The Carilion GO Outside Festival is underway in Roanoke, and it's free. The three-day event runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, at two locations: Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke and the Adventure Outpost at Explore Park. Here's your quick planning guide.
Go Outside Festival 2026: Your Weekend Planning Guide
Go Fest celebrates just about every outdoor passion, with activity categories spanning biking, climbing, dogs, hiking, paddling, running, slacklining, kids' events, live music, and film. The Roanoke Outside Foundation says the festival draws about 40,000 people to the Roanoke Valley and generates roughly $3 million in economic impact for the region.
Events manager Kait Pedigo keeps the advice simple: "The number one thing about Go Fest is to just wander, explore, discover because there's so much here."
Festival Logistics: Locations, Admission, and Sustainability
Admission is free at both sites. The Festival Basecamp is at Elmwood Park downtown; the Adventure Outpost sits at Explore Park, about a 15-minute drive from downtown.
The festival is smoke-free, pet-friendly, and follows a BYOP — Bring Your Own Pint — policy to cut single-use plastics. Bring a 16-ounce reusable pint for beverages, or buy one of the signature festival cups on site. A new 2026 edition cup will be revealed at the event, according to festival organizers.
