The Town of Blacksburg held its Winter Lights Festival, TubaChristmas, and Holiday Parade last Friday.

More that 40 tuba players participated in TubaChristmas and the new Market Square Park full of Farmer’s Market vendors as well as nonprofit groups such as Blacksburg Rotary Club, Blacksburg Junior Master Chorale, VT Student Government Association, and Historic Smithfield Plantation.

The Deo Gloria Singers caroled around the stores, Blacksburg Junior Chorale sang while Mayor Ron Rordam turned on Christmas tree lights, and the Holiday Parade finished the evening.

The 2009 Holiday Parade winners included:

General Float
1st Place: Community Christian Church
2nd Place: Gethsemane Baptist Church
3rd Place: Gateway Christian Church

Youth Float
1st Place: Cub Scout Pack 150
2nd Place: Blacksburg Christian Church
3rd Place: Blacksburg Baptist Church

Non-Float
1st Place: RA Homebuilders
2nd Place: Virginia High School Rodeo Association
3rd Place: New River Valley Bicycling Association

Honorable Mention
General: VT Student Alumni Association
Youth Float: Cub Scout Pack 152
Non Float: Virginia Techniques Gymnastics

Holiday activities continue in Blacksburg Tuesday with a Holiday Food Drive at Café de Bangkok. Bring in any non-perishable food item Dec. 8, and Cafe de Bangkok will give you 25 percent off any entree. All the food will bw given to the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank .

Holiday Shopping Specials coming up in Downtown Blacksburg include:

Thursday Dec. 10 – Downtown Merchants host “Ladies Late Night Shopping”; 4-8pm, free gift wrap, gift wish list, snacks and beverages, and much more.

Thursday Dec. 17 – Downtown Merchants host “Gentlemen’s Late Night Shopping”; 4-8pm, free gift wrap, gift wish list, snacks and beverages and much more.

Participating merchants include: Fringe Benefit, Matrix Gallery, Xanadu, Bookholders, Kent Jewelers, Bollo’s, Gillie’s, Mad Dog, Homebody, Tech Bookstore, Campus Cruizers, Gourmet Pantry, Capone’s, 310 Rosemont, Awful Arthur’s and Champ’s.