With the arrival of spring, people are making vacation plans. New River Vally residents may be thinking about the beach or some far off oasis, but they could  be overlooking a  paradise in their own backyards.

Every year in July, thousands of people from around the country flock to Floyd County to share a festival experience like no other.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of FloydFest—now coined FloydFest X, The Experience.

Ten years ago, Kris Hodges and Erica Johnson, owners of Oddfellas restaurant in Floyd and Across the Way Productions, wanted to bring world class entertainment to the New River Valley. What began in 2001 as a gathering of 1,500 like-minded souls has grown to house 12,000 patrons and entertainment from around the world.

“Our vision was to produce a world music festival for the entire family and that’s not just a catch phrase, we mean it,” said Linda DeVito, Operations and Development Director for Across the Way Productions. “We pride ourselves in the fact that most of us have kids, we wanted to provide a festival where a patron, even us, would feel comfortable in bringing our kids to.”

“My first FloydFest experience came when [Across the Way Productions] came to me to do the mapping for the event,” said Andrew Foy, instructor of Geospatial Science at Radford University. “I’ve been to five or six FloydFests since then because it is a festival like no other.”

Don’t compare FloydFest to other festivals such as Bonnaroo or All Good.  FloydFest provides an atmosphere for the entire family, not just a field where kids get their heads spun. It is important that FloydFest be a place where all are comfortable to bring their children.

FloydFest X provides a Children’s Universe where children can create costumes and parade them around the grounds, music classes and performers aimed at kids, and even an open mic where children can stand on stage and share in the experience. Babysitting services are also provided by the festival for a small fee. FloydFest creates a family friendly environment where parents feel comfortable and kids are safe.

But FloydFest—featuring nine stages and more than 60 bands—is not just for kids. Bluegrass legends such as The Del McCoury Band, Australia’s own Xavier Rudd, and the Affrilachian sounds of the Carolina Chocolate Drops serve as a small example to the wide array of musical tastes that FloydFest will be offering to diverse palates.

“We have worked hard to bring in an eclectic mix of genres that will appeal to a mix of people,” DeVito said.  “People call it the vibe … the vibe we have is people coming together to experience camaraderie and hear great music and want to come for a weekend to have a great time.”

Off-site parking is new this year for FloydFest allowing for more camping and play space, accompanied by shuttle service to and from the parking lot. Heated stall showers, food vendors, and a beer tent will also be available to all who need soap or a little help relaxing. New to FloydFest is a community-supported Coffee Barn Project where attendees can enjoy artisan roasted coffee in an on-site coffee house.

“It’s a journey and a growth and we are lucky to do what we love,” DeVito said. “There is a love that spreads out and in return we are loved. You can see in the amount of people attending this year that if you do it for the right reasons people recognize it and want to be a part of it.”

Day passes will be limited this year due to the high number of tickets already sold. FloydFest organizers encourage people to buy passes if you plan on coming to the event.

“We are building a community,” Devito said. “We are lucky to share in these milestones and moments in people’s lives and we want to honor that trust. It’s what keeps us true.”