Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer at Roanoke GO Outside Festival

Since its beginning, the Anthem GO Outside Festival has been made possible (and free) by the support of hundreds of hardworking volunteers.  An enormous amount of work goes on behind the scenes to pull off an event of this size, and volunteers are essential in making the magic happen!  Here are our top 5 reasons to volunteer at this year’s GO Fest.

#1 Support Roanoke’s Outdoor Community

The region’s outdoor scene is made up of small businesses, outdoor athletes, non-profit organizations, government agencies, social clubs, and more. A great way to lift up this community is by supporting the annual event dedicated to celebrating all things outdoors! Through volunteering at GO Fest, you’ll have the opportunity to work with likeminded individuals involved in Roanoke’s outdoor scene. If you’re new to the region or looking to meet new people, this is a great way to make connections with folks who are passionate about outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, conservation, and more.

#2 That Sense of Satisfaction

It’s no secret that volunteering your time and talents is a great way to make a positive impact on your community.  Whether you’re a longtime fan of GO Fest, or if this is your first time, volunteering is the perfect way to give back.  Many of our volunteers enjoy their experience so much they choose to join us year after year.

2022 GO Fest Volunteer T-shirt

#3 Exclusive Volunteer SWAG!

Volunteering comes with lots of intangible benefits, but at GO Fest, we throw in a few extra perks!  We’re so grateful for the hundreds of hours given each year by our volunteer crew, and we make a point to provide extra special goodies of thanks.  This year, we have an exclusive t-shirt as well as an ENO brand tote bag, and a pair of Dahlgren alpaca wool socks for every volunteer!  Green Team volunteers will also be getting surprise SWAG from Mast General Store.  We know you don’t volunteer for the free stuff, but it doesn’t hurt, right?

#4 Peek Behind the Curtain

Volunteering at GO Fest lets you see behind-the-scenes of a big festival.  If you’re interested in event planning, volunteering allows you to familiarize yourself with the environment.  Or, if you’re just curious about how a large scale festival like GO Fest is possible, your volunteer shift will give you insight into the bigger picture while you make the magic happen!

#5 Mix it Up

Roanoke GO Fest has a wide selection of volunteer roles, from pouring beer, to keeping things clean with the Green Team, to helping set up beforehand or breaking down the festival afterwards. There are jobs suitable for many different abilities, interests, and ages, so take a look and find the right fit for you.  We’ll see you in October!

A big thank you to Franklin County Parks and Recreation for sponsoring our volunteers this year!

Parents’ Guide to GO Fest 2022

When it comes to outdoor family fun, The Anthem GO Outside Festival has something for everyone! Known locally as GO Fest, this event is the biggest celebration of the outdoors in the region, bringing professional stunt shows, adventure experiences, outdoor brands, and unique entertainment to the Star City each fall. Here’s our Parents’ Guide to getting the most out of your GO Fest experience.

Can’t-Miss Performances – Watch It!

Watch your child’s face light up with delight when you stop by one of the professional stunt shows. The Timberworks Lumberjack Show, presented by Member One, showcases incredible woodsman skills and is sure to entertain. With competitions like speed sawing, ax throwing, pole climbing, and the famous log rolling, the lumberjacks are a hard act to follow. Luckily, the ProTown BMX, presented by Gentry Locke, show never disappoints. See these professional bike riders take huge jumps, flipping and flying through the air. Children of all ages are certain to love it, and it may make you feel like a kid again, too! Friday night’s Banff Mountain Film Festival, presented by Mast General Store, is another great way to watch professionals in action. Keep your eyes peeled for even more live performances; we may have a surprise lined up!

Choose Your Own Adventure – Try It!

An important part of GO Fest is going beyond just watching the pros and trying out adventures for yourself. Here are some of the ways you can participate:

  • Reach new heights on the climbing wall
  • Paddle your own canoe in the Demo Pool, presented by Freedom First
  • Learn to shoot a bow and arrow with the Girl Scouts
  • Practice your fly-casting at the Orvis Fly Casting Pond
  • Balance on a slackline
  • Show off your skills on the YMCA’s Super Ninja Course
  • Race on the strider bike course with Carilion, Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Team Twenty24
  • Practice your disc golf toss with Play It Again Sports

Both kids and parents can enjoy GO Fest activities, so don’t miss an opportunity to join the fun!

Down-to-Earth Activities

Little Planets Kids Zone

Since going outside isn’t just about big adventures, we also love to connect with the natural world through hands-on activities. Hike it Baby Roanoke will lead families through the Elmwood Garden for a Scavenger Hunt Bingo walk to search for natural objects. Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline will be offering a nature-based STEM activity, plus making tabletop s’mores. Rock out with a lapidary demo (aka, cutting and polishing stones) with Morgan’s Earth Treasures, or learn how to use rocks for painting with Camp Bethel. And, for our youngest festival goers, the Little Planets Kids Zone provides a nature-inspired play area so your littles can enjoy a GO Fest space just for them!

GO Fest a New Way

For families looking to experience GO Fest in a unique way, consider joining as volunteers! GO Fest is a free festival, which means it takes a lot of community support. Families with children ages 10+ can volunteer together, doing things like helping with general set-up or keeping things clean on the Green Team. This will give you and your family a great behind-the-scenes look at what organizing a festival is like. Plus, you’ll get an exclusive GO Fest t-shirt and other volunteer goodies! Sign up to volunteer here.

Just for Parents

If you’re looking for a sign to get a babysitter and plan a date night, this is it! GO Fest has a fantastic music lineup Saturday evening, and you may just feel like boogying with us sans kids. We recommend booking that sitter now and grabbing tickets to see Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears with Shemekia Copeland on Saturday, October 15. These folks are blues and rock powerhouses and they are going to absolutely rock the Haley Toyota Stage. All proceeds go to benefit Project Outside, supporting regional outdoor recreation. Purchase tickets here.

See the full Anthem GO Outside Festival schedule here to plan your weekend!