Top 10 Ways to GO Fest in 2021

It’s true, a few things have changed at this year’s annual Anthem GO Outside Festival. The big change is the move into downtown Roanoke with the festival footprint spanning the streets and plazas from Market Square through Elmwood Park. We’ve also added a ticketed concert in Elmwood Park on Saturday, October 16 so that we can continue to raise funds for the Project Outside initiative.

We assure you ALL your old favorites (and maybe some new ones) will be joining us downtown during this year’s festival, October 15-17. Check out our list below of some of the events happening this year, that we are most excited about. But there are dozens of family-friendly, dog-centered, bike-loving, fishing-crazy, nature-obsessed activities for you to choose from.

Check out the full GO Fest schedule, and select your favorites now.

#1 – Banff Mountain Film Festival presented by Mast General Store:

For the first time in GO Fest history, the BANFF film world tour will kick off the weekend with an outdoor film viewing. Food and beer vendors will be onsite in Elmwood, but you can pack a picnic too (no outside alcohol). The viewing is free thanks to Mast General Store, however, we are asking for $5 donations (or more) to benefit Project Outside.

#2 – Freedom First Silent Disco:

This crowd favorite is back with four different time slots on Friday and Saturday where you can silently get down with your besties. The disco will be held in Century Plaza, which is going to be a really cool venue that we’ve never done before. Make sure to take turns as headphones are limited (we recommend a 30-minute maximum if there is a line). The Silent Disco is free thanks to Freedom First Credit Union.

#3 – Parkway Beer Relay presented by Fleet Feet:

Kick-off your GO Fest weekend with a team beer relay sponsored by Parkway Brewing and hosted by Fleet Feet Sports Roanoke! The relay will be held on GO Fest premises at Elmwood Park on Friday, October 15, 2021, at 6:15 pm (mandatory pre-race meeting starting at 6:00 pm). Awards will be provided for the top three finishing teams, as well as a grand prize for best costumes. Register Now.

Vintage Trouble in Elmwood on the Haley Toyota Stage – October 16

#4 – Live Music All Weekend Long on Two Stages:

One of the best parts of the downtown festival atmosphere is that we will have two stages offering music, dancing and fitness programming all weekend long. The headliner show in Elmwood Park, Vintage Trouble on the Haley Toyota Main Stage, will be held on Saturday, October 16. Gates open at 6:30pm, the opener Lazy Man Dub Band starts at 7 pm, and Vintage Trouble starts at 8 pm. The headliner show will be the ONLY paid concert at $25/person with all profits going to Project Outside. Buy tickets to Vintage Trouble now.

In the Market Area, Three Notch’d will host a LocalZone stage with bands and breakdancing troupes performing multiple times a day Friday through Sunday. This stage will host The Jared Stout Band, Dropping Julia, GOTE, Charissa Joy, and the Rangers Dance Crew. All these acts are free thanks to Three Notch’d Brewery Roanoke.

Join us Sunday for free live music in Elmwood on the Haley Toyota Main Stage starting at 1 pm, featuring the Floorboards and the JGC Trio.

Lumberjacks presented by Member One

#5 – Member One Lumberjack Show:

The Member One Lumberjack Show–a collection of the most flannel wearin’, ax swingin’, log rollin’, and saw pullin’ lumberjacks (and Jills) out of Hayward, Wisconsin–will be joining us at GO Fest to run the gamut on rough, tough lumberjack skills. The Lumberjack Show is brought to you by Member One Federal Credit Union. The Lumberjack Show is free and ongoing all weekend long.

#6 – Hop-on, Hop-Off Cycle Pub presented by Gentry Locke Attorneys

Star City Cycle Pub will be offering “hop-on, hop-off” rides between local establishments. If you see the cycle pub riding by, flag it down and hop on…then when you get to a brewery you want to check out just hop off. Star City Cycle Pub will be doing a continuous loop between Golden Cactus, Big Lick Brewing, Three Notch’d Brewing, and Deschutes Brewery. Ride Responsibly, Gentry Locke.com. The cycle pub is free and will be running Friday (6-9 pm), Saturday (4-6 pm), and Sunday (1-4 pm).

#7 – Climbing Wall presented by Glo Fiber 

Always a crowd favorite, come try out the climbing wall, brought to you by Glo Fiber. Once you get checked in, you’ll be outfitted with a harness, and hooked into the auto-belay system. How far up the wall will you climb? This event is free and ongoing all weekend long.

Free yoga, spinning, and fitness classes in Elmwood and Century Plaza all weekend long.

#8 – Free Fitness & Yoga Classes in Elmwood

Join all our favorite Roanoke fitness gurus including Hustle Haven, Uttara Yoga, YMCA, Ferguson Fitness, and more as they host free fitness activities for all ability levels and age groups throughout the weekend. Go to our online schedule, and click the “Yoga & Fitness” filter on each day to view what is available. Activities are still be added to the calendar so check back regularly.

#9 – Demo Pool presented by Freedom First 

Ever wanted to try out a stand-up paddleboard, and never got the chance? Been wanting to work on your paddle stroke? Come check out the GO Fest demo pool and try your hand at a new watercraft! Instructional classes and demos will also be offered free throughout the weekend. Stop by the Freedom First tent next to the demo pool and enter to win a kayak and Yeti cooler.

#10 – GO Quest Team Challenge presented by Starr Hill

Our popular 2020 event created as a unique way to challenge and bring friends together, even when we couldn’t be physically near one another — and GO Quest is back again for 2021! Teams of up to six individuals will have 102 hours, October 14-17, to complete 100+ missions. Feel the GO Fest spirit as you venture from one mission to the next. You’ll keep up with competitors on the social feed and track your progress on the GO Quest leader-board, all on the app.

The cost is $30/person, but the first 20 teams to sign up receive a sweet Starr Hill and GO Fest branded fanny pack. Register now.