ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: FRIDAY, October 27, 1995                   TAG: 9510270041
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

FERRUM FEST: After a period of confusion about the correct date of this popular gathering, the 22nd annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival will in fact get underway this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ferrum College. The ``largest celebration of authentic folkways in Virginia'' will be even larger this year, thanks to the addition of a storytelling stage featuring authentic traditional raconteurs from Scotland, Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina. Plus, as always, there'll be lots of music and crafts demonstrations including sawmilling, mill stone facing, slingshot making, distilling and water dowsing. There'll be draft animals and coon dog competitions; vintage vehicles; quilts; fun and games for the kids; and plenty of old-time Blue Ridge foods, prepared right on site. Call 363-4416.

BEAUTIES AND BEASTS: Models, outfitted by E.I. Randle and accompanied by their own or prospective adoptive pets, will from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday trod a runway at the Airport Marriott hotel to help raise funds for the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The black tie-optional event will include a buffet dinner and musical entertainment. A silent auction will offer bidding on a Hilton Head vacation, a golf holiday, and dinner at The Library Restaurant. The donation is $25 per person. Call Liz Erwin at 343-4972.

PARTY ANIMALS: Mill Mountain Zoo's annual ZooBoo Halloween party will be held at the zoo on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Dress up as your favorite animal and join in the costume parade, scavenger hunt, pinata breaking and pizza munching. Regular zoo admission costs apply. Call 343-3241.

HIT THE HAY: Roanoke City Parks and Recreation will throw a ``Halloween Hayride'' party at Wasena Park Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. Bring your own pumpkin for carving on a first-come, first-served basis, or participate in face painting, storytelling and bonfire activities. Admission is free, but hayrides will cost $1 for people 12 years or younger; $2 for all others. Call 981-2236.

MOPHEAD MEMORIES: 1964, a Beatles tribute band, is said to bear a chillingly uncanny resemblance to yesteryear's Fab Four. At 8 p.m. Saturday in Radford University's Dedmon Center, the musicians will attempt to shiver their audience's spines as they recreate the best of the British superstars, from their mophead haircuts, Beetle boots and Vox amplifiers to their distinctive mannerisms and unique harmonies. Tickets are $3 for Radford students, $6 for the general public. Call 831-5420.

SUNDAY SONNETS: Read from your own works or listen to other poets perform theirs Sunday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Brody Room of the Roanoke City Main Library. The free event is hosted by the American Association of University Women; National League of American Pen Women; The Writers' Club of Virginia; and The Poetry Society of Virginia.

COLONIAL COUTURE: A Colonial fashion show on Wednesday will conclude the first of two evenings celebrating All Saints Day, hosted by Virginia's Explore Park and the Town of Vinton. Wednesday's activities, beginning at 6:30 p.m., also will include a reception and historical reading followed by a workshop on the subject of 18th Century society with emphasis on clothing and cloth. Thursday's events, starting at 7 p.m., will feature a Colonial ball, including lessons in 18th century dance. Both events will be at the Vinton War Memorial. Tickets are $10 per person for one event; $15 per person for both evenings. Space is limited. To register, call Kristin Waters at 427-1800.

GREEK GETAWAY: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church's popular Greek festival will be held at the church on Sunday, Nov. 5 from noon to 7 p.m. A traditional Greek dinner, Greek dancing and guided tours of Roanoke Valley's only Greek Orthodox Church will be included in the $12.50 per ticket package. Advance purchase is required. Call the church office at 362-3601, or to place a bake sale order, call 774-3351 or 389-5016.

GET INTO GEARS: Building a programmable robot, complete with motor, electronic control and sound sensors, will introduce kids 8 years and older and their parents to the basics of robotics during a robotics workshop at the Science Museum of Western Virginia from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4. Preregistration is required. The fee - $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers - includes materials. Call 342-5727. 


 by CNB