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Music, Arts F estival Coming To Valley
MidMountain Fest, a music and arts festival, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, at Mid-Mountain Retreat at 338 Arnolds Valley Road in Natural Bridge Station.
The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved an outdoor event permit application submitted by Andrea “River” Peterson and Matthew Separa for the festival, which is taking place from noon to 8 p.m.
“MidMountain Fest 2024: Reclaiming the Appalachian Murder Ballad” is described in materials as an “intersectional arts festival.” Mid-Mountain is “an arts and agricultural nonprofit focused on growing a resilient, creative community by sharing time and natural space to develop the art of storytelling while literally nourishing our neighbors.”
The lineup of folk and traditional music performers slated to appear includes South for Winter, the Laurel Hells Ramblers, the Timber Bridges, Cole Sullivan, Timothy Bailey and the musical history variety show Fatal Femme Agency.
Financial support for the festival is coming from a $10,000 grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Central Appalachian Living Traditions Program and from ticket and merchandising sales. Partners and committed vendors include Motherwort Press and the Rockbridge Regional Library System. A majority of net funds raised via ticket sales will be redistributed to performers according to a cooperative model.
Based on recent amendments to the county’s admissions tax ordinance, MidMountain has requested the once annual fundraiser exemption from Commissioner of Revenue Brooke Tomlin, who has agreed that the exemption is allowable under the code.
Peterson said she is anticipating attendance of 100 to 150, with the maximum number of tickets being sold set at 200. Ride-sharing is being encouraged to cut down on the amount of parking. A prohibition against parking along Arnolds Valley Road will be enforced by a parking attendant.
