SunTrust Dickens of a Christmas 2012 Details Announced

The annual holiday favorite, SunTrust Dickens of a Christmas, returns for its 30th anniversary! With so much going on, it's going to be an event you will not want to miss. This year's SunTrust Dickens of a Christmas will be held on the first three Fridays in December (the 7th, 14th, and 21st), from 6pm until 10pm in Downtown Roanoke. And with the expanded event site, this year's Dickens promises to be bigger and better than ever! Dickens will be held on Salem Avenue, Market Street, Wall Street, and on the Historic Roanoke City Market, as well as at the Taubman Museum of Art and inside the City Market Building! Plus, this year you will see the return of SNOW! The Coca-Cola Snow Zone will return on Friday, December 21st between the City Market Building and Awful Arthur's on Market Street.

Here is the full list of events and performers:

DECEMBER 7TH:

The City of Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting, beginning at 5:30pm!

Sponsored by Downtown Roanoke Inc., City of Roanoke, City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department the tree lighting will be held on Salem Avenue on December 7th. The ceremony will begin with a special performance by Cave Spring High School and Hidden Valley High School Choirs at 5:30 pm. WSLS NewsChannel 10’s countdown to the tree lighting will begin at 5:45 pm with the actual lighting at 6:20 pm.

OPTIMA HEALTH STAGE (Salem Avenue)

5:30 p.m. – Cave Spring High School and Hidden Valley High School Choirs

6:15 p.m. – City of Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

6:30 p.m. – Miss Mona’s School of Dance

TAUBMAN MUSEUM STAGE (SALEM AVENUE)

7:00 p.m. – Opera Roanoke

7:45 p.m. – Radford Percussion Ensemble

8:30 p.m. – Roanoke Children’s Theatre

MARKET STREET

7:45 p.m. -8:05 pm – Circus Stella

8:30 p.m. -8:50 pm – Circus Stella

9:30 p.m. -9:50 pm – Circus Stella

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET

6-10 p.m. – Strolling St. Nicholas

6-10 p.m. – Carriage Rides

6-10 p.m. – Street Actors (Theatre students from William Fleming High School)

7-9 p.m. – Photos with Santa

7-9 p.m. – Mark Fuller, Magician

7-10 p.m. – Carolers of Christmas Past

7-10 p.m. – Sally Edelman, Face Painter

7-10 p.m. – David Bear Stuart, Juggler

MARKET STREET

6:30 p.m. – SWVA Ballet

7:30 p.m. – Dance Academy

8:00 p.m. – Kazim Shrine Brass Band

8:30 p.m. – Roanoke Ballet

CAMPBELL AVENUE (CarPark Parking Lot)

6-9 p.m. – Chestnut Roasting

MARKET BUILDING, MEZZANINE

6-9 p.m. – SunTrust presents Santa’s Workshop

7:00 p.m. – Quest Academy of Music

8:00 p.m. – Star City Chorus

WALL STREET KIDS ZONE

6-9 p.m. – Games, Activities & More

DECEMBER 14TH

Haley Toyota's City of Roanoke Christmas Parade, beginning at 6:30pm

Don’t miss this wonderful, “outside the ordinary” holiday parade. Downtown streets will be transformed into a magical space filled with costumed characters, horse-drawn carriages, strolling carolers, marching bands, jugglers, and numerous community groups all highlighting various holiday traditions. The parade route begins at the corner of Elm Avenue and Jefferson Street (Elmwood Park) and continues north on Jefferson Street to Campbell Avenue, then east on Campbell to Market Square. Sponsored by Haley Toyota, Downtown Roanoke Inc. and the City of Roanoke.

JEFFERSON ST./ CAMPBELL AVE.

6:30 p.m. – Haley Toyota’s City of Roanoke Christmas Parade (Begins at Elm & Jefferson) sponsored by Haley Toyota, City of Roanoke and Downtown Roanoke Inc.

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET

6-10 p.m. – Strolling St. Nicholas

6-10 p.m. – Carriage Rides

6-10 p.m. – Street Actors (Theatre Students from William Fleming High School)

7-9 p.m. – Stilt Walking

7-9 p.m. – Mark Fuller, Magician

7:30-9:30 p.m. – Kate Guntermann, Fire Eater

7:30-9:30 p.m. – Charon Henning, Sword Swallower

7-10 p.m. –Sally Edelman, Face Painter

7-10 p.m. – David Bear Stuart, Juggler

8-10 p.m. – Photos with Santa

MARKET STREET

6:00 p.m. – Mill Mountain Theatre

8:00 p.m. – Floyd Ward School

9:00 p.m. – Hollins University Talmadge Singers

CAMPBELL AVENUE (CarPark Parking Lot)

6-9 p.m. – Chesnut Roasting

MARKET BUILDING

6-9 p.m. – SunTrust presents Santa’s Workshop

7:00 p.m. – Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

8:00 p.m. – Singer’s Company

9:00 p.m. – Madison 4

WALL STREET KIDS ZONE

6-9 p.m. – Games, Activities & More

DECEMBER 21ST

RVSPCA's Pet Costume Contest, beginning at 6:30pm, and the Coca-Cola Snow Zone

The holidays aren’t just for humans! Dress up your pet(s) and come join the fun and laughter at the annual SPCA Pet Costume Contest. This year’s event will be made extra special by the involvement and enthusiasm of the Roanoke Valley SPCA and their volunteers. The fun-loving judging on Salem Avenue will be followed by great prizes.

OPTIMA HEALTH STAGE (Salem Avenue)
6:30 p.m. RVSPCA's Pet Costume Contest

MARKET STREET

6-9 p.m. – Coca Cola’s Snow Zone

CAMPBELL AVE. & MARKET

6-10 p.m. – Strolling St. Nicholas

6-10 p.m. – Carriage Rides

6-10 p.m. – Street Actors (Theatre students from William Fleming High School)

7-9 p.m. – Mark Fuller, Magician

7-9 p.m. – Photos with Santa

7-10 p.m. – David Bear Stuart, Juggler

7-10 p.m. – Sally Edelman, Face Painter

MARKET STREET

7:30 p.m. – Mill Mountain Ringers

8:30 p.m. – Dance Academy

9:00 p.m. – Glenn Singer

CAMPBELL AVENUE (CarPark Parking Lot)

6-9 p.m. – Chesnut Roasting

MARKET BUILDING

6-9 p.m.– SunTrust presents Santa’s Workshop

7:00 p.m. – Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

8:00 p.m. – Holiday Movie

WALL STREET KIDS ZONE

6-9 p.m. – Games, Activities & More