Outdoor Calendar of Events

This Calendar of Events is created specifically for outdoor users! You won't find any bowling league events here... just outdoor activities, events, festivals, and initiatives.

Want to add an event? All events must be approved before going live. You can include a photo and a web link. Submit your outdoor event!

If you are looking for non-outdoor related events check out our friends at MyScoper.com. They maintain one of the most up-to-date list of what's happening in the Roanoke area.

And for arts and culture, visit the Arts Council events calendar.

<< July 2012 >>

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

House Mountains, Big and Little hike with RATC

Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Rockbridge County
9.1 miles, Strenuous
$4.50 carpool fee, 48 miles from Roanoke

Located in Rockbridge County west of Lexington. Purchased for preservation by the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council (RACC) in 1989, the 800+ acres including the tops of Big House and Little House Mountain, and the saddle between them, contain numerous species of plants and provide views of the Rockbridge County countryside. We will follow the 2-mile woods road to the saddle, hike another mile to the cliffs of Big House Mountain, then return to the saddle and take the Little House Mountain trail which involves a climb followed by a lovely ridge walk.
Adam Wood………...302-528-9680
Or…………………………..adampaulwood@yahoo.com

Link: http://www.ratc.org

Coffee Pot Sunday Ride

Time: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Roanoke, VA Coffee Pot Afternoon Ride
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Nations Bank across from MoJo’s on Brambleton
Ride Type = Road Ride
Terrain = Gently Rolling
Ride Length = 25 – 30 miles
Average Pace = Decided by the Group! Usually a Moderately Fast Ride. Link: http://brbcva.org/calendar/

Herrmanns' World Famous Lipizzan Stallions

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Green Hill Park, 2501 Parkside Dr. Salem VA 24153 The Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, along with Brook Hill Farm present the first ever showcase in the Roanoke region of Herrmanns’ Royal Lipizzan Stallions. Witness first-hand the power and grace of these majestic horses, whose royal history can be traced back to the 16th century and to the Hapsburg Royal Family of Austria.

The graceful showmanship of the stallions becomes evident as they perform their beautiful “ballet”. You won’t forget the excitement you feel when they display their strength by performing the powerful leaps and jumps in the “Airs Above the Ground” demonstration. These maneuvers were originally used by men in battle and only those stallions that show an early talent and athletic ability are trained for this unparalleled demonstration.
Don’t miss three very special performances, Friday, June 29th at 6pm, Saturday, June 30th at 6pm and Sunday, July 1st at 2pm, at Roanoke County’s Green Hill Park, located at 2501 Parkside Dr, Salem VA 24153. Bring your own lawn chairs and picnic or purchase concessions on-site.
A percentage of the ticket sales will be going to help support Brook Hill Farm, a 501 c(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide rehabilitation focused services as well as a safe haven for unwanted horses, while maintaining a unique opportunity for personal growth and equine education for area at risk youth.
Tickets available online or purchased in advance at Green Ridge Recreation Center, our offices at 1206 Kessler Mill Road and The Brambleton Center, $12 for adults, $10 for Seniors and children ages 6-12, those under 6 years of age are free. Tickets also available at the gate for $15 for adults, $12 for Seniors and children ages 6-12, those under 6 years of age are free.
For more information and complete details call 540-387-6078 ext. 0 or visit us at www.RoanokeCountyParks.com.
Link: http://www.RoanokeCountyParks.com

Outdoor Discovery Summer Camp Ages 8-12

Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing The Outdoor Discovery Trip offers your young adventurer the opportunity to explore the outdoors while participating in age appropriate adventure activities. By staying on our 500 acre property for most of the trip, our staff preparing meals for them, and allowing them to shower a few times during their stay, we ease less experienced participants into the world of backpacking and tent camping. Activities include: rock climbing, canoeing, fishing, 50' climbing wall, low element teambuilding course, high ropes adventure trail, natural waterslide and waterfall hike, caving, hiking, field games, outdoor living skills, and 900' zipline. Tuition: $895 includes all equipment, instruction, meals, camping, transportation from our base camp facility to activity sites, and fun! Call 540-864-6792 or visit our website www.wilderness-adventure.com for more information or to register today! Link: http://www.wilderness-adventure.com

Classic Adventure One Week Summer Camp Ages 13-17

Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing The Classic Adventure one week trip is a great place to begin as an older camper who may have some camping experience,but not have the time for the two week classic adventure. Participants will experience many of the activities we offer on the two week trip, including low element teambuilding, 50' climbing wall, caving, rock climbing, high ropes adventure trail, canoeing, and mountain biking. Tuition: $895 includes all equipment, instruction, meals, camping, transportation from our base camp facility to activity sites, and fun! Call 540-864-6792 or visit our website today for more information or to register now! Link: http://www.wilderness-adventure.com

Mountain Biking Summer Camp Ages 13-17

Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing Experience great views, bomber boulder gardens, and sweet single track while you mountain bike for a week on some of the best trails in Virginia! Participants will learn all of the basics of tuning and maintenance as well as body positioning and technique to ride almost any trail around. This trip is a must do for anyone excited about bikes and will take riders to key singletrack spots in southwest Virginia--Carvin's Cove, Douthat State Park, and Pandapas Pond. Tuition: $895 includes all equipment, instruction, meals, camping, transportation from our basecamp facility to activity sites, and fun! Call 540-864-6792 or visit our website today! Link: http://www.wilderness-adventure.com

White Water Kayaking Summer Camp Ages 13-17

Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing Interested in fine tuning your white water kayaing skills? Our 7 day white water kayaking trip will have you feeling confident in a boat in no time. We will start with an instructional pond class to work on wet exits, rolls, t-rescues, and paddling techniques. Participants will get to experience our swift water rescue clinic to learn about rivers and hazards then kayak some local water on the class II New River in Virginia. We then head to the New River Gorge to kayak the Class III Upper New River. Tuition: $895 includes all equipment, instruction, camping, transportation, and food. Call 540-864-6792 or visit our website today! Link: http://www.wilderness-adventure.com

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Famous Tuesday Night Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Virginia Museum of Transportation parking lot Location: Transportation Museum Parking lot

Ride Distance: 20.4 Miles. Terrain: Rolling hills. Traffic: moderate.

Ride Description: This weekly ride starts at the Virginia Museum of Transportation and follows one of several routes depending on your skill level. The more challenging ride climbs up Mill Mountain, down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and back to Downtown Roanoke via Vinton. The easier Lowlander ride remains largely on neighborhood streets. In both cases, riders typically join up at the Cornerstone pub for post-ride thirst quenching and fellowship.

This is a ride-at-your-own-risk ride. There are no organizers...over time it has become known that avid road cyclist gather every Tuesday night for a road ride followed by hanging out at Cornerstone Pub. It's a Roanoke tradition.

Additional Info: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/209573 Link:

Mill Mtn. Night Rides

Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Location: Mill Mountain Park - start/finish at Fork in the Alley Brought to you by East Coasters Bike Shops.

Meet at 7:45pm every Tuesday at Fork in the Alley restaurant (2123 Crystal Spring Ave). Ride the trails on Mill Mountain and then head back to the Fork for a bite to eat and a beverage. Intermediate level ride.

Need a light? Contact www.eastcoasters.com - they have a few demos available. Link: http://www.eastcoasters.com

Tuesday Tuneups

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Sharebike - downtown Roanoke Sharebike members now have access to a great bike education, building and repair opportunity hosted by board member John Johnson. Members have the option to make minor repairs and tune-ups to their bikes or even build new bikes from scratch from Sharebike's vast collection of new, reclaimed, and scrap bikes and parts. Prices range from $1 to $10 for parts, or $35 for an entirely new bike.

Tune-up Tuesdays provides new and experienced riders with the skills to maintain their bikes for safety and performance for a reasonable rate. Plus, you get the benefit of hanging out with other area cyclists and supporting the valley's only community bike shop.

Contact Sharebike.org or visit their downtown location for more information about becoming a member. Link: http://www.sharebike.org

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

Kayaking 101

Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Clifton Forge, VA Riders Up! Outfitters teams up with Douthat State Park to offer a beginners course in recreational kayaking! This course includes a morning on Douthat Lake to learn more about kayaking and paddling skills, lunch at Douthat's Lakeview Restaurant and an afternoon paddle on the James River all under the instruction of an ACA certified instructor. After completing this $50 course the participants will be prepared to take on a class I river on their own! Link: http://www.ridersupoutfitters.com

Chicky Mountain Bike Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Mill Mountain Advanced Beginner - Intermediate Level mountain bike ride. CHICKY's ONLY!!!! NO BOYZ!!!

Every week at Mill Mountain until spring 2012...then it's back at Carvins Cove.

Ride distance/length to be determined by the group depending on who comes.

The ride starts at 6pm from the Discovery Center Parking Lot. Headlights are required and red, blinky rear lights are encouraged as we do use the road to connect to some trails. The ride is intermediate pace and length. Link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/146346982112153/?ref=ts

Four on the 4th

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Location: Starts on Reserve Avenue, Roanoke VA Join Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia for the 2nd Annual Four on the 4th! Run or walk a four mile course through the neighborhoods of Old Southwest and Downtown Roanoke, ending on the Roanoke River Greenway. A great start to your July 4th celebration! Link: http://www.fouronthe4th.com

Thursday, July 5th, 2012

Thursday Happy Hour Float

Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Clifton Forge, VA Every Thursday evening we offer our Happy Hour Float. This is a great chance to try out kayaking with a group! We paddle a different location each week either on the James or the Jackson Rivers. We meet at the Riders Up! Outfitters shop at 5pm, and paddle for about 2 hours. The $20 fee includes the use of all necessary equipment and your transportation to and from the river. Check out our facebook page for pictures from past trips http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riders-Up-Outfitters/54958284521 Link: http://www.ridersupoutfitters.com

Friday, July 6th, 2012

Friday Night Social Ride

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Carvins Cove - Bennett Springs Lot The Friday Night Social Ride is all about… socializing…Massive suffering will not be encouraged! All levels of riders welcome. If you don’t know the trails….we’ll show you. If you’re not in the best shape….we’ll roll easy with you. After ride socializing will commence in the parking lot. Those caught talking about work will be banished.

Contact gijcreative@gmail.com with questions.

Weekly until October 12, 2012 Link: http://www.roanokeimba.org/calendar-2/

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

Predators and Prey

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Mill Mountain Discovery Center How does a predator catch its prey and how does prey avoid a predator? Through different activities, we'll learn about the food we and animal adapations for finding food - or for avoiding being eaten! Cost is $6, register by 7/5. Link: http://www.roanokeva.gov/playonline

Smith Mountain Lake State Park Hike with RATC

Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Smith Mountain Lake Saturday, July 7, 2012 8:00AM
Smith Mountain Lake State Park Trails

11 miles, Moderate
$3.75 carpool fee, 36 miles from Roanoke

We will do a loop hike involving the Turtle Island trail which goes out into the lake as well as the Walton Creek, Osprey Point, Striper Cove, Opossum Trot, and a few others. There is a $3-$4 fee for parking.
Fred Meyer……………………………….304-744-9219
Or…………………………...wfmeyer@suddenlink.net

Link: http://www.ratc.org

Knife Sharpening

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: Sportsman's Warehouse Come join us at Sportsman's Warehouse to learn everything you need to know about keeping your knives sharp. Our expert staff will teach you about different sharpeners and how to pick the right one for your blades. Link: http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/events/evtMapSearchDetails.jsp?&siteNo=223

EAST COASTERS WOMEN'S RIDE

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Location: MEET AT EAST COASTERS BIKE SHOP, BLACKSBURG WOMEN'S ONLY ROAD RIDE. EVERY SATURDAY, 9:30AM. MEET AT EAST COASTERS BIKE SHOP, 1301 N. MAIN ST., BLACKSBURG.

ALL LEVELS, ALL BIKES WELCOME. ON LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROADS AND PAVED TRAILS. Link: http://WWW.EASTCOASTERS.COM