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You’ll find lots of fun special events, festivals, and things to do this May in the Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge!
The calendar is packed with great activities this month, including exciting live sporting events, outdoor concerts, family-friendly festivals, theater performances, and more.
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1. Mountain East Women’s Softball Conference Championship | May 1-4
Botetourt Sports Complex
Check out the teams from the Mountain East Conference as they compete at the Botetourt Sports Complex for this year’s women’s softball conference championship.
2. Dearly Beloved | May 2-12
Attic Productions
This fast-paced Southern-Fried comedy about a wedding gone horribly wrong will have you rolling in the aisles. With Miss Geneva as wedding planner, Frankie, the mother of the bride, is planning the antebellum wedding of the century along with her sisters Twink and Honey Rae.
3. Community School Strawberry Festival | May 3-4
Elmwood Park
One of the premier family festivals of the spring season in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the Strawberry Festival returns for its 44th year, serving as an event that benefits the Community School. There will be local artisans and vendors, live entertainment, and, of course, lots of delicious strawberry dishes, including the popular homemade Strawberry Shortcake.
4. Ernest “Pig” Robertson Fishing Rodeo | Through May 4
Lake Spring Park
Kids ages 12 and under are invited to take part in the 72nd annual Ernest “Pig” Robertson Fishing Rodeo at Lake Spring Park in the City of Salem. Children are invited to catch up to six trout and prizes will be awarded for top catches.
5. ODAC Women’s Softball Conference Championship | May 4-6
Botetourt Sports Complex
The Old Dominion Athletic Conference will host its 2024 Women's Softball Championship at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Botetourt County in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
6. Taco ‘Ritas | May 5
Berglund Center
Head to the Berglund Center for the Taco 'Ritas celebration on Cinco de Mayo weekend. The festival will feature live Latin music, salsa dancing, taco & chili pepper eating contests, tacos and authentic fare from local restaurants, and margaritas.
7. Broadway in Roanoke: The Book of Mormon | May 9
Berglund Center
The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it "Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal." It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award®-winning Best Musical.
8. Radium Girls | May 9-19
Showtimers Community Theatre
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court.
9. Eagle Rock Science Festival | May 11
Blue Ridge Vineyard
Blue Ridge Vineyard in Botetourt County will host a community family-focused day of science fun with a special Science Fair that will include various hands-on STEM and health activities, as well as an inflatable ax-throwing event, nature walks, and food trucks.
10. The Crooked Road BBQ Competition | May 11
Blue Ridge Institute & Museum
Join us for The Crooked Road BBQ Competition. With backyard, professional, and restaurant divisions and judges, you’re in for a smoky-sweet treat!
11. Wheeler Walker Jr. | May 11
Dr Pepper Park
Wheeler Walker Jr. will perform at Dr Pepper Park at The Bridges in Downtown Roanoke as a stop on The Spread Eagle Tour. The show is part of the venue's Summer Concert Series.
12. Morgan Wade | May 15-16
Harvester Performance Center
Morgan Wade was feeling the urge to simplify after a period of relentless touring and intense media scrutiny during the last couple of years. Every time she sat down with her guitar, new songs just started pouring out. The Virginia-born singer-songwriter made a choice tore turn to the basics for her new album Obsessed, a solo-written,stripped-down14-track collection produced by her touring guitarist Clint Wells that showcases Wade at her rawest and most vulnerable.
13. The Star City Rockabilly Festival | May 17-18
Virginia Museum of Transportation
The Star City Rockabilly Festival at the Virginia Museum of Transportation will be two great days of live music and a variety of other activities.
14. 2024 Local Colors Festival | May 18
Elmwood Park
Local Colors is Roanoke’s largest annual multicultural festival, and it’s an amazing display of the incredible cultural diversity you’ll find in Virginia’s Blue Ridge! There is a great variety of international cuisine and food to sample, special performances of authentic music and dancing, and the always exciting Parade of Nations.
15. Kids to Parks Day & Elmwood Movie Night | May 18
Elmwood Park
We’re celebrating National Kids to Parks Day with our 2nd Annual Elmwood Movie Night! Spend the day in one of the 64 parks in the city and then head over to Elmwood Park that evening for fun & FREE family movie night!
Join Parks and Recreation at 6:15pm for the start of Wonka, and 8:30 PM for the start of the International Paddling Film Festival. Gates to the amphitheater open at 5:45pm. Bring your chairs, blankets, snacks and more for the whole family!
16. NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship | May 22-26
Kerr Stadium - Roanoke College
The best Division III women's lacrosse teams from around the country will make their way to Virginia's Blue Ridge to compete in the 2024 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship. Come cheer on the teams and watch another champion be crowned in Salem - Virginia's Championship City.
17. Festival in the Park | May 23-26
Elmwood Park
For nearly 50 years, Festival in the Park has been an amazing celebration of Roanoke’s local arts scene, presenting thousands of artists and crafters to go along with a great lineup of live music.
18. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue | May 23
Harvester Performance Center
Trombone Shorty‘s new album opens with a dirge, but if you think the beloved bandleader, singer, songwriter and horn-blower born Troy Andrews came here to mourn, you got it all wrong. That bit of beautiful New Orleans soul—”Laveau Dirge No. 1,” named after one of the city’s most famous voodoo queens—shows off our host’s roots before Parking Lot Symphony branches out wildly, wonderfully, funkily across 12 diverse cuts.
19. Josh Turner | May 24
Dr Pepper Park
With timeless songs like “Long Black Train” and “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner’s global reach has surpassed 5.8B global streams, 6.5M album sales and almost 12M track sales world-wide. Turner’s five No. 1 singles include “Your Man,” of which the official music video surpassed 223 million views.
20. Kids Outside Festival | May 25
Waid Park
Free activities for kids of all ages and abilities. Whether you are on a balance bike, a full suspension, or just want to trail run with other kids this is your chance!
21. Conquer the Cove 25K & Marathon | May 26
Carvins Cove
The Conquer the Cove 25K and Marathon presented by Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is an awesome way to experience the incredible trails at Carvins Cove, showcasing a beautiful trail network and challenging course, as well as delicious post-race food and a relaxing atmosphere for hanging out after the race.
22. Memorial Day at the D-Day Memorial | May 27
National D-Day Memorial
The National D-Day Memorial will host its annual ceremony to pay tribute to the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
23. 2024 Lebanese Festival | May 31 - June 2
St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church
This popular annual festival kicks off on the final day of the month and is packed with authentic Lebanese flavors, music, and traditions.
24. Troutville Trail Days | May 31 - June 1
Troutville Town Park
Troutville Trail Days is a signature annual event in the Town of Troutville in Botetourt County and it’s a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and outdoor recreation in the community. The town is a popular stopping point for many thru-hikers making their way along the iconic trail and this weekend event features group hikes, outdoor vendors, live music, kid-friendly activities, and more.
25. Salem Red Sox Baseball | Various Dates
Salem Memorial Ballpark
Cheer on the Salem Red Sox and enjoy a game at Salem Memorial Ballpark, which features beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and is regularly named one of the prettiest stadiums in minor league baseball.
To learn more about upcoming events and things to do in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, we encourage you to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter and give us a follow on social media.
You can also request a free copy of our Virginia’s Blue Ridge Visitor's Guide.
