The best of the spirits: Floyd Fandango Beer and Wine Festival

Across-the-Way productions is mixin’ it up and introducing a one-of-a-kind 4^th of July Celebration; JJ Grey and Mofro join the funky and soulful lineup; Buckwheat Zydeco celebrate 30 year anniversary

Floyd Fandango Beer and Wine Festival will premiere on July 4^th and 5^th, 2009 at the spectacular Blue Cow Pavilion, home of FloydFest. Only minutes’ drive from the town of Floyd, Virginia, the venue is located at milepost 170.5 on the serene stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic beauty of this verdant parkway venue makes any event that happens there something special.

The new Floyd Fandango is one-of-a-kind event merging two of Across-the-Way Productions’ popular events: the Floyd Fandango beer festival and the Wine Down the Music Trail wine festival. Naturally, the event will be offering something for both Wine and Beer lovers: microbrews and wineries from Virginia and North Carolina will be doling out tastings of their finely crafted beverages, while uplifting, soulful, gritty funk plays on a one-of-a-kind timber-frame stage. Arts, crafts, quality food vendors and kid’s activities will also be offered, making this an event for the whole family. Regional wines available for tasting from wineries including Chateau Morrisette, Villa Appalaccia, Veritas, AmRhein, Valhalla and several more, and microbreweries already on the roster include StarrHill, Magic Hat, Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, Foggy Ridge Cider and Blacksnake Meadery.

“Both events (the Fandango and Wine Down) are a lot of fun” says organizer Erika Johnson, “and both draw a crowd. But we’re thinking that we may be filling a niche by catering to both wine and beer lovers at a single event, with great music to back it up.”

Also, for the first time, the 4^th of July fest will offer on-site camping for attendees, and the music and celebration will span into the evening. The organizers are striving to provide a fun and safe family friendly option for Independence Day celebration, allowing visitors ample time to relax and enjoy in the festivities. As an added bonus to weekend purchasers, the 2day pass will include FREE Camping so patrons can truly relax and enjoy their weekend mountain getaway together with friends and families.

Limited number of RV parking passes are also available for sale, and though there are no open fires allowed at the festival site, visitors are welcome to bring their sun-brellas, camping cookout equipment and exchange recipies with their neighbors. No outside alcohol is allowed on the festival grounds, but promoters say that acoustic Guitars, Fiddles and Banjos will not be turned away.

Folks at Across-the-Way, who also produce the annual FloydFest music and arts festival, have a knack and affinity for music, and Floyd Fandango will be no exception when it comes to presenting only the best, most soulful, foot-stomping regional and national acts. Nationally acclaimed JJ Grey and Mofro will be headlining Saturday night with a measure of their deep Southern story-telling rock, funk and soul. Louisiana’s Buckwheat Zydeco, who is celebrating their 30th anniversary as a musical group in 2009, will be keeping the weekend lively with their celebrated Creole funky music. Other announcements of the initial lineup include Robert Jospe and Beleza Brasil both popular players from the Charlottesville area.

Tickets for the festival go on sale April 1^st, but Roanoke and New River Valley residents will have a chance to win tickets on-air if they tune to local 96.3fm radio station, home of the WROV rock, a media presenter of the Floyd Fandango experience. All patrons will have a choice between receiving a free commemorative Wine Glass or a Free Beer Mug with four wooden pogs for tasting beer. Patrons will have the option of purchasing additional wooden pogs for Beer inside the event. Wine Tasting is free, and wine will also be available for sale from the Wineries. On-site camping will be available for day visitors for a small fee, and will be included FREE of charge for 2day weekend purchasers.

Information and tickets available at www.atwproductions.com

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About Across-the-Way Productions

Born in 2001 on the small stage of Oddfella’s Cantina in downtown Floyd Virginia, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc., has dedicated itself to becoming Southwest Virginia’s premier event production company. In a world of ever-increasing homogenization, AtWP promotes a community-based approach to event production, and prides itself in presenting sincere, family-friendly, quality, even magical events.

In addition to Floyd Fandango, the 2009 AtWP roster includes the states’ largest wine festival - Vintage Virginia, the state’s oldest wine festival Virginia Wine Festival (both held just outside of Washington DC), and the celebrated 8^th annual FloydFest at the beloved festival site on the Blue Ridge Parkway in southwest Virginia. For more information visit www.atwproductions.com