November 30 to December 6, 2009

Let the holiday rush begin… from Sesame Street to A Christmas Carol and Parlor Tours to SantaBombs… 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!

TUESDAY

Kevin So

Time: 8pm | Place: Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
If Bruce Lee were alive today, quit acting and started singing, he would be Kevin So. Put James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Billy Joel all together… you get Kevin So.

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY

Paul Thorn with Corey Hunley

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Kirk Ave Music Hall, Roanoke, VA | Price: $20 | LINK
Paul Thorn is soulful, raw, melancholy, brazen, circumspect, serene, and brooding, his voice expresses a range of human emotions, from grimness to incandescent optimism.

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY

Miracle on 34th Street

Time: 8pm Wed-Sat; 2pm Sun | Place: Showtimers, Roanoke, VA | Price: $5-$12 | LINK
In this Christmas classic, Macy’s Department Store gets more than they expect when they hire Kris Kringle as the store’s Santa Claus!

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

A Christmas Carol by the Young Actors Co-op of Floyd, VA

Time: 7pm Th, Sa; 6pm Su | Place: Winter Sun, Floyd, VA | Price: $3-$6 | LINK
Based on the traditional story by Charles Dickens, it’s a delightful holiday treat for the whole family!

Sesame Street Live! Elmos Green Thumb

Time: 7pm Th; 10:30am/7pm Fr; 10:30am/2pm/5:30pm Sa; 1pm/ 4:30pm Su
Place: Salem Civic Center, Salem, VA | Price: $12-$25 | LINK
Sesame Street friends help Elmo find a new home for Sunny the sunflower.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

Scrooge, The Musical

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
Donations are welcome for Blue Ridge Women’s Center. There’s a signed interpretation for the hearing impaired on Thursday.

THURSDAY

“Broadway Studio: A Musical Revue”

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Hollins University, Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
Join Hollins students for a showcase of solos, duets, and production numbers from your favorite Broadway musicals.

Variety Shac!

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Hollins University, Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE-$5 | LINK
Live music, comedy, and short films performed by NYC’s Chelsea Peretti, Andrea Rosen, Shonali Bhomwik, and Heather Lawless.

Author Talk: “On Dream Street” Dr. Melanie Almeder

Time: 8:15pm | Place: Green Drawing Room, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA | LINK
Almeder’s first book of poems, “On Dream Street,” was published in 2007 and won the Tupelo Press Editors’ Prize.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Winterfest

Time: 5-8pm Fr; 10am-5pm Sa | Place: Jacksonville Center, Floyd, VA | LINK
The 15th annual Winterfest, sure to be filled with visitors enjoying art, crafts, music, kids’ activities and tasty treats.

FRIDAY

Winter Lights Festival, Tuba Christmas & Holiday Parade

Time: 4pm | Place: Downtown Blacksburg, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
The DT Merchants of B’burg, Lyric Theatre and Dept of Music at VT bring you a Merry TubaChristmas! Bring your tubas & euphoniums!

SunTrust Dickens of a Christmas

Time: 5:30pm each Friday | Place: Downtown Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
Carriage rides, live carolers, fire dancers, photos with Santa, seasonal vendors and more! Plus shops will be open extended holiday hours!

Friday Night Happy(ness) Hour

Time: 7pm | Place: Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center, Roanoke, VA | LINK
A great time to gather, enjoy refreshments and meditation. Start your holidays off with a positive and happy mind.

Open Projector Night Audience Faves

Time: 7pm | Place: Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA | Price: $6.50 | LINK
The annual screening of the best of the best as voted throughout the entire year from the Grandin Theatre’s Open Projector night.

‘A Kilted Christmas’ with Coyote Run

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Kirk Ave Music Hall, Roanoke, VA | Price: $10 | LINK
An Celtic evening of family-friendly, holiday entertainment ranging from outrageous to poignant to sacred to “wow!”

Robert Jospé and the Inner Rhythm Band

Time: 8pm | Place: Olin Theater, Roanoke College, Salem, VA | LINK
Jospé’s band Inner Rhythm is a high energy jazz and world-beat ensemble, rooted in jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban and contemporary fusion.

StarBomb (SantaBomb)

Time: 8:30pm | Place: Meet at 2nd Street and Kirk Ave, Roanoke, VA | LINK
Mini-bikes + Mill Mountain + You in a Santa Suit = Awesome! Wear your holiday best, find the smallest bike your body will fit and join up!

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Old Southwest Parlor Tour

Time: 5-9pm Sa; 1-5pm Su | Place: Old SW, Roanoke, VA | Price: $15 | LINK
Celebrate the 30th anniversary and visit some fantastic homes in the Old Southwest Neighborhood, one of VA’s premier historic districts.

SATURDAY

Holiday Sing-Along

Time: 11am | Place: Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA | Price: Gallery Adm | LINK
Bring the whole family for a fun holiday inspired sing-along with the talented and energetic RSO Maestro David Stewart Wiley.

Grandin Village Open House

Time: 12pm-5pm | Place: Grandin Rd/Memorial Ave, Roanoke, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
Capture the holiday spirit with refreshments, special sales, great local gift ideas and even a visit from Santa!

Einstein’s Monkey

Time: 2pm | Place: Kirk Ave Music Hall, Roanoke, VA | Price: $3 Kids | LINK
What happens when three guys that grew up on Monty Python, Iggy Pop and Jolt Cola decide to start performing for kids… kids music even parents can enjoy, that’s what!

Virginia Dare Flotilla for Toys Boat Parade of Lights

Time: 7pm | Place: Smith Mountain Lake, VA | Price: FREE | LINK
What’s better than millons of twinkling lights reflecting down SML? The Flotilla for Toys helps make holidays possible for local children in need.

Celtibillies

Time: 7:30pm | Place: Kirk Ave Music Hall, Roanoke, VA | Price: $10 | LINK
”A masterful work of art that transcends all musical genres.” Celtibillies explore the deep connections between Celtic music and the music of their home, SWVA.

Kandinsky Trio

Time: 8pm | Place: Olin Theater, Roanoke College, Salem, VA | LINK
Featuring works of Tchaikovsky. The Kandinsky’s missions is simple “to keep alive the … greatest music ever written in a time when … popular culture threaten its existence.”

SUNDAY

Salem Museum’s Holiday Homes Tour

Time: 1-5pm | Place: Fairway Forest Nbhd, Salem, VA | Price: $12-$15 | LINK
Four decorated homes will be featured, including the fabulous Ridgewood mansion and the Longwood Park Carriage House.

Jim Brickman: Beautiful World Christmas

Time: 3pm | Place: Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA | Price: $31-$51 | LINK
Pianist Jim Brickman is creating a “Beautiful World,” presenting an evening of dazzling solo piano and vibrant vocals.

RSO Presents: Messiah

Time: 3pm | Place: Jefferson Center, Roanoke, VA | LINK
Roanoke Symphony Chorus Members along with with Maestro David Stewart Wiley present an matinee of Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 & Hallelujah Chorus.

Infamous Stringdusters

Time: 7pm | Place: Kirk Ave Music Hall, Roanoke, VA | Price: $15 | LINK
Well crafted songs, vivid arrangements, instrumental virtuosity, stunning improvisation, unique individuality and complete harmony…

White Gift Service

Time: 7:30pm | Place: duPont Chapel, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA | LINK
Hollins’ annual service of Advent welcoming the holiday season with lessons and carols by the Hollins Concert Choir and Talmadge Singers.