Roanoke's Go Fest 2023 Preview
Roanoke's Go Fest 2023 Preview
by Jason Jones
October 2023
Roanoke’s Go Outside Festival is widely recognized as one of the premier festivals in Virginia. The 2023 edition will be held at various venues in downtown Roanoke, Virginia and all events will be free to attend. The streets of downtown will be transformed into the Go Fest grounds, with event sites including the Campfire Stage, the Demo Pool, the BMX course, the Wellness Patio, the Peter Pan Playground, and the Elmwood Park Amphitheatre. The festivities launch on Friday, October 13, going from 2 - 8 PM, then continue throughout the day on Saturday October 14, from 8 AM - 11 PM, and again on Sunday October 15, from 8 AM - 5 PM.
Friday evening promises an exciting beginning to Go Fest. The demo pool opens at 5 PM, giving attendees the opportunity to try out kayaks and canoes; Get2KnowNoke will host a pop-up social at the Campfire Stage; and the always entertaining Beer Mile Relay Race starts at 6 PM. Friday also features slackline shows, a lumberjack show, and a screening of the Banff Mountain Film Festival selections.
Go Fest is organized by the Roanoke Go Outside Foundation in collaboration with Roanoke City Parks and Recreation. They have partnered with Roanoke County Parks and Recreation to provide camping at nearby Explore Park for this year’s festival. There will be shuttles to transport campers back and forth.
Some Go Festers will start the day early on Saturday, as the Salem Half Marathon takes place at 8 AM, offsite in downtown Salem, Virginia; while the 5K on the ROA Runway starts at 9 AM, located at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Other morning events include Hustle/Haven hosting yoga flow at the Wellness Patio; bicycle rides and demos; bird watching at the Humble Hustle corner; and live music starts at 10:15 AM at Elmwood Park with The Kind, followed by The Ambassador & Chosen Few at 11:45 AM.
Midday Saturday features a bike rodeo at the Traffic Garden; The World’s Slowest Bike Race; a talk with James Gregory: The Ethnic Explorer at the Campfire Stage; Tic-Tac-Toe Trivia; music by Lazy Man Dub Band; and the ProTown BMX Stunt Show. Later in the afternoon, the Campfire Stage will present the parks director panel discussion and a talk with Asia Bright of Black Girls Hike. Other events include live music by Gabriel Marin’s Social Assassins; a road run; and , Eco Maniac Company’s litter scavenger hunt.
Saturday night features two more concerts at the Elmwood Park Amphitheatre, with Magic Beans taking the stage at 6 PM and The Werks at 8 PM. The silent disco at the Peter Pan Playground at Elmwood from 9 - 11 PM will conclude the Saturday night bill.
As Sunday morning comes down, early rising Go Fest attendees can hit the demo pool; attend their choice of yoga sessions; and pick from their favorite bicycling adventures, including the nine mile Roanoke River Greenway Bicycle Parade that departs from Vic Thomas Park at 9 AM.
Meanwhile, Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers will play a Sunday brunch set beginning at 10:15 AM at Elmwood Park. Helms, the blossoming songsmith from nearby Franklin County, Virginia, returns home as he tours in the buildup to the release of his debut album Tales of Misfortune. Other concerts at Elmwood Park Sunday include, Laney Jones at 12:15 PM, touring in support of the new album Stories Up High, Roanoke favorites Virginia Electric at 1:30 PM, and the final concert of the weekend by Led Zeppelin 2 at 3 PM.
If you missed your chance the previous two days, Sunday will offer more opportunities for the demo pool, yoga, bicycling, running, crafting, trivia, and to see the slackline, lumberjack, and BMX stunt shows throughout the afternoon. While downtown, be sure to freshen up on your outdoor skills with workshops hosted at the Humble Hustle corner; or create a tote bag at the Grateful Gypsy booth; or brush up on the art of carving and polishing stones at lapidary Mark Morgan’s Earth Treasures tent; or take your camping knowledge to the next level with a session at the Leave No Trace booth.
Roanoke’s Go Fest 2023 will present the best of what the Roanoke region is known for, incredible outdoor adventures; lively entertainment experiences with cultural impact; and kind hearted hospitality. However you decide to enjoy the festival, there will be new events, relatable events, fun events, and undoubtedly more events than you can attend in one weekend! For more information and daily event schedules, visit roanokegofest.com.
Check thecitysalt.com after the festival for Dan MacDonnell’s recap, featuring photos by Chelse Warren.
Note: all info, photos, and graphics from roanokegofest.com. <>
Photo credit: Openhead Takes Photos