Well, since I'm a nice guy and would hate for you to miss out on something awesome, I'm going highly recommend you RSVP for the Sept. 12 Radical Reels Film Festival & Get Outside Expo. You really don't want to miss this.
My recommendation for this weekend goes toward sustainable living -- get outside and build a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a container that collects rain water from rooftops and reduces stormwater runoff. In a typical rain storm more than 700 gallons of water run off the roof of a home. That's enough water to take 17 baths or 58 showers. Use the barrel to water gardens and grass (and it will help keep your water bills down).
Building a rain barrel is a fairly simple and is a project you can complete with the kids (here are the instructions). You can purchase a premade barrel to get started or use a sturdy trash can. So get building ... and send us a picture of your finished rain barrel.
The group paddling event is scheduled for Sept. 15 and will benefit service programs provided by the Presbyterian Community Center in Roanoke. The daylong event begins at 9 a.m. with paddling heats racing throughout the day with food and other activities for those cheering on the paddlers landside. The championship race is at 3:30 p.m. and will be followed by a closing ceremony and party.
Dragon boat racing is a team sport based on an ancient Chinese tradition and is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. Each boat is approximately 44 feet long and 3 feet wide and holds 20 paddlers, one steersman (a professional assigned to each team) and one drummer. The Smith Mountain Lake race course will be 350 meters long with three-team heats. Each team will race in multiple heats.
Pitch it to your boss as a team building initiative!
There's nothing like a nice ride (or jog) along one of the many trails in the Roanoke Region.
But a new rule will allow states to opt out of receiving federal funding for trails through the Recreational Trails Program. The program provides funds to states to develop and maintain recreational trails for hiking, biking, skating, horseback riding and off-road motorsports.
You probably all know the Go Outside Festival is about healthy, active outdoor recreation. But did you know music is a big part of the weekend-long event?
We need your help. Who would you like to see on stage Saturday evening? (Keep your suggestions realistic for a free event.)
Outdoor recreation is the fastest growing aspect of tourism and this workshop outlines the opportunities, best practices, and steps required to launch a business.
Hear from successful business owners in the industry and learn from professionals as they provide steps to launch, market, and finance a business. The workshop includes an update on tourism developments in the region and is a great opportunity to connect to.
Kayaking 101
It's time to recruit your friends and register for the first 
You probably all know the 
Interested in starting an adventure tourism business in the 
