The Carilion GO Outside Festival Drops First Wave of a Massive Weekend Lineup: Live Music, Pro-Athlete Shows, and a Commitment to Sustainability
Get ready for another weekend of high-vibe outdoor celebration. The Carilion GO Outside Festival (GO Fest) has unveiled the first wave of announcements for 2026, dropping a lineup that is just the beginning of a massive festival weekend. The 2026 festival also marks the beginning of a new chapter, with Carilion Clinic joining GO Fest as its new title sponsor. Learn more about the new partnership.
Consistently voted the region’s favorite festival, the Carilion GO Outside Festival takes place October 16-18 in both downtown Roanoke and Explore Park. GO Fest welcomes more than 40,000 attendees each year and generates an estimated $3 million in annual economic impact for the region. The event is produced by the Roanoke Outside Foundation and the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation department to celebrate everything that makes this region unique: its trails, rivers, mountains, music, and the community that chooses to live life outside. The festival remains 100% free to attend.
Music, Film, and Festival Traditions on the Elmwood Stage
The weekend will kick off at the Festival Basecamp in downtown Roanoke on October 16 with a beloved GO Fest tradition: The Fleet Feet Beer Mile. This year’s theme, Dollin’ it Up, is a rhinestone-studded celebration of Dolly Parton’s signature humor, altruism, and bedazzled life. Following the run, attendees are invited to settle in for the Mountainfilm Festival, presented by Mast General Store. The adventure film festival features a custom 80-minute showcase of films to inspire outdoor enthusiasm ahead of a jam-packed outdoor sports festival weekend. The night then lets loose to the weekend’s first evening party featuring yacht-rock favorites, Empty Bottles.
The musical momentum carries through the weekend with maximum variety. Saturday’s daytime lineup starts in high gear with performances by Phat Anchovies, Solacoustix, and Jstop Latin Soul (dancers invited!). As the sun sets on Saturday, the biggest night of partying kicks off with an electrifying performance by Illiterate Light, followed by Weezer cover act, Geezer, and ending with hot regional punk act, The Falsies. Attendees are encouraged to attend the Saturday night festivities decked out in their GO Fest Best: Flannel. Click here for the full lineup.
Sunday begins with a relaxed, acoustic atmosphere featuring Songwriters in the Round hosted by Corey Hunley (with Sam Valentine, Matt Browning, and a special guest). Then, The Stone Throwers fresh from the FloydFest 2026 On The Rise Competition take the stage, and the closing show is the foot-stomping sounds of Big Daddy Love’s Mo-Grass Band.
Heart-Pounding Pro-Athlete Shows
Beyond the main stage, the festival brings back jaw-dropping action from a premier roster of professional stunt shows. The Festival Basecamp in downtown Roanoke features the ProTown BMX Stunt Show presented by Gentry Locke, the axe-swinging action of the Timberworks Lumberjack Show, and the awe-inspiring Highline Speed Line Grand Slam in which pro athletes will race each other across parallel lines seven stories high. The Ultimate Air Dogs Show is also making its grand return to the Adventure Outpost at Explore Park.
A Commitment to Sustainability with Anthem
Anthem, the festival’s new sustainability partner, is supporting the event through environmental best practices. As part of this green initiative, festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own reusable pint (BYOP) for beverages or plan to purchase a brand-new 2026 edition signature cup, which will be revealed at the event. The festival will also unveil an art installation featuring the festival’s new “GO” branding, serving as a visual celebration of sustainable event practices.
Just the Beginning: Lots More to Come
This announcement is only the first drop of a truly massive weekend. Attendees should stay tuned, as Carilion GO Fest will be releasing lots more in the coming weeks, additional pro shows, more hands-on activities, and the full schedule for the Campfire Stage.
Exhibitor applications and volunteer registration are both currently open. If you’d like to engage with the community and keep up with news like this, click “Going” on the Facebook event or sign up for the festival newsletter.
