Whether you’re a dedicated fan or new to outdoor adventures, Roanoke Go Outside Festival, A.K.A. GO Fest, is the annual event you won’t want to miss. This three-day event is packed full of entertainment for outdoor lovers of all ages. Where else are you going to find log rolling, yoga, and BMX all in one place AND for free? And that’s just the start. We’re bringing you the ultimate planning guide so you can get the most out of all three days of Roanoke’s most epic annual outdoor celebration. Let’s hit opening night!
You’ve worked all week and now it’s time to play. The festival officially begins at 6 p.m., so leave the workweek behind and head out to GO Fest for the kick-off night.
First, grab a bite to eat and a cold one. Every year, GO Fest has numerous food trucks stationed within the festival, so no matter what you’re craving, it’s likely to be available. With a tent-covered dining area it’s easy to refuel after a long day of 9 to 5. Need a pick-me-up? Find coffee, tea, kombucha and more. And sweets treats? Yeah, there’s plenty of those. Like cupcakes, doughnuts, and ice cream for starters.
Next, pick up your pre-ordered GO Fest merch from the Press Press Merch tent. Did you forget to order that? There’s still time. Click here to see all of the exclusive GO Fest gear including tees, hoodies, hats, and even Hydroflask pint cups!
Now, you’ve got some big options at your disposal. For a bit of physical activity, try out fly fishing demos from some of our vendors. Test your kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding skills in the demo pool, smoke the competition in a fat tire tractor pull, or get really adventurous and join the Parkway Brewing Beer Relay that kicks off at 6:30 pm. Register for that here!
Want to wind down? Chill out at the Haley Toyota Music stage featuring an epic lineup of regional musicians. Southern Avenue, GOTE, and 2019 Floyd Fest’s On-The-Rise artist, Mason Via & Hot Trail Mix will be owning the stage this evening. If you’d like to chill even further, head over to the family campground for a big screen presentation of Bike Shorts Film Festival. This is a collection of some of the best, most creative short films from all over the world.
Ready to call it a night? We got you. Camp for free at any of our many camping-site options. Space is limited, so you’ll want to register ahead of time, but registering doesn’t guarantee you a spot. The camp sites are on a first-come-first-serve basis, so we suggest getting there on Friday night to score a spot. Get all the camping info you need here.
There’s something for everyone on this opening night of GO Fest. Stroll around and enjoy vendors from around the region. Try out that bicycle you’ve been wanting to purchase, learn how to keep Virginia beautiful when you’re out on the trail, or grab a set of wireless headphones and dance your heart out at the ENO silent dance party (complete with DJ and a light show).
There’s not another Friday night like this for another 365 days, folks. Stay tuned for the next two blog posts where we’ll map out Saturday and Sunday at GO Fest so you can start planning ahead!
