Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford Community Fest, set for Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 on East Main Street, is a new street festival co-hosted by the City of Radford and Radford University.
At the Radford City Council meeting Monday, Aug. 13, Director of Planning and Zoning Melissa Skelton, who serves on the City & University Joint Advisory Commission on Public Affairs, updated council members on the festival.
“This event has been 24 months in the making,” she said.
“This is so exciting because a lot of the things that used to happen on [Radford University] opening weekend were exclusive to campus and this event is pulling the students, their families and guests into downtown,” said Radford Mayor David Horton. “This is inviting all of our full-time citizens downtown and our neighbors from Pulaski and Montgomery counties, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Dublin, to come to Radford and have a good time.”
Skelton said there is a great musical line-up for the festival.
“I get chills thinking about it,” she said. “This is quite a line-up for a community like ours.”
Solacoustix will start the music off from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Music Road Co Trio will perform 1:30 – 3 p.m., followed by The Floorboards 3:30 – 5 p.m. and then Florencia & The Feeling 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Fluidity Performance Troupe will also be present with a variety of street performers and an aerialist show at the end of the evening.
Radford Council member Kellie Artrip is city council’s representative on the joint commission and said she has loved being a part of the planning of the festival.
“It makes me smile ear to ear every time we talk about this,” she said. “I can’t wait.”
The festivities will span from Third Avenue to Tyler Avenue, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Attendees can also “look forward to numerous vendors, food trucks, a beer garden (hosted by Radford brewery Long Way Brewing), live music, and street performers. The University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life office will be hosting a Kid’s Zone, which will include arts and crafts, bounce houses, and games, ensuring fun for the whole family. Best of all, there is no admission fee, making this a free event for all citizens, students, employees, family members, and visitors,” according to information released by Radford University.
