Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 2/21 to 2/28.

Roanoke's Wells Fargo Tower, as seen from Centre Avenue Northwest in the Gilmer neighborhood, in February 2024. PHOTO BY HENRI GENDREAU. Want to see your "recognizably Roanoke" photograph in Happenings? Send it to editor@roanokerambler.com.

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.

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Want to know about regular weekly events, including bar trivia, bingo and yoga? Check out our new recurring Happenings calendar!

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

February 22 through 25 — Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero at Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd., Roanoke). Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
February 22 through 25 — Old Dominion Athletic Conference at the Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Blvd, Salem). Find more information at this link. ($)
February 23 through 24 — “Constellations” presented by Hollins University at Hollins Theatre Main Stage (8004 Hill House Ct., Roanoke). This spellbinding, romantic journey begins with a simple encounter between a man and a woman. But what happens next defies the boundaries of the world we think we know. For more information, visit this link. ($)

Wednesday, February 21

10 to 11 a.m. — Donuts with Directors with Roanoke City Director of Economic Development Marc Nelson in the teen classroom at the Main Library (706 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke).
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Beer & Biotech presented by the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). Find more information and register at this link. ($)
5:30 p.m. — Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates meeting at Melrose Library STEAM lab (2502 Melrose Ave NW, Roanoke).
7:30 p.m. — Live music: Lettuce — Vibe Tour with support from Cimafunk at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke). Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
10 p.m. — Caleb Carpenter at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link.

Thursday, February 22

5:30 to 7 p.m. — Opening reception: “From These Hills — Contemporary Art from the Southern Appalachian Highlands” at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke). The exhibit displays ways that people are creating in Appalachia—from wood turning to broom making, from paintings to three-dimensional pieces.
6 p.m. — Lecture: “Roanoke’s Black Medical History” with Jordan Bell and Dr. Conrad Claytor in the community room at the Gainsboro Library (15 Patton Ave. NW, Roanoke).
6 to 8 p.m. — MAKE Roanoke Community Meeting at the South Roanoke Library (6303 Merriman Rd., Roanoke). Calling all tinkerers, creators, and DIY dreamers! This is your chance to hear directly from the MAKE Roanoke founders about their exciting plans and what the future holds for this vibrant initiative – a makers space for the Roanoke maker community. Find more information at this link.
6:30 to 8 p.m. — Lecture: “What’s Bugs Got to Do with It? With Christine Carr presented by Clean Valley Council as part of the Star City Sustainability Series at 2014 Memorial Ave. SW, Roanoke. Carr will show detailed photographic images of tiny benthic macroinvertebrates and discuss how the Roanoke River Project collects them to determine the quality of our waterways. Find more information at this link.
7 p.m. (Doors open at 6) — Live music: GOTE at the Grandin Theatre (1310 Grandin Rd., Roanoke). Visit this link for more information and to purchase tickets. ($)
7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30) — Live music: Grateful Dub: A Reggae-Infused Tribute to the Grateful Dead at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roanoke). Visit this link for more information and to purchase tickets. ($)
8 p.m. — Live music: Drew and Ellie Holcomb at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount). Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
9:30 p.m. — Live music: Jared Stout Trio at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link.

Friday, February 23

4:30 to 7 p.m. — Networking: Final Friday Networking presented by the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce at Top Dawgs Pub & Deli (40 Summers Way, Roanoke). Visit this link for more information and to register.
6:30 p.m. — Live music: The Shoobies at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke).
7 to 9 p.m. — 16th Annual Jazz Cafe presented by the Cave Spring High School Jazz Band and artist in residence Keenan McKenzie at St. John Lutheran Church (4608 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke). Find more information at this link. ($)
7:30 p.m. — Live music: Mercy Creek at Olde Salem Brewing Co. (315 Market St., Roanoke).
8 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30) — Live music: Brian Dunne with Zach Wiley at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Visit this link for more information. ($)
8 to 10 p.m. — An Evening with Pete Rose at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount). Find more information and purchase your tickets at this link. ($)
10 p.m. — Live music: Gak! (90s Tribute) Mental Health Awareness Benefit Show at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link. ($)

Saturday, February 24

8:40 a.m. — 20th Annual Explore Your Limits 5K & 10K at Explore Park (56 Roanoke River Pkwy Rd., Roanoke). Find more information and register at this link. ($)
11 a.m. — Baby Shower for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center at Nature’s Emporium (3912 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke). Find more information at this link.
6 p.m. — Live music: Charissa Morrison at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 Old Whitmore Ave., Roanoke).
6:30 p.m. — Live music: The Frequency Rocks at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke).
7 p.m. — Sip and Swing at Olde Salem Brewing Co. (315 Market St., Roanoke).
9 p.m. — Latin Dance Party at Aji Fusion (611 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke). Begins with a group lesson for all followed by a dance party. Find more information at this link.
10 p.m. — Live music: Gasoline Alley at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link. ($)
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, February 25

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Indoor Tri at the Y at the Kirk Family YMCA (520 Church Ave., Roanoke). Find more information and register at this link. ($)
11 a.m. — Roanoke Radical Alley Tour starting under the Franklin Rd. underpass on Norfolk Ave. (150 Norfolk Ave. SE, Roanoke). This cycling tour takes participants through gravel alleyways and urban oddity paths in the center of Roanoke. This is an 48.9 mile urban orienteering challenge with an option for a 100 mile ride. Find more information at this link.
Noon to 4 p.m. — Roanoke Bridal Expo at Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center (110 Shenandoah Ave. NW, Roanoke). Brides who have registered to attend are admitted free. Guests are $10. Visit this link for more information and to register. ($)
7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Live music: Logan Halstead & Willy Tea Taylor at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Visit this link for more information. ($)

Monday, February 26

6 p.m. — Live music: Irish Music Session at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke).
7:30 to 9 p.m. — Virginia Blend a Cappella Chorus Guest Night at Grace Church (2731 Edgewood St., Roanoke). Men and women who are interested in singing a cappella music are invited to attend Virginia Blend’s guest night. Light refreshments will be served following rehearsal. For more information and to RSVP by February 23, contact Larry Shepherd: 1trekbiker@gmail.com or (540) 525-0709.

Tuesday, February 27

5:30 p.m. — Roanoke City School Board 2024-2025 budget workshop meeting at the school administration meeting (40 Douglass Ave. NW, Roanoke),
7 p.m. — Author event: “A Time to Protest: Leadership Lessons from My Father Who Survived the Segregated South for 99 Years.” with author Penny Blue presented by the Historical Society of Western Virginia as part of the Kegley Lecture Series at Christ Lutheran Church (2011 Brandon Ave., Roanoke). Find more information at this link. ($)
7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Stand-up Comedy: The R.E.A.L. Funny at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Visit this link for more information. ($)
8:30 p.m. to midnight — Line Dancing at Sidewinders Saloon – College Night (16 W. Campbell Ave., Roanoke). Visit this link for more information.
10 p.m. — Live music: Appalachian Space Train at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link.

Wednesday, February 28

7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Live music: Pierre Bensusan at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Visit this link for more information. ($)
7:30 p.m. — Live music: Lúnasa + Daoiri Farrell at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke). Visit this link for more information and to purchase tickets. ($)
10 p.m. — Ben Trout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). For more information, visit this link.

Ongoing

Thursdays through February 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. — Disney Lorcana Competitive Event at Blade Gaming (430A Salem Ave., Roanoke). Gather to compete head to head in Ravensburger’s first trading card game, a Disney-themed quest of “Magic: The Gathering” proportions. Find more information at this link. ($)
Through March 23 — Hometown History: Salem’s Forgotten Beginnings at the Salem Museum (801 E. Main St., Salem). Scattered throughout Salem are many locations that have either been replaced or forgotten after years of development. Hometown History uncovers these historic locations and their often-forgotten stories.
Through March 31 — David Ramey: Gainsboro Road and Beyond at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture (1 Market Sq. SE, Roanoke) and the Taubman Museum of Art (110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke). On view at each museum are approximately 100 drawings with 75 accompanying stories that record the artist’s youthful memories of Roanoke’s thriving Black communities of Gainsboro and Northeast from the mid-1940s through the late 1960s. Find more information at this link.
Through March 31 — Alex Foster: Propagated and Rooting at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Galleries (240 High St., Salem). Through a range of media, including naturally dyed textiles, plants, organic material and technology, viewers are invited to contemplate the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world. Find more information at this link.
Through March 31 — Jennifer L. Hand: Habitation at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Galleries (240 High St., Salem). Hand uses “fabric-with-a-history”, donated, found, and inherited, which weaves the greater human community into the work, opening it to the larger habitat that we all share. Find more information at this link.