ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995 TAG: 9512150051
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: The tipoff
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
LIGHTS NIGHT: All 15,000-plus of the lights illuminating the Elks National Home Christmas display will be turned on at 5 tonight by Past Exalted Ruler Ted Callicott of Paris, Tenn., who also will be guest speaker for the event. The Elks National Home Chorus will provide special holiday music, and 22 states will be represented by Elkdom's leaders. The ceremony in the home's main dining hall is free and open to the public.
The annual drive-through light show on Virginia 460, Bedford, is expected to attract more than 20,000 cars between now and its close Dec. 31. The displays will burn brightly, nightly, from 5:30-10. Call 586-8232.
HOLIDAY HARP: Christina Tourin - director of the Internation Harp Therapy Program and an international artist with six albums to her credit - tonight at 7:30 will perform on three harps, one of which glows in the dark, creating a halo effect. The free concert (donations accepted) will be at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2015 Grandin Road Southwest, Roanoke. Call 366-7889.
CHRISTMAS WITH CRITTERS: Saturday, from 1-4:30 p.m., Mill Mountain Zoo will celebrate Christmas with the Animals. The Patrick Henry High School Choral Society and the Huff Lane Micro Village School Ambassadors Youth Choir will make music; special children's activities, including decorating for wildlife, will be provided; and Santa is expected to arrive in spectacular fashion. Admission ranges from $2.25 to $3. Children under age 2 get in free. Call 343-3241.
CHORALE IN CONCERT: Handel's ``Messiah,'' other holiday music, and sing-along audience caroling will be on the Blacksburg Master Chorale's program, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday in Blacksburg Baptist Church. Tickets - $8 for adults; $4 seniors and students - are on sale at Books, Strings & Things, Blacksburg, Squires ticket office on the Virginia Tech campus, from chorale members or at the door. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. Call 552-8071.
BIG BALLET: International guest stars Tim Amaas and Mariclare Miranda, in a performance of Tchaikovsky's ``Nutcracker,'' will be backed by the Southwest Virginia Ballet Company and accompanied by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Glazebrook. Tickets for performances at the Roanoke Civic Center range from $17 to $25 for matinee and evening shows on Saturday and matinee only on Sunday. Call 343-9127, 343-6221 or 387-3978.
MUSICAL MIX: ``Carols of the Nations'' - 4 p.m. Sunday at Belmont United Methodist Church - promises an eclectic blend of the sanctuary choir, the Sanghee Uhm Harp Trio and the Baroque Brass. The church is at 8th Street and Jamison Avenue, Roanoke. Call 343-0048 or 989-5005.
PET PICS: Bring the animals you love for a snapshot with Santa; bring the kids you love for a special reindeer ride. Benefit the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Injured Animal and Spay and Neuter Fund.
The pictures, at a donation of $10 per shot, will be taken from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Dec. 23 at the SPCA's office, 1313 Eastern Ave. N.E., Roanoke. Appointments are not necessary. For information, call 344-4840.
SCROOGE SIGHTING: Scrooge, Marley and the rest of Charles Dickens' characters will be on stage at Franklin County High School Wednesday through Dec. 23 in Israel Horovitz's adaptation of ``A Christmas Carol,'' presented by the Franklin County Community Theatre. Performances will be at 7 nightly, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 23. Tickets are $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students. Call 483-5220.
ALIVE IN A MANGER: Hardy souls from several Roanoke Valley churches will once again brave the elements to present live Nativity scenes for the viewing pleasure of warm, dry car passengers. The four scenes at Penn Forest Christian Church, 3028 Penn Forest Blvd., from 6:30 - 9 nightly, tonight through Sunday, will include live camels. Call 774-2445 or 345-6149.
The scene at Hollins Road Baptist Church, 3502 Old Mountain Road, Roanoke, will be enacted from 7-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Call 362-9569.
And Connelly Memorial Baptist Church, 3907 Hershberger Road N.W., will present its scene from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, and from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. Call 563-4971.
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