Living Traditions return this weekend
The third annual Floyd Living Traditions Festival, to be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, is a free event held both outdoors and inside the center’s historic 1940s-era dairy barn.
Staff Report
The third annual Floyd Living Traditions Festival, to be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, is a free event held both outdoors and inside the center’s historic 1940s-era dairy barn.
Festival-goers will enjoy two stages of live performances, art exhibitions, interactive workshops, children’s activities, artisan vendors, local food and dozens of traditional craft demonstrations that celebrate the heritage of Floyd County and the greater Appalachian region.
The weekend begins with a Friday night kickoff on Aug. 22 at the Floyd Country Store (206 S. Locust St.). The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. with the Floyd Shape Note Singers, followed by a 6:30 p.m. gospel set and a lively performance by the Whitetop Mountain Band at 7:30 p.m.
Doors open at 4:45 p.m., with tickets available at the door: $10 for adults, $7 for children ages seven to 12, and free for kids six years and younger.
On Saturday, performances will take place across two festival stages at FCA. Free parking with shuttle service will be available at Floyd County High School.
The Outdoor Stage, curated by Handmade Music School, will feature the Little River Missionary Baptist Choir, Tyler Hughes with The Crooked Road, the Handmade Music School Youth Ensemble, "The Comptons: A Tribute to Randall Hylton," Laura Boosinger and Mike Compton, a "Tribute to the Floyd County Ramblers" hosted by Mac Traynham and George Slusher, and Up Jumped Trouble.
Highlights include “The Comptons: A Tribute to Randall Hylton,” honoring the prolific Floyd County songwriter whose more than 250 bluegrass and gospel songs have been recorded by some of the genre’s biggest names, and the “Tribute to the Floyd County Ramblers,” presented by the Handmade Music School, Old Church Gallery and the Floyd Center for the Arts.
The special set honors the legendary Floyd County string band — originally Sam McNeil (banjo), Banks McNeil (fiddle), Walter Boone (harmonica) and John Willie Boone (guitar) — with local musicians George Slusher and Mac Traynham leading the performance, and the Old Church Gallery sharing historical exhibits on their musical legacy throughout the festival.
The Indoor Stage will present the Floyd Historical Dancers, an artist talk, “Learning to See Again: Loss and Resilience” by Charlie Brouwer, flatfooting with 2024–2025 Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship recipient Sophie Moeckel, the June Bug Center’s Junior Appalachian Musicians, and the Floyd Contra Dancers.
In addition to music, the festival brings together nearly 70 demonstrators to allow visitors to witness traditional skills like blacksmithing, broom making, woodworking, cornhusk doll making, seat weaving, luthiery, spinning, dance and more.
New this year are a live sheep shearing demonstration by Lord Willin Shearin and a special presentation by the NRV Master Gardeners in the new FCA Dye Garden, located beside the Center’s recently opened Loom Barn.
Storytelling sessions from Blue Ridge Story Space and Let Me Tell Ya! will take place on the Pottery Porch.
Festival guests are also invited to explore two compelling exhibitions inside the Art Center galleries.
The Hayloft Gallery will feature “Kindly Mirrors,” presented by the Old Church Gallery, and the Falcon Gallery will present “Lamentations and Exultations,” a solo show by local artist Charlie Brouwer.
The FCA Art Silent Auction will also be open from Saturday, Aug. 16, through Saturday, Aug. 23 at 4:30 p.m. during the festival, with proceeds supporting FCA.
“The Floyd Living Traditions Festival is not just a celebration — it’s a cultural homecoming,” said Keela Dooley Marshall, executive director of FCA. “We’re proud to uplift the stories, songs, and skills passed down through generations and to honor legendary voices like Randall Hylton alongside our vibrant local community.”
For a full schedule of performances and events, or to learn more about Friday’s kickoff at the Floyd Country Store, visit www.floydartcenter.org.
FCA is located at 220 Parkway Lane S.
Sponsors for the 2025 Floyd Living Traditions Festival:
Skyline National Bank
Mid Atlantic Arts’ Central Appalachia Living Traditions program
National Endowment for the Arts
Virginia Humanities
Town of Floyd
Floyd Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Floored LLC
Virginia Tourism
Festival Friends include Thomas and Wall Real Estate, Crenshaw Lighting, Red Hill General Store and Finn Graphics.