Last updated: 2025-05-06
Best Indoor Activities in Roanoke
Roanoke’s indoor attractions offer a vibrant escape from mountain weather, showcasing the city’s rich cultural landscape. From interactive museums to performing arts venues, these destinations capture the creative spirit of Southwest Virginia’s urban heart.
Whether exploring local history at the History Museum or enjoying hands-on exhibits at the Science Museum, Roanoke’s indoor spaces provide engaging experiences for visitors and residents seeking entertainment and discovery.
Discover Roanoke’s coolest indoor adventures below!
Featured Indoor Activities in Roanoke
- Center in the Square
- Taubman Museum of Art
- Science Museum of Western Virginia
- Mill Mountain Theatre
- Roanoke Pinball Museum
- Virginia Museum of Transportation
- Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
- Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage
- The History Museum of Western Virginia
- Blue Ridge Potters Guild
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
What to Expect
Multi-purpose performance space with versatile entertainment programming
Description
Roanoke's premier performing arts venue hosting diverse entertainment, including live comedy, music concerts, and special events. The theatre offers multiple ticket tiers and seating options for various performances, showcasing both local and national talent across different genres.
More Info: Berglund Performing Arts Theatre ↗
Blue Ridge Potters Guild
What to Expect
Largest all-pottery show in Virginia
Description
Regional ceramic arts organization dedicated to promoting pottery through community workshops, annual pottery shows, and educational outreach. Features demonstrations by over 40 local and regional potters, providing opportunities for artistic skill development and public engagement with ceramic arts.
More Info: Blue Ridge Potters Guild ↗
Center in the Square
What to Expect
Integrated cultural campus with multiple interactive museums and performance venues
Description
Multi-purpose cultural complex in downtown Roanoke featuring interactive science museum, planetarium, history exhibits, and live performance spaces. Showcases regional heritage through immersive displays and educational experiences across multiple interconnected buildings. Offers visitors comprehensive insights into local arts, science, and community history.
More Info: Center in the Square ↗
Mill Mountain Theatre
What to Expect
Regional theatre with comprehensive youth and adult performance education programs
Description
Mill Mountain Theatre delivers professional regional theatre experiences with diverse performance styles including family shows, musicals, comedy, and youth productions. The venue offers comprehensive theatre education programs spanning multiple age groups, from pre-K through adult classes and summer theatre camps.
More Info: Mill Mountain Theatre ↗
Roanoke Pinball Museum
What to Expect
Interactive museum with century-spanning pinball machine collection
Description
The Roanoke Pinball Museum offers an interactive journey through pinball history, featuring fully playable machines spanning from the 1930s to contemporary models. Visitors can explore and play historic pinball machines, experiencing the evolution of this classic arcade entertainment across multiple decades.
More Info: Roanoke Pinball Museum ↗
Science Museum of Western Virginia
What to Expect
Interactive floor-to-ceiling projection exhibit with air quality simulation
Description
An interactive science museum offering engaging exhibits like the Parakeet Garden, Dino Dig, and state-of-the-art Eye Planetarium. Visitors explore immersive learning experiences through hands-on displays focusing on paleontology, environmental science, and sensory exploration for all ages.
More Info: Science Museum of Western Virginia ↗
Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage
What to Expect
Live music and themed trivia events
Description
Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage offers a vibrant indoor entertainment venue with live music events, trivia nights, and a welcoming taproom atmosphere. Guests can enjoy craft beer, mocktails, and a variety of social activities while experiencing local entertainment and community gatherings.
More Info: Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage ↗
Taubman Museum of Art
What to Expect
Award-winning architectural design by internationally renowned architect Randall Stout
Description
A dynamic art museum featuring over 2,000 works spanning diverse artistic periods and styles. Highlights include rotating exhibitions of American art, contemporary pieces, and historical collections. Offers daily guided tours, community programs, and free general admission to explore an extensive and eclectic permanent collection.
More Info: Taubman Museum of Art ↗
The History Museum of Western Virginia
What to Expect
Largest repository of Western Virginia historical materials
Description
The History Museum of Western Virginia houses an extensive collection of regional artifacts, featuring over 6,000 three-dimensional objects, 8,000 photographs, and unique historical documents. Highlights include Native American artifacts, Thomas Jefferson's personal letters, and comprehensive displays tracing the human history of Western Virginia and Roanoke area.
More Info: The History Museum of Western Virginia ↗
Virginia Museum of Transportation
What to Expect
Comprehensive transportation history museum in a century-old freight station
Description
The Virginia Museum of Transportation preserves transportation history through immersive exhibits featuring vintage locomotives, classic automobiles, and aviation artifacts. Interactive displays showcase the evolution of rail, automotive, and flight technologies, allowing visitors to explore full-size train cabs, historical vehicles, and model train collections.
More Info: Virginia Museum of Transportation ↗
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Every indoor activity listing goes through our comprehensive 30-step review process combining AI technology with human expertise. We maintain unbiased listings (except for clearly marked featured activities) to ensure you get accurate, reliable indoor activity information.
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