We went through the city, downtown, venue and neighborhood calendars so you didn't have to. Plans change, so you should please check with the venue before you head out.

If you want regular weekly events, like city council meetings, important weather and emergency alerts, then see our recurring Happenings.

Have a Happening? Want your business to sponsor a newsletter? Email editor@roanokerambler.com with "Happening" in the subject line.

Featured Picks

• Harlem Reflections: Gainsboro Renaissance Speakeasy Lounge. Sat., Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., Harrison Museum of African American Culture, inside Melrose Plaza, 2502 Melrose Ave. NW. The night opens the museum's three-part Harlem Renaissance Event Series, which the museum calls "a living tapestry" of the era's history, art, music, poetry and food. It links Harlem's famous social clubs to the Renaissance that grew in Roanoke's own Gainsboro neighborhood.
  • Includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music and a cash bar. Tickets are $25.
  • Two more nights follow. The Cotton Club Cabaret, with the band sounds of Cab Calloway, is Sat., Nov. 14, at 5:30 p.m. ($35). Flapper dresses and zoot suits are encouraged. Harlem Holiday Blues, featuring the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, is Sat., Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. ($45). That night includes dinner, and the dress is semi-formal holiday attire.
  • An all-access pass for all three nights is $75.
  • Buy tickets in person, at harrisonmuseum.com or by calling 540-857-4395. Sponsors are the Roanoke Arts Commission and Bank of Botetourt. (Harrison Museum of African American Culture event flyer)
• Kiwanis Open House. Tue., Oct. 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Virginian Station, 1402 Jefferson St. SE (address via Roanoke Chapter NRHS). Kiwanis members host an evening for neighbors who want to learn what the service club does and how to get involved. It's in the restored passenger station of the old Virginian Railway. (Event organizers)
• Grandin ChillageFest. Sat., Oct. 24, 4 to 10 p.m., on Grandin Road between Memorial and Westover avenues. This is the season's big finale. Jstop Latin Soul plays at 4 p.m., mixing Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz and soul, and Lazy Man Dub Band closes with roots reggae at 7 p.m. (Roanoke Co+op; Historic Grandin Village). The block is closed to cars all day (City of Roanoke).
• Old Southwest Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival. Sat., Oct. 24. The festival starts around 5 p.m. on the Alexander-Gish House lawn, with vendors, food trucks, music and a costume contest. At dark, around 7:30 p.m., the parade moves along Joel Richert Way through Highland Park. It ends with a giant shadow-puppet improv show. The Latinas Network is building a Día de los Muertos altar, and visitors are invited to bring photos of loved ones, people and pets alike (Old Southwest Inc.).
• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Play Grateful Dead "Acoustic Reckoning." Thu., Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m., Berglund Performing Arts Theatre. The Grammy-winning folk duo marks the 45th anniversary of the Dead's acoustic live album "Reckoning" with full sets drawn from it (Berglund Center; SeatGeek).
• Roanoke Ballet Theatre: "Dracula." Sat., Oct. 24, at 2 and 7 p.m., Shaftman Performance Hall, Jefferson Center. This is a contemporary dance version of Bram Stoker's novel, and Roanoker Magazine has named it a top arts performance three years running. Seats are scarce, so call the box office at 540-345-2550 (Jefferson Center).

Wednesday, Oct. 21

• Sesame Street Live! "Elmo's Got the Moves." 6 p.m., Berglund Performing Arts Theatre, 710 Williamson Road. Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and friends lead a dance-along show. Photo-op tickets are sold separately (Berglund Center; Consequence Live).
• Dinner and Movie. 5 to 7 p.m., Melrose Library. A free community dinner and a family film. Dinner is first come, first served (City of Roanoke).
• Mill Mountain Theatre presents "Curious George." 5 to 6 p.m., Williamson Road Library Teen Center. It's part of the theater's touring "Curious George: The Golden Meatball," which runs through Nov. 1 (City of Roanoke; Mill Mountain Theatre).
• Halloween Scavenger Hunt. All day, Raleigh Court Library. Find the ghost hidden in the stacks to win a prize (City of Roanoke).

Thursday, Oct. 22

• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. 7:30 p.m., Berglund Performing Arts Theatre. See Featured Picks (Berglund Center).
• Amy Speace with Jesse Lynn Madera. Doors 7 p.m., show 7:30 p.m., The Spot on Kirk, 22 Kirk Ave. SW. Judy Collins discovered this folk singer-songwriter. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door (The Spot on Kirk).
• "Jim Crow & Southern Libraries: The Story of the Gainsboro Branch Library." 6 to 7 p.m., Gainsboro Library. Branch manager Megan Mizak tells the history of the branch, which opened in 1921 as Virginia's second library for African Americans. It's a good warm-up for Saturday's Harlem Renaissance night (City of Roanoke).
• Teen Movie Night. 5 to 6 p.m., Melrose Library (City of Roanoke).

Friday, Oct. 23

• Movies in the Market: "Hocus Pocus." Kids' activities start at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk, in Market Square. Free. Wear a costume, bring a chair or blanket, and enter to win a family four-pack to next Friday's Hocus Pocus Taste-A-Long (Downtown Roanoke Inc.). Market Street SW is closed between Campbell and Kirk (City of Roanoke).
• Terror Manors Haunted House, 8th season. Fri. and Sat. evenings, 805 Norfolk Ave. SW (City of Roanoke).
• Morning Muse: Modernism in "American Made." 8 to 9 a.m., Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Ave. SE. General admission is always free (Taubman Museum of Art).
• Bingo @ Main. 11 a.m., Main Library, with gift card prizes (City of Roanoke).

Saturday, Oct. 24

• Spooky Sprint 5K. Costume check-in 8:30 a.m., race at 9 a.m., River's Edge North Park, 210 Reserve Ave. SW, a new location this year. It benefits West End Center for Youth. There are costume prizes, including one for pets, and post-race brews for runners 21 and up. $45 for adults, $20 for kids ages 2 to 10. It runs rain or shine (West End Center for Youth; Findarace).
• Roanoke Ballet Theatre: "Dracula." 2 and 7 p.m., Jefferson Center (Jefferson Center).
• Grandin ChillageFest. 4 to 10 p.m., Grandin Road (Roanoke Co+op).
• Harlem Reflections speakeasy. 5:30 p.m., Harrison Museum of African American Culture. $25 (Harrison Museum event flyer).
• Old Southwest Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival. About 5 p.m. at the Alexander-Gish House. The parade starts around 7:30 p.m. (Old Southwest Inc.).
• Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Athens Rock Lobsters: Howl-O-Ween. Gates 6 p.m., puck drop 7:05 p.m., Berglund Center. It's Bring Your Dawg night. Leashed dogs sit in dog-friendly sections and don't need a ticket. Parking is $10 while it lasts, and a free shuttle runs from Elmwood Park Garage starting at 5 p.m. (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs).
• Dent May with Nicole Yun. Doors 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m., The Spot on Kirk. Bright, bittersweet indie pop. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door (The Spot on Kirk; BaseLocal).
• Grandin Village Farmers Market Harvest Fest. 8 a.m. to noon. Apple pressing, kids' activities and apple pie (Historic Grandin Village).
• Creepy Cottage Class. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Taubman Museum of Art (Taubman Museum of Art).
• Pumpkin Painting. 2 to 3 p.m., Raleigh Court Library (City of Roanoke).

Sunday, Oct. 25

• Center in the Square Chili Cook-Off. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Market Square Plaza and Market Street SE between Campbell and Kirk. Local cooks compete, and you get to taste (City of Roanoke).
• Brad Williams: The Tall Tales Tour. 7 p.m., Berglund Performing Arts Theatre. The comedian, known for jokes about his own life, says he skips politics. Tickets start around $39 (WDBJ7).
• Harvest Festival. All day, 21st Street NW between Kessler and Eastgate. Trunk-or-treat, inflatables, games and face painting (City of Roanoke).

Monday, Oct. 26

• Kids' and Teens' Costume Swap. All day, Gainsboro Library. Pick out a free costume, or drop off clean ones at any branch (City of Roanoke).
• City Storytime: Emergency Services. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Belmont Library. Fire-EMS readers share a story and teach home safety (City of Roanoke).
• Mill Mountain Theatre presents "Curious George." 6 to 7 p.m., Main Library Children's Mezzanine (City of Roanoke).

Tuesday, Oct. 27

• Kiwanis Open House. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Virginian Station. See Featured Picks (event organizers).
• Spooky Teen Night. 4 to 8 p.m., Raleigh Court Library. Food, drinks and games for teens (City of Roanoke).
• Legal Aid Consultations. 1 to 4 p.m., Main Library. Walk-in eligibility help, with free consultations for people who qualify (City of Roanoke).
• Melrose Game Night. 5 to 6 p.m., Melrose Library. Board games, card games and free food (City of Roanoke).

Wednesday, Oct. 28

• "Dinner and Moooooooovie." 5 to 7 p.m., Melrose Library. A family-friendly scary movie and dinner for Halloween week (City of Roanoke).
• Teen Movie Night: "Scooby-Doo." 5 to 7 p.m., Williamson Road Library, for ages 12 to 18 (City of Roanoke).
• Teen Alternative Crafting Club: Halloween Zines. 4 to 5 p.m., Gainsboro Library (City of Roanoke).

Thursday, Oct. 29

• Fortunes Told & Made: A Halloween Happening. 7 to 9 p.m., Taubman Museum of Art. The Modern Dance Ensemble performs in the Black Box Theater, and the bar pairs wines with nostalgic Halloween candy. Costumes encouraged. Registration required. $15, or $10 for members (Taubman Museum of Art).
• Downtown Roanoke Ghost Tour. 7 p.m., starting at Olde Salem Brewing Company (Downtown Roanoke Inc.).
• Virginia Y. Lee's Harlem Renaissance Book Club. 6 to 7 p.m., Gainsboro Library. The group reads selections from the NAACP's magazine, The Crisis (City of Roanoke).
• Movie Night: "Monster House." 6 to 7:30 p.m., Raleigh Court Library, with a catered dinner (City of Roanoke).

Friday, Oct. 30

• Hocus Pocus: The Taste-A-Long Experience. 7 p.m., Berglund Performing Arts Theatre. Every ticket comes with a numbered candy box. You open each treat when a prompt appears at key moments in the film. The candy contains gluten, milk, peanuts and gelatin (WDBJ7; Berglund Center).
• Spooky Tours at the Taubman. 1, 5 and 7 p.m., Taubman Museum of Art (Taubman Museum of Art).
• Terror Manors Haunted House. Opens again Friday and Saturday, 805 Norfolk Ave. SW (City of Roanoke).
• National Popcorn Month. 10 a.m., Main Library. Free popcorn while it lasts (City of Roanoke).

Getting Around

Overnight paving continues downtown on parts of Salem, Campbell, Kirk and Church avenues and 1st, 2nd and 3rd streets. Watch for posted no-parking signs before you park for an evening show (City of Roanoke). Festivals will also close these streets:

• Grandin Road SW, on Saturday
• Market Street SW, on Friday
• Luck Avenue SW, for Straight Street Youth Night on Oct. 23–24 and 30–31
• Norfolk Avenue SW, for Terror Manors

The city lists these closures on its road closures calendar.

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