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Around the Valley & Back From FloydFest

July 29, 2019

I'm back from FloydFest and what a year it was! The weather was absolutely perfect- sunshine each day but never too hot. The FloydFest grounds looked amazing with the help of hundreds of volunteers who kept it neat and safe and there was so much to see and do. The Children's Universe area was full of fun including stilt-walking workshops with Miss Kitty's Cosmeanuts, family-friendly and kid-laden performances, dress-up tents, things to make, build and climb, sandboxes and more.  Dr. Bronner's Magic Foam experience was there for the second year keeping everyone squeaky clean, and there was frisbee golf,  the Ferrum College 5K,  zip-lining with Buffalo Mountain, rock wall, Gyroscope, workshops to take and a healing arts area where you could enjoy a massage or Reiki treatment and have your dreams interpreted. I tye-dyed a bandana, hung out in the hammock village, watched people do impressive things on slacklines, and was able to enjoy my beloved Veggie Thing sandwich. I noticed a number of new vendors as I poked around, and I bought Joe the coolest metal sculpture of one of his music idols. 

And the music-there were 100+ performances offered over 5 days!  I was there for 2 days, and for the first time, I did not camp and drove in. The Blue Ridge Parkway is such a gorgeous drive I found I enjoyed the drive as part of the experience and even stopped at a couple of the viewing spots for a Blue Ridge Mountain wow moment. 

One of the best parts of FloydFest is finding your favorite bands you've just not yet heard of. With 8 stages spread across the campus, you can simply roam around until something calls to you, or if you're more of a planner you can use the schedule and read up on who is playing where and a bit about them. The FloydFest Playlist even allows you to download ahead of time if you really want to do some research!  There were a number of past FloydFest favorites and headliners, including Leftover Salmon and the uber-talented Keller Williams (seriously- is there anything that guy can't do?).  Three new-to-me bands totally dazzled me this year. In no particular order, they are:

Yarn from New York ( below) had a big fan base looking for them, and no wonder. They played a variety of genres over a few sets, and everything just sounded so darn good! Beautiful storytelling and songwriting made me want to listen to every word, and with a few members in NC, apparently, we can catch Yarn nearby from time to time. They'll be at the Front Porch Fest in Stuart, VA August 30. 




The Yawpers from Boulder, CO ( below) are a garage band/rock-a-billy/punk/country mix that was harder than the rock I typically listen to and love, but I could not get enough of them and ran over to the merch tent afterward to buy a CD- they've made 3. Frontman named Nate Cook is so incredibly talented he was a real joy to watch. 




Bella's Bartok describes their genre as "Electric Folk Carnival" and it is unlike anything I've heard before. This is a group of not just musicians but entertainers, and the band's Vaudeville inspiration is apparent. I was surprised to learn they are from Northhampton, Massachusetts- and will look them up on my next visit back home!  Bella's Bartok had the crowd swaying, singing and dancing along with them the entire set which made them so enjoyable to watch. Take a peek below and see for yourself. They'll be playing in Washington, DC on September 27.

I say this every year and it's true: FloydFest is a fun, family-friendly festival with amazing talent and if you enjoy live music, you must go. Ticket options range from single day to the 5-day festival. Plan to purchase them in early 2020 for big savings. Kids under 6 attend free, and kids 6-12 are just $30.  We are fortunate to have FloydFest and the talent it brings so close.  See you there! 

Speaking of live music- Blacksburg is the place to be this weekend as Steppin' Out kicks off Friday at noon with continuous live music and performances on multiple stages through late Saturday night. If you're new to the area, Steppin' Out is a big deal and you'll want to check it out. Great food, 200+ artists and craftspeople, and clearance sales from Downtown Blacksburg merchants make it fun to browse. Admission is free and there are multiple shuttles to make parking a breeze.  Bring the kids but please leave the pets at home.  Pets are not allowed at Steppin' Out. 

Thanks for reading, and see you around the valley!

                                                                                               
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