Every year for the past 28 on the first Friday and Saturday of August the streets of downtown Blacksburg are flooded with music, crafts, and vendor sales. Steppin’ Out is back on the streets of Blacksburg, going from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 1 and 2.

Hosting more than 150 vendors from food to crafts to local organizations, something new lurks around every corner. Patrons of the festival will find hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, textiles, metal work, basketry, stained and fused glass, and much more.

Steppin’ Out was originally called Deadwood Days and began as just a few merchants who wanted to see an event that brought together the town of Blacksburg. It started with a few booths, local cooks, and people dressing up. It has now grown to more than 150 booths including food, crafts, and non-profit organizations. In addition, the entertainment has greatly expanded. “It went from a few barbecue ribs to most local restaurants cooking at the event,” said Laureen Blakemore, co-coordinator of Steppin’ Out.

More than 35,000 people come out to this event annually to see all of the high-quality crafts that are at the event. The most popular event at Steppin’ Out is the dunk tank along with the bands and of course the food.

There are now three stages of entertainment throughout the event. On the main stage there are national and regional notables in jazz, blues, rock, and reggae. Bands such as Mood Swing, Scott Perry and Front Porch Swing, The Emily Brass Band, Blacksburg Community Band, Melissa Reaves, Afromotive, and Blue Mule will be on the main stage. The acoustic stage includes old-time, bluegrass, and folk music. Acts such as Jason Byrd, Kat Mills (pictured above at FloydFest), Mike Mitchell, Mac & Jenny Traynham, Windfall, David Simpkins (pictured above at the Radford Farmers’ Market), and American Roots will be on the acoustic stage. The third stage includes dance schools and other community groups from around the area.

There is also a section of the festival called Community Connections. This section is full of non-profit organizations that give out all kinds of freebies. So many organizations have learned about Steppin’ Out that Blakemore has had to turn down some because they ran out of space.

All of the profits from Steppin’ Out go toward the benches in the downtown area along with the lamps, renovation of the Lyric Theatre, and the playgrounds in Blacksburg.

This year offers a special challenge to festival organizers: Three major construction projects are ongoing in Blacksburg’s Downtown. “I’d encourage anyone to come and check it out,” Blakemore said. “These projects are going to make our town and our festival even more vibrant in years to come.”

The Tech Bookstore on Main Street has added a second story, including a glass atrium. The Main Street Inn, a new boutique hotel, will open this fall to serve visitors during the football season and beyond. Also underway is an experimental theatre being built by Virginia Tech, right on College Avenue at the traditional center of the festival.

The Annual Draper Mile Run happens on Friday at 6:15 p.m., starting and ending on Draper Road, with the finish in the heart of the festival area.

Admission and parking to the festival is free. For a full schedule of bands, check here.

Anna Keffer is an intern for the New River Voice.