Saturday, Dec. 4
Bassett will ring in the holidays with its annual Christmas parade beginning at 2 p.m. Come out and enjoy some festive floats with your friends and family.
Join the Martinsville-Henry County SPCA for its annual Pictures with Santa from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Photographs will be taken by Dawson Photography and the cost is $10 per pose. Families, children, and pets are all welcome.
The Fab Lab at P&HCC’s Dalton IDEA Center in Martinsville is hosting DIY Ornaments for its Fab Lab Family Day from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Participants will use the Fab Lab’s laser cutter to create unique, custom-designed Christmas ornaments! Tuition is $15 and registration closes Friday, Dec. 3 at 11:59 p.m.
The Martinsville Speedway will hold its 17th annual Christmas Toy Drive from 6-9 p.m. This event invites the greater Martinsville region to donate unwrapped toys or $25 for the opportunity to drive laps around the iconic track in their personal vehicles. The Toy Drive benefits the Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County.
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at Stanleytown Elementary School (74 Edgewood Drive, Stanleytown) from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.
Sunday, Dec. 5
The most highly anticipated holiday event of the season returns when the Roanoke Symphony’s Holiday Pops, this year with an all-new matinee performance! David Stewart Wiley conducts the Holiday Pops with all the magical elements you have come to expect—high energy, familiar carols, and lots of holiday warmth. Tickets available at Piedmont Arts and piedmontarts.org. $15 general admission, $25 reserved, $5 K-12 students.
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Martinsville City Council will hold a community conversation about reversion. The topic of this week’s meeting is schools. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in city council chambers. Each meeting is limited to twelve participants per session and anyone who wishes to participate must pre-register by emailing their name and address to town@ci.martinsville.va.us, calling (276) 403-5182, faxing (276) 403-5280, or mailing the City of Martinsville, attn: Karen Roberts, P.O. Drawer 1112, Martinsville, VA, 24114. Citizens must register by noon the day before each session. Spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and priority will be given to city residents. The meetings will also be televised on MGTV-21 and linked on the city’s website and social media.
The Martinsville Wrestling Academy is hosting boys and girls wrestling for all sizes in Philpott Hall on the campus of Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville. Classes begin Dec. 7 and will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays. Grades 2-6 will meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and grades 7-12 will meet from 7-8:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per month. Temperatures will be taken before all practices. Please bring Wrestling shoes. No street shoes on the mat. Parents may stay for their child’s first practice, but must be masked. Club fees are due the first Thursday of the month. USA Wrestling card required. To obtain card visit www.usawmembership.com. Come join the ONLY wrestling club in Martinsville, Henry, Floyd, Patrick & Pittsylvania Counties!
Thursday, Dec. 9
Patrick & Henry Community College is hosting a Workforce Programs Open House from 6-7 p.m. in the Frith Exhibit Hall (645 Patriot Avenue) on the campus of P&HCC. This free event will offer information about the short-term workforce training programs offered at P&HCC and the funding assistance available.
The Henry County School Board will hold its regular meeting beginning at 6 p.m. in the Summerlin Meeting Room of the Henry County Administration Building. The public meeting will be followed by closed session.
Patrick & Henry Community College will present a Lunch & Learn via Zoom entitled “Setting Achievable Goals” As the year-end approaches, inevitably you may be preparing your personal and professional goals for the upcoming year. Gain some insights to ensure those goals are achievable and put them to work before the end of the workshop. Pre-registration is required. To learn more or to register, visit ph.augusoft.net or call (276) 656-0260.
Piedmont Arts hosts Wee Create! This class is for tots ages 2-5 and their trusted adult(s). Spend time making simple crafts with seasonal and exhibit themes. For December, young artists will use printmaking to create holiday cards. Sessions are from 10:30-11 a.m. and 3:30-4 p.m. Advanced registration is required. Call (276) 632-3221 or email bjohnson@piedmontarts.org to reserve your spot.
Friday, Dec. 10 – Saturday, Dec. 11
The Friends of the Blue Ridge Regional Library will host a book sale from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the basement of the Martinsville Branch Library, 310 E. Church Street. Christmas is coming, with just the book to help make Christmas special: decorating, crafts, entertaining, and cookbooks; lots of Christmas themed children’s books, young adult, and inspirational and religious books. There are even some special books on trains for that train lover on your Christmas list. Proceeds benefit the library system.
Saturday, Dec. 11
Piedmont Arts hosts Winter Barn Quilt Painting from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. for artists and aspiring artists ages 12 and up. Participants will paint a 12×12 inch barn quilt with instructor Lisa Martin. Choose from 8 design options! All supplies will be provided. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Advanced registration is required. To secure your spot, visit PiedmontArts.org.
Sunday, Dec. 12
The Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society is hosting its annual Christmas Music Program beginning at 3 p.m. in the historic Henry County Courthouse. Everyone is invited to enjoy the talents in our community and beautiful Christmas trees on display. Admission is free.
Thursday, Dec. 16
Patrick & Henry Community College is hosting a Workforce Programs Open House from 6-7 p.m. in the Frith Exhibit Hall (645 Patriot Avenue) on the campus of P&HCC. This free event will offer information about the short-term workforce training programs offered at P&HCC and the funding assistance available.
ONGOING
Piedmont Arts is hosting two exhibits, “Print/Imprint: Asheville Printmakers” and “Carl Chiarenza,” on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Both exhibits are on display through January 8.
The Blue Ridge Regional Library offers free one-day passes to the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the Henry County YMCA with your library card. The passes are good for one day and exclude special events. There is a wait period before you can check out the pass again. For more details and exclusions, visit brrl.lib.va.us.
The Fontaine Ruritan Club hosts Bingo every Tuesday at their headquarters (1903 Joseph Martin Highway, Martinsville.) Doors open at 5:30 and games begin at 7. Money from Bingo supports community service awards, scholarships, and other community efforts.
MHC Coalition for Health and Wellness offers no contact Medicaid application assistance for eligible Virginia residents from birth to 64 years of age. No sign-up fees, no premiums, no deductibles. Including Children’s Medicaid/FAMIS, Pregnancy Medicaid and Adult Health Care -19 to 64 years old. Questions can be answered, and applications completed by phone. In-person application assistance is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Community Storehouse. Call or text Ann Walker 276 732-0509 to see if you qualify.
The Henry County Adult Learning Center offers free in-house and online classes to help prepare for college, career, or earn your high school equivalency or GED. Classes can help improve your digital literacy, job skills, English language skills, and earning potential. Contact the Center for Community Learning (15 Primary School Road, Collinsville) at (276) 647-9585.
(Event information/calendar items must be received by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the desired publication date. Email to newsreporter@theenterprise.net)
