Things To Do in Roanoke, Virginia — Get Outside! Weekend Update: 12.11-12.13

April 1, 2010 – 11:49 am | Comments Off

Every event on myScoper.com can be found on this calendar. Yes, we mean everything! From pancake suppers to pillow fights. If you’re the type of person that wants to know all your options, check them out here! We think you’ll find something or a whole lot of somethings you’ll like!

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Get Outside! Weekend Update: 12.11-12.13

Submitted by Wendy on December 11, 2009 – 1:00 pmNo Comment

December 11 to December 13, 2009
By RoanokeOutside.com, Pete Eshelman

From jingle bell jogging Santas to ice skating and caroling with animals Annie Jr. at Mill Mountain Theatre, there’s plenty to do outside this weekend. RoanokeOutside.com highlights our region‘s phenomenal outdoor amenities and opportunities each week through the Weekend Update. Get Outside Roanoke!

Weekend Update – OUTSIDE!

2009 Jingle Bell Run/Walk Roanoke, VA 12/12
Ice Skating 12/12
Odyssey Land Navigation Clinic 12/12
Caroling with the Animals at Mill Mountain Zoo (12/12).The zoo and Opera Roanoke would like you to share your holiday cheer with zoo animals ($5, 4-7:30pm)
Happy Hour at SoRo Chill & Grill 12/15
Annie Jr. Play 12/10-20

Pete’s Picks

Friday – head to downtown Roanoke for the Dickens of a Christmas (parade, carriage rides, street actors, stilt walkers, magicians, fire eater, sword swallower, and more)
Saturday - participate in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk. This is a fun, festive event for the whole family! Put on your reindeer antlers and your running shoes and come join us for some holiday cheer. 5K run and 1 mile family run walk. $30 adult/$20 kid and it is for a great cause. You can register at the event. Volunteers are also needed!
Saturday - take the family ice skating at the Roanoke Civic Center (Noon – 3pm)
Sunday – Grab lunch downtown and then go see the 2PM showing of Annie Jr.

For the past few weeks we’ve been introducing a Top 10 list of mountain biking trails in the Roanoke Region. Each week we share a new mountain bike trail. We’ll include directions to the trail, a map of the trail, a short description of it and places to visit near the trail when you are done with your ride.

This week’s trail is the Roanoke River Greenway. It runs more than 5 miles form Wasena Park to Bennington Rd. Starting at Wasena Park, The first part of the greenway is kid friendly, slightly downhill, and a very easy walk, ride, or run with plenty of playgrounds along the route. We realize this isn’t a “mountain” bike trail but we included it because it connects you to the Mill Mountain trail system (#6).

Earlier this fall we compiled a list of the Top 10 Hikes in the Roanoke Region. You can download these, and a few others, by clicking here>>>

Got an idea? Send it to pete@roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!
Pete (friend me on Facebook)

Check Out Annie Jr.

Mill Mountain Theatre was kind enough to help us out with the inaugural Get Outside Expo & Radical Reels Film Festival back in September and now we’d like to return the favor. Whether you have children or not, Annie Jr. is a great holiday play. Please support our local theaters and ensure their future success!

Performed from December 10 – 20, “Annie, Jr.” has all the fun and adventure, great songs, and lively spirit of the original. Based on the popular comic strip, “Annie Jr.” tells of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy. The cast of 20 plus actors will be school-aged children ranging from 6-18.

See all the details including dates>>>

2010 Roanoke Trail Running Series

Mountain Junkies is excited to announce the 2010 R NUTS (Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series) schedule. The race season is going to begin with a new race – the Frozen Toe 10K on January 9. This race will take place on the Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail. The start and finish will include an indoor facility to warm up in.

Each event in the series is a stand alone event. You don’t have to enter the series to enter any of the races. Pick and choose! However, if you want to participate in the entire series click here to learn the details!

Race Schedule:
Frozen Toe 10K 1/9
Explore Your Limits (5 & 10K) 3/6
Montvale 5 & 10 Mile Trail Run 3/27
Mill Mountain Mayhem 10K 4/17
Trail Nut 10K and Half Marathon 6/5
Into The Darkness Trail Run 10/23

Work Downtown? Need a Place to Shower?

RIDE Solutions and the YMCA are considering a program to provide free showers to bicycle commuters who are RIDE Solutions members. The pilot program would take place at the downtown YMCA facility with the hope to expand to all YMCA locations after the pilot period.

Regardless of whether you personally commute to work on a bicycle this is a good thing and a great step in the right direction. It is the small things like this that significantly contribute to the outdoor culture of the Roanoke Region. Please help Ride Solutions by taking their short survey.

<< TAKE A 5 Question SURVEY >>

Register & Get a Free HAT

The next 100 registrants to the Blue Ridge Marathon will receive a great hat with serious sweat-wicking abilities. Perfect for keeping stinking sweat out of your eyes during your training runs as you prep for your first Blue Ridge Marathon.

Register for the full or half marathon
Consider forming a team to walk the half marathon
All you have to do is register – and they’ll take care of the rest! But please remember that you must be one of the next 100 people to register!
The next 100 new registrants will receive a Headsweats Hat
All current registrations will also receive a Headsweats Hat
“Roanoke, VA” will be across the back and the website will be on one side
The hats will be mailed out in late March

Unique Sponsorship Opportunity

Cycling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Support of grassroots racing is a great way to expose your business to this supportive group of potential customers. Kazane Racing, a road cycling team based in Roanoke, VA, is proud to announce it’s 2010 partnership with the Tanzania Education Fund (TEF) and the Nianjema Secondary School in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The school provides education to young Tanzanians who would otherwise have no chance at one.

Learn how you can support cycling and TEF >>>

Christmas Ideas for Cyclists

East Coasters bike shop (Roanoke and Blacksburg shops) is making it easy for anyone to get the bicycle gifts you need. Click on the video to see their latest commercial.

Cycling Wish List – fill out your wish list and then tell your significant other to just go to Eastcoasters
12 Days of Christmas…East Coasters Style: Join the Eastcoasters Facebook Group and between December 13-24 you’ll receive special offers that only the Facebook Group members are privy to

Needed – Volunteers for the Community Forest

Roanoke Parks and Recreation is looking for “Volunteers for the community forest” to participate in a Tree Steward program, designed to train volunteers to care for trees and teach others about the urban forest. The program is free of charge and will be held at the Virginia Western Community College Natural Science Center on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning on Jan. 11, 2010. The program will last through the end of March. The deadline to register is Jan. 4, 2010.

Volunteer Tree Stewards prune trees, conduct tree inventories, plan Arbor Day events, and educate homeowners. The course begins with 30 hours of combined classroom and hands-on training. An additional 30 hours of volunteer work will be required to complete the program. 20 hours of community service is suggested per year thereafter. If you have a passion for trees and think you might be interested in volunteering, contact Urban Forestry Planner Helen Smythers at 540-853-5225.

Subscribe To Play Magazine For Free

Roanoke Parks and Recreation invites you to subscribe to PLAY magazine for free! The magazine will be sent right to your door at the beginning of each season: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Inside you will find over 200 programs to keep you entertained and active. From youth team sports, adult athletics, fitness and wellness, personal enrichment, outdoor recreation, and trips and tours, you are sure to find something fun to do. City Parks & Recreation programs are open to everyone! You do not have to be a city resident to participate. Subscribe Now!