Here’s a roundup of events around Southwest and Southside for the coming week. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
April 27-29: International music festival at Radford University
Radford University’s Music Department will host three days of international music between April 27 and 29. All events are free and open to the public.
On April 27, the 2022 IBLA Grand Prize winners will perform at 7:30 pm in the Davis Performance Hall in the Covington Center on Radford University’s main campus. Annually, the IBLA Foundation in New York City organizes a competition for singers, musicians and composers in Ragusa Ibla, in Sicily, that draws talent from across the globe.
Top prize winner, Serbian composer and pianist Julija Bal, headlines the event. Bal made her American debut at Carnegie Hall and is praised for her originality and technique. Performing on the same stage will be musicians from Argentina, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ukraine.
On the 28th and 29th, the 22nd annual International Guitar Festival will offer two days of concerts and workshops. Musicians with roots in Peru, Turkey, Romania and Spain will bring a variety of guitar styles and techniques to Davis Hall.
Among the performers is Jorge Caballero, a renowned guitarist who has garnered several international awards from the age of 19. In addition to performing classical guitar compositions and his own work, Caballero is famous for adapting orchestra and piano compositions for guitar.
This will be the 22nd annual International Guitar Festival at Radford University. Dr. Robert Trent organizes this event each year and will also be among the performers and workshop leaders.
The festival will begin at 3 p.m. on April 28 with a masterclass taught by Mary Akerman and Robert Teixeira followed by a masterclass led by Jorge Caballero. In the evening, Turkish guitarist Mesut Ozgen will perform at 7 p.m. followed by the Maharajah Flamenco Trio.
On Saturday, April 29, events begin at 1 pm with the Maharajah Flamenco Trio improv workshop.
Mesut Ozgen and Robert Trent will offer masterclasses as well, followed by a concert duet from Akerman and Teixeira at 4 p.m.
At 7 p.m., Suzuki guitar students will perform with the Radford Guitar Ensemble and the event will wrap up with a concert by Caballero.
April 28-29: Vinton Dogwood Festival
The 68th Annual Vinton Dogwood Festival will be April 28 and 29th. The two-day festival features over 100 vendors featuring handmade crafts and Business Showcase, Friday night concert, festival entertainment stages, antique car show, free Kids’ Zone, free Teen Space, oversize games, street entertainment, Virtual Reality Area, crowning of the Vinton Dogwood Festival Queen and presentation of the Dogwood Court.
Rare Form, a modern country and rock band, will present a concert on Friday evening at the Vinton Farmers’ Market Stage, from 7 pm to 10 pm, the gate, beverage garden and food will open at 6 pm. Admission is $5.00. Bring seating and ID.
Saturday, April 29th, includes a large craft show, business showcase, antique car show, live entertainment on two stages including jazz, big band, top-forty, classics and country, gymnastics and cheer, and martial arts. Street entertainers Juggler David Bear Stuart, Magician Mark Fuller and “The Beat Goes On -Line Dancers” will provide street entertainment.
In keeping with tradition, the crowning of the Vinton Dogwood Festival Queen will take place on the Vinton Municipal Building stage at noon.
The annual parade will step off at 2:30 pm following a route from the Vinton War Memorial on Washington Avenue through downtown Vinton to Gus Nicks Boulevard. The Vinton Fire Department will lead the parade. Other entries include the William Byrd High School Band, Virginia Highlands Pipe and Drum Band, Island Trio, Virginia Fire Museum Fire Engines, Miss Kitty’s Cosmonaut Stilt Walkers, a variety of floats, walking and novelty units, classic vehicles, costumed characters and clowns.
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April 28: Deadline for tickets for speakeasy gala in Danville on May 6
Danville Virginia’s Smokestack Theatre Company is holding a 1920s- to 1940s-themed GALA. on May 6th, from 7pm – 10pm and the $100 tickets (or 2 for $150) include period music and improv performances, delicious canapés, drink tickets, dessert, raffle tickets, and a special gift. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/SmokestackGALA through April 28th.
The dress code is formal cocktail attire (black tie not required), vintage speakeasy 1920s-1940s attire encouraged.
Everyone who registers will receive a special password (by email) so they can enter the Speakeasy. All proceeds go into funding this nonprofit community theatre. All guests must be 21 or older. Please have ID’s ready at the door.
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April 29: Moonshine Bash & Car Show at Ferrum
The 9th annual Moonshine Bash & Car Show will take place at the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum at Ferrum College on Saturday, April 29, 9-5. The event will include:
- More than 100 vehicles that were used, or could have been used, to haul moonshine will be on display.
- Three distilleries, Twin Creeks, Five Mile Mountain, and Roosters Rise-N-Shine, will offer moonshine tastings.
- BBQ, vending, and live music will also be part of this daylong celebration of moonshine heritage.
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April 29: CommUNITY Celebration in Roanoke
The CommUNITY Celebration will be held Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, at Mt Zion AME Church, 2128 Melrose Ave NW in Roanoke.
There will be games and giveaways plus face painting, bouncy houses, arts and
crafts. Members of the Virginia Tech football team willbe present as well as Pip from
PBS, Mugsy from the Salem Red Sox, and Monica Brooks from K92. Free hot dogs will be
served by the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Department,
Representatives from the Children’s Trust will be on hand to answer questions, provide information about their programs, and offer resources and support to families in need.
The Children’s Trust CommUNITY Celebration is free and open to the public.
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April 29: New River CC offers free computer tune up
New River Community College will hold a Cyber Day event on Saturday, April 29.
Cyber Day is an event where anyone can bring their laptops, desktops, tablets and phones
for a free tune up and virus scan. The NRCC Computer Club is hosting the event from 9 a.m.
to noon in room 127 at the college’s Christiansburg site located in Uptown Christiansburg.
There will be several students and Dr. David Filer, NRCC information systems technology
professor and club advisor, working on the systems at the event. Any Windows or Android
device is welcome.
The NRCC Computer Club focuses on the skills of repairing and creating computers for
campus and community use.
For more information about Cyber Day, contact Filer at dfiler@nr.edu or (540) 674-3600,
ext. 4272.
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May 1: Tick talk at the University of Lynchburg’s Claytor Nature Center
Dr. Jenny Hall, associate professor in the health promotion and Master of Public Health programs at the University of Lynchburg and founder of Ticks in Virginia, will lead a series of presentations, panels, and workshops on tick-borne diseases for Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
The events will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, May 1, and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at Claytor Nature Center. Registration is required and space is limited. To register and to view a full schedule of events, please visit the Ticks in Virginia events page. The cost to attend is $20.
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May 3: Deadline for groups to register for reimbursement for Smith Mountain Lake cleanup
Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake, SML’s annual cleanup initiative, will take place throughout the month of May with organized events scheduled for May 6, May 13 and May 20 at various locations around the lake.
Volunteers may register for Take Pride in SML by filling out the online form at TakePrideSML.com. Representatives also will be signing up participants at the Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo, which will take place on May 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at EastLake Community Church.
Businesses and larger groups that organize their own on-the-water cleanup event may apply for reimbursement of up to $400 for costs incurred for dumpster and landfill fees. The reimbursement form is available online at TakePrideSML.com and the deadline to apply is May 3.