FloydFest ‘24 ~ Horizon: Forever Home

This year, FloydFest unveiled its new 200-acre home, and my husband and I were thrilled to experience it with our kids and a few members of our extended family.  The first time we attended FloydFest was the last festival held at their old location in 2022 when I was 8 months pregnant with our third child. After a break in 2023 to tie up all the loose ends of a major move, FloydFest24~ Horizon was back with an unmatched excitement and buzzing energy. The festival has always been a magical place for music lovers, but this year’s expanded venue added an extra layer of excitement and discovery. Nestled in the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the new location offered more room for exploration, creativity, and family-friendly fun. Here’s a glimpse into our adventure of how our family embraced the magic of FloydFest at its new home.

A Grand Welcome

Driving into Festival Park, the vastness of the new location immediately struck us. The festival’s layout of sprawling fields and wooded areas was designed to accommodate festival-goers for camping and parking onsite. The welcoming atmosphere, with bubbly volunteers guiding us to our camping area, set the tone for a weekend filled with fun and discovery.

We quickly realized we would need to spend a bit of time familiarizing ourselves with the new, larger space that boasts more rolling and rugged hills than the previous location.  After catching the end of a show at the nearest stage and meeting up with family, we made our way on foot, downhill to the main area of the festival and set up our spot so we could explore the rest of the grounds and get our bearings which didn’t take long as all of the stages and amenities were easily accessible, ensuring you most likely wouldn’t miss the start of a set from one stage to the next if you planned accordingly.  Thoughtfully (and thankfully) FloydFest provides an onsite shuttle that came in clutch with three kids and a wagon full of all their stuff.   

Musical Adventures for All Ages

FloydFest has always been known for its diverse musical lineup, and this year was no exception. The new location offers multiple stages, each hosting an array of talented artists from various genres. Our family enjoyed everything from folk and bluegrass to rock and world music, dancing and singing together under the open sky. One of our favorite parts about FloydFest is learning about new artists and being immersed in their music. We love how the artists interact during the show and many times afterwards. 

The energy live music brings is indescribable and the kids love to meet and chat with the musicians when the show is over.  Watching my kids twirling and dancing to live music or pushing their way to the front row fills me with a sense of warmth and pride that they are able to have such incredible experiences in a safe space to really embrace themselves and be free without judgment. 

Creative Experiences and Nature Exploration

Photo courtesy of Dave Parrish

FloydFest’s new location offers a variety of activities that sparked our children’s creativity and curiosity. The Children’s Universe was a hub of activity, with arts and crafts stations where kids could paint, experiment with tie-dye, and create to their hearts’ content. The festival also features interactive experiences like drum circles and open mic sessions, where participants could express themselves and connect with others. These moments of creative freedom are empowering and enriching, allowing kids to explore new interests and talents.

The festival’s commitment to environmental education is always evident in the Outdoor Adventure workshops offered. Patrons are encouraged to learn about local wildlife, plant identification, and the importance of preserving our natural surroundings. These experiences deepen their appreciation for nature and inspire them to become stewards of the environment.

Building Community and Connection

                                                                           Photo courtesy of Ryan Guite

One of the most rewarding aspects of FloydFest is the sense of community that permeates the festival. The festival’s spirit of inclusivity and kindness is evident everywhere, from our sweet 20-something neighbor putting glittery make-up on our girls each morning, to fellow parents offering a helping hand, to older spectators making comments about how even though this stage in life is so hard, bringing our children to FloydFest will stick with them forever and immersing them in this experience will only serve to foster their love for the arts their entire lives. This sense of connection and camaraderie always makes us feel like we are part of something truly special. 

Until Next Time

Packing up our campsite and preparing to leave FloydFest’s new forever home I found myself reflecting on the incredible experiences and memories we had created together with a deep sense of gratitude. Attending FloydFest with our kids allows us to embrace the festival’s magic in a meaningful way, deepening our connection to music, nature, and each other.  And as expected, the kids were all in tears as we pulled away from our campsite, mourning the end of their favorite 5 days of the year. 

FloydFest is more than just a music festival; it’s a celebration of life, love, and family. It’s a place where children can explore their creativity, discover the beauty of the natural world, and learn the value of community and togetherness. We left the festival with full hearts and a renewed appreciation for the simple joys of life, eagerly anticipating our return next year to this new and inspiring forever home.

This blog is sponsored by FloydFest ‘24 Horizon.**You can keep up with all things FloydFest onFacebookand Instagram, as well as theirwebsite.

A very special thank you to our friend Brian Swenk from Across the Way Productions for always making FloydFest such a special experience for our family and to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jake and Mary Byers for dancing and singing with our girls, loving them so well and creating memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.