ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608160063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
Roanoke is throwing a big party downtown Saturday evening to celebrate its fifth All-America City Award. But the party may cause a few traffic headaches.
Part of Campbell Avenue will be blocked for most of the day, and parking will be prohibited in the Market area after 5p.m.
The celebration begins at 7 p.m. from a large stage in front of the Market Building. The half-hour award ceremony will feature a replay of the 10-minute presentation the city gave during the Fort Worth, Texas, All-America City Awards conference in June, plus music from the choir of First Baptist Church in Gainsboro.
Family country line dancing follows, along with shag dancing at the E. Laban Johnson Amphitheater in Elmwood Park, children's activities such as face painting and storytelling at Crestar Plaza, and visits by Miss Virginia and Miss Roanoke Valley.
A celebration cake prepared by the Roanoke school system will be served at Fire Station No.1 on Church Avenue.
Country-and-western bands Cimarron and Wildwood will play from a stage on Campbell Avenue. And at 9:30, the the city will hold a fireworks display from the Williamson Road parking garage.
The event also will feature giveaways: All-America City beach balls, key chains, stickers and flying discs.
Almost all of the event's cost is being picked up by Roanoke-based businesses.
Here are the traffic changes:
* Campbell Avenue between Jefferson Street and Williamson Road will be reduced to one lane from 11 a.m. to 6p.m.
* After 6, Campbell, Wall Street and Market Street will be closed to traffic in the Market area.
* Parking will be prohibited on the streets around Market Square after 5p.m.
* Williamson Road between Church and Elm avenues will be closed to traffic from 9:30 to 10 p.m. while fireworks are set off from the top of the Williamson Road parking garage.
Parking will be free in the First Union Tower garage, which may be reached from southbound Williamson Road and northbound Jefferson Street.
Mill Mountain Theatre patrons will be allowed access to the Center in the Square parking garage.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Map by Robert Lunsford.by CNB