ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608160028
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: The Tipoff
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES
AND PROUD OF IT: Cooperation among citizens, businesses, nonprofits and governments recently earned Roanoke its fifth All America City Award, and to show how proud it is of itself, it's giving itself an All America City Celebration Saturday on the Roanoke City Market. The opening ceremony and presentations will be at 7 p.m. Entertainment throughout the free event, which ends at midnight, will include shag and country line dancing, clowns, face painting, story telling, cake, ice cream and fireworks. Call 981-2333 or 342-2028.
MARKET MUSIC: Downtown Vinton's Farmers Market will reverberate with the music of the Vinton Old-Time Bluegrass Festival and Competition from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, today through Sunday. There is no admission charge for the annual event, which also will include kiddie rides and games, a crafts alley, a Christian magic show, gospel concerts and more food than you can shake a fork at. Call 345-8548.
BALL CALL: BALL stands for Be Active Live Longer. Have a BALL at the Mall's sponsors hope to inspire those actions with their upbeat healthy-lifestyles promotion 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday at Valley View Mall. The event, aimed at Roanoke's 30,000-plus citizens over age 50, will include walking competitions, mini golf, music and entertainment, dance and product demonstrations, discounts and a Ms. Virginia Senior Citizen pageant preview. The sponsors are Roanoke City Parks and Recreation, Ms. Virginia Senior Citizen Pageant, Valley View Mall and WFIR radio. Admission is free. Call 981-1198.
REGGAE RHYTHMS: Reggae, rap, hip-hop, four D.J. Sound Systems and $100-award dance contests will keep temperatures rising during the Mid-Summer Reggae Jam 96, 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Local artists and performers from Virginia Beach and Atlanta, Ga., will be featured. Admission is $10.50 in advance; $12.50 at the door. Call 982-8608 or 344-7936.
AUTHORGRAPHS: John Hildebrand will sign copies of his "A Mennonite Journal, 1862-1865: A Father's Account of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley" Thursday 4-6 p.m. at the Salem Museum. Said to be of special interest to Civil War buffs are Hildebrand's accounts - as seen through his great-grandfather's eyes - of Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign, the 1864 raids by Hunter and Sheridan, the Battle of Piedmont and the death of General W.E. "Grumble" Jones. Call 389-6760.
MEMBERIES: Free tiger posters will be given to people who purchase memberships in Mill Mountain Zoo during its membership drive tonight 6-9 p.m. Caricatures, ice cream sundaes and other surprises will help make up the fun-filled family evening at the zoo. Admission is free for members and children under age 2; $2.75 - $4 for others. Call 343-3241.
LAST CALLS Rock alternative band Big Guy will make the music for the season's final Main Street Mania celebration 5-9 p.m. tonight at the Bedford Farmer's Market. It's free. Call 586-2148.
This also is the final weekend of the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon. Events will include a wine tasting spotlighting Virginia wines, a children's flea market and dog show, a street dance, plus the ongoing antiques market and arts and crafts show. For schedule and cost specifics, call 623-5266 or (800) 435-3440.
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