Debbie Adams
The Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its calendar of events for 2017 featuring a couple of changes and additions.
The annual Senior Expo is scheduled for March 28 at the Vinton War Memorial from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. as usual. This event is one of the most popular senior expos in the region and always crowded with vendors and guests, including seniors and caregivers.
The Vinton Wine and Food Festival has a change in venue in 2017. The Chamber will be hosting the event at Explore Park on May 20 from 1 to 6 p.m. The Chamber has been working with Wendi Schultz, Special Events and Tourism Director for Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, to coordinate the annual wine festival to showcase all the improvements at Explore Park. Their plan is to hold the festival at the scenic historic barn at the park.
Mingle at the Market concerts get underway on June 10 from 7-10 p.m. at the Vinton Farmers’ Market since renovations there are now complete. The first three Mingle concerts were held at the Vinton War Memorial in 2016 because of the construction work in the market area. The Tru Sol band from Myrtle Beach– who for several years has entertained with a winter concert at Woodland Place in February– will instead be performing at the first Mingle at the Market in June.
The other Mingles are scheduled for July 8, August 12, September 9, and October 14– topping off the Vinton Fall Festival. Other bands booked at this time include Low Low Chariot and Rutledge, Seven Mile Ford, and Uptown
The annual golf tournament is on the calendar for September 21.
Fall Festival on October 14 will include the 5K Walk and Run at 8 a.m. and the Festival vendors and entertainers downtown from 10 to 4.
The Chamber will coordinate with the Town of Vinton for Downtown Trick or Treating on October 31, and for the annual State of the Town address on November 16 at 8 a.m.
The annual Vinton Christmas Parade will kick off the holiday season in the Roanoke Valley on November 30 at 7 p.m. The parade is traditionally held the first Thursday after Thanksgiving.
The Chamber will host its annual open house on December 14 from 5-7 p.m.
The VACC will close out the year and welcome 2018 at the annual New Year’s Eve Gala on December 31, beginning at 8 p.m.
“I am looking forward to 2017,” says Angie Chewning, executive director of the VACC. “We have grown by leaps and bounds and hope that trend continues. We are revamping some of our events, and adding a few favorites. Things are moving and shakin’ in Vinton and we want to be that driving force to bring people from all over to our events with the hopes they come back to ‘Eat, Shop and Play IN Vinton.’ And maybe even Live!”
