05/28/2025
Behind the Curtain: Meet the Staff
Some folks don’t just work at FloydFest—they weave themselves into its story. 🌄
This week, we’re celebrating a longtime staff legend—someone whose dedication, grit, and heart have helped shape the fest over the years. Their presence is felt in every detail, every moment, every bit of mountain magic. 💫
🎤 Name: Susanna Smith
🎸 Current Role/Dept: Info/Lost & Found Co-Manager
✨ What’s your favorite memory from past festivals?
“I have SO many great memories from past festivals!!!!! My favorite, however, is from FF 5 as that is where and when I met my husband. I was a patron and came with friends every year from NOVA. I was walking across the main field and I saw this really cute guy! So, I stopped him and asked him if I knew him (he did look really familiar). He asked me if I knew so and so and I did not. So, he said…well, I guess you don’t know me and he walked off leaving me in the field. So, it being a festival, I continued my day listening to great music, dancing and having a blast.
The next day, Sunday, I loaded my car to leave, but then saw a friend who convinced me to go to the Pink Floyd Stage to have one last beer/dance. When there I saw some other friends at a table and sat down with them. Guess who was also there? The guy who left me in the field the day before!!! We officially met and hung together the rest of the day. It turns out he looked familiar for a reason. We both lived in Floyd and we did have many friends in common - just not the ones he mentioned. We were at many of the same parties and just didn’t meet.
We ended up dating long distance for a year and then he moved to NOVA with me. We eventually married and, all total, were together 18 years, until his sudden death last October. FF has given me so many incredible memories, but this one is the absolute best. “
🍿 What’s your go-to snack or drink to power through festival week?
“Good ole Floyd County water definitely keeps me going!!! (Although I do prefer it with ice.)”
🎶 If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be, and why?
“Only one? I thought of so many songs! I am a teacher, though, so the song has to be appropriate for when I walk into a room of kindergartners. So I am going with The Sharing Song, by Jack Johnson. Sharing makes me feel good!”
What’s YOUR favorite memory with staff? Tag them now!
Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals who keep the FloydFest magic alive!
