'Round Town for December 29-31, 2017

New Year's events, concerts and more

ROANOKE – Liberty University is getting ready for the 16th annual WinterFest. The two-day celebration is Saturday and Sunday at the Vines Center featuring 16 acts. There is also a free screening of the film, "I Can Only Imagine," in the Center for Music and the Worship Arts Concert Hall. The film tells the story of how the hit song was written and stars Dennis Quaid. New this year is the Student Breakout Session, aimed to help students from middle school to college grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.

Sunday, head to the Berglund Center for New Year's at Noon. 60,000 balls will drop from the ceiling and organizers say there are changes this year to make everything easier. The event is from 10 a.m. To 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.

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In Lynchburg, it's New Year's at Noon. Head to Amazement Square for the bug drop at 2 p.m. There will be sparkling juice and new year's snacks from around the world along with a dance party, crafts and more!

Sunday, head to Fincastle to hear the Ringing of the Bells. The New Year's Eve ceremony has been popular for well over 150 years. Revelers gather throughout the Town for the celebration. At fifteen minutes until midnight the tolling begins. The bell in the Courthouse is struck, and afterwards, at twelve second intervals, bells of the churches ring in a clockwise order about the town: Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal. This continues until the bell at the Courthouse strikes twelve. Taps are played to signify respect for the dying year. The bell-ringers in the Courthouse then strike the digits of the New Year, for example one-nine-nine-eight. Then three shotgun blasts indicate that it is time for the bells to joyously welcome the New Year by ringing for an additional ten minutes.

There are also plenty of events for New Year's Eve. Check with your favorite restaurant, brewery, winery or more to see what they have planned.


About the Author:

You can see Jenna weekday mornings at the anchor desk on WSLS 10 Today from 5-7 a.m. She also leads our monthly Solutionaries Series, where we highlight the creative thinkers and doers working to make the world a better place.