ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240019
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: the tipoff
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
FESTIVAL FUN: Roanoke's Festival in the Park kicks into full gear today, with more food and fanfare than we can fit in this space, but there is a list of events in The Calendar today on page 3, as well as schedules and maps gor the entire festival in Thursday's Extra section. The festival, which will fill sprawling Elmwood Park, continues through June 2. Call 342-2640 for more information.
ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS: Alpacas will be shorn Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Heart O' Gold Alpaca Ranch, Rustburg. An expert shearer will demonstrate various methods of dehairing these cousins of llamas. Fleece and yarn - which usually don't irritate wool-sensitive skin - will be sold. Take U.S. 460 East to Lynchburg, then U.S. 29 South; four miles, then left onto Virginia 685; two miles, then left onto Virginia 24; go about one mile to driveway on left. Call (804) 332-6667.
The New River Valley Horse Show will be held today and Saturday at the New River Valley Fairgrounds. Admission is $5; $2 for children. Call 674-1548.
The Great American Petting Zoo, said to be one of the largest in the nation, will bring its 30-some beasties to Wade's Supermarket in Dublin today and on Saturday to Wade's Christiansburg location. The zoo's friendly, hand-raised animals include a llama, deer fawns, miniature horse, goats, pot-bellied pigs, assorted fowl and more. Daily hours are noon-7 p.m. Admission is free with any purchase at the participating stores.
FOURTH FRIDAY: The Rhythm Doctors and The Kings will perform 5-9 tonight at the Salem Farmers' Market, with the $2 admission benefiting the Salem Rescue Squad. People under 12 get in free. Call 375-3057.
RADFORD GRAD: Christiansburg native Harry Lester, now Atlanta-based and moving along nicely with his music career, will perform tonight at the Third Street Coffeehouse. The singer and songwriter, who has been favorably compared to John Denver and Harry and Tom Chapin, recently completed his second album, "No U Turn." The coffeehouse, on the lower level of Trinity Methodist Church, Third Street and Mountain Avenue in Southwest Roanoke, will have open mike 7:30-8:45 p.m. Call 774-5342.
CURTAIN CALL: The Bedford Little Town Players will conclude its 20th anniversary season with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein classic ``South Pacific.'' Performances will be tonight and Saturday at 8; Sunday at 2 p.m.; June 1 at 8 p.m. and June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Elks National Home Theatre, Bedford. Admission costs $8 for reserved seats. Call 586-5881.
TREE TRACKING: The 10th annual Genealogy Workshop Saturday at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Newbern will include guest speakers, local history books, pamphlets, maps, help with DAR forms and other things related to tracing your family tree. The miniseminars will be held between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Admission costs $12.50. Call 674-4835.
FAMILY FUN: The Great James H. Drew Exposition, one of America's major traveling family-oriented carnivals, will set up camp Tuesday-June 2 in the north parking lot of the Roanoke Civic Center. The new custom-built "Chainsaw," debuting right here in Roanoke, promises to take thrill seekers on a ride they'll long remember. Admission costs $2; unlimited rides, $7.50 per day. Proceeds help underwrite activities of the Roanoke Special Events Committee.
``The Baker, the Bear and the Blacksmith,'' a humorous Appalachian and European hybrid tale about a man named Simon, whose wits serve him from boyhood through old age, will be presented at the Family Folktale Festival Theater at Lime Kiln, Lexington. Performances will be Tuesday-June 1 at 8 p.m.; and June 2 at 2 and 8 p.m. Admission costs $7 for adults; $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Call 463-3074.
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