Events

December 2nd, 2022

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

In-balance Yoga – In-Balance Yoga in Blacksburg, VA will be hosting a yoga session where all proceeds will benefit the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. This event will showcase our ambassadors and you can come and do some yoga alongside them in the room. This will be be an all-levels class.

December 3rd, 2022

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Krispy Creme Digital Dozens – Doughnuts for a Cause!!!
Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is giving you the best reason to indulge in a dozen (or two) Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Until November 30, 2022, 50% of your order will be donated back to Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Simply buy online, visit your local store & redeem using your code.

Buy your doughnuts for wildlife HERE!!!

Helping Hands Tap, Beers for Wildlife – Olde Salem Brewing Company (Salem & Roanoke locations) and Twisted Track Brewpub, will have a dedicated pint on tap during the month of November and for each pint sold they will donate $1 to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. On the final Wednesday of the month Parkway Brewing will donate $1 for each beer sold! The final Wednesday will be November 30th, 2002.

November 1st – 30th, 2022

Giving Tuesday!!!

This is one of our biggest giving days of the year! So, please mark it on your calendars so you can do your part to make a difference for our wildlife. Click HERE to donate!

November 29th, 2022

Pints for a Purpose – $1 for every beer sold!

November 30th, 2022

Parkway Brewing

Wildlife Around Us – Join us at Claytor Lake State Park to get an up close encounter with several of our education ambassadors. There will be owls, turtles, opossums, and much more! We’ll share some stories, teach a little history, and have lots of fun!

October 15th, 2022

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

All About Owls – Join us at the Roanoke County Explore Park to learn some interesting facts about these fascinating and somewhat mysterious birds of prey. Find out which owls live in the Roanoke area and how to identify them by sight and sound. Learn how and why they raise their young in the winter. Discover the secrets of these intriguing birds, dissect an owl pellet to learn even more, and meet one or two of our owl educational ambassadors! Cost is $7 and more information can be found HERE.

October 22nd, 2022

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Roanoke Explore Park Spooktacular

October 29th, 2022

Ambassadors will be present from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Click for directions to the Explore Park

Eastern Screech Owl Release – Please join us for the release of an Eastern Screech Owl at Garst Mill Park!

October 15th, 2022 @ 6:30 p.m.

Great-horned Owl Release – Public is encouraged to attend!!!

October 7th, 2022 @ 6:30 p.m

Pandapas Pond – Release will take place down by the water.

Hokie BugFest – Hokie BugFest celebrates the fun and exciting science of entomology, and the Virginia Tech tradition of learning and discovery, through outreach and engagement. This event highlights an ongoing youth education program hosted by the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program, and the department’s student-run professional organization, the W. B. Alwood Entomological Society.

October 8th, 2022

Roanoke’s MET Gala – Roanoke’s Renaissance Rendezvous – We will be present with ambassadors Tuskegee (Red-tailed Hawk) and Capt. Jack Sparrow (American Kestrel) for an evening of glitz, glamour, allure, and enchantment and the opening celebration for the new banner exhibition Titian to Monet: European Paintings from Joslyn Art Museum is your opportunity to enjoy the splendor of an exhibition opening featuring masterworks by some of the most celebrated European artists of the last 500 years. Themed as Roanoke’s Renaissance Rendezvous, the Opening Celebration will feature live music, drinks, open galleries, Tableaux Vivants, pop-up performances with costumed actors and dancers, red carpet photo opps, selfie and sketching stations, and a multi-sensory immersive experience in a companion gallery. This is absolutely an evening you won’t want to miss, offering live entertainment paired alongside world-class works of art by European masters such as Titian, Renoir, El Greco, and Monet, and more.

October 8th, 2022

8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Tickets $25 in advance or $35 day of (includes 1 drink ticket)

A Night Owl on the Town – Our annual charity gala is back! We’ll have a silent and live auction, live music and dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a great time to be had by all! It will take place downtown at the Shenandoah Club from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tickets are $80/person prices and will be available for purchase on our website HERE!

October 1st, 2022

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Southwest Virginia Pride Fest will be taking place at the Vinton War Memorial in lovely Vinton, VA. We’re very pleased to take part in this inaugural event featuring entertainment, a vendor marketplace, a kids zone, food, and more! For more information click HERE!

September 17th, 2022

12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Kroger Fundraiser – We will have some of our education ambassadors present along with food and drinks for sale. More info to come!

September 24th, 2022

Time and Location TBD

Double Broad-winged Hawk Release!

September 9th, 2022 @5:30 p.m.

Green Hill Park in Salem, VA

Rockbridge Community Festival in beautiful downtown Lexington, VA returns for its 45th year! The Rockbridge Community Festival features local vendors, local organizations, family fun, live music, and great food vendors. All proceeds will go to benefit local charities. For more information click HERE!

August 27th, 2022

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

2 Red-shouldered Hawks Being Released

August 18th, 2022 @ 4 p.m.

@ the Merriman Soccer Complex

Release will take place near the soccer field furthest to the left if facing from Merriman Road. Public is encouraged to attend!

First Fridays downtown on Franklin Road between Jefferson and Williamson (Volunteers still needed – contact swvawildlifecenter.edu@gmail.com if you can help)

August 5th, 2022
August 19th, 2022

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Give A Hoot at the Mill Mountain Zoo will be an exciting day to celebrate Owl Awareness Day (August 4th). The zoo will have their exhibit owls on display and the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center will be present with some of our education ambassador owls! Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children. For more information click HERE!

August 6th, 2022

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Double bird release at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond

Thursday, July 21st @ 4 p.m.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is very pleased to announce that we will be releasing a Mallard duck and a Canada Goose at the Virginia Tech Duckpond Gazebo. After spending a couple months with us in rehab these two have become quite good friends and will be going back home tomorrow. Director of Operations, Haley Olsen-Hodges, will be present to conduct the release and answer any questions.

July 7th 2:00 p.m.
Dublin Public Library (Free Memorial Library)
Dublin, VA

July 16th 7:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Dublin, VA
More info

June 18th 7:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Dublin, VA
More info

June 6th, 10:00 a.m.
Christiansburg Library
Christiansburg, VA

June 6th, 2:00 p.m.
Meadowbrook Library
Shawsville, VA

June 7th, 10:00 a.m.
Blacksburg Library (MFRL- Library)
Blacksburg, VA

June 7th, 3:00 p.m.
Jessica Peterman Library
Floyd, VA

BOCO Wild

Saturday June 4th, 2022

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

*We will be presenting 3 times, for 20 minutes each, on the main stage at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.

Buchanan Town Park

We will be present with some of our wonderful Education Ambassadors! Previously known as the Botetourt Fishing Carnival, BOCO WILD will encompass a diverse array of outdoor interests— all are welcome to explore a wide range of activities including our historically popular community tradition of fishing instruction, as well as wildlife education, hunting safety, hiking, river activities, boating education and so much more.

Mother’s Day Barnes & Noble Book Fair

May 2nd – 8th, 2022

Use ID# 12623310 with all purchases at any Barnes & Noble nationwide and we’ll receive 5% of the total sales for that week.

“Breakfast, it’s for the birds”

Saturday May 7th, 2022

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Many of our ambassadors will be present for breakfast in the cafe area at Barnes & Noble at Tanglewood Mall.

GIVE Roanoke

April 20th, 2022

12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.

GIVE Roanoke is our annual 24 hour giving day campaign. However, EARLY GIVING is now open!!!

Click here to make a difference for wildlife.