The Weekend Drop + News = A Free Read

Bottle this weekend up and sell it as "Roanoke's best"

First, I want to give a shoutout to the incredible theatre that’s happening around the community. You’ve got your last chance to see Bonnie & Clyde the Musical by the Lake Players at Westlake Towne Center and “The Tin Woman” opening at Showtimers in southwest Roanoke County.

Second, a heads up. As I settle into this space, you might have noticed that I’ve been playing with different formats and posting options. I think I may have settled on a solution that allows me to offer a comprehensive list of events that appeal to a wide audience (Roanoke is super diverse and I love it, ya’ll!) without dragging you readers down with a long scroll, and to do so in an uncomplicated easy-to-navigate manner. We’ll try it out a week and see, how about it?

So come back on Monday to see the reveal. I’ll offer both types, new and old (old being the long scroll, based on what I’ve been doing for years), and I’ll open up the comments to everyone so you can tell me what you like best. Deal?

For now, Find over seventy fun events to check out over the weekend, all listed out for you with time, place, and a link for directions here.

What are you going to be up to? Post in the comments below.

Now, pardon me if I get a little whimsical for a moment here. A number of years ago, it was realized that our town was an outdoors town. But it wasn’t any outdoors town, it was an artsy outdoors town. Proof: the Outdoor Circus was hatched, with its bicycle wheel archways and fire pits and haystacks and tie-dye and kids running loose at River’s Edge. A year later, that became GoFest.

The arts were already here, then. Creatives were creating their city, painting outside grids that were determined to contain street-scapes, calling to the land-scapes. Splashing sunsets out of the river and naming them ochre.

I digress.

Douglas Jackson repeats his mantras: this city can be anything we can make it. Anyone can make their ideas happen here. (paraphrased).

And along came the one thing that I will not be missing out on this weekend. You might have already guessed it. The event has expanded and moved into a new space this year.

The Daisy Art Parade will be held at River’s Edge North, directly across from Carilion’s new construction along Reserve Ave. A carnival will be held in the same location, planned to last the entire day.

The carnival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the parade stepping off at Noon. The parade will encircle the park.

Cinémathèque will play live music, there will be a DJ, and the day will conclude with a live dance party.

Art-making stations will be set up, food trucks will be on hand, and event organizers promise old-fashioned carnival games. They ask folks to bring cash for food and refreshments.

This annual event (now the fourth year running) is just so Roanoke. It brings folks from across the city together to celebrate our creativity, our joy, our neighborhood pride.

You’ll see anything from micro-stick-puppets to giant paper-mache creations to home-sourced costumes walking in the parade. Some people have been working on their entries for the last year; some for maybe a few days or a few weeks. It’s all welcome, here.

As watercolors drench a page, there’s a flow.

Just across the way, Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage will host the Daisy Art Parade After-Party starting at 4 p.m. This is a Ramble on the River event, featuring music, vendors, and space for a big come-as-you-are PARTY!

Marie-Claire Evans and Circus Child will play. This will be your opportunity to see the full Circus Child band together — it is a fairly new alt-soul-rock project led by a guy who seems to be as much a visual artist as a musician. Learn more here.

Every week, I search through over forty primary sources and regional calendars to find the best events to include for you. To support my work, please consider subscribing below.