Showcasing Floyd County’s artists’ studios, local eateries, organic farms, hand-crafted jewelry, art galleries, and the beauty of Floyd County, VA
The annual free tour of Floyd’s artisans will provide visitors a chance to join free lectures and workshops, tour working artists’ studios and organic farms, view pottery-making and woodworking demonstrations, purchase beautiful artwork, crafts, and farm products, learn about beekeeping, as well as make friends with sheep, alpacas, and goats.
Many tour sites will offer refreshments for sale such as chocolate, hand-dipped ice cream, wine and coffee tastings, fresh eggs, organic vegetables, pasture-raised meat, fresh-baked bread and pastries, and more.
The Floyd Artisan Trail June Tour is a free three-day event at over 40 sites across Floyd County and is hosted by the Floyd Center for the Arts. For the full tour schedule, and a complete list of all the sites with maps, please visit www.FloydArtisanTrail.org.
“Whether a first-time visitor or a Floyd regular, the Artisan Trail Tour is a great way to explore the diversity and talents of Floyd’s creative culture.” said Jeff Liverman, Executive Director of the Floyd Center for the Arts. “Floyd County is full of talented crafters, amazing artisans, and innovative farmers who cross-pollinate to create a unique approach to life. The Artisan Trail is a wonderful way to get a taste of all there is to see and do here.”
This year’s trail will feature returning and new makers of all kinds. Artisan studios featuring paper artistry, mosaics, fiber arts, jewelry, pottery, fine paintings, woodworking, and even a private sculpture trail at Out There Studio. Galleries and shops on the tour include art cooperatives, country farm stores, local galleries and businesses representing numerous Floyd artists, as well as our host organization, the Floyd Center for the Arts.
Bluegrass, old time music, and dancing will be featured at several tour sites, to include the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store in downtown Floyd, live bluegrass music on Saturday night at Wildwood Farms General Store, live rock band at Dogtown Roadhouse on Saturday night, and a free concert at Chateau Morrisette Winery on Sunday afternoon.
On one stop on the trail, participants will have a chance to meet the alpacas at a unique farm store, Ocotilla’s Mountainside Alpacas. At another stop on the tour, meet world-renowned beekeeper, Gunther Hauk, at Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary, where he’ll be giving a free lecture on Saturday. A free gardening discussion will be happening at Wildwood Farms General Store and demonstrations of chocolate making will be sweet at Cocoa Mia.
Floyd is known for its inspired “new folk” approach to pottery. A variety of pottery studios across Floyd will be included in the tour. The tour will include Abby Reczek, Ayla Mullen, Frog Hollow Pottery, The Phelps Studios, Poor Farm Pottery, and Wrenn Pottery. See the potters in action at these full-time working studios.
Numerous fine art studios have special activities and demonstrations planned. Find oil on canvas painting demonstrations by Joli Ayn Wood at her studio, quilt making at Calico & Old Lace, and large-scale mosaic work at Red Sheep Workshop at Bird & Hopper Farm.
Marsha Slopley-Paulekas’ Studio will offer children’s activities and Blind Cat Studio will offer a mixed media workshop (rsvp please). Live demonstrations on making pottery, to include throwing, carving, and brushwork, will be occurring during the tour at Poor Farm Pottery and Wrenn Studios. Woodworking demonstrations and information can be seen at Rustic Floyd, Phoenix Hardwoods and Things Co.
A sampling of Floyd’s eateries are also included on the tour such as Tuggles Gap Restaurant, Wildwood Farms General Store, Bootleg BBQ, Grateful Bread Bakery, the Floyd Country Store, and Cocoa Mia. Visitors can seek lodging with another tour stop, Hotel Floyd, which features a gallery with local artists right in the hotel.
Tour hours are Friday, 10-5 p.m., Sat., 10-5 p.m., and Sun., 12-5 p.m. During the tour, visitor information will be available at the Floyd County Visitor Center and at the host site, Floyd Center for the Arts. Visit the Center for brochures, additional sites, directions, and to check out some of the other activities we have occurring during the tour including the New River Art Biennial Exhibition, the Friday Night Artisan Market, and several demonstration and workshops.
Updated schedule, details, and printable brochure can be found on our Facebook page and on our website. Hard-copy tour brochure and maps will be available at the Floyd Center for the Arts and the Floyd County Visitor Center.
For more information about The Floyd Center for the Arts: FloydArtCenter.org or call 540-745-2784. The Center is located at 220 Parkway Lane South in Floyd, ½ mile south of the stoplight on Route 8. Regular hours are: Monday – Saturday, 10-5 p.m.
-Submitted by Jeff Liverman
