Go Fest will bring visitors in downtown Roanoke this year to help local businesses

Roanoke, Virginia – The annual outdoor event, Go Fest, is only a few months away from bringing thousands of visitors to the Roanoke Valley, and organizers are considering some major changes.

This year’s event, which is usually held in River’s Edge Park, will be hosted in downtown Roanoke in order to help draw in more foot traffic for businesses struggling from the pandemic.

Streets will be closed off to enable all of the popular outdoor activities to take place downtown, according to organizers. Franklin Road, as well as other areas of downtown, will be closed for the weekend of the event, October 15-17, to make way for activities such as bike riding, rock climbing, and many others.

“We had an opportunity to relocate the festival this year and we chose downtown and it’s been kind of a fun process moving everything downtown and reimagining what the festival can look like,” said Roanoke Outside Foundation event manager, Kait Pedigo.

Some events, such as live music at the amphitheater, will take place inside Elmwood Park. More information on Go Fest can be found here.