Travel & Lodging
Thank you for registering for Furious Flower IV: Celebrating the Worlds of Black Poetry September 18-21, 2024 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Here you will be able to find all the information you need to plan your stay with us. If you have any questions, please email or call the Center.
Getting Here
Air travel options include the following:
- Charlottesville/Albermarle (CHO) – approx. 1 hour
- Dulles International (IAD) – approx. 1 hour & 45 min
- Reagan National (DCA) – approx. 2 hours & 15 min
- Richmond International (RIC) – approx. 2 hours
- Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) – approx. 25 min
The Virginia Breeze provides daily coach bus service to and from JMU to the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Amtrak’s Union Station in Washington, D.C. Visit virginiabreeze.org to purchase tickets or for more information on routes, amenities, luggage restrictions, and parking. The Virginia Breeze Bus Lines’ 56-seat passenger buses include free Wi-Fi, power outlets, a restroom, and plenty of baggage and seating room. All buses are ADA accessible. Contact MegaBus customer service at
Conference Hotels
The following hotels in Harrisonburg and close to the conference have space reserved and special rates offered to Furious Flower IV attendees; pay close attention to the instructions or use the specific link provided in order to receive your discount:
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- Hyatt Place Harrisonburg – conference rate available through July 31; to reserve at this rate, call the Hyatt and use code “FFP1” (Conference Shuttle Available)
- Sleep Inn – conference rate available through July 15; to reserve at this rate, call Sleep Inn and tell them you are with Furious Flower (Conference Shuttle Available)
- Quality Inn – conference rate available through July 15; to reserve at this rate, call Quality Inn and tell them you are with Furious Flower (Conference Shuttle Available)
- Courtyard by Marriott (available through August 18)
- DoubleTree Hotel – when booking online, select the dates, select the special rate button, and put in the code 90G and select Done in order to reserve at the discounted rate
- Others: Fairfield Inn & Suites (available through August 27), Residence Inn (through August 23), Hampton Inn (available through September 8), Clarion Inn (September 4)
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Parking at James Madison University
James Madison University has provided us with 300 event visitor permits for our attendees, valid from Wednesday, September 18 at 7am until Saturday, September 21 at 10pm. These permits will enable you to park, free of charge, in all standard spaces on campus.
To redeem these permits, please go to https://jmu.aimsparking.com and click on “Redeem Event Permit.” You will then be prompted to select our event, enter the event code, and enter your vehicle information. Upon confirming the transaction, you will receive an email receipt. Directions for redeeming visitor permits can be found online here. To see where you can park ahead of time, view the online parking map found here (a print version is available upon request at Parking Services).
Event Name: 09/18/24-09/21/24 Furious Flower Poetry Conference
Event Code: FFLOW4
Please Note: these do not allow you to park in specially designated spaces such as Service Vehicle spaces, accessible spaces without proper permit, or expired timed spaces. You are also prohibited from parking in Fire Lanes. Permits may only be redeemed by campus visitors. They may not be redeemed by anyone currently enrolled at, compensated by, or employed as an affiliate of James Madison University.
Where to Eat
Furious Flower has put together a list of some of our favorite restaurants, breweries, and cideries in Harrisonburg which can be accessed and downloaded here. However, this list is not exhaustive. You can find more locations to enjoy by using Google Maps or Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s various guides.
Health Resources
Should you require medical assistance, Harrisonburg offers a variety of urgent care clinics as well as our local hospital. The following places are available to you, should you need them:
Wheelchair Rental
JMU does not provide wheelchair rentals; however, please visit one of the following vendors for information regarding Shenandoah Valley wheelchair rentals.
• M.I.T.S.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a Submittable account to register?
In order to register for the conference, you will need to create a free Submittable account which will prompt you to verify your email before allowing you to complete registration.
Who should register as a student?
All students, be it graduate, undergraduate, or k-12 should register as a student regardless of attendee, performer, or presenter status.
If I’m a performer or presenter that is a student, can I register at the student rate?
Yes, all students should register as a student which is the cheapest rate available to them; all performers and presenters will still be categorized as performers or presenters regardless of student status.
How do I get the conference discount at the listed hotels?
Each hotel has a different process in order to obtain the Furious Flower discount. The Hyatt requires you to call the hotel and use the code “FFP1,” the Sleep Inn and Quality Inn require , the other hotels listed below those on this page require you to reserve your room through the link we have provided (click on the name of the appropriate hotel).
What food is covered at the conference?
Lunch will be provided for all attendees Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Will there be a vendor/book fair?
No, we will not have any vendor or book fair at Furious Flower IV.
Does Furious Flower offer any scholarships or grants to assist with travel funds?
Unfortunately, Furious Flower Poetry Center is unable to offer any financial assistance for registration or for travel funds. We recommend you explore options such as your department or college, local arts council, organizations that offer artist support.
Am I responsible for my own travel expenses?
Yes, you are responsible for your own lodging and travel expenses. We recommend exploring the options listed above.
I keep getting a message to verify my email; how do I register?
In order to register, you’ll need to create a free Submittable account which will then require you to verify your email before you can submit your registration. This is to ensure you will receive your confirmation email. Please check your Junk Email folder or Spam folder if you don’t receive the verification email in a timely manner.
If I register as a student, will I still be listed as a presenter/performer?
Yes, all students should register as students as it is the lowest rate available to them. Registering as a student will not affect your status as presenter or performer.
Can I buy more than one day pass?
Yes, you can purchase more than one day pass. If you are only planning on attending for two days and you are not a student or affiliated with JMU, this is the lowest rate available to you. Please note that purchasing all three exceeds the cost of the full access Attendee pass.
Where do I find information on travel and lodging options?
When you successfully completed registration, you should have received a confirmation email. In this email, there is a link to the password protected page containing this information along with the password to access it. This is password protected to ensure our conference attendees get exclusive access to the discounted rates we have secured.
I’m a graduate student; can I get the student rate?
Yes, graduate students are eligible for the discounted student rate of $100.
Where exactly will the conference be taking place?
The majority of conference activities will be held at the Festival Student and Conference Center on East Campus at JMU. The address is 1301 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Will there be parking available?
Yes.
When will the conference schedule be available?
A rough draft will be available by mid-June.
