
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 27, 1994                   TAG: 9405270078
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Joe Kennedy
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

KICKOFF: Festival 1994, Roanoke's warm-weather excuse to have fun, opens tonight with a concert by Marty Stuart at Victory Stadium. The gates open at 6:30, and the music starts at 6:45. Broken Reins will play first, followed by Bob Woodruff at 8 and Marty Stuart at 9:30. Fireworks will follow at 10:45. Admission is by festival button, which costs $3 in advance or $6 at the gate.

On Saturday, the festival moves to Smith Park in Roanoke for the River Race between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., bluegrass music from 11 to 5 and a day full of children's activities. Meanwhile, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. a volleyball tournament will be in Wasena Park and the Crestar Festival Soccer Tournament at River's Edge and elsewhere.

Elmwood Park in Roanoke will have a crafts show and sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and entertainment at the amphitheatre all day. Real to Reel will play rock at 6 p.m., Desmond Steele at 7:15 and 1964: A Tribute, with their Beatles salute, at 8:30.

More crafts at Elmwood will occur on Sunday, as will more performances climaxing with Captain Cook and the Coconutz at 8:30 p.m.

Monday? More crafts, more kids stuff and more entertainment.

THE WAY WE WERE: Springfest '94 comes to Bernard's Landing at Smith Mountain Lake with a beach music lineup that brings back a lot of memories. It's Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. Performers will include the Tams, the Box Tops, Bill Deal, Fat Ammon and the Original Rhondells and the Part-Time Party Band. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the gate and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. No coolers or alcoholic beverages will be permitted on site. Call (800) 572-2048.

HANDY: More than 40 crafters will show and sell their products Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Walton's Mountain Spring Crafters' Fair in Nelson County. It's at the Walton's Mountain Store at the junction of Virginia 6 and U.S. 29. Admission and parking are free.

Call 263-4566.

RAVE-UP: The Coors Concert Series at Lime Kiln Arts in Lexington opens in the tent Sunday night at 8 with local rockers the Rainmakers. Tickets are $5. June 5: The Seldom Scene, in the Bowl. Call 463-3074.

MIX AND MATCH: The Shanghai String Quartet will open the Albemarle Chamber Music Festival on Wednesday night at Helms Theatre on the University of Virginia grounds in Charlottesville.

The festival runs through June 11. Artists include the Muir String Quartet on June 4, double bassist Mark Bernat, clarinetist David Niethamer, the Brentano String Quartet and members of the Monticello Trio on June 8 and 11.

Tickets for all four concerts are $55 for adults and $45 for students and senior citizens. Individual tickets are $15 and $12.50. Performances begin at 8:15 p.m. Call (804) 971-2074.

STEP RIGHT UP: The Great James H. Drew Exposition sprouts in the north parking lot of the Roanoke Civic Center on Tuesday through June 5. It offers 33 big rides, a carnival midway and lots of food and stuff. Admission and parking are free. A one-price, ride-all-day ticket costs $8.50, except Tuesday and Wednesday, when it's $6.50. Saturday, it should be noted, is divided into two ``dayparts,'' one from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the other from 5 to midnight.

The attraction is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from noon to 6.

by CNB