Here are some of the holiday events around the region. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Wytheville Concert Series presents holiday concert
The yearly Christmas Traditions concert by soprano Leslie Mabe and the Rainier Trio will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wytheville.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the Wytheville Concert Series and the Wytheville Community College Food Bank.
Wytheville Concert Series performances are presented by Wytheville Community College, St. Paul United Methodist Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wytheville Presbyterian Church, the WCC Educational Foundation, and the MacDowell Music Club.
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Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir holds two events
The Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir has set two events.
It will host a community sing-along at the Taubman Museum on Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to noon.
The choir will perform Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Roanoke County.
Tickets are $23 for adults, $10 for children and are available through tickets.childrenschoir.com.
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Wytheville Community College Concert Band to perform
The Wytheville Community College Concert Band, under the direction of Frank Pugh, will present its annual holiday concert Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Legacy Church, 2150 West Ridge Road, Wytheville.
The performance, “Merry Melodies and Christmas Cheer,” features traditional holiday music and includes a special commissioned musical composition presented in memory of Dr. Jack White, Bill Svec, and Craig Allison. The tribute, “March for a Band So Mighty,” was composed by Joshua Alexander Idio, a composer, educator, conductor, and trumpeter from New Jersey.
The community band began in 1989 when Dr. Jack O. White returned to Wytheville as an adjunct professor at Wytheville Community College. White recruited many of his former students from his time as the George Wythe High School band director to establish the WCC Concert Band. The band remained under the direction of White until 1998 when Bill Svec, another former GWHS band director and local WYVE radio host, took the baton. Svec led the band for another 15 years before retiring in 2013. Allison was a founding member of the WCC band and was also a local WYVE radio host. Allison performed during his high school years for the George Wythe High School Marching Band under White’s direction. Allison also emceed the WCC Concert Band performances for many years before his death in February of 2021.
Since its inception, the Wytheville Community College Concert band has been comprised of community members, college students, and gifted high school students from throughout WCC’s service region. Frank Pugh, now in his ninth year as Director of the WCC Concert Band, is a 1987 graduate of George Wythe High School and has served as the Band Director at Fort Chiswell High School and Middle School for the last 26 years.
The concert is free of charge, but donations to the WCC Concert Band are gladly accepted to help support band costs.
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Danville institute to hold wreath event
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville will hold “Wreaths for a Cause” this holiday season and invites the public to attend the Open House, which will feature a live silent auction of wreaths. Tickets are $10 each with proceeds going to the United Way of Danville & Pittsylvania County. Funds from the wreaths will benefit the charity each participating organization designated.
The Open House will be held in IALR’s atrium on Dec. 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided. Austin Scher of the Danville Otterbots will serve as master of ceremonies, and Rita Smith of River City Auction will serve as wreath auctioneer. A 7:15 p.m. drawing will award a gift card package from local businesses (currently valued at $250); individuals must be present to win. Open House tickets may be purchased in advance at IALR Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or at the door event night.
Area businesses and organizations create and display wreaths in IALR’s atrium in honor of their selected charities to raise funds in the form of votes, or donations. The public may visit IALR’s atrium Nov. 28-Dec. 15 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to vote for wreaths with a donation and to enjoy the festive display. Each charity retains those funds, and the wreath/charity that collects the most money prior to the Open House will receive a bonus of $1,000. At the Open House, a random drawing of all wreaths will award another $1,000 and $500 to a participating charity.
‘Decorating the Wreaths’ sponsors include Dewberry, JTI, Goodyear, Wilkins and Co., FCS, Riverside Roof Truss and Caesars Virginia.
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Gingerbread Festival in Salem announces date, rules
The Gingerbread Festival in Salem will be Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enries may be previewed starting Nov. 29 at the Salem Museum.
Admission is free. For more information: https://s-rcchamber.org/gingerbread-festival/
Gingerbread House Competition Rules
- Your creation doesn’t have to be a house.
- There are categories for amateur bakers of all ages, plus a category for professional chefs. Prizes will be awarded in every category, as well as a People’s Choice Award.
- Each entry must be constructed of edible materials ONLY. Creations that include non-edible construction materials will NOT be eligible for awards.
- For a sturdy dough recipe, google “gingerbread structural dough recipe” such as https://www.seriouseats.com/construction-gingerbread-recipe. You can skip the vanilla and spices, and substitute Crisco for the butter to make the project more economical.
- Base cannot be larger than 20” x 20”
- Entries must be delivered to the Salem Museum on November 22-23 or 25-26 between 10 am and 4 pm. Entries may be picked up after 2pm on December 3, and must be picked up by December 10. The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
- The Salem Museum is not responsible for collapses or other damage to the gingerbread creations.
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Wreath-laying set at Virginia’s veterans cemeteries
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services will hold holiday wreath laying events on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Virginia’s three state veterans cemeteries: the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin, and the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.
At the Virginia Veterans Cemetery (Amelia), the annual wreath laying ceremony is scheduled for 12 p.m. in partnership with the Virginia Veterans Cemetery Wreath Committee, other community partners, and Wreaths Across America. There will be a special program featuring speakers and patriotic music. At the conclusion of the program, volunteers will place a wreath on each gravesite. Some parking is available at the cemetery – as many vehicles will be accommodated as possible. Attendees are strongly encouraged to carpool. The cemetery is located at 10300 Pridesville Road, Amelia Court House.
At the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery (Dublin), the annual wreath laying ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. in partnership with the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery Volunteers and other community partners. There will be a special program with speakers and patriotic music. At the conclusion of the program, volunteers will place a wreath on each gravesite. Parking is at the Dublin Lions Club (100 Lions Club Road, Dublin VA 24084) with shuttle bus service to the cemetery. Shuttle bus service begins at 12 p.m. There is no parking at the cemetery unless authorized in advance. Additional information available at www.swvavcv.org. The cemetery is located at 5550 Bagging Plant Road, Dublin.
At the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery (Suffolk), the annual wreath laying ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in partnership with the Horton Wreath Society and other community partners. There will be a special program with speakers and patriotic music. At the conclusion of the program, volunteers will place a wreath on each gravesite. Parking is at Kings Fork High School (351 Kings Fork Road, Suffolk VA 2) with shuttle bus service to the cemetery. Shuttle service begins at 7 a.m. There is no parking at the cemetery unless authorized in advance. Additional information is available at www.hortonwreathsociety.org. The cemetery is located at 5310 Milners Road, Suffolk.