In 2006, Geordie Gillett was still pretty new to town. His office was in downtown Victor and he owned an open lot in downtown Driggs. Taking cues from the Vail Valley Foundation’s efforts to find a vessel that could represent recreation, culture and community, Geordie was inspired to recreate the free music series model.

With the aid of a young nonprofit board working out of the VARD’s original conference room above a Mexican restaurant, the Teton Valley Foundation was born ready to do the impossible by bringing national acts to an off-the-beaten-path destination in a rural boutique community. Twenty years later, Gillett says he couldn’t even begin to dream that Music on Main would become what it is today.

“It’s the quality of life that we’re trying to share and preserve,” Gillett said has always been the inspiration from the beginning.

“I had been fishing on the South Fork the morning before the first concert and remember coming over Pine Creek Pass wondering if anyone was going to show up, and worried about whether we could pull off producing a concert series,” he said. By year two, as Los Lobos took the stage, and Gillett saw the entire lot on the corner of Little and Main filled with people and vendors, he realized what kind of legs Music on Main was just beginning to stretch. By year three, the concerts would move to the Driggs City Center before eventually finding a home at the Victor City Park.

“Over the years we have tried out a lot of programming, and some of these events have become their own organizations, but all of it as a collective has been about helping Teton Valley realize its potential as a destination and as a place to call home,” he said. 

Gillett said the move to Victor City Park and with the assistance of then-Victor mayor Scott Fitzgerald also paved the way for Kotler Ice Arena to realize its potential as an additional recreational opportunity in Teton Valley. Twenty years later, the Teton Valley Foundation has produced a state-champion hockey team, and Music on Main is getting national coverage.

“I remember these kids pushing chairs on the ice, learning to ski and playing on the grass at the concerts—and these days you can see how important the concerts have become to everyone,” he said.

Please join the Teton Valley Foundation in celebrating 21 years of community-supported music in 2026 as a thank-you to everyone who has hammered in a tent stake, picked up trash, moved fencing and supported Music on Main throughout the years—the festival has gotten here because of its community!

Shout out to the Shefter Family Foundation and their generous support as a presenting sponsor, ensuring TVF can focus on program planning during the off-season.

Some say it takes a village; TVF knows it takes a valley!