Happy Holidays!

Today the kids are excited. My youngest decided to open a few of the family gifts that were under the tree. I guess that is what I get for putting them out early. We went and looked at some houses today - we are hoping to have a start fresh next year.

This year has flown by and the last several weeks have been extremely stressful for me. I haven't really taken the time to enjoy what my town has to offer. I have been too busy worrying and planning. This weekend I will take a little time off for my loved ones. I miss my own parents and siblings especially at this time of year when I think about how we used to celebrate. I only hope that I can pass along those same memories to my children as they get older.

Dickens of a Christmas

We spent last Friday at the Dickens of a Christmas event. The parade was interesting...although a little long in my book. I guess the kids and I should not have spent the whole day running around because we were tired and cold by the time the parade got going. That being said, there were some interesting things to be seen in the parade.

We spent the afternoon downtown - taking advantage of our new membership to the Transportation Museum and then having a little dinner before the parade. The kids enjoyed decorating ornaments courtesy of the Transportation Museum in the newly-remodeled City Market Building. There were all sorts of local goods for sale - it was fun looking at all the items for sale. The kids loved the penguins that you could push around.

Tonight is your chance to check out the Christmas scene. The fun starts at about 6:30pm.

Dickens of a Christmas

Things have been fairly quiet in Roanoke lately. With so much construction going on downtown, it is difficult to take the kids out. It really doesn't stop everything, but I have moments where I struggle doing all the exciting events with the kids in tow. Sometimes they just don't share the same interests...and the complaining and whining and crying can put a damper on the festivities.

We are in that time of year, however, where there is just so much going on. I hope to get us out for our annual Christmas Light drive soon. It would be great to share some pictures of the amazing and sometimes unique setups.With all that being said, tonight was the start of Dickens of a Christmas.

December 2nd

THE CITY OF ROANOKE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING   

Sponsored by Downtown Roanoke Inc., City of Roanoke, City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department the tree lighting will be held on Salem Avenue on December 2nd. The ceremony will begin with a special performance by Mill Mountain Ringers at 5:30 pm. WSLS NewsChannel 10’s countdown to the tree lighting will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the actual lighting at 6:20 p.m. 

SALEM AVENUE 

5:30pm – Mill Mountain Ringers 

6:15pm – City of Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET 

6-10pm – Strolling St. Nicholas 

6-10pm – Carriage Rides 

6-10pm – Street Actors (Theatre students from William Fleming High School) 

6-10pm – Chestnut Roasting 

7-9pm – Ice Sculpture with Hidden Valley Country Club 

7-9pm – Photos with Santa 

7-9pm – Mark Fuller, Magician 

7-10pm – Carolers of Christmas Past 

7-10pm – Sally Edelman, Face Painter 

7-10pm – David Bear Stuart, Juggler 

MARKET STREET 

6:30pm – Mill Mountain Theatre 

7:00pm – Miss Mona’s School of Dance 

8:00pm – Roanoke Children’s Theatre 

8:30pm – Southwest Virginia Ballet 

The History Museum of Western Virginia presents SANTA’S WORKSHOP:

6:00pm- 9:00pm- The Market Building- Mezzanine Level

MARKET BUILDING 

7pm – Roanoke Youth Symphony 

MARKET STREET SUNTRUST’S KIDS ZONE 

6-9pm. – Games, Activities & More 

TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART 

6:45-7pm – Roanoke Children’s Theatre 

7-9pm – Christmas Jazz 

7- 9pm – Vintage cartoon shorts 

 

December 9th

HALEY TOYOTA'S CITY OF ROANOKE CHRISTMAS PARADE

Don't miss this wonderful, "outside the ordinary" holiday parade. Downtown streets will be transformed into a magical space filled with costumed characters, horse drawn carriages, strolling carolers, marching bands, jugglers, and numerous community groups all highlighting various holiday traditions. The parade route begins at the corner of Elm Avenue and Jefferson Street (Elmwood Park) and continues north on Jefferson Street to Campbell Avenue, then east on Campbell to Market Square. Sponsored by Haley Toyota, Downtown Roanoke, Inc., and the City of Roanoke. And don't forget to come out to Haley Toyota on December 10th from 11am to 2pm to get your picture made!

JEFFERSON ST./CAMPBELL AVE. 

6:30pm – Haley Toyota’s City of Roanoke Christmas Parade (Begins at Elm & Jefferson) sponsored by City of Roanoke and Downtown Roanoke Inc. 

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET 

6-10pm – Strolling St. Nicholas 

6-10pm – Carriage Rides 

6-10pm – Street Actors (Theatre Students from William Fleming High School) 

6-10pm – Chestnut Roasting 

7-9pm – Aaron Clark, Stilt Walker 

7-9pm – Mark Fuller, Magician 

7:30-9:30pm – Kate Guntermann, Fire Eater 

7:30-9:30pm – Charon Henning, Sword Swallower 

7-10pm – Sally Edelman, Face Painter 

7-10pm – David Bear Stuart, Juggler 

8-10pm – Photos with Santa 

8-10pm – Lost and Found Percussion 

MARKET STREET 

8:00pm – Floyd Ward School of Dance 

9:00pm – Roanoke Ballet Theatre 

The Virginia Museum of Transportation presents SANTA’S WORKSHOP

6:00pm- 9:00pm- The Market Building- Mezzanine level

MARKET STREET SUNTRUST’S KIDS ZONE 

6-9pm – Games, Activities, & More 

TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART 

6:30-6:45pm – Roanoke Children’s Theater 

7-9pm – Christmas Jazz 

7-9pm – Vintage cartoon shorts
6-10pm – Chess Pieces Exhibit 

 

December 16th

SPCA’S PET COSTUME CONTEST  

The holidays aren’t just for humans! Dress up your pet(s) and come join the fun and laughter at the annual SPCA Pet Costume Contest. This year’s event will be made extra special by the involvement and enthusiasm of the Roanoke Valley SPCA and their volunteers. The fun-loving judging on Salem Avenue will be followed by great prizes. 

SALEM AVENUE 

6:30pm SPCA’s Pet Costume Contest 

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET 

6-10pm – Strolling St. Nicholas 

6-10pm – Carriage Rides 

6-10pm – Street Actors (Theatre students from William Fleming High School) 

6-10pm – Chestnut Roasting 

7-9pm – Mark Fuller, Magician 

7-9pm – Photos with Santa 

7-10pm – David Bear Stuart, Juggler 

7-10pm – Sally Edelman, Face Painter 

MARKET STREET 

7:30pm – BrassMass Christmas 

8:00pm – Raleigh Court United Methodist Church 

8:30pm – Glenn Singer, Horsin Around 

The Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitors Center presents SANTA’S WORKSHOP 

6:00pm - 9:00pm- The Market Building- Mezzanine level

MARKET BUILDING 

7pm – Quest Academy of Music 

MARKET STREET SUNTRUST’S KIDS ZONE 

6-9pm – Snow Sledding and Play Area 

TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART 

6:30-6:45pm – Roanoke Children’s Theater 

7-9pm – Opera Roanoke 

7-9pm – Vintage cartoon shorts 

6-10pm – Life size chess board 

We did not make it out tonight, obviously, but are super excited for the next two Fridays! I have actually decided to let the boys loose a little bit this year and purchase their own gifts to give. I feel like now is a great time to teach them about the joy of giving.

The schedule of events is of course, courtest of Downtown Roanoke Inc. I didn't get a chance on Thursday to pull all the information from the newspaper.