ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994                   TAG: 9501180022
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


FESTIVAL, PARADE OPEN CHRISTMAS IN SALEM

Salem's big weekend kicking off the Christmas season will be Dec. 2 and 3 with the annual Christmas parade and the Ye Olde Salem Christmas festival.

The parade will be Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. It will follow its usual route on East Main Street and College Avenue to the Boulevard.

The Olde Salem Christmas will be Dec. 3 from noon to 5:30 p.m. It will be held in downtown Salem, mostly at Library Square, Market Square and Longwood Park.

Among events scheduled are horse-drawn carriage rides, children's games and storytelling and entertainment by the Choral and Brass groups at Salem High School, the Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, dance troupes, folk musicians, church choirs and Santa Claus.

The festivities will end with a grand finale walk from Market Square to Longwood Park where massed choirs will sing Christmas carols around a yule log fire.

The event is sponsored by the Salem Merchants Association, Kiwanis Club of Salem, City of Salem, Salem Junior Woman's Club, Salem Times-Register and radio station WWWR.

Donation boxes will be set up at Library Square, Market Square and Longwood Park to receive cash, food, clothing and new toys to benefit the D.A.R.E. program in Salem.

Rain date for the event is Dec. 4.



 by CNB