8.11–8.17

You may notice that this newsletter is heavy on the comedy–it's Roanoke Comedy Fest (😂) this week! From Thursday 'til Sunday, enjoy comedians of local and national fame all over town.

Don't like laughing? Maybe you like dogs instead. We've got an art show for dogs, dog toy making, portraits with your dog, a K9 officer event, and the Dog Bowl Market (which is a dog-friendly event, FYI).

Don't like dogs? Get out. 👉🚪

Mon 8/11
✮ 6–8pm: Yo! Roanoke Soft Launch Event (website) // Common Clay Collective // free ↝
♫ 6:30–9pm: Irish Music Session // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝

Tue 8/12
✮🎭 11am: Behind-the-Scenes Tour // Mill Mountain Theatre // free ↝
♫ 5–8pm: Foster Burton (psych rock, blues) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🏆 6–9pm: Crokinole Night (Canadian board game open play) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈💃 6:30–7:30pm: Queer Tango // Roanoke Diversity Center // $5–$10 ↝
💃 7–10pm: Line Dancing with Angela // Tropicana Bar & Grill // free ↝
♫ 8:30pm: Request Line w/ Jared Stout // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Wed 8/13
✮🍔 5–7pm: Benefit for Children's Trust // Bloom Restaurant ↝
🚸✮ 5–8pm: BTS Mid-Week Market (live music, vendors, food & drink specials) // Golden Cactus // free ↝
♫🍷 5–8pm: Jazz Night // Six and Sky // reservations recommended ↝
♫ 6pm: Hinder (rock) // Dr. Pepper Park // $27+ ↝
🏆 6–7:30pm: Dope Tingz Community Walk // Walrond Park // free ↝
😂🎭 7–9pm (sign-ups begin at 6:30): Open Mic Comedy Night with the Comedy Lab // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
♫ 7–11pm: Open Mic Night // The Front Row // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm (doors 6): Devon Allman's Blues Summit // The Coves Amphitheater at SML // $39+ ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Ryan Greer (solo) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Reggae Night by The Ambassador (reggae) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Thu 8/14
🏆 2–3pm: Chair Yoga // Melrose Community Room // free ↝
✮🍷 5–7pm: Networking on the Rocks (social event for professionals) // Six & Sky // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Party in Elmwood: Blackwater Band (Top 40, cover) // Elmwood Park // $10 ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: 3 Eyed Tiger (rock) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6pm: Colt Ford (country rap) // Dr. Pepper Park // $39+ ↝
🌳🎨 6–7:30pm: Community Night: Flower Power Paint Night (workshop, kids' activities, and yoga) // Morningside Urban Farm // free ↝
🎨🌳 6–8pm: Terrarium Class // Sycamore Station // $40–60 ↝
😂🎭 6:30–10pm: Roanoke Comedy Fest Kickoff (comedy-themed trivia & free standup) // Twin Creeks Brewing // free ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Copy Cat Syndrome (funk jazz fusion) // Village Grill // free ↝
✮♫ 7–9:30pm: Guitars Under the Star Guitar Pull (open jam session) // Mill Mtn Star // free ↝
💃 7–10pm: Line Dancing with Angela // Tropicana Bar & Grill // free ↝
♫ 7:30pm: Hatfield (acoustic duo) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Rossdafareye (folk fusion) // Martin's Downtown // free ↝

Fri 8/15
😂🎭 5:30pm: Variety Show feat. Dylan Dent & The Funny Womacks // Brady's Distillery // $10 ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: Shorefire (funk, rock, reggae) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🏆✮ 6pm (doors 5:30): Camp Slay Away (murder mystery event) // Stave & Cork - Salem // $35 ↝
♫ 6pm: Sara Evans (country) // Dr. Pepper Park // $45+ ↝
🎨 6–7:30pm: Date Night Wheel Class (pottery) // Motel Studios // $120 ↝
✮ 6–8pm: Breathwork & Cacao Ceremony // Uttara Yoga // $25 ↝
♫ 6–8:30pm (doors 5:30): Creedence Clearwater Recital at the Tavern Stage Summer Music Series (tribute) // Explore Park // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: Chesterfield Foxtrot (rock, cover) // Twisted Track Brewpub // free ↝
♫ 6–9pm: The Shoobies (tropical rock, cover) // Fork in the Alley // free ↝
♫ 6–9:30pm: Patrick Sampson // 3rd St. Coffeehouse // free ↝
🏆🍷 6:30–8pm: Sip & Stretch (wine or mocktail incl.) // The Collective // $25 ↝
♫ 6:30–9:30pm: Satellite Dog (psych, jam) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
🎭 7pm: Justin Willman (magic) // Berglund Performing Arts Center // $40+ ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Off the Beaten Path (reggae, rock) // Village Grill // free ↝
♫ 7–10pm: Solacoustix (blues, RnB, variety) // The Hangout // $10 ↝
♫🎭 7:30–9:30pm: Dark Side of the Dome (laser light show to psych/prog rock tracks) // The Eye - SMWV // $20 ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Foster Burton (psych rock, blues) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
😂🎭 8pm (doors 6:30): Rich Vos (comedy) // 5 Points Music Sanctuary // $40+ ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7): Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-A-Whirl Band (blues) // The Harvester - Rocky Mount // $66+ ↝
♫ 8pm (doors 7:30): Prabir Trio, The Young Sinclairs, Stray Lions (rock, indie pop) // The Spot on Kirk // $12 adv. $15 day of ↝
♫ 8pm: Noah Spencer (Americana, country, singer songwriter) // Cast Plates & Pints // free ↝
♫ 9pm: Hello Gorgeous (alt cover) // Fork in the Market // free ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Melissa & the Growlers (funk, soul) // Martin's Downtown // $10 

Sat 8/16
✮ 9am–2pm: Annual Car, Truck, & Cycle Show // Salem Civic Center // free ↝
🐾 10–11am: Farm Sanctuary Tour // Butterfly Field Farm Sanctuary - Bedford // $12 ↝
🎨 10am–5pm (every 45 mins): Splatter Tent // Hammer & Stain // $25+ ↝
✮💃 10am–10pm: Dirty Dancing Days // Mountain Lake Lodge // $82 ↝
🎨🐾 10:30am–1:30pm: Pop PUPmuseum (sidewalk art show feat. pet adoptions & pet-friendly vendors!) // Norfolk St. behind Taubman Museum // $15 ↝
🏆🐾 11am–1pm: Goat Yoga // Fishburn Mansion // $35 ↝
🚸🍔 11am–1pm: BTS Community Cookout // EnVision Center // free ↝
✮ noon–10pm: Warren Street Festival (celebration of black culture) // Rocky Mount Farmer's Market // free ↝
🎨🐾 1–4pm: Sewing Machine Basics: Dog Toy // MAKE Roanoke // $25 ↝
🐾🍷 1–6pm: Leashes & Lagers (K9 officer event) // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
😂🎭 2–4pm: Hometown Heroes Comedy Showcase // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
✮ 2–4pm: Breathwork Experience & Sound Bath // Maplewood Studios // $41 ↝
🚸🧸 2–5pm: BTS Nails (kid manicures) // Lucid Dreams // $12+ ↝
🎭 4–6pm: Comedians Play DnD // Big Lick Brewing // free ↝
📚✮ 4–7pm: Duress Book Launch w/ Poppy Fitzgerald // The Bibliopub // free ↝
✮ 4–8pm: Festival of India // Elmwood Park // free ↝
✮♫ 4:30–7:30pm: Luau in the Beer Garden (games, vendors, costume contest, & music by Mad Iguanas) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
♫ 5:30–8:30pm: The Ambassador and the Chosen Few (reggae) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
♫ 6pm (doors 5): Lazy Man Dub Band, JStop Latin Soul (reggae, afro-cuban jazz) // The Dog Bowl @ Black Dog Salvage // $24+ ↝
♫ 6pm: Glam'r Kiti (80's cover) // Brady's Distillery // free ↝
♫ 6pm: A Tribute to ABBA // Dr. Pepper Park // $38+ ↝
♫ 6pm: Doc McClintock (folk) // Blindhouse Beer // free ↝
🏳️‍🌈 6pm: SWVA Pride Pageant // Salem Civic Center // free; $52 to compete ↝
♫ 6–9:30pm: The Wilson Springs Hotel w/ Amber C & G (country, bluegrass) // Starr Hill Brewery // free ↝
😂🎭 7pm: Caitlin Cook (comedy) // Hotel Roanoke // $20 ↝
♫ 7–10pm: American Honey (variety, cover) // The Hangout // $10 ↝
♫ 7:30–10:30pm: Vicker Switch (classic rock, cover) // Hanging Rock Tavern - Salem // free ↝
😂🎭 9pm: Ryan Niemiller (comedy) // Hotel Roanoke // $20 ↝
♫ 9:30pm: Ripejive, Nerd Alert (funk, soul, electro) // Martin's Downtown // $10 ↝
♫ 10pm–1am: Vinyl & Vibes with Star City Soul Club (vinyl listening party) // Sidecar // free ↝

Sun 8/17
🏆🌳 8am–5:30pm: Beginner Downriver SUP // James River // $65 ↝
🐾 11am–4pm (various time slots available): Summer Pet Portraits // Roanoke SPCA // $35 ↝
😂🎭🍔 noon (doors 11:30am): Comedienne's Brunch (all-female comedy) // The Spot on Kirk // $25 brunch buffet + show; $1o show only ↝
🎨 noon–2pm: Yarn & Yap (fiber artists meetup & coffee) // Second Cafe // free ↝
🧸✮ noon–4pm: Family Fun Day (free food, games, face painting, bouncy house) // Big Spring Park - Fincastle // free; donations appreciated ↝
🎨 1–3pm: Flower Arranging Workshop // Golden Cactus // $45 ↝
🎨 2–4pm: DIY Doormat Workshop (painting) // Board & Brush // $45 ↝
🎭 2–5pm: Triumph of Hope (Holocaust survivor documentary screening and Q&A) // Taubman Museum // free ↝
😂🎭 3pm: Comedy Showcase // Olde Salem Brewing - Roanoke // free ↝
🎨 4–6pm (doors 3:30): Shark Week Blacklight Paint Party // Bubba's 33 // $29 ↝
♫ 5–9pm: Mason Creek (bluegrass) // Parkway Brewing - Salem // free ↝
🏆✮ 5–8pm: The Dark Art of Murder (wizard-themed murder mystery event) // Well Hung Vineyard // $35 ↝
😂🎭 6:30 (doors 6): Brandi Augustus (comedy) // The Spot on Kirk // $15 ↝
♫ 7–9pm: Bunco (blues, rock, funk, soul) // Village Grill // free ↝

Ongoing/Multiple Dates

🎠 Aug 13–16: Franklin County Agricultural Fair // Franklin Co. Recreational Park - Rocky Mount // "Experience the excitement of tractor competitions, midway rides, music concerts, live entertainment, competitive and educational exhibits, demonstrations, animal shows, petting zoo, fair pageant, contests, games, food, and fun – lots of fun!" // $10 ↝

🫜 Thursdays thru Aug 28: Flourishing in the Garden (FIG) Kids' Program // Lick Run Farm // Enroll your child in "a 4-week gardening, yoga, and nutrition program for kids that uses a mind-body-land approach to improve holistic wellbeing." // free ↝

💃 Tuesdays thru Sep 2: Beginner West Coast Swing Classes // Carilion Wellness - Roanoke // "West Coast Swing is a world-wide, popular, partner dance, danced in a slot, to a variety of types of music (blues, swing, rock, hip hop, ballads, country, pop...). Come join the fun as this dance sweeps the nation and world!" // $15/class or $75 for all ↝

Looking Ahead

📷 Submissions due Aug 15: Shadows & Silhouettes // "This open-call photography exhibition invites artists of all experience levels to explore the power of contrast, shape, and mystery. Whether you work in digital, film, or alternative processes, we welcome your interpretation of shadows and silhouettes in all their striking forms." Show will run Sep. 5–27. // $10 per entry or $35 for four // Enter here ↝

🇵🇸 Aug 18: The Encampments Film Screening // Grandin Theatre // Centered around Colombia University, this film "...celebrates the student activism that led to the proliferation of solidarity encampments in colleges and universities across the world during the spring of 2024. In solidarity with the people of Gaza, students came together to resist their institution’s complicity in Israeli settler colonialism and genocide." // free; donations encouraged // Register here ↝

🎶 Sep 6: Shape Note Singing Class // Raleigh Court UMC // "Join us for an afternoon of loud singing and community in this introduction to the centuries-old American practice of shape note singing...No prior experience is needed to participate in either the class or the half-day singing, and loaner tunebooks will be available to borrow for the day." // free ↝