ElkFest 2020
(October 14-17, 2020)
Music, games and good food -- as well as opportunities to take part in guided tours to view Buchanan County’s elk population -- will be among the activities on tap October 14-17 as Buchanan County Tourism, the Southern Gap Visitor Center, SWVA Sportsmen and the SWVA Coalfields Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation host the four-day festival designed to feature unique and memorable experiences for lovers of wildlife and the outdoors and those seeking a taste of authentic mountain heritage. Admission to daily festival events is free, however, there are fees for guided elk viewing tours and a wild game dinner. Lodging and camping are available on site, as well as in the nearby Town of Grundy.
The festival fun starts Wednesday, October 14 with the premiere of “The Elk of Southern Gap,” a newly-produced mini-documentary on the Buchanan County elk restoration project that will be shown at the Southern Gap Visitor Center during a sold-out wild game dinner hosted by the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce.
Friday and Saturday events will include a wildlife photography class and contest; mountain games including a tug of war contest and stone toss; 3D archery; a running with the elk race; a taxidermy competition; guided elk tours; ATV riding, mud bog and rally course events; local arts and crafts; bugling and turkey call competitions featuring youth and adult divisions; bonfire story-telling; stargazing; a kids zone event hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Central Appalachia; and live entertainment to be announced. Arts and crafts vendors and food trucks will be set up on site. The festival event awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening prior to the entertainment with winners from all the various competitions held throughout the festival announced.
Arts and crafts vendors are being sought. To reserve your 12 foot by 12 foot space, call the Southern Gap Visitor Center office at 276-244-1111 or email info@sgadventures.com or call the Buchanan County Tourism Office at 276-244-1542 or email info@WildBuchanan.com to request a vendor application. No electricity is provided. Reservation fee is $10 per space. Festival sponsors are also being sought and may call either of the numbers above for additional sponsorship information.
Additional event sponsors include media partner Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
Southern Gap Sessions: Songs and Stories of Appalachia Featuring Sandy Shortridge-Weekley
(September 17, 2020)
Plan to join us Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southern Gap Visitor Center as we host Southern Gap Sessions, featuring Sandy Shortridge Weekley, who is well known throughout the region and beyond, in the "Songs and Stories of Appalachia." Shortridge-Weekley has four CDs, the most recent of which was released in 2018. “Beginning with the End” charted on Airplay’s Gospel music charts, reaching number five. Admission is $5 at the door with Children 12 and younger admitted free. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Howl at the Moon Night Ride
(September 12, 2020)
Join us for a night ride to Grundy! Register at the Southern Gap Visitor Center from 5:00 - 6:30 PM Entry fee is $20 per machine. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Buchanan County Humane Society. Group will depart the Coal Canyon trailhead and do some trail riding before heading to downtown Grundy to attend SPIRIT FEST 2020 where there's free music, games and fireworks. Food and craft vendors will be set-up downtown. BRING YOUR FUR BABIES! Pets are always welcome to ride! To register, or for details, contact us at 276-244-1111.
Moon Gazing at Southern Gap
(October 1, 2020)
Join us and your host, Scotty Wampler, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, to gaze at the moon at Southern Gap and to learn a little more about our solar system and the night sky! The event begins at 8 p.m. and will conclude at 9:30 p.m. Additional details will be released as we get closer to the event.
Moon Gazing at Southern Gap
(November 30, 2020)
Join us and your host, Scotty Wampler, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, to gaze at the moon at Southern Gap and to learn a little more about our solar system and the night sky! The event begins at 7 p.m. and will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Additional details will be released as we get closer to the event.
Snap the Gap Quarterly Photo Contest!
Think you've got what it takes to capture the best of the best when it comes to taking photos? Try your hand and enter our Snap the Gap Quarterly Photo Contest! You might just win a $50 Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Gift Certificate if your photo is chosen as a category winner in one of four categories being sought -- and a $100 Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Gift Certificate if your photo is chosen as the fan favorite! We hold the contest quarterly. Entries for the third quarter contest will be accepted through September 30, 2020 in the categories of action/outdoor adventure; nature; relaxation/vacation; and scenic/landscapes. All photos must be taken at Southern Gap and must be taken in the quarter in which the photo is submitted. To enter your photo, send it to us at info@sgadventures.com. Tell us your name, your hometown, and in which category you are entering the submitted photo. Put Snap the Gap in the subject line. At the end of quarter, Southern Gap judges will pick the best photo in each category and post the results on Facebook. Our Facebook fans will then have the opportunity to choose a Fan Favorite to be decided by the number of likes the entries receive on the four photo post of category winners. Don't delay! Enter today! For complete contest rules and regulations, click here!
Student Discount (offered year-round)
If you are a student, 18 years or older, we offer a discount of 10 percent on ATV rentals and on Archery Tag! Show your school i.d. to receive the discount. To book a reservation time in advance of your arrival, call 276-244-1111 in order to validate your discount at the time the reservation is made.
(October 14-17, 2020)
Music, games and good food -- as well as opportunities to take part in guided tours to view Buchanan County’s elk population -- will be among the activities on tap October 14-17 as Buchanan County Tourism, the Southern Gap Visitor Center, SWVA Sportsmen and the SWVA Coalfields Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation host the four-day festival designed to feature unique and memorable experiences for lovers of wildlife and the outdoors and those seeking a taste of authentic mountain heritage. Admission to daily festival events is free, however, there are fees for guided elk viewing tours and a wild game dinner. Lodging and camping are available on site, as well as in the nearby Town of Grundy.
The festival fun starts Wednesday, October 14 with the premiere of “The Elk of Southern Gap,” a newly-produced mini-documentary on the Buchanan County elk restoration project that will be shown at the Southern Gap Visitor Center during a sold-out wild game dinner hosted by the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce.
Friday and Saturday events will include a wildlife photography class and contest; mountain games including a tug of war contest and stone toss; 3D archery; a running with the elk race; a taxidermy competition; guided elk tours; ATV riding, mud bog and rally course events; local arts and crafts; bugling and turkey call competitions featuring youth and adult divisions; bonfire story-telling; stargazing; a kids zone event hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Central Appalachia; and live entertainment to be announced. Arts and crafts vendors and food trucks will be set up on site. The festival event awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening prior to the entertainment with winners from all the various competitions held throughout the festival announced.
Arts and crafts vendors are being sought. To reserve your 12 foot by 12 foot space, call the Southern Gap Visitor Center office at 276-244-1111 or email info@sgadventures.com or call the Buchanan County Tourism Office at 276-244-1542 or email info@WildBuchanan.com to request a vendor application. No electricity is provided. Reservation fee is $10 per space. Festival sponsors are also being sought and may call either of the numbers above for additional sponsorship information.
Additional event sponsors include media partner Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
Southern Gap Sessions: Songs and Stories of Appalachia Featuring Sandy Shortridge-Weekley
(September 17, 2020)
Plan to join us Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southern Gap Visitor Center as we host Southern Gap Sessions, featuring Sandy Shortridge Weekley, who is well known throughout the region and beyond, in the "Songs and Stories of Appalachia." Shortridge-Weekley has four CDs, the most recent of which was released in 2018. “Beginning with the End” charted on Airplay’s Gospel music charts, reaching number five. Admission is $5 at the door with Children 12 and younger admitted free. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
Howl at the Moon Night Ride
(September 12, 2020)
Join us for a night ride to Grundy! Register at the Southern Gap Visitor Center from 5:00 - 6:30 PM Entry fee is $20 per machine. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Buchanan County Humane Society. Group will depart the Coal Canyon trailhead and do some trail riding before heading to downtown Grundy to attend SPIRIT FEST 2020 where there's free music, games and fireworks. Food and craft vendors will be set-up downtown. BRING YOUR FUR BABIES! Pets are always welcome to ride! To register, or for details, contact us at 276-244-1111.
Moon Gazing at Southern Gap
(October 1, 2020)
Join us and your host, Scotty Wampler, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, to gaze at the moon at Southern Gap and to learn a little more about our solar system and the night sky! The event begins at 8 p.m. and will conclude at 9:30 p.m. Additional details will be released as we get closer to the event.
Moon Gazing at Southern Gap
(November 30, 2020)
Join us and your host, Scotty Wampler, NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, to gaze at the moon at Southern Gap and to learn a little more about our solar system and the night sky! The event begins at 7 p.m. and will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Additional details will be released as we get closer to the event.
Snap the Gap Quarterly Photo Contest!
Think you've got what it takes to capture the best of the best when it comes to taking photos? Try your hand and enter our Snap the Gap Quarterly Photo Contest! You might just win a $50 Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Gift Certificate if your photo is chosen as a category winner in one of four categories being sought -- and a $100 Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure Gift Certificate if your photo is chosen as the fan favorite! We hold the contest quarterly. Entries for the third quarter contest will be accepted through September 30, 2020 in the categories of action/outdoor adventure; nature; relaxation/vacation; and scenic/landscapes. All photos must be taken at Southern Gap and must be taken in the quarter in which the photo is submitted. To enter your photo, send it to us at info@sgadventures.com. Tell us your name, your hometown, and in which category you are entering the submitted photo. Put Snap the Gap in the subject line. At the end of quarter, Southern Gap judges will pick the best photo in each category and post the results on Facebook. Our Facebook fans will then have the opportunity to choose a Fan Favorite to be decided by the number of likes the entries receive on the four photo post of category winners. Don't delay! Enter today! For complete contest rules and regulations, click here!
Student Discount (offered year-round)
If you are a student, 18 years or older, we offer a discount of 10 percent on ATV rentals and on Archery Tag! Show your school i.d. to receive the discount. To book a reservation time in advance of your arrival, call 276-244-1111 in order to validate your discount at the time the reservation is made.
