CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (WVDN) – The Virginia Opry will perform two Christmas shows, “White Christmas with Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters” at The Historic Masonic Theatre and its “30th Anniversary Show” at the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center.
Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters, the Rock ‘n’ Rock Roll Hall of Fame group, will perform its “White Christmas Show” on Sat., Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. on stage at The Historic Masonic Theatre with Alfred L. “Mustard” Dearing Sr. as master of ceremonies.
Those who watch the classic Christmas movie, “Home Alone,” will hear Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters’ rendition of “White Christmas” as part of the movie’s soundtrack.
The Virginia Opry’s “30th Anniversary Show” will be held on Thursday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m. as a dinner theater show featuring The Virginia Opry Band and Glen Shelton opening for Charles Billingsley, the world-famous vocalist and musician who is the head of Liberty University’s music department.
“It’s Christmas Time Again,” Billingsley’s Christmas album, features 13 songs, including “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “O Holy Night,” “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and other Christmas songs that he will perform as the headliner.
The Virginia Opry made its debut on Oct. 17, 1992, in Clifton Forge after Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) formed the troupe to perform at the Historic Stonewall Theatre that AAA had received as a charitable donation from Irwin R. Cohn, the theater’s owner. AAA donated the theater to the town of Clifton Forge in 2003 and recently, the town council of Clifton Forge voted 5-0 to formally designate the town as “Home of the Virginia Opry.”
On March 31, 2020, Gov. Ralph S. Northam signed Senate Bill 283 to designate The Virginia Opry as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry, an honor that only three other entertainment entities in the history of Virginia have received.
In May of 2019, WKEY Radio Station in Covington designated Big Country 103.5 as “The Home of The Virginia Opry” as well.
The current year has been a banner year for The Virginia Opry, having performed two sell-out shows, one at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, Va., on April 30 that featured Ashley Cooke and Lily Rose opening for Chris Lane, and one at Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center on Aug. 12 featuring Denise Glass and Michael Hoover, who both received standing ovations for their performance of “Patsy Meets Elvis at The Virginia Opry.”
Tickets for The Virginia Opry’s “White Christmas with Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters” can be purchased online at www.historicmasonictheatre.com or at the box office at 510 Main Street in Clifton Forge.
For “The Virginia Opry’s 30th Anniversary Show,” featuring The Virginia Opry’s Band with Shelton opening for Billingsley, there are two ticket outlets: www.virigniaopry and www.naturalbridge.com.
For further information about The Virginia Opry, call 540-291-2121 or 540-962-1133.
