Roanoke Valley music fans no longer have to trek to some distant city to see a great live music show. Local concert venues and area music festivals offer a variety of exciting live music events and fun activities in the Valley throughout the year.

The Festival Park at Carolina Crossroads

After Carolina Dirt, LLC purchased outdoor music venue Carolina Crossroads in October 2010, the new owners renamed the site The Festival Park at Carolina Crossroads, seeking to create a unique concert facility right off busy Interstate 95 that would appeal to music festival promoters. These one-of-a-kind single or multiday concert events would feature on-site camping opportunities not typically available at other concert venues.

“It’s about creating a festival-type experience,” says Gil Cunningham, Carolina Dirt partner and co-owner of the newly revitalized park. “Whether it’s a one-day or multiday event, the festivals offer a variety of attractions for the concert patron. Craft and retail booths, carnival rides and a wide variety of food concessions give the festivals their own unique flavor for the consumer to enjoy. The ultimate goal is to provide a variety of festivals featuring different genres of music.”

The Festival Park at Carolina Crossroads welcomes an eclectic mix of country, Christian, alternative rock and Americana concert events every year. Rapids Jam, the park’s flagship three-day music event modeled after major country music festivals like Country Thunder and Big Valley Jamboree, features popular country music acts Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Willie Nelson, Sugarland and more. Legendary rock groups Boston, Styx, Christian-rock band Third Day, and comedian Jeff Foxworthy have also performed at the park before large, enthusiastic crowds.     

Other Valley Music Festivals

The annual Dream Acres Music Festival hosts more than 16 local and regional bands for a weekend of food, camping, music and fun. This event takes place in September and raises money for fine arts scholarships. Dream Acres supports the "Adrienne Ivey Daily Herald Memorial Scholarship Fund," and event organizers have started their very own Dream Acres Scholarship.

“We’re just a group of old-fashioned kind of folks," says Ann Meadows, founder/executive director of the Dream Acres Music Festival. "We enjoy the simple things in life like family, friends, nature, working with our hands and playing music. We also still believe in community and helping your neighbors. Through Dream Acres Music Festival we are able to do all these things.”

The Roanoke Rapids Theatre is a cornerstone of the Carolina Crossroads Music and Entertainment District. This venue can be leased for a meeting, an evening, or a month to host concerts and entertainment opportunities. The facility has hosted such famous acts as Charlie Daniels, 38 Special, the Temptations Review and more. This 1,500-seat facility offers a superb experience for the audience with light and sound quality unmatched in any venue. Contact the City of Roanoke Rapids for your opportunity today.

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