Discover 5 Epic Musical Adventures in Virginia: Where Music Meets the Outdoors
Virginia offers endless options for music lovers and adventure seekers alike. Why choose between soul-stirring melodies and heart-pounding activities when you can have both? These top festivals, venues, and experiences in the Old Dominion State combine live music with thrilling outdoor pursuits—often in one unforgettable package.
FloydFest—Floyd
Since 2002, FloydFest has delivered stellar lineups and a vibrant community spirit deeply connected to its natural surroundings. Choose from on-site camping or VIP packages for prime stage access. The timber-framed stages harmonize with the landscape, enhancing your bond with the stunning backdrop. Beyond music, enjoy five days of adventures like “On the Water” float trips on the Little River (with lunch and shuttles), the family-friendly Belcher Mountain Beat Down downhill bike race, and 5K trail runs amid the festivities. Just 10 minutes from Floyd, this is a must for active music enthusiasts.
Anthem Go Outside Festival—Roanoke
This three-day extravaganza at Roanoke's Rivers Edge Sports Complex features over 300 events, including lumberjack shows, paddling demos, and dock-jumping dogs. Partnered by the Roanoke Outside Foundation and Parks & Recreation, it drew over 35,000 attendees in 2017. Dive in with biking, climbing, fishing, slacklining, yoga, and more. Learn new skills through workshops like fly-fishing basics or Backpacking 101. Evenings light up with headline acts on the Haley Toyota Music Stage, plus daytime acoustic sets—ideal for all ages.
Dominion RiverRock—Richmond
Kicking off with the infamous “Filthy 5k-ish Mud Run,” Dominion Energy RiverRock in May transforms Brown's Island and the James River Park System into an action-packed playground. Runners tackle 10Ks, half marathons, the James River Scramble, and Bust the Banks Trail Half. Cyclists conquer the Urban Assault Mountain Bike Race on East Coast's toughest urban singletrack. Paddlers race kayaks and SUPs, while others enjoy bouldering, slacklining, and yoga. Cap it with stars like Keller Williams, Blues Traveler, and Matisyahu—America's premier outdoor sports and music festival.
Breaks Interstate Park and the Crooked Road
Southwest Virginia's Crooked Road music heritage trail offers endless historic gems like the Carter Family Fold, Floyd Country Store, and Lincoln Theatre. For adventurers, end at the Ralph Stanley Museum near Breaks Interstate Park, spanning 4,500 mountainous acres across Virginia and Kentucky. Explore the 1,600-foot-deep Russell Fork River Gorge—the “Grand Canyon of the South”—via hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, or the thrilling Canyon Rim Zipline Tour (2,000 feet across three stops, launched in 2017).
Wolf Trap—Vienna
The only national park doubling as a performing arts center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts spans 117 acres in Vienna. Catch legends like Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, and Emmylou Harris at the wood-framed Filene Center amphitheater. Explore via the family-friendly 1.5-mile Wolf Trap TRACK Trail or the 2.5-mile Wolf Trap Trail maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Kids love the Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods with dance, stories, and puppets. Picnic your own pre-show meal after a hike!
