Happenings: The Only Roanoke Events Calendar You’ll Ever Need. Week of 3/19 to 3/26.

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to.

Members of the Kazim Shriners of Roanoke partake in the city's St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Want to see your photograph in Happenings? Email us at editor@roanokerambler.com. PHOTO BY HENRI GENDREAU

We scoured 30 disparate community calendars (yes, 30) so you didn’t have to. From live music to theatre, lectures to drag shows, 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

  • Friday, March 21 to Sunday, March 23 — Summer Camp Weekend for the Family at Mountain Lake Lodge (115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke). Relive the magic of summer camp with activities designed for all ages—from bubble ball and archery tag to campfire stories and stargazing. Visit the event website to view the itinerary. 

Wednesday, March 19

  • 4 to 6 p.m. — Virginia Department of Health pop-up at the Melrose Library, meeting room C (2502 Melrose Ave NW Suite D). Representatives will be available to answer questions about local and statewide resources regarding your health.
  • 4:30 p.m. — Networking: Beer & Biotech presented by the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). Join us for a moderated question-and-answer session with Dr. Mike Friedlander, Executive Director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Virginia Tech’s Vice President of Health Sciences and Technology. 
  • 5 to 6:30 p.m. — Leadership Roanoke Valley Open House at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). Curious about Leadership Roanoke Valley? Now's your chance to learn more. Whether you're looking to grow your network, sharpen your leadership skills, or make a lasting impact in the Roanoke Valley, LRV is the place to start. Come see what it's all about.
  • 5 to 7 p.m. — Art at Perry Park (1101 Norfolk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Different activities for West End neighbors and friends every week. 
  • 5:30 p.m. — Grandin Plawkers starting at Grace’s Place Pizzeria (1316 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke). Meet Roanoke neighbors, take a walk, and collect a bit of litter along the way. Friendly pets are welcome. Cleanup supplies will be provided. 
  • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Jeff Miller at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
  • 6 p.m. — Literatura a Través de la Danza presented by Dance Español, a partnership between Roanoke City Public Schools and Southwest Virginia Ballet, at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). This performance is a culmination of efforts performed by 230 students including fourth graders from five different RCPS elementary schools and Southwest Virginia Ballet Junior Company dancers. Free to the public.
  • 6 p.m. — "Persepolis" as part of Women’s History Month at the Grandin Theatre (1310 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke). 
  • 6:30 to 8 p.m. — Open Mic Night at Ursula’s Cafe (511 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke). Whether you're a poet, comedian, or singer, tonight's your chance to shine. Every voice matters.
  • 7 p.m. — Live music: Tim Martin & Brian Wheeling at Brambleton Deli (3655 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke).
  • 8 p.m. — Live music: Cowboy Bebop at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount). ($)
  • 9:30 p.m.  — Live music: Hash Cabbage at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). 

Thursday,  March 20

  • 4 to 7 p.m. — Gaymer Night at Roanoke Diversity Center (425 Campbell Ave. SW., Roanoke). Hang out with other local young adults in the lounge, watch the latest music videos, play board games, chat and mingle. Bring your controllers and play your friends with our Nintendo Switch or Playstation, or start an RPG, card games and board games.
  • 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Spring Equinox Celebration led by artist Lynn Donihe presented by Carilion Clinic at Morningside Urban Farm (917 Morgan Ave. SE, Roanoke). Celebrate the first day of spring by painting “ribbons of hope.” Decorate these canvas ribbons with images or words of hope and intentions for the coming season. Register at the link above.
  • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Freak Rangers at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
  • 7 p.m. — Live music: Brantley Gilbert with special guests Black Stone Cherry, Austin Snell, and Colt Ford at the Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Blvd, Salem). ($)
  • 7:30 p.m. — Stand-up: Steve Hofstetter at the Grandin Theatre (1310 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke). No-holds-barred stand-up performance, featuring some of Hofstetter’s unfiltered observations. ($)
  • 9:30 p.m. — Live music: Virginia Man at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). 

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Friday, March 21

  • 1 to 2:30 p.m. — Healthcare Career Day at the Roanoke Higher Education Center (108 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke). Meet one-on-one with recruiters from local healthcare organizations.Participants will have the opportunity for resume and cover letter assistance, a free professional headshot, and an open discussion with industry experts. RSVP to attend. 
  • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Leonard Blush & The Camelcals at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
  • 6 p.m. — A Wee Bit o’ Murder at Stave & Cork (115 E. Main St., Salem). Play a character, solve clues, and interrogate all of the suspects. Everyone will get their character role at this adults-only murder mystery event, so be sure to arrive by 5:45. ($)
  • 6 to 9 p.m. — Live music: Kinnfolk at Atheling Meadworks (125 Campbell Ave. SE, Roanoke).
  • 6:30 p.m. — Live music: The Rarely Available at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
  • 7:05 p.m. — Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Knoxville Ice Bears at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). ($)
  • 7:30 p.m. — Retro Game Night at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). 
  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. — Live music: The McKenzies with Ashley Virginia at the 3rd Street Coffee House (305 Mountain Ave. SW, Roanoke). Pay what you can. ($)
  • 8 p.m. (Doors open 6:30) — Live music: Sexbruise? w. Future Joy — Distopian Hellscape Party at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roanoke). ($)
  • 8 p.m. — Live music: Palmyra at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount). 
  • 9:30 p.m. — Live music: Hustle Souls at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). Purchase advance tickets here. ($)

Saturday, March 22

  • 10 to 11:30 a.m. — Happy HeARTS Community sessions (Ages 10 and up) at the Taubman Museum of Art (110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke). These sessions are designed with specific adaptations for those who identify as: Blind or have low vision, Deaf or hard of hearing, Neurodiverse (Autism Spectrum, Sensory Processing, Learning Disabilities), Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Find more information and RSVP at this link.
  • 11 a.m. — Ice Bumper Cars at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). ($)
  • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Sox Fest at the Salem Memorial Ballpark (1004 Texas St., Salem). Kick off the 2025 baseball season.
  • 11:30 a.m. — Author event: Penny Edwards Blue, author of “A Time to Protest” at Dragon Bites Books & Crafts (5342 Franklin Rd. SW, Roanoke). Local author Penny Blue will present her book, “A Time to Protest: Leadership Lessons from My Father Who Survived the Segregated South for 99 Years.” The narrative underscores many ways to protest; education, voting, self-respect, hard work—all which Penny’s father and his wife instilled in their children. “In order to be treated as a first-class citizen, one must act as a first-class citizen.”
  • 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Live music: Leonard McBroom at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem).
  • 2 to 5 p.m. — Drink & Draw (and seed swap!) featuring Local Environmental Agriculture Project at Blindhouse Beer Co. (534 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). LEAP will bring fresh produce and garden treasures as drawing subjects. We're also excited to welcome special guests Wild Ones Roanoke with native plant information and Salem Public Library's Seed Library. Bring your own art supplies; some basic supplies will be on hand if needed.
  • 3:30 p.m. — Ice Skating at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). ($)
  • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Live music: Seedpicker at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
  • 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. — A Night at St. Albans Sanitorium with The Wraith Chasers presented by Haunted Nights Paranormal Events at St. Albans Sanitorium (6248 University Park Dr., Radford). This nearly 130 year old abandoned building has many stories of unexplained occurrences since it was first a Lutheran boys school and then a mental institution. Come along to investigate the unknown. ($)
  • 6:30 p.m. — Live music: GOTE at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
  • 7 & 9 p.m. — Live music: Sarah Hanahan Quartet at the Jefferson Center’s Fostek Performance Hall (541 Luck Ave., Roanoke). ($)
  • 7:30 p.m. — Live music: Death Metal Night presented by Maiden & Crow Tattoo featuring performances by Human Infection, Short Bus Pile Up, Organ Trail, and Restrictor Plate at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). ($)
  • 8 p.m. (Doors open 6:30) — Live music: Phat Laces — A Hip Hop Tribute at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (1217 Maple Ave. SW., Roanoke). ($)
  • 8 p.m. — Live music: Crawford & Power at the Harvester Performance Center (450 Franklin St., Rocky Mount). ($)
  • 9 p.m. — Live music: “We Own the Night” with EST GEE performing live at Status Restaurant & Lounge (213 Williamson Rd. SE, Roanoke). ($)
  • 10 p.m.  — Live music: Phat Anchovies at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). Purchase advance tickets here. ($)

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Sunday, March 23

  • 11 a.m. — Live music: Yoga at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem).
  • 11 a.m. — Ice Bumper Cars at the Berglund Center Coliseum (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). ($)
  • 11 a.m. (Doors open at 10:45)  — The Leprechauns are Broke Drag Brunch hosted by Enya Salad and Charles DeFranco at Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage (6 Old Whitmore Ave., Roanoke). St. Paddy’s may be over, and the leprechauns have spent all their gold—but before they head back to the end of the rainbow, they’re throwing one last legendary brunch. ($)
  • 1 to 2 p.m. — Art and Architecture Walking Tour: Both Sides of the Track led by Taubman Museum of Art Research Fellow and historian James Moser starting at the Taubman Museum of Art (110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke). Registration required. ($)
  • 1 to 3 p.m. — Give Me Liberty Livestream: Patrick Henry’s Famous Speech at 250 delivered by a reenactor to a live audience at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, streamed live to the Salem Museum and Historical Society (801 E. Main St., Salem).Light refreshments will be provided as attendees watch the event, part of broader statewide celebrations in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in April.
  • 2 to 4 p.m. — Live music: Jeremy Davall and Dave Corbitt  at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem). 
  • 5 to 8 p.m. — Live music: Dempsey Hadden Vaughan Greenstreet at Parkway Brewing Company (739 Kessler Mill Rd., Salem).  
  • 6:30 to 10 p.m. — Manic Monday Karaoke with MC Stevie D at Olde Salem Brewing Company (315 Market St., Roanoke). 

Monday, March 24

  • 5 to 6 p.m. — Daisy Art Parade workshop at the Melrose Branch Library (2502 Melrose Ave NW Suite D). Join various artists in creating puppets and artwork for the upcoming Daisy Art Parade; every Monday in the STEAM Lab.
  • 5:30 p.m. — Roanoke Plawkers at Market on Melrose (2502 Melrose Ave. NW, Roanoke). Meet Roanoke neighbors, take a walk, and collect a bit of litter along the way. Friendly pets are welcome. Cleanup supplies will be provided. 
  • 6:30 p.m. — Live music: Irish Music Session at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 

Tuesday, March 25

  • 5 to 7 p.m. — Virginia Urban Agriculture Information Session at Lick Run Farm (1626 10th St. NW, Roanoke). Discover how you can contribute to advancing urban agriculture in your community with the USDA Farm Service Agency as a resource. Free event; register to attend.
  • 6 to 7 p.m. — World Rhythms Drum Class presented by The Beat Goes On Roanoke at CommUNITY ARTSreach (3025 Frontier Rd., Roanoke). A limited selection of extra drums are available to use. Suggested donation: $10.
  • 6:30 to 8 p.m. — Creative Conversations: Giving Back | Youth Empowerment, an Imagine Me panelist discussion presented by Humble Hustle at The Collective (601 11th St. NW, Roanoke). Everyone is invited to share perspectives and insights on the importance of building up the next generation and the importance of giving back.
  • 7 p.m. — Lecture: “At Home with the Virginia Presidents” with Heather Cole as part of the Kegley Lecture series at the O. Winston Link Museum (101 Shenandoah Ave. NE, Roanoke). Attendees will learn a bit about the presidents’ lives, take a peek inside their homes and get ideas for their next history road trip. ($)
  • 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Stand-up: The R.E.A.L. Funny Open Mic Comedy Show at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Open mic starts at 7:30. Featured comedian starts at 8. RSVP if you plan to attend.
  • 7:30 p.m. — Author event: “An Evening with Charles Yu” at the Moss Arts Center (190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg). Yu’s work is as inventive as it is moving. In his entertaining and thought-provoking lectures, Yu speaks to audiences of all kinds about the Asian American experience, representation and stereotypes in film and television, and the unique power of science fiction to address the human condition. 
  • 9:30 p.m.  — Live music: Sky Dolphin at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). 

Wednesday, March 26

  • 10 to 11 a.m. — American Semiquincentennial Scrollathon Project Workshop at the Taubman Museum of Art (110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke). This creative technique is based on hands-on use of found materials and techniques to create artworks of profound beauty and meaning that share artists’ stories, hopes and dreams. The collaborative project that will be created at the Taubman will represent Virginia  in a multimedia collaborative project to be shown at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in summer 2026, to celebrate the American Semiquincentennial. 
  • 5 to 7 p.m. — Art at Perry Park (1101 Norfolk Ave. SW, Roanoke). Different activities for West End neighbors and friends every week. 
  • 5:30 p.m. — Networking: Get2KnowNoke Q1 Social at The Vault at Liberty Trust (107 S, Jefferson St., Roanoke). Socials are free and open to everyone. Register in advance here.
  • 6:30 p.m. — Open Mic Comedy Night presented by The Comedy Lab at Big Lick Brewing Co. (409 Salem Ave. SW, Roanoke). 
  • 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Tango! The Resistance at Roanoke Diversity Center (425 Campbell Ave. SW., Roanoke). We enthusiastically welcome beginners and returning queer tango dancers alike. Come learn the basics of Argentine tango, a dance rich with queer history and growing all over the world today. Series continues on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. Pay what you can. ($)
  • 6:30 to 8 p.m. — Silent Book Club at Ursula’s Cafe (511 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke). BYOB (Bring your own book)! Join us for a quiet night where we read in community with one another.
  • 7 p.m. — Live music: Tim Martin & Brian Wheeling at Brambleton Deli (3655 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke).
  • 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6) — "Polite Society" as part of Women’s History Month at the Grandin Theatre (1310 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke). 
  • 7:30 p.m. — Live music: Laniidae, Valoria, To Be a King presented by Maiden & Crow Tattoo at The Spot on Kirk (22 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke). All ages. ($)
  • 8 to 11 p.m. (Doors open at 7) — Live music: Nocturnal Cellist ft. Ross Lewicki – Kyle Hutchins – softservo at ArtRat Studios (1036 Service Ave. Ext. Building #10, Roanoke). Donations welcome.
  • 9:30 p.m.  — Live music: Ben Trout Band at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (413 1st St., Roanoke). 

Looking ahead

  • Thursday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. — The Ultimate PEN Dive Poetry Night celebrating Women’s History Month presented by Verses Listening Lounge & Collaborative Center at Golden Cactus Brewing (214 Fifth St., Roanoke). Bring your favorite pen and dive into an evening filled with poetry, spoken word, storytelling and good company. We welcome all to join us on this powerful night as we honor, celebrate and remember the women in our lives. ($)
  • Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30 — “Mary Poppins” presented by Ferrum College Theatre Arts (415 Ferrum Mountain Rd., Ferrum). A practically-perfect musical. ($)
  • Saturday, April 5 starting at noon — 20th Anniversary Forkapalooza featuring performances by Terry Brown Ascension Project, Phat Anchovies, Jon Stickley Trio and the Larry Keel & Jon Stickley Duo at Fork in the Alley (2123 Crystal Spring Ave. SW, Roanoke). ($)
  • Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m. — Extreme Plawkers take on Mill Mountain starting at Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. 1115 Piedmont St. SE, Roanoke). Walk. Pick up Litter. Be Exhausted. Let’s get Mill Mountain sparkling clean before thousands of people take their trek up it on Blue Ridge Marathon/Half Marathon/10K day. This adventure is not for the faint of heart nor for children. 
  • Sunday. April. 6 at 3:00 p.m. — "O Fortuna" Carmina Burana presented by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre (710 Williamson Rd. NE, Roanoke). Experience the raw intensity of Carmina Burana, an exhilarating ode to fate and fortune, harnessing the forces of operatic vocalists, choirs, and the full symphony orchestra. ($)

Ongoing

  • Through March 30 —  “Waitress — The Musical” presented by Mill Mountain Theatre (1 Market Sq., Roanoke). The musical follows Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert pie maker at Joe's Diner, who finds herself in an unfulfilling marriage to her controlling husband, Earl. When Jenna discovers she's pregnant, she begins to re-evaluate her life and dreams of escape. ($)
  • Through March 30 —  “Matilda the Musical” presented by Wolfbane Productions at the Wolf Den Theatre in downtown Lynchburg (723 Jefferson St., Lynchburg). Step into our magical production based on Roald Dahl’s “Matilda.” Guests must be at least 5 years old to enter the theatre. ($)
  • Through March 30 — Charisse Pearlina Weston: "I saw the room but darkly dreamed it..." art exhibition at Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech (190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg). Weston's exhibition features new glass, lead, and concrete sculptures and works on canvas that challenge fixed narratives and systems of control. The core of this disruption lies in the manipulation of Mirropane, a reflective and transparent glass often used for monitoring. This material transformation symbolically subverts the mechanisms of surveillance, questioning who holds power in the act of observing and being observed. 
  • Through March 30 — Shauté Gates: “This is Not a Test” art exhibition at Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech (190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg). Extracting from multiple time-based media that include current events, history, and cinema, perhaps paradoxically, labyrinths or worlds are constructed to be deconstructed into what Gates describes as, “moments that feel to be on the brink of an unconscious truth.” 
  • Through April 13 — “Dream, America” with Arden Cone at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University (8009 Fishburn Dr., Roanoke). This exhibition confronts the polarization felt throughout today’s American political system. Where groups are excluded from a national narrative, this exhibition seeks to include them and validate their perspectives. 
  • Saturdays through December 27 — 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. ($)
  • Every Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — VA Works Assistance presented by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement in Meeting Rooms B and C at the Roanoke City Main Library (706 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke). Do you need help with your job search? Looking for temporary income support or transition and training services? Visit the workforce experts at their satellite desks at the Main Library in downtown Roanoke. 

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