About the 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival

On the heels of last year’s inaugural Roanoke Arts Festival, the second annual Roanoke Arts Festival, re-timed this year to help celebrate the opening of the new Taubman Museum of Art, will be held Nov. 8-9 with free and ticketed performances and visual arts that are sure to appeal to a wide range of regional audiences and visitors alike.

With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a stunning backdrop, the Roanoke Arts Festival will feature more than a dozen events and exhibits at venues across the city. From an evening with Crystal Gayle to a free rock concert, bluegrass workshop, theater performances, culinary arts and puppets and classical music, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

See the complete calendar of events.

The concept of a city arts festival can be said to have originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s. The Edinburgh International Festival is likely the best example of a successful contemporary city arts festival. Today, renowned city arts festivals include the Spoleto Festival USA of Charleston, S.C., and the Virginia Arts Festival in the Norfolk area.

Now in its second year — and a third one being planned — Roanoke may one day be added to that illustrious list.

See a video of last year's inaugural Roanoke Arts Festival.

Calendar of Events

Saturday, November 8

"FiddleFest Lite," a day of Bluegrass with teaching workshops and jam sessions followed by a concert by acclaimed Bluegrass performers.

"Day of Music." A free rock concert with the "Magic Twig Community" and a number of other popular regional bands.

"Doubt." The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play presented by the theatre departments of Hollins University and Virginia Tech.

The James Piano Quartet.

A concert at Blue 5 with great guest artists.

Downtown art gallery tours.

Sunday, November 9

"An Exposition of the Culinary Arts" at the new Culinary Institute of Western Virginia.

Staged readings from the works of venerated authors Nelson Bond and Jack Kestner presented with the Roanoke City Library.

World premiere of "Bull - A Puppet Musical" by The Thistledown Puppets.

A special film presentation by the Grandin Theatre.

A second performance of "Doubt."

Crystal Gayle concert at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, with the exciting new Nashville duo of Sam & Ruby as her opening act.

Ongoing exhibitions at area museums and public art, including:

White Liquor, Blue Ridge Style at the History Museum of Western Virginia.

Transportation Art: Photorealism From the Collection of James W. Hyams at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

A photography exhibition at the O. Winston Link Museum.

Public art on view at different locations in the City with the Roanoke Arts Commission

The James W. Hyams Collection on view in Old Southwest (portions of this collection have been on loan to more than eight museums).