“The most exhilarating and authentic show from Ireland in decades…” kicks off the ‘12 Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

The young and enormously talented lads & lasses of Celtic Crossroads made their Roanoke debut last year, and boy did they wow the audience!  This year they are back with their newly updated World Fusion Tour show which adds an additional dancer and new twists.  The show is presented by Jefferson Surgical Clinic and kicks off this year’s Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and is scheduled for Friday March 16, 2012 at 8:00pm at Jefferson Center’s beautiful Shaftman Hall Theater.  Tickets are on sale now, and make great Christmas gift ideas – see this web site for details.

Celtic Crossroads presents Irish music like never before, set to do to Irish music what Riverdance has done to Irish dance. With the recent release of their “World Fusion” DVD (in partnership with PBS) Celtic Crossroads is taking the US by storm! This is not a performance to be missed!

Celtic Crossroads © is critically acclaimed as ‘the most exhilarating and authentic show to come from Ireland in decades – not to be missed’. It is an explosion of youthful energy and dazzling musicianship. Celtic Crossroads abounds with fusions of traditional Irish music, bluegrass, gypsy and jazz whilst pulsating with the rhythms of exciting Irish dance percussion. Spontaneous mid show ovations are the norm, and enraptured Celtic Crossroads audiences are always compelled to shout, and SHOUT for more.

PLUS, as a special St. Patrick’s Day treat, the Virginia Highlands Pipe & Drum Band will perform to open the show. The Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drum Band, based in the Roanoke Valley, was formed in 1983 with just three pipers and one drummer. Their sound is as traditional as the MacFarlane tartan they proudly wear.

It’s all part of the 2012 Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, which of course includes the award winning McDonald’s St. Pat’s Parade, and the Roanoke Celtic Festival, featuring Roanoke’s legendary Celtic group Second Wynde, on Sat. March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day!).  So break out the green and get ready to “Get Lucky!”

BB&T’s Party in the Park closes another successful season

Each year EventZone and BB&T put together a wrap-up event to thank all of the non-profit partners, volunteers, sponsors and BB&T employees who help out throughout the summer.  BB&T’s Party in the Park takes place every Thursday in Elmwood Park, beginning in late May and ending in early September.  EventZone would like to take the time to recognize our non-profit partners, who provide volunteers at our summer concert series.   Feeding American Southwest Virginia, Virginia Amateur Sports, Roanoke Children’s Theater, Roanoke Area Ministries and Historical Society of Western Virginia were the five non-profits selected for the 2011 season.  Each week patrons who come out to enjoy the sounds of summer are helping these local non-profits raise money for their various organizations.  EventZone was able to donate over $10,000 total to these organizations this year!  Thank you to all of the non-profits, sponsors, volunteers and most importantly, the Party in the Parkers who came each week to hear their favorite bands!  We are looking forward to another successful season starting May 24, 2012!

If you are interested in applying for the 2012 Party in the Park season, you can visit our website at www.PITP.org and fill out the application.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact Sarah Stephenson at sarah@eventzone.org or by calling 540-342-2640×247.

Historical Society of Western Virginia

Roanoke Area Ministries

Roanoke Children's Theater

Feeding America Southwest Virginia

Virginia Amateur Sports

Who should be honored as the ‘12 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal?

A favorite Roanoke and regional tradition is just right around the corner!  The Roanoke St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, which includes the 23rd Annual McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Celtic Festival featuring Second Wynde, will take place Saturday, March 17th in downtown Roanoke. The festivities start at 10:00am, with the parade stepping off at 11:00am.  The McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The 23rd Annual McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will continue its long standing tradition of “honoring those who protect and serve,” by selecting someone to serve as the  parade’s Grand Marshal, who has dedicated their time and effort to serving the Roanoke community.  There are so many worthy candidates who are citizens in the Roanoke Valley working in public service positions to make this community a better place.  This year the St. Patrick’s Day committee is looking to the citizens of Roanoke to nominate a person to serve as the 2012 parade Grand Marshal.  In past years, the Grand Marshal has not been limited to just a male or female, in fact a service dog has had the honor!  The ideal candidate has gone above and beyond the call of duty in a standout example of dedication to the citizens of Roanoke.  Past year’s marshals include Brian Lawrence, retired Roanoke City Police officer; Captain Chris Brown’s family, representing the late Roanoke City Fire and EMS captain; St. Francis service dogs; and Henley Green, Roanoke City Fire and EMS.  McDonald’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has also had many Veterans, both active and retired, share this honor.  If you would like to nominate an individual please contact Amanda Gaylor via e-mail at Amanda@eventzone.org or by phone at (540)-342-2640X233.

March 17th is a day for the entire family to enjoy all that downtown Roanoke has to offer.  For a complete schedule of activities visit the event website at www.RoanokSaintPats.org.

Roanoke’s Elmwood Park – for 100 year it’s been a City park – now it’s getting a facelift!

Sister Hazel at '10 Festival in the Park

Jason Michael Carrol at '08 Festival in the Park

You may have heard about the City of Roanoke’s plans to provide much needed renovations to Elmwood Park.  We encourage you to share your vision of the future of Elmwood Park and get more details at the City of Roanoke’s web site. This historic urban park has such a rich and vibrant history and has played such an important part in the lives of so many Roanoker’s we thought it would be nice to share some interesting information and history.

In addition to being downtown Roanoke’s only major green space, Elmwood Park is currently the home for at least 17 annual events, and is utilized for these events an average of 54 days each year for these activities.  These festivals and events collectively attract over 120,000 people to downtown Roanoke each year.  They include Festival in the Park, Party in the Park,  Big Lick Blues Festival, Microfestivus, Henry Street Festival, Strawberry Festival, Blues Ridge Blues Festival, Movies in the Park, Pride in the Park, Latino Festival, Festival of India, Local Colors and many others of various sizes and types.

2011 Festival in the Park

So as you might imagine EventZone and other event organizers enthusiastically support renovations to the park that include updated and improved features and design.  But we also are thrilled that the direction this project is taking stresses keeping this space a multi use park with a vision for many types of gathers and uses.  The renovation of Elmwood Park can serve Roanoke on many levels and be the next big boost to downtown development.  It’ll generate greater activity, revenue for downtown businesses, the city and other organizations and continue to be a focal point for social gathers and recreation for downtown and the region – as it has for so many years.  It’s our hope that it will become an improved festival/concert venue as well with improved comfort features for the thousands that attend!

Let’s look a little closer at the park’s history while many are seriously considering it’s future.

BB&T's Party in the Park - crowded dance floor

Early History
In the early 19th century, the Tosh family owned 200 acres, which included the property that became Elmwood Park. In the mid-1830s, Jonathan Tosh built the house which contemporary Roanoker’s know as the Terry home, for the last family that owned the property. Thomas Tosh, the son of Jonathan, sold the property to John T.J. White in 1841, who in turn sold it to Col. William Madison Peyton in 1846.

"Elmwood" circa 1914. What will it look like in 2014?

Col. Peyton named the estate “Elmwood” and is credited with planting the elms and many other species including the Japanese magnolia, still alive and blooming today. The tree was a gift from Commodore Matthew C. Perry, who brought it from Japan around 1855. Sold to a Benjamin Dennis in 1858, then to Benjamin Tinsley later that year, the property was eventually purchased by Mr. Peyton Leftwich Terry. After the death of his widow in 1910, the city purchased what is now Elmwood Park for $150,000 in 1911. This fulfilled a long-standing goal of the Woman’s Civic Betterment Club (WCBC) which was given a few rooms in the Terry house. The WCBC is the same group that commissioned urban planner John Nolen’s Remodeling Roanoke, a plan which included recommendations to integrate the facilities for city government and services with beautiful public spaces. Elmwood Park is Roanoke’s third park. It is predated by Highland Park created in 1901 and Melrose Park of 1907.

A packed park for BB&T's Party in the Park - it happens every Thursday night May - Sept.

The Park Changes
In the 1920s and 1930s the Roanoke Valley Garden Club created rose beds with more that 100 varieties and planted trees and shrubbery. As of the mid-1970s, only a few boxwoods remained. The stone wall around the property and the iron gate gave way to street widening, and most of this early landscaping was lost. In those early days, as in the park upgrades of the early 1980s, garden clubs and individual citizens donated funds to purchase much of the parks trees and shrubs.

Accompanying the library addition of 1982, many changes came to Elmwood Park. The Mayor’s Monument was moved from its original location at Church and Fifth Streets to the corner of Elm and Williamson in the park. Erected in 1892 by P.L. Terry and F.J. Kimball, president of the Norfolk & Western, it was an “Industrial Monument to mark progress of the City of Roanoke.” It was cleaned and a new star pedestal added in 2008.

A “Breathing Space” for Roanokers
Since the park’s creation it has been a gathering place and a green space. In 1913 an editor for the World News wrote “People of Roanoke bought Elmwood for a park, a playground and a breathing space.” In the early decades tennis courts brought in crowds for tournaments, as did the bandstand for weekend concerts. There was even a pond with the requisite ducks. In the 1910s and 1920s there were numerous large gatherings, often celebrations with parades which culminated with speeches in the park attended by thousands of citizens. Open air concerts began again with Event Zone, in 2003, continuing the Easter Seals Summer Concert Series (renamed Party in the Park). And into the present the park is busy from late spring through fall with a variety of cultural events for all ages and interests including festivals, concerts, and film showings.

The Elmwood Park pond was located where the stage currently sits

Developing Urban Center Looks to Park’s Open Space
These events created strong support for maintaining the parks open spaces, in sharp contrast to the voices in support of development. Since its inception, its open spaces have invited development. In 1912 and 1913 there were proposals that the park be the site of a new municipal building and jail. In 1947, a report of City Council’s War Memorial Committee suggested making the park a war memorial. In 1953, the year the Academy of Music was razed, 1955 and again in 1961, it was suggested that an auditorium or arena be erected in the park. In the late 1970s there were proposals to move the library to the old post office building and establish a cultural center, including the Historical Society and art museum in Elmwood Park. The existing library was built in 1952, with an addition built in 1982. The old Terry house in the park, the city’s first public library, was torn down in 1964.

Over the years Letters to the Editor, and newspaper articles and editorials have debated the potential costs and benefits of maintaining the park in its current configuration, moving or keeping the library, and whether to create a cultural center and amphitheater. This is a debate which continues in one form or another to this day.

In the April 1985 dedication of the park makeover, Mayor Noel Taylor, who previously had been a member of the library advisory board, stated “Elmwood Park today is a tribute to the vision of the Roanoker’s who supported its purchase by the city in 1911.” The history of Elmwood Park in many ways reflects the inherent challenges Roanoker’s face as the city and its citizens balance shared values of pride of heritage with modernity while preserving green and open civic spaces in a busy urban center.

The ‘11 BB&T’s Party in the Park finale – Thurs. Sept. 15!

It’s the conclusion of Roanoke’s award winning Thursday night concert series – BB&T’s Party in the Park.  As we like to say, “It’s Where Your Friends Are on Thursday Nights.”  Gates open at 5:30pm, and music from 6:00 – 8:30pm.    Party in the Park features music you can dance to, and that’s exactly what you’ll get, plus lot’s of fun and you’ll likely meet up with friends you haven’t seen in a while too.  It’s all family friendly and a great way to transition into your weekend!

This Thursday, Sept. 15, it’s the season finale featuring one of the hottest new bands on the scene – Atlantic Groove.

Plus it’s School Employee Appreciation Night – so if you present your school ID at the gate, you’ll get in for FREE!

It’s our way of saying “thanks” for all you do for our children.

It’s really the most fun place to be in Roanoke on Thursday night!

See the BB&T Party in the Park web site for complete details.

And be certain to “Like” us on Facebook!

FREE Concert Finale – Wed. Aug. 24th. Barefoot West and Shorefire!

Wednesday nights in downtown Roanoke just got a lot more fun, thanks to Valley Bank’s Downtown LIVE.  It continues Wednesday night July 27th – in the Market Square of downtown.  It’s “Our Valley. Our Music” so we’ll be featuring some of the best music artists from the Roanoke Valley area – with all types of musical styles!.  Music starts at 6:00pm and continues until 8:30pm.  Admission is FREE.  Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Lawn chairs are welcome.
August 24 – Barefoot West & Shorefire

While you’re enjoying the music with your friends be sure to register at the Valley Bank booth because

Valley Bank
will Give Away

1- iPad2 ® and 2- iPhone4s®

Be certain to “Like” Valley Bank’s Downtown Live on Facebook!

Carol Cup Golf Tournament and BBQ Dinner- Aug. 27th

Come join us on  Saturday, August 27, 2011 as we celebrate the First Annual Carol Cup Golf Tournament and Fundraiser dinner at Roanoke Country Club!

About

CarolFest is a celebration of Carol William, a loving mother, wife, daughter and upstanding member of our community.  Carol had worked for Festival in the Park (now part of EventZone) for over 20 years and had served as the primary face behind the scene of Downtown Roanoke’s events for two decades.  Last November, Carol suffered a severe stoke which has left her with paralysis on her right side and unable to speak.  Supporters and friends of Carol decided to honor her by coordinating an event in her name, and at the same time, hope to raise money to help offset Carol’s growing health care expenses.

Carol Cup Golf Tournament and BBQ Dinner on the lawn

The Carol Cup Golf Tournament and BBQ dinner  will take place on Saturday, August 27th Roanoke Country Club.  The day will feature a Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament followed by a BBQ dinner on the lawn featuring a silent auction , dancing, a cash bar and live music by The Sessions Band on the clubhouse lawn.  All funds raised by CarolFest will go towards Carol’s health care expenses.  Schedule of Events are:

12pm: Boxed Lunch served at the Roanoke Country Club Clubhouse
1pm:  Golf Tournament Shotgun Start
5:30pm: Fundraiser BBQ Dinner & Party

To purchase tickets to the dinner and/ or sign up for golf please click here.

If you are interested in sponsorship please click here!

For more information visit www.CarolFest.org or contact EventZone at CarolFestRoanoke@gmail.com.

You can also call EventZone at 540.342.2640

Getdown Downtown Specials each week after PITP and Downtown Live!

After Party in the Park is over you don’t have to go home . Head downtown Roanoke and take advantage of wonderful food specials at these participating restaurants each week.  Don’t forget these specials are available after Downtown Live too!  The specials for this week are:

• 202 Marketplace is offering half off all appetizers
• Awful Arthurs is serving up buy one pound of peel and eat shrimp, get one free! All for just $8.99!
• Blues BBQ enjoy at taste of the south with pit ham, hand cut boardwalk fries and a drink for only $8.99!
• Corned Beef & Co. Take advantage of two pounds of boneless wings for the price of one or enjoy $7 pepperoni or cheese  pizza.
• Martins’s Downtown has 2 Can Dine for $19.99: 2 Entrees from Martin’s Pasta Bar with a Salad and a Bottle of Wine for $12.99 from 4pm – 11pm.
• The Quarter is offering a special that includes the soup of the day, Cream of mushroom and wild rice, seared tuna with cucumber and ginger salad with house made Teriyaki sauce with Wasabi and pickled ginger. Desert? Indulge in homemade chocolate and peanut butter cheesecake with an Oreo crust!

DELBERT McClinton headlines SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival – Sat. Oct.1

Delbert McClinton

It’s Roanoke’s award winning “Sizzlin’ Hot Blues & Smokin’ Ribs Festival” – the SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival.  Make plans now for Sat. Oct. 1, 2012 in Elmwood Park, downtown Roanoke VA.  This year we’re planning to bring you some killer music and killer food.  Starting with the return of 3x Grammy winner Delbert McClinton and his band Dick 50.  Delbert was a huge hit at the festival in 2009, plus we know he had a great time too, as his folks called us to request coming back!  Also on the bill is Bernard Allison, son of the legendary bluesman Luther Allison.  Bernard spends most of his touring in Europe but this fall he has scheduled a few U.S. shows – including the SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival – we are thrilled!  And more including Roanoke’s own The Fat Daddy Band and and the yet to be determined winning act from the upcoming Blue Ridge Blue’s Society’s competition.  By the way that competition takes place at the Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Fest scheduled for Sat. July 16 here in Roanoke as well (headlined by Tommy Castro).

Don’t forget the SunTrust Big Lick Blues also features finger lickin’ eats as well – with a emphasis on ribs.  Each year local restaurants serve up delicious food and we have plenty of cold beverages as well. This fine combination of world class blues artists, and world class eats makes the SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival one of the region’s “must attend” festivals each year.

Advance discount tickets are available now online. Make plans now!

Bernard Allison

See the SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival web site for complete details.

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