What Time is It?? It's Microfestivus Time!!!

Here we are again, dog days of summer. Some like it hot, but no one can stay in this heat for too long without some kind of relief. So what can you do about it??

The Square Society is hosting their annual mega-party Microfestivus and has you all hooked up this Saturday to take your mind off the high temps. Beer to the rescue!! Here's what it's about, as posted on their Facebook event page:

"The Square Society will host the 13th annual MicroFestivus, a micro and craft beer festival. There will be a selection of over 50 beers from 20 micro and craft breweries from the Mid-Atlantic region. MicroFestivus takes take place at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke on August 14 between 12pm and 6pm. Beer tastings are in 4 oz. and 8 oz. sizes. And of course you have to be at least 21 with a valid ID to have attended.

For our VIP patrons again this year Flanary's will be providing food including Reubens, Meatballs, Fish and Chips, among other tasty bites! BE SURE TO ORDER YOUR VIP TICKET ON LINE....VIP tickets are limited and will sell out. Order on line early to not miss out!

Jordan Harmon and Pop Rivets are the music for this year's Microfest!"

In other words, BEER, BEER, BEER, MUSIC, BEER, FOOD, BEER... (Did I mention, there's gonna be beer?)

So please come and join The Square Society for this day-long event. Get your tickets online at a discount, or at regular price on the day of the event at Elmwood Park. Find out more about joining The Square Society by visiting them on the web. This is Roanoke's ultimate Young (and Young-at-Heart) Professionals organization creating the cheeriest atmosphere at all their events, which to date has raised tens of thousands of dollars for The Center in the Square in Downtown Roanoke.

If you are interested in volunteering at this year's Microfestivus, sign up to be on the official beer-pouring crew for one shift. That gets you in FREE and you also can have four free beer tastings, plus a T-Shirt! Go to this link to sign up: VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP. (Other volunteer tasks are still available, too. Just sign up for a quick little shift, and be 21 or older.)

For more info on Microfestivus, check out the website. The complete schedule is posted there for brewers, bands, and food. And don't forget to buy your tickets while you're at it...

See you around Downtown (in Elmwood Park!!) CHEERS!!!

Festival in the Park - Memorial Day Weekend

First, Happy Memorial Day to you all!! Thank you U.S. Veterans everywhere - and you are everywhere on this planet keeping us safe here at home. Thank you for your past and present sacrifices, which are heroic and successful efforts - always!

This weekend in Roanoke, EventZone is bringing us its 40th Festival in the Park to celebrate Memorial Day with a BANG!! We have been so fortunate not to have the rain that was expected the whole weekend, and the festivities are continuing without being rained out. (Hopefully, we'll be spared today too!)

The good people at EventZone graciously allowed me at Star City FAME and Hans Moore of AhhaPictures to run around Elmwood Park and film some of Saturday night's highlights of the festival. Many thanks to Debbie McClure and Larry Landolt, VP and Executive Director respectively on the EventZone Board of Directors, for giving us permission to run footage. We will be presenting the video here and on YouTube as fast as we can edit it... so stay tuned for that!!

ALSO - EventZone is always looking for volunteers to help with their many events and festivals throughout the calendar year. The people of Roanoke have so many opportunities to be of service to our wonderful city. By assisting with EventZone functions, they are strengthening Roanoke's desirable offerings to visitors and area dwellers alike. Plus, it is hands-down the most fun you can have while volunteering!!

So far, this weekend has brought us acts from around the nation and locally. Beginning on Thursday, May 21st, Cox and Q99 sponsored 12 O'Clock Knob, the Jordan Harmon Band, and tribute band Bruce in the USA. WDBJ7 and Star Country presented Grant Randolph and the Allstar Band, Jamie O'Neal, and Jason Michael Carroll on Friday. Saturday's show, which Hans and I attended and shot video (for all you folks!!), featured Blues Agents, Az Izz, and Dickey Betts and Great Southern, sponsored by Bud Light and WROV.

Last evening, I volunteered at the stage for a super terrific show, sponsored by radio station Star Country 94.9FM. It was "Unplugged" and very personal! Trent Tomlinson opened the show, followed by the fabulous Heidi Newfield, and closed with Jimmy Wayne.

(Trent Tomlinson - Image courtesy Katiedid at wikipedia.org)(Heidi Newfield - Image by Brian Tipton, courtesy comt.com)(Jimmy Wayne - Image by Brian Tipton, courtesy cmt.com)

Roanoke is always pleased to be visited by wonderful artists - and I'd like to thank them all for bringing their tour through our fine Valley, as we are particularly supportive of the Arts here in Roanoke.

Tonight, to close the Festival's Memorial Day weekend shows, Kroger, Oakey's, and Q99 will sponsor local studio (and now performing) act Aamen, Anders and Brown, and 1964: The Tribute. Hope you can make it to the Park!!

... see you around Roanoke!!