The 2017 Summer Arts Festival, presented in partnership between the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg, begins June 2 and offers a summer-long season of activities and entertainment. This is the 26th year of the festival. All events are free and family-friendly.

Friday Night Out Concerts

Live music in a variety of styles will take place on Henderson Lawn, at the corner of Main St. and College Ave. All concerts begin at 6 p.m. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to the Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires Student Center.

  • Surrender Dorothy (classic rock and country), June 2
  • The Jamtastics (smooth R&B jazz), June 9
  • Gerry TImlin (Irish folk), June 16
  • The Rick Strickland Band (Carolina beach and shag), June 23
  • Crossties (bluegrass), July 7
  • Hoppie Vaughan & The Ministers of Soul (blue-eyed soul), July 14
  • The Domino Band (rhythm & blues), July 21
  • Zydeco-a-Go-Go (Louisiana dance music), July 28

Lyric Classic Matinee Series

Stay cool indoors with a free classic movie at the Lyric Theatre. All movies begin at 3 p.m. on select Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Lyric Theatre is located at 135 College Ave.

  • "The Endless Summer" June 10 and 14
  • "Cool Hand Luke" July 8 and 12
  • "Cabaret" Aug. 12 and 16

Live theatre

Two live theatre events will be presented. Performances will be held in Squires Studio Theatre, located on the second floor of the Squires Student Center at 290 College Ave. Free tickets will be available online.

  • “Elephant & Piggie’s WE ARE IN A PLAY!” June 17-19, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Based on the books by Mo Willems; script and lyrics by Mo Willems and Deborah Wicks La Puma. Presented by the Roanoke Children’s Theatre.
  • "Oh, Kay!” Aug. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin; book by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. This semi-staged musical production is the culmination of a three-week Virginia Tech summer course “Rarely Heard: Reviving Musical Theatre from the Past.”

Art exhibits

  • Travelers and Other Nurds,” June 2-Aug. 12. Squires Perspective Gallery. Paintings by Michael Farrar.
  • Widely Gathered: Printmaking Collection,” June 2-July 7, Armory Art Gallery
  •  “Showcase of the Work of Dongsoo Choi,” Aug. 4-Sept. 2, Armory Art Gallery

Special events

Parking is available on weekends and after 5 p.m. weekdays in the Squires Lot at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, the Architecture Annex Lot on Otey Street, and the Perry Street/Prices Fork lots, or in the North End parking garage. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200. Alternative parking is available in the Kent Squire parking garage and the Farmers Market metered parking lot, both located on Draper Road. Additional downtown Blacksburg parking information is available online.

The festival is presented in partnership between the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg. All events are free and open to the public. Find more information online or contact Jane Harrison at 540-231-5921.

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