THRIVE OUTSIDE FESTIVAL

Name: THRIVE OUTSIDE FESTIVAL
Start: 2025-04-05T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-04-05T18:00:00-04:00
Location: Falling Creek Park

Schedule

Sat Apr 05 2025 at 10:00 am to 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Falling Creek Park | Bedford, VA

Presented by The Blue Ridge Outdoors & Centra Health!
Learn how you can THRIVE OUTSIDE this outdoor season by meeting local vendors, outfitters, camps, clubs, farms, healthcare practitioners, gyms, gear outfitters, and non-profits that specialize in:
Adventure/Recreation
Agriculture/Homesteading
Health/Wellness
THIS IS A FREE EVENT, you can click the "tickets" link to check out the runreg website that has Festival info, maps, vendors, & schedule in more detail!
This is THE place to come and learn about all the upcoming outdoor events and activities in our region and talk face to face with the amazing people who make them happen!
Some of these groups will be offering workshops teaching various skills or lessons on how to THRIVE OUTSIDE!

We have TONS of kids activities as well so bring the whole family!
DOG FRIENDLY EVENT! (Must be on leash)
We will also have an dog “adventure zone” with a fun obstacle course and
Cuba Cups & Treats LLC will be on site (Delicious Dog Treats!)

PARKING - Maps & Directions
Falling Creek Park is located right beside the Bedford County Parks & Rec building, across the road from the County Sheriff's office and Animal Shelter. The best way to navigate is to plug in “Falling Creek Park, Bedford, Va” and DOUBLE CHECK the address is 1257 County Farm Road, Bedford, Va, 24523. If you just plug in the address depending on what app you are using it sometimes takes you to downtown Bedford. We will have a shuttle bus running from upper parking lots to the festival.

Lodging & Stay
Check out https://destinationbedfordva.com/ for great places to stay, eat, and explore while you stay with us in Bedford County! They are a great resource and you can stop by the welcome center for pamphlets and other information located at 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA 24523 at the intersection of Route 460 and Route 122.

MUSIC
10:30am-12:30pm - Virginia Hollow
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Brent Monster Band

FOOD TRUCKS
Copper Dog and Co
Alien Burgers
Blackwater Kettle Corn
Thai Naka Express

Kids Zone
Farm Petting Zoo - Five Blessings Farm - 10am-3pm
Inflatables - Parks & Recreation & YMCA - All Day
Foam Machine - Jack the Foam Party Guy - 12pm-3pm
Kids Bike Course - Parks & Recreation - All Day
Seed Planting - Bedford Master Gardeners - All Day
Arts & Crafts - Wandering Arts and Crafts - All Day
Carnival Booth - Kidz Kut-Rate Karnival - All Day
Face Painting - Dreamy Doodlez Face Painting - All Day
Costume - Sara's Fairy Hair & Hair Feathers - All Day

Beer and Wine
A refreshing mix of craft beverages will be served by the Bedford Area Family YMCA!
Fables & Feathers will have local wine on site as well!

SKATE COMP
FCA and Anxious For Nothing are hosting a skate comp right outside the festival at the skate park!
Registration on site starts at 10am - $5 entry
Comp starts at 11am -
Check the website for flyer & other details.

WORKSHOPS
All Day – Disc Golf 101
Learn the ins and outs of disc golf from our local pros! We will have discs and baskets on site for you try!
12:00pm-1:00pm - The 10 Essentials & Wilderness First Aid
No Max Class Size
Rebellious Wellness would like to help you have fun outside, be safe and know how to take care of small emergencies outside! Our quick 10 essentials review will help you spend time outside with all the things you need to keep you safe and hydrated while you are having fun in the big outdoors, our quick and simple first aid course will teach you the basics of how to care for yourself and others should minor injuries occur and how to know when to call for emergency services if things are bigger than a quick fix. We will help you put together a quick and light emergency kit to help you have the most fun outside, we may even throw in some hands only CPR demonstration to help you learn or refresh those lifesaving skills.
1:00pm-2:00pm - Build A Kids Bug Bag
Max Class Size: 24 – First Come First Serve
What is a "Bug Bag"? It's a bag decorated with bug and insect stickers by each child allowing personalization. Think Bug Out Bag or Get Home Bag on a child's level. Hopefully it'll get parents thinking about the whole family's preparedness. Assorted "safety and preparedness" items will be introduced to the kids with an explanation of how to safely use and store in their own bag! The idea is that with a parent present and supplies provided, a preparedness mindset is introduced and/or encouraged via the workshop. If there were a reason to have to quickly leave your home or vehicle, (accident, fire, weather event, etc.), wouldn't it be great to have your child already prepared with their own bag to grab. You would know they have some basic supplies to help them through the "event." BCM will provide a free drawstring bag with supply items like: compass, water bottle, bandaids, hand wipes, whistle, tissue pack, glo stick or bracelet, magic towel, etc. (The exact items have not been confirmed yet.)
2:00pm - 3:00pm “Won't You Bee My Neighbor?” Meet the Honeybees and learn to live with them.
No Max Class Size
This is an introduction to Honeybees: How to Bee Curious & Bee Confident! We will have beekeeping equipment, drones for petting, and an observation hive. We will discuss "how to work the bees," bee forage and pollination, using bees products for health and enjoyment, and generally encourage comfort and confidence around bees.

VENDORS
Must relate to the three categories on health/adventure/agriculture listed above.
MUST SUBMIT APPLICATION BEFORE REGISTERING!
Application: https://forms.gle/TX73j8veZLEnwAQr9
$50 for Business - Free for Non-Profit
Vendors receive a 10'x10' space with 2' on either side. You provide your table, chairs, and canopy. If you need electricity we allow small battery/gas generators on a limited basis, email to confirm.

VENDOR PARKING AND UNLOADING
See website for details

LEADING A WORKSHOP:
The workshop can be anywhere from 9am-6pm. Let me know your:
Hours of Choice (e.g. 10-11am, 1-2pm, etc)
Workshop Title (e.g. 10 Essentials for Hiking, Foraging 101, Wildcrafting for Kids, Tick Prevention Tips, Composting 101, How to Change a Bike Tire, etc)
200 character intro for what you will teach or what the lesson will cover.
Email me at [email protected] to discuss details.

Volunteers
We need hands to help make this event successful!
Please reach out or check out the registration page to sign up!

Here's our Current Sponsors & Partners!
Bedford County Parks & Recreation
https://parks.bedfordcountyva.gov/parks-facilities/parks

Bedford Area Family YMCA
https://bedfordymca.org/

Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/

Centra Health
https://www.centrahealth.com/

Destination Bedford
https://destinationbedfordva.com/

Peaks of Otter Soil and Water Conservation
https://www.poswcd.org/

Virginia Cooperative Extension: https://bedford.ext.vt.edu/
Bedford Community Health Foundation: https://www.healthybedford.org/
Renewal By Andersen: Special Offer
LeafGuard: http://leafguard.com
One Forest School: https://www.oneforestschool.org/

The Peaks Retreat & Adventure Center
In Motion Wellness Studio
Fables & Feathers Winery
Brown Sugar Delight
Thomas Road Outpost
JD Collin - State Farm Agent

Sponsors
Putting on a community event that is FREE does not come without expenses and we would love to highlight your business in how you support this community thriving outside! Reach out if you are interested, any amount makes an impact!