Arts, Leisure and Sports
The company behind FloydFest has received its final permit approval to develop its new Festival Park – and has confirmed the music festival will be back next year at the site in Floyd County. It comes after the festival was shut down this year when revisions to its stormwater management plan were not made by the deadline set. Organizers say after a year of careful planning, they will be protecting wetlands at the new site near Check – and they did not find any Bog turtles on the property – which was another concern. McBroom says VDOT has also given the okay to get started on new roads into the Festival site as well. John McBroom is the CEO for Across the Way Productions; he says loyal FloydFest fans will return after the unexpected hiatus this summer.
Photo: “Oliver!” cast from Attic Productions Facebook page
A musical adaptation of a classic novel will hit a local stage this week. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has details:
In the program’s second year and with a former Olympian at the helm, Roanoke College is set to hold its first cross-country mountain bike race, next weekend at Explore Park. Details from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
FB photos
The 13th annual Floyd Yoga Jam is gearing up for visitors from all over the country. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more on the 4-day celebration of music, yoga and healing arts.
Roanoke’s annual showcase of its metro-mountain lifestyle – the Go Outside Festival – is back again in mid-October. That means the lumberjack show, outdoor equipment out-fitter demos, live music, craft beer, outdoor-themed films and more. An early preview from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:ROANOKE, VA (August 9, 2022) – The Anthem GO Outside Festival (GO Fest) returns to Elmwood Park in Roanoke this October 13-15. Organizers are pleased to announce a new partnership with Explore Park to offer festival camping to attendees, as well as the return of favorite shows including the renowned Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, and an opportunity to raise funds for regional outdoor initiatives through Project Outside.
GO Fest is celebrating its 13th year of building a better outdoor community, and the addition of Explore Park to the festival community showcases the Roanoke Region’s unique metro-mountain lifestyle, connecting the remarkable outdoor recreation area to the vibrant downtown core with a short shuttle ride. Attendees wishing to camp out during the festival can reserve camping spaces with Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism in early September.
These campers will be able to spend part of their day wandering Explore Park’s hiking and biking trails, accessing the Roanoke River, playing disc golf, enjoying an aerial adventure at Treetop Quest, or drinking craft beer at Twin Creeks Brewing. Then, they can hop on the courtesy shuttle to the festival where they will explore hundreds of outdoor activities, pro-athlete shows, gear demos, live music, and world-class adventure films.
BRC Kurt Rheinheimer – Leisure Publishing photos
With the release of its 35th anniversary edition, the Editor-in-Chief for “Blue Ridge Country” magazine hails the people going back over three decades that helped BRC get off the ground – as it continues to thrive. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
ROANOKE, Va. – The Rail Yard Dawgs announced August 8, 2023 that head coach Dan Bremner’s contract has been extended through the 2025-2026 season. Bremner assumed the head coach role with the team in December of 2017. Not only has the team secured a playoff spot each season under Bremner’s leadership, Bremner has also coached the Dawgs to two back to back championship appearances, first in 2021-2022 and then again in 2022-2023. The team won their first ever SPHL President’s Cup in 2022-2023.
During Bremner’s seven years in the Roanoke Valley, he has tirelessly volunteered with Valley Youth Hockey Association earning him the Robert Sher Volunteer of the Year Award during their 2020-2021 season. Bremner was also recognized as a part of The Roanoker Magazine’s Class of 2023 “40 under 40” for his dedication and success in the area. “We’re pleased to sign Dan to this extension,” said team president Mickey Gray, “He’s done a phenomenal job representing our organization on the ice, with the local youth hockey program and in the Roanoke Valley as a whole. The success we’ve seen on the ice with Dan as our head coach is something we’re looking forward to continuing in the years to come.”
Gray was responsible for hiring Bremner back in 2017. The two first met when Gray was working for Peoria as the Assistant General Manager and Bremner was their team captain. “I’m very grateful for Mickey and the McGinns continuing to believe in me and my vision for this team,” said Bremner, “On the ice we’ve seen growth and improvements every season and I’m looking forward to tackling the challenges we will face defending our championship.”
The Rail Yard Dawgs will raise a championship banner to kick off the 2023-2024 season on Friday, October 20. Single game tickets for Opening Night and all other home games go on sale September 20 at Berglund Center box office and online.
