September 28 to October 4, 2009

YOUR WEEK IN EVENTS IS WAITING! So get out there and heart your community! If you want to see everything happenin’ in our greater Roanoke Valley and beyond, check out our main calendar of events here or for the best of the best, pick up A Useful Paper today! It’s all FREE, yo!

MONDAY

Poetry Rules: An Evening with Nikki Giovanni

Time: 7:30pm
Place: Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
Price: $5-$8
Info: A world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Over the past 30 years, her outspokenness, in her writing and in person, has brought the eyes of the world upon her.

WEDNESDAY

Radical Reels Film Festival Get Outside Expo

Time: 5:30pm
Place: Mill Mountain Theater, One Market Square SE, Roanoke, VA
Price: $12
Info: The most outrageous mountain sport films from the 33rd annual Banff Mountain Film Festival will thrill and inspire you with big-screen adventures.

THURSDAY

The Lovell Sisters

Time: 7:30pm
Place: Kirk Avenue Music Hall, 22 Kirk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA
Price: $10
Info: There is a word often used when describing rising Americana stars The Lovell Sisters: Passion. It’s what these three young women feel when they step on stage to perform. Passion is the fuel that feeds their art.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Highlanders Festival

Place: Radford University, Radford, VA
Info: Bringing patrons a “Taste of the Highlands”. This event features Scotch tasting, a 5k run, a Festival Parade, Food and Craft Vendors, Music and Bands including Teribus and Beggar’s Circus, children’s activities and much more!

Oktoberfest

Time: 5pm-10pm, Every Fri/Sat in October
Place: Mountain Lake Hotel, 115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke, VA
Price: $35
Info: Feast at the German banquet table—complete with roast pig, fresh baked breads and pastries, taste German beers, wines and ciders in the biergarten, and dance to a live German “Oompah” band.

FRIDAY

Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen

Time: 8pm
Place: Kirk Avenue Music Hall, 22 Kirk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA
Price: $30
Info: Arguably the pioneer of “Country Rock,” Chris Hillman has carved a permanent niche in the history of contemporary American music with such notables as The Byrds and the Desert Rose Band.

SATURDAY

Star City Womens 5K

Time: 8am
Place: Grandin Village, Raleigh Court Neighborhood, Roanoke, VA
Price: $25
Info: Race admission includes t-shirt, pasta meal, finisher’s medals, door prizes. No worries for newbies, the course is flat and both runners & walkers are welcome! The race benefits Children’s Trust.

City Market Harvest Festival

Time: 10am-4pm
Place: Historic Farmers Market, Downtown, Roanoke, VA
Price: FREE
Info: Fall into Fall with a tractor display, apple butter making, wagon rides, a children’s area with inflatable games, face painting, a balloon artist and kid’s craft area, wood turning, weaving, and food!

Big Lick Blues Festival

Time: 2pm-9pm
Place: Elmwood Park, Downtown, Roanoke, VA
Price: $20-$26
Info: ”A Rockin Blues & Ribs Fest” Music and eats sure to satisfy your soul! The line-up includes Stacy Brooks and the Reverend Billy Wirtz. The headliner act is three time Grammy Award winner Delbert McClinton.

AmRhein’s Oktoberfest

Time: 5pm-10pm
Place: AmRhein Wine Cellars, 9243 Patterson Drive, Bent Mountain, VA
Price: $15
Info: Enjoy award winning wines and German food while listening to Fiddler Crab and Ministers of Soul. Plus there will be barrel racing as and childrens activities. Bring a chair but no coolers allowed.

SUNDAY

Tenth Poor Mountain Hill Climb

Time: 11am
Place: Camp Roanoke & Poor Mountain, 6498 Dry Hollow Road
Price: $25
Info: Cyclists congregate at Camp Roanoke and race begins at 11am. The Poor Mountain run is a gnarly route covering 7 3/4 miles of asphalt, dirt, rock and gravel. An excellent course for a fun and exciting race!

Christian McBride & The Inside Straight

Time: 7:30pm
Place: Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave, Roanoke, VA
Price: $14-$43
Info: Christian McBride is considered one of the most impressive jazz bassists of his generation. Along with his band, Inside Straight, McBride cultivates fearlessly modern music without ever straying far from tradition.