Waynestock 2026: The Roof Reunion Show
Day 1
The reunion we’d all been waiting for…
After some time apart, @theroofofficial got together for a reunion show at Waynestock Outdoor Adventure and Music Festival.
Last time the festival was so packed we almost didn’t find a spot, so this time we rented a house in nearby Fayetteville, just a few minutes’ walk from vintage shops, coffee spots, restaurants, and little stores with fun trinkets.
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In the morning I write at Range Finder Coffee, a snug, vibey coffee shop with big open windows facing the street. But eventually the other memers show up, so we head a few doors down to iconic Cathedral Cafe for breakfast – the converted church fascinates everyone with tall, stained glass windows that command and color the spacious dining room.
With fuel for the day we hike the Burnwood trail – almost instantly we’re lost, literally walking in circles. But after a few times around the loop, under towering rock walls and another mile or so after that, we reach the scenic end: the New River Gorge Bridge.
The huge metal bridge spans the deep, steep river gorge, cutting the travel time across from a winding 45 minutes to mere seconds.
Somewhere around this time, I lose Brandon’s cool mini retro Kodack keychain “Charmera” camera. We go to look for it the next day, but as we retrace our steps down the trail, a man in passing gives us a warning: a mama bear and her cubs are just ahead!
We can only assume the bears are taking pictures with it now; I look at Brandon, and he’s cool to turn around here.
Later we head to the festival to watch Amico and Skye perform their set. I’ve never seen Skye perform, and I’ve never seen Amico sing – I was surprised at both!
The air is warm, flowy festival music fills the night, and starlight rains down from above…
But eventually we call it a night – I walk thru the house and across the backyard to crash in my tent. Cool, humid air swishes and swirls around me; heavy with satisfaction and gratitude, my eyelids shut out the material world.
Does it get any better than this?
Day 2
My secret pleasure is…
Saturdays at Waynestock – coffee, thrift shopping, swimming under the afternoon sun, and live music with friends.
Summersville Lake has a plethora of hiking trails and hidden swimming spots – adventurous climbers cling to rock walls overlooking the water, boats and kayaks lounge in the coves, and swimmers are everywhere in between.
A while ago I went to a swimming spot that was easily accessible, had plenty of rocks and water features, and wasn’t super crowded – but now I can’t remember how to get there! I’ve tried in years past, but as time goes by, it feels more like a dreamy facade than a real place…
This year, I'm determined to find it.
We pull into the main trail parking lot; checking against AllTrails and Google Maps (and with the help of new trail signs) we seem to be on the right path.
Down the easy walking trail, across a small trickling creek, and through the sun-dappled woods – we find the elusive oasis!
Huge cliffs form a cozy cove.
Sparkling sunlight dances on clear blue water.
Mammoth boulders emerge from the water; the perfect angle for afternoon sun.
All around people are soaking up the summer sun…
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Evening arrives, and there’s just enough space to pile everyone into the truck.
Suddenly, as we’re driving to the festival, I get a flashback to a picture on my vision board: friends riding together in the back of a truck. The core moment carves a memory into my being.
In a big grassy yard people toss frisbee – I grab one from the truck, and soon there’s ten dudes tossing two frisbees in a big circle.
But as daylight shrinks, anticipation grows. The stars come out, drinks are flowing, and the fire is roaring – it’s time for The Roof to come on!
Mesmerized by their melodies, dancing with glee, and singing along to our favorite songs, the whole crowd revels in their vibrations – but their set flies by in a flash of lights, sounds, and emotions. We’re left suspended in a heavy nostalgic trance, not quite sure how to proceed from here…
More than anything, Waynestock reminded me that so many friendships, adventures, and memories can be traced to a group of guys who wanted to play music together.
