ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The movie "Big Stone Gap" opens nationally Friday. On Saturday...the Wise County town will celebrate the movie's release with a pancake breakfast, a 5K race, parade and a "red carpet block party" featuring some of the stars from the movie. The cast includes Virginian Patrick Wilson, Ashley Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. The film is based on the novel by Adriana Trigiani. She calls the movie a "love letter" to her hometown. She wrote the screenplay for the movie and directed the film.
The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour kicks off Friday and benefits eight local charities. Over the last 25 years the event has raised nearly $4 million to help those in need in our community. Eight waterfront homes are open for tours to the general public through Sunday. You can buy tickets online at www.smlcharityhometour.com
In the Martinsville area there is a Green Living Market this weekend on Wind Dancer Lane in Ridgeway. The event features 30 dealers from across Virginia and North Carolina who specialize in vintage, antiques, up-cycled and handmade goods. There will also be Free DIY classes which will include a furniture painting workshop, Intro to Decoupage, and How to transfer images. Admission to the show is $5. Green Living Market's hope is to grow this show year by year into a large scale event. Spring show date's have been scheduled for April 8th -10th.
Jefferson College is be holding its Live Lip Sync Battle Finale at the Patrick Henry Ballroom. For the past six weeks, faculty and staff have been battling in a lip sync challenge that was modeled after Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. The money raised supports the Jefferson College Education Foundation and pays for scholarships. Last year employees raised over $22,000 through their employee campaign effort and this year they are on track to exceed that based on totals so far.
The Craftsmen's Fall Classic Art and Craft Festival returns to the Berglund Center this weekend. Instead of a charge to get in they want you to bring food donations for Feeding America Southwest Virginia. This event provides the second largest donation of the year for Feeding America SWVA, collecting over 26,500 lbs of food last year in just three days.
The Bedford County Sheriff's Office is being recognized for it's Rural Bike Patrol Program. The National Sheriff's Association is presenting the National Innovation Award to them this morning. The bike patrol is made up of eight all volunteer deputies focusing on apartment complexes, subdivisions, state parks, and strip malls. They can also provide extra patrols at large events. All expenses and equipment were donated by businesses.