Friday Night Fun In Floyd, Virginia
- Jenny Moonen
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Floyd may be a small town (our last census has us about 450 people!) but its big in
personality. Deeply rich in Appalachian culture and steeped in blue grass music, Floyd
punches above its weight and knocks ‘em out each time. We have written in the past
about how to spend a whole weekend in the town, but maybe you only have one night
to spare and want to make it count. If that is the case, that one night should be a Friday,
the day where Floyd really comes alive.
History of Appalachian Music
Coyote Wallace from Medium explains it best when he said, “Like all aspects of
Appalachia, our music is a blend of multicultural elements, all working in harmony to
produce something entirely unique”. The influence of Gaelic and Irish trad music, African
American music that is rooted in history and storytelling, and Native American ways of
playing instruments has combined into what we see today as Appalachian bluegrass,
lending to what Wallace refers to as “entirely unique”. Bluegrass mainly features the
fiddle, the banjo, an acoustic guitar, mandolin, and a bass, complimenting each other’s
stringed sounds while remaining independent and strong. The music is fast and often
breaks out in solos to showcase the talent of the musician and their instrument. Its
importance has remained central to Appalachia as a way to continue the storytelling
legacy of generations past while also documenting our present to be eventually become
our history once more.
Hitting the Town
Now that you have a little bit of background knowledge on bluegrass itself and why it is
so culturally intertwined with Appalachia, it’s time to set out and hear it for yourself while
also exploring our quaint town of Floyd.
The first stop and activity of the night will be the Floyd Artisan Market, a collection of
local and regional vendors and artists selling their handmade crafts. Located under the
Community Market Pavillion, tables are lined up underneath and around the pavilion
showcasing some of the best work our little slice of the world offers. What is unique
about this market compared to most is that it is set in the evening time (5-9pm), rather
than in the morning like most markets! This means that you can do your shopping while
you work up your appetite for dinner. And because this is Appalachia, you can bet you
will be hearing some live music while you weave your way between the tables!
You Might even see Jenny from Moonlight Manor displaying her crafts and photos.
Next stop is dinner, and why not check out Dogtown Pizza just across the street from
the market you were just at. The motto here is “where folks come for the pizza & stay for the music” because—you guessed it—live music is pumping here on a Friday night too.
You might hear bluegrass or you might hear rock, you never quite know what you will
get, and we mean that in the best possible way! Pizza here covers all dietary needs
from gluten free to vegan, and we recommend you try it Appalachian style—apple butter
as a base instead of marinara!
After dinner, it’s time to head to the Floyd Country Store. We’ve told you before about
the iconic place, and it’s well known for a reason. Covered in The New York Times, The
Washington Post, and National Geographic, the iconic Friday Night Jamboree’s
reputation is known far and wide. Starting at 6:30, bluegrass music will fill the air both
inside and outside of the store, luring those in the vicinity to come on in. While the store
closes at 10pm, they live by the motto “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay
here”, with pick up sessions spilling out on to the street. From a one-man-band to a
small accompany, you won’t have to go far to keep the party going.
Friday nights in Floyd aren’t just a thing we do for the tourists. It’s how we live our lives
in this part of Appalachia. Music is how we unite and bring together all members of our
communities, and it’s how we keep our history and culture alive. So why not join us and
experience what life down here in Floyd is like, where our small town has a big heart.
Blog Written by Alexia O'Brien
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