FloydFest 2008 has come and gone, leaving us with fond memories until next year. Organizers for the annual event situated just off the Blue Ridge Parkway estimated the four-day crowd to be around 12,000-15,000. Festival organizers notoriously overestimate their attendances, but I (Editor, Tim W. Jackson) would say that estimate was pretty close. (more…)

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. (more…)

Every year the Floyd area hosts the biggest musical event in the area. Beginning in 2002, FloydFest has been receiving popular reviews each summer. With nationally and internationally known acts as well as a few events such as belly dancing and children’s entertainment, many people forget that FloydFest also offers an opportunity from regional acts.

For the local bands it is an honor to be asked to play at this event, which begins this Thursday, July 24, and runs through the weekend. A few of the local acts that will be at this year’s event include Midnight Ramblers, Mac and Jenny Traynham, Elizabeth Laprelle, No Speed Limit, Kat Mills, and Curious Strange. (more…)

With the peak of summer here, everyone is looking for ways to stay cool for the rest of the season. The New River Valley offers something for everyone. (more…)

This is part 2 in our series on economic development in the New River Valley. For part 1, go here.

In the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains is Floyd County. With beautiful landscapes, artists and photographers alike use the settings as inspiration for their pieces. The population of the county is made up of a mix of people who have been in the area for generations dating back to the land movement along with others drawn to the laid-back artisan lifestyle of the area.

Floyd County wants to see good, community-friendly business development to provide local job investment. With a high-quality education system, advanced telecommunications, a strong work force, and low-tax environment Floyd offers a lot of perks as a place to start a business. (more…)

Radford University officials want to make the 2008-09 academic year the greenest one yet with plans in place to hire three new positions to lead a new sustainability/recycling initiative.

RU Vice President for Finance and Administration Donna VanCleave said that the university has had some good sustainability efforts, monitoring of energy usage, and it has done some recycling, but she added, “The whole green effort is something that we really need to expand more and are very committed to doing.” (more…)