11.25-12.01
🦃 No holiday is more fixated on the consumption of a singular animal than American Thanksgiving; most families couldn't imagine dinner without a perfectly roasted turkey on the table. But what, exactly, does that bird symbolize? Does it hold any cultural significance, or is it simply the product of a relatively recent, wildly successful marketing campaign? The bigger question is: does it matter? Couldn't we be just as thankful without celebrating the suffering of others? This year, I hope you consider breaking the mold and adopting a new tradition of mercy and compassion. 🍂🌽🥧 Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours, and to all the hosts helping bring us together this holiday season:
Mon 11/25
♫ 6–9:30pm (doors 4): Irish Music Session // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
🎭 7:30pm open mic, 8pm show (doors 7): The R.E.A.L. Funny + Open Mic Comedy Show // The Spot on Kirk // free, donations encouraged ↝
Tue 11/26
♫ 5–8pm: Seph Custer & Friends Birthday Jam // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 6:30pm: Creative Conversations (art talk)// The Collective // free ↝
✮ 6:30–8:30pm: Potluck & Plug-In for Palestine // The House at Lick Run Farm // free ↝
♫ 6:30–8:30pm: Will Reid & Wyatt Allen (country) // Wasena City Tap Room // free ↝
🎄♫ 7:30pm: Mannheim Steamroller (holiday orchestral) // Berglund Center Coliseum // $95+ ↝
♫ 9pm–1am: Karaoke Night // Fork in the Market // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Christian Q & the Funky Truth (funk, jazz) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝
Wed 11/27
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Dr. Bacon // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎨 6pm: Pottery & Pints with Motel Studios (painting) // Big Lick Brewing ↝
♫ 6pm: away with words, GAOL, allthepiecesgatheredbymay, Parry Romberg (metalcore, screamo, grind) // VFW Post 1264 // $10 adult, $5 <18 ↝
✮ 6–7pm: Silent Book Club // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
✮ 6–9pm: Fortnite Tournament S5C5 // The VR Center - Salem // $10, registration required ↝
✮ 7pm: Friendsgiving Party // Sidewinders // free, 21+ ↝
🏆✮ 7pm (doors 6): Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Macon Mayhem - Friendsgiving & Fall Food Drive (hockey game) // Berglund Center Coliseum // $14–26 ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Keith Goggins (blues, rock, cover) // The Village Grill // free ↝
✮ 8pm: Friendsgiving // Corned Beef & Co. // free, 21+ ↝
♫ 8–11pm: Turkey Bash with Jerry Wimmer & Friends // The Hangout - Cloverdale// $10 ↝
♫ 9:30pm: GAK! (90s covers) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
Thu 11/28
🏆✮ 9–11am: Drumstick Dash 5K // Downtown Roanoke // $35, registration required ↝
✮ 1:30–4:30pm: Thanksgiving in the Barn // New Freedom Farm - Buchanan // free, donations encouraged, register by Nov. 23 ↝
✮ 5:30–8:30pm: Thanksgiving Potluck & Game Night by Celebrate Recovery // Fellowship Community Church ↝
Fri 11/29
🏆 8:30am: Black Friday Run/Walk // Runabout Sports // free ↝
🎄✮ 9am–5pm: Black Dog Friday (holiday shopping, sales, food truck) // Black Dog Salvage // free ↝
♫ 5:30pm: The Eric Wayne Band (southern rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Ella Folk & the Shenandoah Sound (country) // Twisted Track Brewing // free ↝
♫ 6:30–9:30pm: Tin Can Locomotive (Americana) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
🏆 7pm: Rail Dawgs Star Wars Night (American Cancer Society benefit hockey game) // Berglund Center Coliseum // $16+ ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Phat Pocket (funk, dance) // The Hangout - Cloverdale// $10 ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Appalachian Happy Hour hosted by B-99.9 Radio (country, live recording) // Living Proof Beer Co. - Rocky Mount // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Phat Laces (funk, jam) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $22+ ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Abbey & Andy (acoustic) // Olde Salem Brewing Co. // free ↝
♫ 8pm: Supafly Live (funk, rock, variety) // Rosie's Gaming Emporium - Vinton // free, 21+ ↝
🏳️🌈 9pm: Mr. & Mrs. Trailer Park (drag show, dance party) // The Park Dance Club // proceeds benefit the PRISM Angel Tree & Frank's Fund ↝
♫ 9pm–1am: Patchwork Band (rock, cover) // The Coffeepot // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Dusty Live - night 1 (country, rock) // Sidewinders // free ↝
♫ 10pm: Chad Nickell & the Loose Change (folk, rock, Americana) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
Sat 11/30
✮ ALL DAY: Small Business Saturday // Downtown Roanoke // see participating retailers here ↝
🏆 9am: Intro to Wild Caving // Public Works Service Center // $55, registration required ↝
🎄✮ 9am–3pm: Buchanan Christmas Market // Main Street Buchanan // free ↝
🎄✮ 10am–4pm: 8th Annual Mistletoe Market // Holiday Inn Roanoke Conference Center // free ↝
🏆 11am: Public Ice Skating Session // Berglund Center Coliseum // $6, skate rental $3 ↝
🎄✮ 11am–3pm: Ursula's Holiday Market // Ursula's Cafe // free, donations appreciated ↝
🎨 noon–1:30pm: Candle Flights (candlemaking) // Golden Cactus // $50, registration required ↝
✮ noon–midnight: Olde Salem Brewing Bash Vol. 7 // Olde Salem Brewing // free ↝
🎨 1:30–3:30pm: Wreath Making Workshop // Fishburn Mansion // $40, 12+, registration required ↝
♫ 1:30–4:30pm: Christian Q - solo (funk, jazz) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Time Sawyer (folk, bluegrass, country) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6–8pm: Geoff White (violinist) // Stave & Cork - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: American Honey (cover, variety) // Twisted Track Brewing // free ↝
♫ 6:30–9:30pm: Jonathan Paige Brown Jr. (cover, country) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 8pm: The Kings (beach, funk, pop) // Rosie's Gaming Emporium - Vinton // free, 21+ ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7:30): Hearts Gone South & Jack Marion (country) // The Spot on Kirk // $12 adv. $15 day of ↝
♫ 8–11pm: Murder Wagon & Friends (cover, misc) // Olde Salem Brewing // free ↝
♫ 9pm: Screaming Infidelities Emo Night // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Dusty Live - night 2 (country, rock) // Sidewinders // free ↝
♫ 10pm–2am: Butta & Moon's Blue Jean Ball (dance party) // Tajzmahs Lounge // $20 ↝
Sun 12/01
🎄✮ 11am–4pm: Pet Portraits with Santa Paws! // Roanoke Valley SPCA // $35, registration required. Space limited. ↝
🎄✮ 1–5pm: Holiday Makers Market // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 2pm: Messages From Beyond // One Community Now // $35, tickets limited ↝
🎨 2–4pm: Winter Centerpiece Workshop (floral arranging) // Taubman Museum // $75, registration required ↝
🧸🎄 2–4pm: Santa is Coming to TCBC (photo op, kids' activities) // Twin Creeks Brewing - Vinton // free ↝
✮ 2–6pm: Makers on Market // Olde Salem Brewing // free ↝
🧸🎄 3–6pm: Visit with Santa (photo op–bring your own camera; well-behaved pets welcome) // Mast General Store // free ↝
♫ 4–7pm: Songwriters Sunday // Starr Hill Brewery // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Bradley Steele (rock) // Wasena City Tap Room // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: The Floorboards (Americana, country, rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
Ongoing/Multiple Dates
♫ (Nov 21–30) Blue Ridge Holler: A Hurricane Relief Concert Series // Multiple venues // ticket prices vary ↝
🎄 (Nov 22–Dec 31) 2024 Festival of Trees // Natural Bridge State Park // Vote for your favorite tree by placing a donation under the tree or purchasing a ballot. // free to visit; pay or bring donation to vote ↝
🎄 (Nov 23–Dec 29) Illuminights // Explore Park // "Explore your holiday spirit through a unique experience featuring over 650,000 lights, dazzling features and memorable moments." // $17.50 adult, $6.50 child ↝
🎄 (Nov 28–Jan 1) Fashion for Evergreens 2024 // Hotel Roanoke // In this Christmas tree contest, donations of $5 or more will be entered to win an overnight stay with breakfast for two. // free to visit; pay to vote ↝
✮ (Nov 29–Dec 1): Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society Show // Salem Civic Center // "...a wide selection of gifts for all ages, education, and mineral identification in a large shopping area with room for safe holiday shopping." // adults $5, <14 years old free ↝
🎭 (Nov 29–Dec 22): Annie (live theatre, musical) // $60+ ↝
🧸🎄 (Nov 29–Jan 6): The Elf on the Shelf Adventure in Downtown Roanoke (scavenger hunt) // "For the fifth time, Santa’s Scout Elves will land in Downtown Roanoke! Come on a fun scavenger hunt and find the 16 Scout Elves hiding in downtown stores. Find them all and be entered for a chance to win $1,000!" // multiple locations // free ↝