork location decided to build an RV park. The town has embraced the festival, and festival-goers have embraced Del Norte.  

Attendees flock to the town park for free music Thursday, into town for the Covered Wagon Days parade and events Saturday and to the Rio Grande water park and play wave throughout the festival, often in the hundreds.  

"It's been a positive move because people can walk from the festival grounds into town. They come in to get coffee. They come in to go to restaurants. They come to the parade. Their kids enjoy the parade and they get to enjoy the town which is something our last location didn't have," said Stecken.  

Kids and families remain a primary focus of the festival, with room to play and activities for them, in a setting where parents know it is safe for them to roam. 

"I like to think of it as more of a picnic than a festival. Families can afford to come, which is why we always have some of the cheapest kid tickets for any festival in the state," said Stecken.  

"We've held true to the roots of what we started in South Fork, that is a family-friendly festival which they can enjoy without having to worry so much about where their kids are. They have some room to play." 

See the full lineup and purchase tickets visit www.rhtyhmsontherio.com.