With just two weeks remaining, anticipation is building for the inaugural Southern Gap Trails & Tunes Festival, a three-day off-road motorsports event set for Aug. 20-22 at Southern Gap Dirt Drags.
The new festival is expected to bring riders, racers and spectators from across Southwest Virginia and neighboring states to Buchanan County for a weekend filled with competition, entertainment and outdoor fun. Featuring side-by-sides, four-wheelers and dirt bikes, the event aims to showcase the region’s growing off-road recreation scene while giving visitors another reason to explore Southern Gap.
Festivities kick off Thursday, Aug. 20, when gates open at 5 p.m. Competition begins at 7 p.m. with a wheelie contest and a panty race.
Action continues Friday, Aug. 21, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and events beginning at 12:30 p.m. The day’s schedule includes a tire toss, Dizzy Daze challenge, blindfold breakout, Crazy 8’s barrel racing and tug-of-war.
The festival wraps up Saturday, Aug. 22. Gates open at 10 a.m., with events beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday’s lineup features a donut competition, mud bog, hill climb and drag racing before winners are recognized during an awards ceremony.
Admission is $25 for a three-day wristband or $20 for a single-day pass. Wristbands are available in advance at Extreme Motorsports.
Organizers hope the inaugural event will become an annual tradition while continuing to strengthen Buchanan County’s reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation and motorsports tourism. The festival is also expected to provide an economic boost for local restaurants, hotels and businesses as visitors travel to the county for the weekend.
