Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 11/27 to 12/4.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to. Want to know when the next City Council meeting takes place? Curious about what there’s to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. We encourage folks to contact the venue directly to learn of any last minute changes or cancellations.

Have a Happening? Does your business want to sponsor a newsletter? Reach out to us at news@roanokerambler.com with “Happening” in the subject line. Have fun!

This weekend

• Thursday, 11/28 to Sunday, 12/1 — Opening Weekend: Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center (110 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke). Step into a world of creativity at this tree-decorating contest. Families come together to snap cheerful photos and vote (with dollars) for their favorite dazzling tree, to benefit United Way of Roanoke Valley. Continues until New Year’s Day.
• Thursday, 11/28 to Sunday, 12/1 — Opening Weekend: Land of Lights presented by Franklin County Parks and Recreation at Franklin County Recreation Park (2150 Sontag Rd., Rocky Mount). A half-mile loop drive-through light experience. Continues through December 25. Free. Donations accepted.
• Friday, 11/29 to Sunday, 12/1 — Roanoke Valley Mineral & Gem Society Annual Show at the Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Blvd, Salem). The show features a large selection of fossils and minerals from around the world as well as both custom and unique jewelry. This event will provide shoppers with a wide selection of gifts for all ages, education, and mineral identification in a large shopping area with room for safe holiday shopping. Find more information at this link. ($)
• Friday, 11/29 to Sunday, 12/1 — Opening Weekend: “Annie” at Mill Mountain Theatre (1 Market Sq., Roanoke). Experience the heartwarming journey of plucky orphan Annie in 1930s New York, in this beloved Tony-winning musical. Continues through December 22. Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)

Wednesday, November 27

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Dr. Bacon at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
• 7:05 p.m. — Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Macon Mayhem at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). For tickets and information, visit this link. ($)
• 8 p.m. — Friendsgiving at Corned Beef & Co. (107 S Jefferson St, Roanoke). For more information, visit this link.
• 10 p.m. — Live music: GAK! Thanksgiving Eve Throwdown (90s Covers) at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link. ($)

Thursday, November 28 — Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

• 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Drumstick Dash to benefit the Rescue Mission of Roanoke in downtown Roanoke (starting at the corner of Franklin and Williamson and weaving through downtown streets to end at Elmwood Park; visit this link for a map course map). Visit this link for more information and to register. ($)

Friday, November 29

• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Eric Wayne Band at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
• 6 p.m. — Live music: Tin Can Locomotive at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
• 7:05 p.m. — Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Fayetteville Marksmen at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). For tickets and information, visit this link. ($)
• 7:30 p.m. — Live music: Abbey and Andy at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). 
• 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30) — Live music: Phat Laces at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roanoke). Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
• 10 p.m. — Live music: Chad Nickell & The Loose Change at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). ($)

Saturday, November 30

• 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., & 12:30 p.m. — Fantasyland at the O. Winston Link Museum (101 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke). Santa teaches important lessons of love and sharing as he tells original stories, sings, plays guitar, and interacts with the children through fun activities. Santa has set program times; advanced tickets are required, and tickets are non-transferrable. Visit this link for more information and to purchase tickets. ($)
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Small Business Saturday in Downtown Roanoke. PARKRoanoke is offering free parking in select garages on this day. Find more information at this link.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Motel Studios Holiday Party & Makers Market (128 Albemarle Ave. SE, Roanoke). Find more information at this link.
• 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Live music: Christian Q. at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd.)
• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Time Sawyer at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
• 6:30 p.m. — Live music: Jonathan Paige Brown Jr. at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
• 7:30 p.m. — Live music: Jason Hostetter at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). 
• 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30) — Live music: Hearts Gone South with Jack Marion at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Find more information and purchase tickets at this link. ($)
• 8 p.m. — Stand-up: The R.E.A.L. Funny at The Coffee Pot (2902 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke). Find more information at this link.
• 9:04 p.m.  — Live music: Screaming Infidelities Emo Night at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information visit this link. Purchase tickets here. ($)
• 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Vinyl & Vibes with the Star City Soul Club at Sidecar (411 1st St. SW, Roanoke). Find more information at this link.

Sunday, December 1

• 11 a.m. — Yoga with Blacie at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). ($)
• 1 p.m. — Holiday Makers Market at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
• 2 to 6 p.m. — Makers on Market at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). 
• 2 to 8 p.m. — Live music: Blue Ridge Holler: A Hurricane Relief Concert Series presented by Friends of the Blue Ridge at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke). Visit this link for a complete schedule of performances, as well as more information. No tickets necessary. Donations accepted.
• 4 p.m. — Live music: TJ Ellis at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
• 4 to 7 p.m. — Songwriters Sunday hosted by Nick Wade at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 Old Whitmore Ave., Roanoke).
• 5 p.m. — Live music: The Floorboards at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). ($)
• 5 to 7 p.m. — Dirt Church with Trek Roanoke at Carvins Cove – Bennett Springs (4300 Carvins Cove Road Salem). A fun-filled day of mountain biking at the cove; all levels welcome. Two rides will take place — one of around 15 miles and another of around 10. Pace will be for all riders and skill levels. Find more information at this link.
• 5 to 8 p.m. — Live music: Rachael Hester & the Tennessee Walkers at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 

Monday, December 2

• 9 a.m. — Roanoke City Council meeting / Joint Meeting with the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission in city council chambers at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (215 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke).
• 9 a.m. — Roanoke City Legislative Committee Meeting in city council chambers at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (215 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke).
• 2 p.m. — Roanoke City Council meeting in city council chambers at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (215 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke).
• 6:30 p.m. — Live music: Irish Music Session at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
• 7 p.m. — Live music: Roanoke Valley Choral Society – Merry and Bright: Holiday Memories at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church (1837 Grandin Rd., Roanoke). Free; $20 suggested donation.

Tuesday, December 3

• 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — City Council Summit in the Bella Vista room at the Berglund Center (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke).
• 5 to 8 p.m. — Live music: Foster Burton at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
• 7 p.m. — Live music: The Mill Mountain Ringers Ring Noel at Raleigh Court United Methodist Church (1706 Grandin Rd., Roanoke). Roanoke’s community handbell ensemble. Suggested donation: $10.
• 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Karaoke Night at Fork in the Market (32 Market Sq., Roanoke).
• 9:30 p.m. — Live music: Sky Dolphin at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link. 

Wednesday, December 4

• 7 p.m.. — Live music: Jessica Lynn’s “A Very Merry Classic Christmas” at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke). Visit this link to purchase tickets. ($). 
• 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Live music: Christie Lenée at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Find more information and purchase tickets at this link. ($)
• 10 p.m. — Karaoke Night at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link. 

Ongoing

• Through December 8 — Johnny Floyd “Child Be Free” exhibit at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Galleries, Upper Smoyer Gallery (240 High St., Salem). The exhibit explores our relationship with time and how we define ourselves within its bounds delving into questions of purpose and identity, often through the lens of recursion theory, where repetition leads to revelation. Includes experimentation with paper, sewing, and digital manipulation, to intertwine archival imagery with themes of ancestry and connection, drawing inspiration from The Center for Studying Structures of Race’s project on naming unnamed enslaved individuals who contributed to Roanoke College's history. Find more information at this link.
• Through December 8 — Sandy Williams IV “Freedom is Not a Metaphor” at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Galleries, Olin Gallery (240 High St., Salem). The exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the construction and contestation of memory, intertwining family portraits with discussions on public space, while challenging conventional narratives and encouraging dialogue on agency and historical injustices. Williams prompts us to confront our shared consciousness and envision a more inclusive and just society built upon a deeper understanding of our history and identity. Find more information at this link.
• Through December 13 — Altered Art – Making Art Your Own at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (2 Riverside Cir., Roanoke). Local artists have joined with Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine students, faculty, and staff to present their visions of creativity with discarded art by altering existing pieces to tell new stories.The exhibition is up until Friday, Dec. 13. To arrange for a visit, contact Courtney Powell (cbrakes@vt.edu).
• Through December 22 — “Annie” at Mill Mountain Theatre (1 Market Sq., Roanoke). Experience the heartwarming journey of plucky orphan Annie in 1930s New York, in this beloved Tony-winning musical. Continues through December 22. Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
• Through December 25 — Land of Lights presented by Franklin County Parks and Recreation at Franklin County Recreation Park (2150 Sontag Rd., Rocky Mount). A half-mile loop drive-through light experience. Continues through December 25. Free. Donations accepted.
• Saturdays through December 28 — Downtown Roanoke Food & Cultural Tour starting at 11:15 a.m. from Hotel Roanoke (110 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke). A walking tour that connects Roanoke's local food scene with the city's colorful history. Visit six food-tasting locations within the historic and vibrant downtown historic district. Delicious samplings, enough for a hearty meal for most, are served from locally-owned eateries at iconic historic locations. Find more information and reserve your spot at this link. ($)
• Through December 30 — Illuminights at Explore Park (56 Roanoke River Parkway Rd., Roanoke). Brighten your nights and explore your holiday spirit through a dazzling world of over 650,000 lights at Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights. Travel down our half-mile wooded path while taking in the sights and sounds of the season. Visitors will experience new displays, trail enhancements and family activities. Find more information at this link. ($)
• Through the end of December — WNC Art Relief Project at Left of Center Art Space (24 Campbell Ave. SW, Roanoke). We're dedicating our gallery to western North Carolina artists displaced by Hurricane Helene, providing them a place to sell their work at no cost. This initiative runs through the end of December 2024, with all sales proceeds going directly to the artists. Find more information at this link.
• Through January 1 — Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center (110 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke). Step into a world of creativity at this tree-decorating contest. Families come together to snap cheerful photos and vote (with dollars) for their favorite dazzling tree, to benefit United Way of Roanoke Valley. Continues until New Year’s Day.
• Through January 2 — Deck the Rails at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (303 Norfolk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Enjoy the magic of the holiday season by viewing over 15 unique Christmas tree displays provided by local businesses, clubs and non profits while you also visit your favorite exhibits. Additional holiday decor provided by VMT. General Admission rates apply. Find more information at this link. ($)
• Through January 6 — Bedford Festival of Trees at the Bedford Area Welcome Center (816 Burks Hill Rd., Bedford). 40 beautifully decorated trees come to life under the theme “A Christmas to Remember,” each showcasing the creativity of local businesses and organizations. Visit this link for more information.