Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press newspaper on June 30, 2016.

The attendance at Saturday’s Floyd Fandango Showdown Throwdown far surpassed last year’s counterpart. Presented by Across the Way Productions (ATWP) at the Floydfest site, the one day event was packed with “something for everyone,” but was also easygoing with lots of elbow room to play and time for visiting with friends, old and new.

Some attendees said it reminded them of the early days of Floyfest, now celebrating its 15th year.  Others saw it as a warm-up for the upcoming 5 day festival (July 27 – 31), dubbed Floydfest 16 Dreamweavin’ and headlining Greg Allman, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby and others.

Billed at “the love child of cult classic Floyd Fandango and 2015’s epic Showdown Throwdown Battle of the Bands finale,” the 2016 Floyd Fandango is described by festival organizers as “a boutique grassroots festival experience” that delivers an “old-skool festival vibe for its regional tribe.”

With a focus on outdoor adventure, this year’s Fandango activities included a disc golf tournament, a 5K foot race and a Moonstomper mountain bike race, complete with an obstacle course and hand-built jump ramps. A roster of winning bands from battle of the bands shows at The Phoenix – a nightclub in Roanoke owned by Floydfest/ATWP founders Erika Johnson and Kris Hodges – was featured at the Hill Holler Stage and showcased some of the talent that will be competing at Floydfest’s patron-voted On the Rise competition.

Event vending booths included area art wares, such as paintings, clothing, pottery and more.  Floyd’s Fat Bean Farm and Dogtown Roadhouse provided farm fresh food and drew long lines.  A farm-to-table meal prepared by Martin’s Downtown of Roanoke, using ingredients from Floyd’s Riverstone Organic Farm, was a popular event add-on that was served in the shade of the Pink Floyd Beer Garden and sold-out fast.   Free workshops included a bike troubleshooting clinic, wilderness first aid, stilt walking and dream-catcher and fairy house creating at the Children’s Universe.

Beer pints or wine glasses with token exchanges for libation samplings were part of the ticket price – a bargain at $20 ($15 pre-sale) with free onsite camping and parking.   Tastings of regional craft beer, wine and cider took place at the “Drink Tank” tent throughout the day.  An inaugural Beer Run Relay Race that was fueled by “Floyd Fuel,” a pale ale craft brewed by Salem’s Parkway Brewery, attracted an enthusiastic crowd of spectators and participants. _____Colleen Redman _________Watch a video clip of the Beer Run Relay Race HERE and one of Urban Soil and dancers HERE.

A Beer Run Relay Racer sprints from the starting line.

Attendees show their enthusiasm for the Greensboro-based band Doby.

I ran into my friend Joel who used to live in Floyd but lives off the coast of Florida now.

Our friend Ian and Joe have a lot of elbow room to dance.

Friends Ivan Anderson of Healing Tree and Troika Gallery’s Susan Icove enjoyed the slow-paced afternoon and meeting up with friends.

Satya (right) ran her first 5K race with her mother Sarah McCarthy.

Fandango/Floydfest/ATWP co-founder Erika Johnson was out and about with friend Holly.

Fandango attendees practice stilt walking.

Photos from 1- 8: 1. Face painting artists Lisa Lotek (left) and Susan Saunders (center) were in festive form. 2. Delaney Reirson (far right) – Riverstone Farm crew farmer that heads up the farm’s Farmers Market booth, celebrates with friends. 3. Dancers enjoyed the music of Urban Soil, a four piece band from Raleigh, North Carolina that will be competing for a prize package in Floydfest’s On the Rise patron-voted competition. 4. Floyd’s Springhouse Community School student Ben Pierce tried out the Mooonstomper jump ramp.  5. Members of the Moonstomper mountain bike club include Moonstomper trail organizer Paul Sullivan (far right) and bike race and 5K race winner Victor Guevara (next to Sullivan). Steve Howard (center) of the Moonstomper mountain bike group, said members built and maintain the festival site’s mountain bike trail.  They also host the bike race events.  6. Angela Vitale, Riverstone Farm Greenhouse manager, dishes up some homemade slaw to a dinner guest in the Pink Floyd Beer Garden. 7. Fandango-goers from Greensboro, NC and Roanoke.  8. Floyd Countian Tom Franko poured craft beer, wine and cider for patrons attending tastings at the Drink Tank tent.