12.16-12.22
🕎 Just like last year, yesterday we celebrated the final night of Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration of—what's that? What do you mean it hasn't even started yet?
If you're anything like me, your childhood consisted of basic protestant holidays celebrated by conservative white Christians. Years later, you may have found yourself with a number of Jewish friends, and ashamed to admit that you had absolutely no familiarity with even their most popular holidays.
But fear not, friends—there are plenty of primers on Hanukkah available online, as well as comical memoirs about the holiday. FYI, it celebrates the re-dedication of an ancient temple, and isn't even considered a "major holiday." And if you can't remember how to spell it? Don't worry! There are plenty of variations, since the Hebrew alphabet doesn't translate directly to the Latin alphabet. And if you would like to wish a happy Chanukah to your friends, you're not too late—this year, the celebration runs from December 25th to January 2nd. Chag sameach! 🕎
Mon 12/16
🎨 6–8pm: Make Your Own Ornaments! (pottery) // Motel Studios // $30, all ages ↝
✮ 6:30pm: Monday MeetUp: Full Moon Ceremony // One Community Now // free, donations encouraged ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Irish Music Session // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
✮ 7–9pm: Christmas Trivia // Three Notch'd Brewing - Roanoke // free ↝
Tue 12/17
♫ 5–8pm: Foster Burton (psych rock, blues) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎅✮ 6–7pm: Cookies & Cocoa with Santa // South Roanoke Nursing and Rehabilitation // free ↝
🎅✮ 6–8pm: Bingo with Santa // Town Center Taphouse - Daleville // free ↝
♫ 6–8pm: Hoppie Vaughan - solo (soul) // Wasena City Taproom // free ↝
🎭 6:30–7:30pm (sign-ups begin at 6): Star City Poet's Society Open Mic Night // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
🎭 7:30pm: A Magical Cirque Christmas (acrobatics, music, variety) // Berglund Center Coliseum // $80+ ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Sky Dolphin (cover) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝
Wed 12/18
✮ 4–7:30pm: 6th Annual Last Minute Market (local vendors & food/drink specials) // Wasena Village // free ↝
✮ 5–8pm: Holiday Market (local vendors & food/drink specials) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Mercy Creek (folk rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 6–8pm: Public Christmas Lights Tour // Chris's Coffee and Custard // $27.38 ↝
🎨 6:30pm: Candy the Christmas Cow (paint night event) // Crab Du Jour // $25 ↝
♫ 7pm: Solacoustix (blues, R&B, rock) // Montano's // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Goodtime Alibi (alt rock) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝
Thu 12/19
✮ 6am–8:30pm: Snowshoe Shuttle (transportation to and from Snowshoe Mountain Resort) // Public Works 1802 // $30 ↝
✮ 11am: Daytime Holiday Tour // Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest - Lynchburg // adult $25, youth $6, child free ↝
✮ 4–9pm: Gingerbread House Decorating Party (day 1) // Our Daily Bread & Bistro // $33, registration req. ↝
✮ 5:30pm: Holiday Get Down (RRPN quarterly social–outdoor holiday party) // Sweet Donkey // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Mad Iguanas (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 6pm: Docuseries on Palestine: The Stones Cry Out // Roanoke Main Library // free ↝
♫ 7pm: Thrillbillyz (psych rock) // Rosie's Gaming Emporium - Vinton // free, 21+ ↝
♫ 7pm: Roanoke Symphony Orchestra: Handel's Messiah // Church of the Holy Spirit // $39+ ↝
🎭 7:30–9:30pm: On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas (live theatre) // Attic Productions - Fincastle // $22 ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7:30): My Radio (indie rock, pop, electronic) // The Spot on Kirk // $12 adv. $15 day of ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Ranford Almond (singer songwriter, folk, country) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝
Fri 12/20
✮ 10am–5pm (movie showing 3pm): The Polar Express Experience (all day event with movie showing, holiday activities, and parakeet garden entry) // Science Museum of Western VA // $20 adult, $16.50 child ↝
✮ 4–9pm: Gingerbread House Decorating Party (day 2) // Our Daily Bread & Bistro // $33, registration req. ↝
🧸✮ 5–9pm: Holiday Late Nights: Snowman Scavenger Hunt // The Taubman // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: The Kind (hillbilly psychedelic folk rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎨 6–8pm: Sketch Roanoke Meetup (drawing Dickens of a Christmas; BYOD [drawing supplies]) // Market Square // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: The Jive Exchange (funk, soul, cover) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free ↝
✮ 6:30pm (registration begins 5:30pm): RVSPCA Pet Costume Contest (Dickens of a Christmas final day) // Market Square // free ↝
♫ 6:30–7:30pm: Winter Solstice Sound Bath // Glow Healing Arts // $15 ↝
♫ 6:30–9:30pm: Mercy Creek (folk rock) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Old Time Music Friday // Twin Creeks Distillery - Rocky Mount // free ↝
✮ 7–9pm: Scottish Country Dancing w/ the Floyd Historical Dancers (class, dance) // 1701 Grandin Avenue SW, Roanoke // $5 ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Thunder Ridge Band (country, cover) // The Hangout // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Isaac Hadden Family Christmas Jam (rock, funk, folk, variety) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $30 ↝
♫ 7:30pm: Shakey Graves (indie, rock, folk, Americana) // Academy Center of the Arts // $90+ ↝
🎭 7:30–9:30pm: On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas (live theatre) // Attic Productions - Fincastle // $22 ↝
✮ 7:30–10pm: Santa's Slaying (haunted house) // Terror Manor // $25 ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Andy Burnette Trio (cover) // Olde Salem Brewing Co. - Market St. // free ↝
♫ 8pm: The Frequency (classic rock covers) // Rosie's Gaming Emporium - Vinton // free, 21+ ↝
♫ 8pm: Ugly Sweater Party ft. DJ Beneficial // 202 Social House// free ↝
♫ 9pm: Adam Parker and the Bourbon Cowboys (country, cover) // Sidewinders // free ↝
♫ 9pm–midnight: Dr. Phil's Kimo Therapy (cover) // Fork in the Market // free ↝
♫ 10pm: Charissa Joy & the High Frequency (cover) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
Sat 12/21
🏆 9am: Johnny CASA 5 Miler-5k // Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center - Rocky Mount // $29 ↝
✮ 9am–5pm: Salem Gun & Knife Show // Salem Civic Center // adults $10, free <12 ↝
🧸 10am–1pm: Holiday Crafting Workshop // Lancerlot Yoga Room // $30, registration req. ↝
✮ 10–1pm (after party 1–3pm): Incorporating Native Plants Into The Garden (classes, gardening) // Star City Compost Facility // $20, registration req. ↝
✮ 10am–2pm: December Holiday Market // Daleville Towne Center // free ↝
✮ 11am: Daytime Holiday Tour // Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest - Lynchburg // adult $25, youth $6, child free ↝
✮ noon–4pm: Sweet Donkey's 2nd Panic! at the Market // Sweet Donkey // free ↝
♫ 1–11pm: Jingle Bell Jamboree Benefit (variety) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
🎭 2pm: The Nutcracker (ballet) // Shaftman Performance Hall // 65+ ↝
🎭 2:30–4:30pm: On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas (live theatre) // Attic Productions - Fincastle // $22 ↝
🎭 3–5pm: The R.E.A.L. Funny Open Mic Comedy // Ursula's Cafe // free, donations encouraged ↝
✮ 3–8pm: OSBC's Adopt a Dog Holiday Event // Olde Salem Brewing - Main St. // free ↝
✮ 4–9pm: Gingerbread House Decorating Party (day 3) // Our Daily Bread & Bistro // $33, registration req. ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Becki & the Boom Booms (blues, jazz, rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6pm: Christian Q. (solo, cover, rock) // Starr Hill Brewery // free ↝
✮ 6–9pm: Yule Masquerade Ball hosted by the Temple of Sacred Knowledge // Fishburn Mansion // $25 ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Copy Cat Syndrome (funk jazz fusion) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free ↝
♫ 7pm: A French Christmas w/ Roanoque Baroque (chamber choir, orchestra) // First Evangelical Presbyterian Church // free, $20 donation encouraged ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Crawford & Power (country) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $32 ↝
🎭 7pm: The Nutcracker (ballet) // Shaftman Performance Hall // 65+ ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Crawford & Power (country) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $32 ↝
🏳️🌈 8pm: Elf on a Shelf Dance Party // The Park Dance Club // no cover first 50 people, 18+ ↝
♫ 8pm: Last Illusion (Trans-Siberian Orchestra tribute) // Rosie's Gaming Emporium - Vinton // free, 21+ ↝
♫ 9pm: Half Moon's Christmas Jam (rock, funk, soul) // Martin's Downtown // $12 ↝
♫ 9pm: Adam Parker and the Bourbon Cowboys (country, cover) // Sidewinders // free ↝
♫ 11pm: Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party // Sidewinders // cover charge, 21+ ↝
Sun 12/22
✮ 10am–5pm: Salem Gun & Knife Show // Salem Civic Center // adults $10, free <12 ↝
🏳️🌈 11am–1pm: Festivus Drag Brunch // Starr Hill Brewery // $10 ↝
♫ noon–3pm: Becki & Bob (acoustic) // Wasena City Taproom // free ↝
🎅♫ 1pm: Santa Jam ft. St. Nicholas w/ Cloud Bobby's Holiday Photo Booth (holiday variety show) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // free ↝
♫ 1–3pm: Mike Franke (blues, Americana) // Stave & Cork - Salem // free ↝
♫ 1–4pm: Foster Burton (psych rock, blues) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮♫ 1:30–4pm: Guitars Under the Star Guitar Pull (open jam session)// Mill Mountain Discovery Center // free ↝
🎭 2pm: The Nutcracker (ballet) // Shaftman Performance Hall // 65+ ↝
♫ 2–5pm: Starfire Live! Christmas Celebration (acoustic holiday music) // Cast Plates & Pints // free ↝
🎭 2:30–4:30pm: On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas (live theatre) // Attic Productions - Fincastle // $22 ↝
♫ 3pm: A French Christmas w/ Roanoque Baroque (chamber choir, orchestra) // First Evangelical Presbyterian Church // free, $20 donation encouraged ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Leonard Blush and The Camelcals (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 6–10pm: Christmas at the Station (pop-up holiday speakeasy fundraiser for Roanoke NRHS)// Virginian Passenger Station ↝
🏳️🌈 7:30pm (doors 6:30): Mister & Miss Hohoho Pageant (drag show fundraiser) // The Park Dance Club // proceeds benefit the PRISM Angel Tree & Frank's Fund ↝
Ongoing/Multiple Dates
🎅 (Dec 18–23): Santa's Winter Wonderland // Blue Ridge PBS // "Children and adults alike will have a chance to see and enjoy a fantastic light display
and interact with Santa and Mrs. Claus in a one-of-a-kind, drive-thru holiday experience." // free, donations encouraged ↝
🎭 (through Dec 22): In-Laws, Outlaws, and Other People (That Should be Shot) - comedy play // Showtimers Community Theatre // "It's the most wonderful time of the year, and as the snow piles up outside, the bickering, snickering personalities of the Douglas family pile up inside for their annual Christmas Eve dinner. But just when it seems like things can't get any crazier, in come Tony and Vinny, two robbers running from the cops, who take the family hostage. Or, maybe with this family, it's the other way around?" // $11.50–$19.50 ↝
🎄 (through 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 ↝
🎭 (through Dec 22): Annie (live theatre, musical) // $60+ ↝
🎄 (through 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 ↝