12.08–12.14

Mon 12/8
🎨 6–8:30pm: DIY Ceramic Charcuterie Board // Motel Studios // $50 ↝
🍔♫ 6:30–7:30pm: Plant-Based Potluck // Williamson Rd. Libary // free ↝
✮ 6:30–7:30pm: Humans of SWVA Listening Circle (share your personal stories re: recent government actions) // 1007 1st St SW // free ↝

Tue 12/9
✮ 4–7pm: Holiday Health Fair (screenings, resources, & crafts) // Melrose Plaza // free ↝
✮🍺 5–8pm: Ugly Sweater Party & Contest // AFOG - Roanoke // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Alex Arbaugh (rock, folk) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🏆 6pm (check-in 5): Holiday Lights Tour by Bike // Cardinal Bicycle Grandin // free ↝
🎲 6–9pm: Crokinole Night (Canadian board game open play) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
✮ 7–8:30pm: Tarot Share (all-level tarot card class) // Lifestream Center // $15 ↝

Wed 12/10
🎨 5–6:30pm: Winterscape Paint Night // Canvas & Coffee // $25 ↝
🎨 5:30–7:30pm: Live Wreath Making // Fishburn Mansion // $40; 12+ ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Mercy Creek (folk rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
📚✮ 6pm: Author Event: Turning Tables by Bruce C. Bryan (book signing, panel discussion, Q&A) // The Bibliopub // free ↝
🎨 6–8pm: Elf on a Shelf Paint & Sip // Well Hung Vineyard // $23+ ↝
🎨 6:30pm (doors 6): Expresionarte Paint Night (fundraiser for Latinas Network) // The Spot on Kirk // $35 adv. $40 day of ↝
♫ 7–11pm: Open Mic Night // The Front Row // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 7): Chris Isaak (rock, country) // Shaftman Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center // $61+ ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Swamp Flower (group show) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Thu 12/11
🧸🎨 2–3pm: Photography Safari // Explore Park // $12 ↝
🎅✮ 4:30–7pm (lighting 5:30): Gainsboro Tree Lighting Ceremony (cocoa, carols, & photos with Santa) // Gainsboro Library // free ↝
🎨 5–7:30pm: Meet the Artist: Matilda Wentzel // Canvas & Coffee // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Freak Rangers (tribute to Jerry Garcia) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎲 6pm (doors 5:30): Murder at the Gin Joint (murder mystery event) // Bubba's 33 // $35 ↝
🎨 6–8pm: DIY Watercolor Gift Tags // Sycamore Station // $20 ↝
🎨 6–8:30pm: Glaze a Ceramic Christmas Tree // Motel Studios // $90 ↝
♫ 6:30pm: En Love, Ex Parents, Reaction Time (hardcore) // Blindhouse Beer Co. // $10; all ages ↝
✮🌳 7–9: Geminids Meteor Shower Watch // Natural Bridge State Park // $5 ↝
💃 7–10pm: Line Dancing with Angela // Tropicana Bar & Grill // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 5:30): Autumn Kings, Backhand Blue (rock) // Sidewinders // $12 adv. $20 door; 18+ ↝
♫ 9:30pm: The Ambassador (reggae) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Fri 12/12
📚🛍️ 10am–5pm: Friends of the Libary Book Sale - day 1 // Meadowbrook Public Library // fill a paper bag for $5! ↝
🎨 1–3pm: START: Painting with Value (all-levels art concept workshop) // Taubman Museum // $20; ages 10+ ↝
✮🍺 5pm: Mead & Cigar Tasting // Bison Head Cigar & Lounge // $30 single, $50 couple ↝
✮🎨 5–9pm: Holiday Late Night (extended hours) // Taubman Museum // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Leonard Blush and The Camelcals (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6–7pm: Josh & Maria (acoustic holiday) // Stave & Cork - Salem // free ↝
🎨🍷 6–7:30pm: Paint & Sip // Canvas & Coffee // $30 ↝
🎅✮ 6–8pm: PJ Party with Santa // Twin Creeks Brewing // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Mercy Creek (folk rock) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈 6–10pm: Christmas Vacation Drag Show // Blindhouse Beer Co. // $5 ↝
✮ 6–10pm: Dickens of a Christmas - night 2 (parade starts @ 6:30) // Downtown Roanoke // free ↝
🏆🐾 6:15pm: Cat Yoga (fundraiser for Heart Animal Rescue) // Toebean Cat Cafe // $30 ↝
🌳✮ 6:30–8pm: Songs & Chants // Maplewood Studios // donation-based ↝
♫ 7pm: Salem Choral Society (holiday) // Salem Presbyterian Church // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈🍺 7pm: Dyke the Halls (social & gift exchange) // Starr Hill Brewery // free ↝
🎭 7–9pm: The Magnificent Lefty (magician) // Atheling Meadworks // free ↝
♫ 7–9:30pm: RSO's Holiday Brass // Cave Spring United Methodist // $34+ ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Big Daddy Ray Band (rock, cover) // The Hangout // $10 ↝
✮ 7:30–10pm: Santa's Slaying (haunted house) // Terror Manor // $25 ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 6:30): Geezer, Virginia Electric (Weezer tribute) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $18+ ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7): The Stranger (tribute to Billy Joel) // The Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount // $45+ ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7:30): Gangstagrass (bluegrass-hip hop fusion) // The Spot on Kirk // $20 adv. $25 day of ↝
🏳️‍🌈 8pm–late: Showgirl Friday - Drag U // The Park Dance Club // cover, 18+ ↝
♫ 8:30pm: Eyes of Silver (Doobie Brothers tribute) // The Watering Hole ↝
♫ 10pm: Damon Mitchell - night 1 (country) // Sidewinders // cover, 18+ ↝
♫ 10pm: Caleb Carpenter  (indie pop/rock) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝

Sat 12/13
🌳🏆 7:30am–5pm: Winter Wonderland Hike & Warm Springs Float (guided group hike) // Public Works 1802 // $75 ↝
🛍️ 9am–3pm: Christmas Market // Sycamore Station // free ↝
🛍️ 9am–3pm: Buchanan Christmas Market // Main St - Buchanan // free ↝
🎅✮ 10–11am: Photos with the Grinch // Roanoke Public Library // free; donation for Toys for Tots encouraged ↝
🎅🧸🏆 10am–noon: Party with Santa (skating & activities for toddlers) // Firehouse Skate 'N Play // $13 adv. $15 door; ages 6 & under ↝
🎅🧸 10am–3pm: Grinchmas (family-friendly Whoville-themed activities) // The Eye - SMWV // $23 ↝
📚🛍️ 10am–4pm: Friends of the Libary Book Sale - day 2 // Meadowbrook Public Library // fill a paper bag for $5! ↝
🎅🧸 11:30am–noon: Stories & Songs w/ Santa // Taubman Museum // $10+ ↝
🛍️♫ noon–4pm: Vintage Market w/ live DJ // Motel Studios // free ↝
🎅🧸 12:45–1:30pm: Stories & Songs w/ Santa // Taubman Museum // $10+ ↝
✮ 1–2pm: Pictures with the Grinch // Meadowbrook Public Library // free ↝
🎨 1–4pm: Paint Your Pet Class // Taubman Museum // $75 ↝
🎭🧸 2pm (doors 1:30): I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas // Shaftman Performance Hall @ Jefferson Center // $25+ adult, $10 child ↝
🎨 2–3pm: Oyster Shell Ornaments // Greenbrier Nurseries // $20 ↝
🛍️ 2–6pm: Authors & Artisans Holiday Market // The Bibliopub // free ↝
✮ 4–5:30pm: Buchanan Christmas Parade // Main St - Buchanan // free ↝
✮🧸 4–6pm: Toy Swap // Golden Cactus // free ↝
✮🍺 5pm–late: Ugly Sweater Party & Contest // Sidewinders // cover, 21+ ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Kerosene Willy (rock, jam) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
✮ 6pm: Harry Potter Yule Ball // Starr Hill Brewery // $5; 13+ ↝
🧸 6–8pm: Belle & Beast's Enchanted Ball (dancing, refreshments, tour) // Fishburn Mansion // $60 for 1 child + 1 adult ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Becki & the Boom Booms (blues, jazz, rock) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free ↝
♫ 6:30–9:30pm: The Dogmattics (cover) // Twin Creeks Brewing // free ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Leftover Biscuits (old time) // Atheling Meadworks // free ↝
♫🍺 7–10pm: Christmas in Vegas Party w/ The Dock Wizards (cover) // Living Proof Beer Co. - Rocky Mount // free ↝
🏆 7:05pm: Rail Yard Dawgs - Stick it to Cancer Night (hockey benefit for ACS) // Berglund Center Coliseum // $16+ ↝
✮ 7:30–10pm: Santa's Slaying (haunted house) // Terror Manor // $25 ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Harvest Blaque Squad Soul (hip hop, soul) // Olde Salem Brewing - Roanoke // free ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 6:30): Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers' Homestead Jam (country) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $29 ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7): Bob Schneider, Steve Poltz (indie fusion) // The Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount // $40+ ↝
🎲🍺 8–11pm: Get Tilted! (pinball party) // Roanoke Pinball Museum // $10, 21+ ↝
🏳️‍🌈💃 8pm–late: Elf on a Shelf Party // The Park Dance Club // cover, 18+ ↝
🏆 9pm–1am: Bad Santa's Ugly Sweater Sip & Skate (adults-only roller skate night club) // Firehouse Skate 'N Play // $15 adv., 21+ ↝
💃 9pm–1:30am: Christmas Latin Dance Party // Inka Grill // $10 ↝
♫ 10pm: Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse (blues, soul, Americana) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
♫ 10pm: Damon Mitchell - night 2 (country) // Sidewinders // cover, 21+ ↝
♫ 10pm–1am: Vinyl & Vibes with Star City Soul Club // Sidecar // free ↝

Sun 12/14
🎨🌳 8am–noon: Outdoor Photography Basics // Mill Mtn Park // $40 ↝
🎨 9–11am: Glaze Your Own Flower Vase // The Slap Shop // $50 ↝
✮ 11am–4pm: Dog Bowl Holiday Market // Black Dog Salvage // free ↝
🎅 noon–4pm: Photos with Santa // Towers Shopping Center // free ↝
✮♫ 1–3pm: Harmonium Workshop for All (beginner instrument workshop)// Uttara Yoga // $40 ↝
🏳️‍🌈📚 1–2pm: Sapphic Book Club // The Bibliopub // free ↝
🧸🎨 1–2:30pm: Little Elves Decorating Den (cake & ornament decorating, coffee & cocoa) // Motel Studios // $45 ↝
✮ 1–5pm: Holiday Open House // Fishburn Mansion // free ↝
🎨 2–3pm: Beaded Spider Workshop // Taubman Museum // $25 ↝
📚 2–3:30pm: Roanoke Writers Meetup // Blindhouse Beer Co. // free ↝
🎨 2:30–4:30pm: Henna Workshop // Canvas & Coffee // $40 ↝
♫ 4pm: Salem Choral Society (holiday) // Salem Presbyterian Church // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Mason Creek (bluegrass) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🎨 6–8pm: Paint a Ceramic Xmas Tree // Bubba's 33 // $45+ ↝
🎲🎭 6–9pm: D&D Comedy Night (improv) // Atheling Meadworks // $13 ↝
🏳️‍🌈 6pm–late: Annual Mr. & Mrs. Hohoho Pageant (fundraiser for PRISM angel tree) // The Park Dance Club ↝

Ongoing/Multiple Dates

🕯️ Dec 11 & 12: Candlelight Christmas Tours // Historic Fishburn Mansion // "The 42-room Georgian-Revival mansion was built in 1907...During the tour, you will see the home in its holiday finest as you learn about the history of the mansion and the family that occupied it." Tours are ~45 mins. // $15 ↝

🎭 Dec 11–21: Macbeth // Showtimers Community Theatre //  " Fueled by fear, Macbeth takes to heart the words of the Granny Witches and pressure from his wife, to kill their great leader Duncan, and assume his seat in power. His small Appalachian town watches as their new ruler slowly descends into madness, causing more bloodshed as superstition leads to paranoia." // $18 ↝

🎅 Dec 11–23: 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 ↝

🩰 Dec 12–14: SWVA Ballet's The Nutcracker // Berglund Center // "On a cold winter night, a young girl named Clara dreams of a magical land where she meets the Nutcracker Prince. Together, they travel through a winter wonderland of sugarplum fairies, dancing snowflakes, and toy soldiers." Accompanied by a live orchestra. // $59 adult, $18 child ↝

🛍️ Dec 13 & 14: Salem Holiday Market // Salem Civic Center // "Browse over 100 vendors with crafts, artisan creations, holiday gifts and more! Be a generous community member and bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Roanoke-Salem Food Pantry." // free ↝

🎭 thru Dec 14: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever // Attic Productions - Fincastle // Warm your cold heart with the classic story of misunderstood siblings who become unexpected heroes of the holiday. // $22 adult, $17 youth ↝

🎭 thru Dec 21: A Christmas Story // Mill Mountain Theatre // "Filled with hilarious and memorable moments...this play captures the nostalgic charm and warmth of a classic American Christmas, reminding audiences of the magic and humor of childhood holiday memories." // $35 adult, $25 youth ↝

💡 thru Jan 4: Illuminights // Explore Park // "Wander a half-mile wooded trail filled with over 650,000 dazzling lights, new themes, and festive fun for the whole family. While you’re here, shop for presents in our artisan market, roast marshmallows around the campfire, and enjoy a visit from Santa on select nights." Bonus: leashed pets are welcome on the trail. // $18 adult, $8 child ↝

Looking Ahead

🎪 Dec 6: Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland // Berglund Center // "With breathtaking acrobatics, soaring aerial performances, and an all-new production for this year, [this show] delivers an unforgettable holiday experience for the whole family. Feel the holiday spirit come to life with heart-pounding feats and beloved seasonal melodies." // $70–214 ↝