Festivalgoers drying out in home stretch of FloydFest

Despite the rain and mud on Saturday, the music continued playing at Floydfest, while a strong, steady breeze helped get things a little drier. Lines were forming at shuttle stops for people who had to get out. Plenty of people still remained and a full schedule of music awaited.

Floydfest co-founder Kris Hodges told the Roanoke Times earlier this month that he expected about 17,000 at the four-day event. After the torrential rainfall of Saturday and the resulting parking issues, it is unclear how close to the mark Hodges came with that statement.

Amanda Cook of Roanoke, who joined friends here for the entire weekend, said she nicknamed the festival “Mudfest 2013.”

“I came here to a sunny Thursday and Friday, and then Saturday was a mess,” Cook said. “But there’s no other place where people will tough it out.”

Cook said that she would likely stay through Sunday night because she wanted to see Old Crow Medicine Show play “Wagon Wheel.”

Despite the weather, some vendors still had a lot of business. Floyd mayor Will Griffin, a co-owner of Republic of Floyd, said his business sold about 200 T-shirts and plenty of $2 car magnets.

“We’ve been steady, but we’re down from last year,” says Griffin. “It’s probably because of the rain.”

“After the whole issue with the parking on Thursday, people have been really happy,” he added.

Shaun Carroll, who runs Hot Rod Tattoo in Roanoke, said he got both good feedback and new connections.

“Fifty percent of our clients tend to travel from out of town,” Carroll said. “It’s good to see people from other states come to check stuff out.”

In response to the weekend’s logistical problems, Floydfest organizers opened the traditional VIP, staff and volunteer after party to all patrons. The party was scheduled for 8 p.m. at the beer garden stage, with Primate Fiasco opening for the North Mississippi Allstars.

Floydfest officials were using the event’s Facebook page to encourage people to stay until Monday because of the enduring muck and the off-site parking lots. Organizers added three buses Sunday to the 20 that had been running most of the weekend to shuttle out those who wanted to leave.

Buses were at the center of Thursday’s long waits to shuttle in from those outer lots, Hodges said on Sunday. All 20 buses were available, but organizers were unable to locate half of the bus drivers, he said.

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