Looking for indoor things to do in Roanoke, Virginia? Center in the Square attracts visitors from all over Virginia’s Blue Ridge to downtown Roanoke with seven floors of indoor family fun. This multi-level downtown destination features aquariums, museums, arcades, live theatre, and even a rooftop restaurant—all in one place!
What to Expect at Center in the Square
– 1st Floor: Candy Store, Aquariums, & Live Theatre
– 2nd Floor: Pinball Museum, Arcade, & Private Lounge
– 3rd Floor: Children’s Museum for Ages 10 & Under
– 4th – 5th Floors: Science Museum of Western VA
– 6th – 7th Floors: Rooftop Restaurant
Address: 1 Market Square SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
Parking Garage: 11 Campbell Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24011
Learn more about Center in the Square with these frequently asked questions.
Thank you to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge for hosting us at Center in the Square in Roanoke.
When my family visited Center in the Square for the first time, we were all blown away! The moment we walked through the doors, we were delighted to find ourselves in a gorgeous atrium with a staircase leading up to unknown surprises. We found several floors of fun for the whole family, and we wished we had more time at every single one!
Note: Hours and pricing are provided for reader convenience, but may be subject to change at any time. Please confirm key details with Center in the Square at 540.342.5700.
First Floor at Center in the Square
Center in the Square’s first floor welcomes visitors with a combination of beauty, marine life, treats, and entertainment. Access to the first-floor atrium is complete free, and clean, accessible restrooms and water fountains are available on every floor.
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The Candy Store
If you walk into the Center in the Square with kids, be prepared to stop at The Candy Store! This sweet spot is so bright and colorful, our kids thought it must be a toy store at first glance—but instead it offers a huge array of treats for the tastebuds. You’ll find a mix of popular candy brands and locally made confections in this locally loved candy shop.
Cost: Depends on what you buy!
Hours:
- 10 am – 6 pm, Monday – Thursday
- 10 am – 8 pm, Friday – Saturday
- 12 pm – 6 pm, Sunday
Centered Celebration
While kids may run to the candy store, let your own eyes be drawn upwards to the colorful ribbons of aluminum and enamel cascading from the walls. This gorgeous work of art, entitled “Centered Celebration,” was lovingly crafted by Roanoke native and nationally renowned artist Dorothy Gillespie.
Dorothy Gillespie was born and raised in Roanoke, deciding early to pursue a career as an artist. Her paintings, sculptures, and other installations can be found across the United States. She has over a dozen works on public display in the Roanoke area alone, and it’s worth visiting every one!
Cost: Free.
Hours:
- 10 am – 5 pm, Monday
- 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 1 – 6 pm, Sunday
Atrium Aquariums
At eye level, kids will be delighted to discover both freshwater and saltwater aquariums with both native and exotic marine life. Expect to find vibrant fish, prickly sea urchins, and spiky starfish atop colorful coral habitats.
Cost: Free.
Hours:
- 10 am – 5 pm, Monday
- 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 1 – 6 pm, Sunday
Mill Mountain Theatre
Be sure to take a quick peek at Mill Mountain Theatre while you’re on the first floor. This company puts on professional performances year-round, including concerts, children’s productions, and a combination of classic, contemporary, and even original stageplays!
Consider checking out Mill Mountain Theatre’s performance schedule when planning your visit, in case you might like to try to catch a show.
Note for Parents: Exact standards for children’s performances may vary. If you have specific content concerns according to your family’s values, you may wish to contact the theatre in advance to ask about a show before purchasing tickets.
Cost: Ticket prices vary by performance, showtime, and seat selection. Special pricing options may be available for tickets purchased last-minute, by groups, or as part of a season package. Mill Mountain Theatre also provides limited pay-what-you-can seating for children’s productions, as part of their commitment to community engagement!
Box Office Hours:
- 9:45 am – 4:45 pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 12:45 pm – 4:45 pm, Sunday
- Closed Monday
Second Floor at Center in the Square
The second floor at Center in the Square is designed with gamers in mind. It’s an awesome place to connect with your kids over multiple generations of video games, or to just experience some nostalgia yourself!
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Roanoke Pinball Museum
The Roanoke Pinball Museum offers dozens of modern and vintage games, even a brass Toupie Hollandaise from the 1800s! Adults and teens alike can enjoy this blast from the past as you play through pinball machines featuring Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Ghostbusters, Doctor Who, The Beatles, and more.
Note for Parents: Several of the retro pinball machines prominently feature suggestive imagery commonly associated with 1970s and ‘80s bars and arcades. The museum is generally recommended for ages 8 years and older, but parents may wish to use discretion.
Cost: $15 entrance fee, no additional cost for games.
Hours:
- 11 am – 8 pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 1 pm – 6 pm, Sunday
- Closed Monday
Roanoke Starcade
The Roanoke Starcade is a major highlight at Center in the Square, offering 3,000+ arcade games for every age and interest! Families will find plenty to play together or split up, and parents will appreciate the ease with which you can supervise multiple kids on different games in different parts of the museum.
We loved discovering classic family favorites like skee ball, air hockey, and pop-a-shot basketball games. There were tons of racing and fighting games, and some we haven’t seen in decades like ATARI Pong, Dance Dance Revolution, and Guitar Hero. We found a huge line-up of Star Wars games alongside other popular franchises, and even a little horse game for our youngest daughter to enjoy.
An especially popular area was the home console corner, with multi-player games like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Classic, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo.
Note for Parents: While the arcade offers games for all ages, some may display gory, suggestive, or other mature imagery. Parents may wish to be vigilant while navigating the arcade and use discretion about where to play based on your children’s ages.
Cost: $15 entrance fee, no additional cost for games.
Hours:
- 11 am – 8 pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 1 pm – 6 pm, Sunday
- Closed Monday
Don’t want to miss a thing in Roanoke, Virginia? Check out our Complete Family Travel Guide to Roanoke!
Level-Up Lounge
The Level-Up Lounge is a private party space which can be customized for birthday parties, professional gatherings, and more. Tables, chairs, tablecloths, and other options are available to provide the perfect experience for up to 60 guests.
Cost: Pricing varies with reservation details, but rates start at about $125/hour. Call Center in the Square at 540.342.5700 for additional information on pricing and packages.
Hours: By reservation only.
Third Floor at Center in the Square
The third floor of Center in the Square is designed especially for younger children, with hands-on exhibits and imaginative play spaces that can easily fill several hours with educational fun for your family.
Kids Square Children’s Museum
Kids Square Children’s Museum is one of the most impressive children’s museums we’ve visited, and we’ve been to quite a few! Its interactive exhibits are designed for children ages 10 years and younger, and most of the play areas will appeal to multiple ages, which makes it easy for parents to supervise siblings all in one space.
The museum is laid out in a roughly linear fashion, with the entrance right near the middle. In the Construction Zone at the far end of the museum to your right, fully functioning diggers are available with limited hours, so be sure to ask about their availability when you visit! The Construction Zone also offers life-sized learning experiences with tools, trucks, and construction sites.
Our children are all pretty young, and The Forest exhibit was our family’s favorite. It features a toddler playground, climbing wall, child-sized camper, and plenty of open space to run around between them. We also loved the Baby and Toddler Play Area right next to it, which was packed with baby-appropriate play stations and a barrier separating it from the surrounding play areas.
Little kids will enjoy STEAM Town, where they can pretend their way through food trucks, a pizzeria, ice cream shoppe, fire station, and more. STEAM City is even more elaborate—with a play house, preschool, grocery store, bank, and a radical variety of specialty spaces like medical practices, fashion stores, and cable communications!
Many more exhibits await your exploration as you make your way through Kids Square, like a roadway with kid-sized cars, dig pit, glow room, and sensory stations. There’s no way to get bored here, and your kids are sure to land on something new every time you visit.
Cost: $11 admission, infants under 12 months old get in free.
Museum Hours:
- 10 am – 4 pm, Tuesday – Wednesday
- 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday – Saturday
- 1 pm – 5 pm, Sunday
- Closed on Monday
Digger Hours:
- 11 am – 12 pm, Tuesday
- 11 am – 12 pm & 3 pm – 4 pm, Friday – Saturday
- 3 pm – 4 pm, Sunday
- Closed on Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
Fourth & Fifth Floors at Center in the Square
The fourth and fifth floors are home to one of the region’s top educational attractions, with two floors of interactive science experiences for curious kids and adults alike.
Science Museum of Western Virginia
The Science Museum of Western Virginia spans two stories and delivers a range of exhibits on everything from local wildlife to art, engineering, technology, and human health. We found hands-on exhibits for all ages, with most being ideal for elementary-aged kids and older.
The Eye Planetarium is a major draw to the museum, connecting science and art with immersive sensory experiences, traditional planetarium presentations on outer space, and unique cultural performances. Program times, cost, and age-appropriateness vary, so be sure to check the program schedule for details.
Our personal highlight was hands-down The Parakeet Garden on the upper level, where you can feed these beautiful birds as they land directly on you—from your hands to your shoelaces! Access to the garden is included with admission, but requires a museum guide to be available. Call ahead at 540.342.5710 to inquire about availability, and don’t miss making this memory with your kids!
For our youngest children, we loved The Cove and Tides Out, where touch tanks allow for gentle interactions with horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and more. They also enjoyed the Dino Dig and AR Sandbox, where they could build and dig in the sand. Other exhibits address a variety of ages and interests, like ancient ruins, animation, and movie magic.
Note for Parents: Some programs, exhibits, or signage may include messaging related to particular worldviews. Parents may wish to contact the museum in advance with questions about specific ideas presented, or plan to discuss any differences in beliefs with your children as needed.
Cost: Free admission for children under 3 years old, about $18 for children (ages 3 – 12 years), and $23 for adults (ages 13+) – these prices include taxes and fees. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, and military members.
Hours:
- 10 am – 5pm, Tuesday – Saturday
- 1 pm – 5 pm, Sunday
- Closed on Monday
Sixth & Seventh Floors at Center in the Square
The uppermost floors of Center in the Square are home to Six and Sky Rooftop Grille, a stunning rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar with panoramic views of Roanoke’s downtown.
Six and Sky Rooftop Grille
The atmosphere at Six and Sky is elevated and refined. The outdoor patio features comfortable seating around a fire pit, a calming koi pond with waterfall, and decorative lighting dark. Most of the outdoor seating is limited to cocktail service, but there are a few high-top tables where you can enjoy full dinner service.
This elevated dining experience is perfect for date night, girl’s night out, and professional networking, but we made it work with even our youngest children. We chose to sit outside at a high-top table, just holding our toddler in one of our laps while we took in the view.
Indoor seating is also available, with comfortable booths that are even more convenient for parents juggling little kids over dinner. The main menu is catered towards mature palettes, but our server kindly informed us that buttered noodles and chicken fingers with fries are unlisted options available for kids.
A dinner reservation at Six and Sky provides a memorable conclusion to your day at Center in the Square, and we do highly recommend making a reservation. However, you do have a good chance of finding an available table as a walk-up, too, if you are willing to eat early.
Either way, make a point to at least stop by the highest level of Six and Sky while you’re visiting Center in the Square. Whether you plan to eat or not, you don’t want to miss the chance to check out the view or even snap a few photos with the city behind you. This is one of the best vantage points in the middle of downtown Roanoke!
Cost: Appetizers start at $10, while main menu items range from the signature Rooftop Burger for only $20 to a full Seafood Tower for over $100. Preview the menu online for details, and don’t forget to tip your server!
Hours:
- 4 pm – 10 pm, Monday – Thursday
- 4 pm – 11 pm on Friday
- 2 pm – 11 pm on Saturday
- 2 pm – 10 pm on Sunday
Learn More About Center in the Square
What do you think? Are you ready to plan your visit to Center in the Square in Roanoke, VA? With seven floors of family fun, this really is a must-do for families visiting the city.
Take a look at these frequently asked questions to help with planning your visit!
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Where to park for Center in the Square?
- What ages are best for Center in the Square?
- Are there free things to do at Center in the Square?
- Would Center in the Square make a good field trip?
- Does Center in the Square host birthday parties?
- What food is available at Center in the Square?
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Where to park for Center in the Square?
The most convenient place to park while visiting Center in the Square is the Center in the Square Garage, a paid parking garage right next to the building. Metered street parking is also available throughout downtown, but availability is often limited. For a more complete list of parking options, check out this parking map from Downtown Roanoke, Inc.
What ages are best for Center in the Square?
With so many different attractions packed into one building, Center in the Square really does offer something for every age. Based on our experiences…
- Babies and toddlers are most likely to enjoy Kids Square Children’s Museum.
- Ages 5 – 10 years old will also love the Children’s Museum, elements of the Science Museum, some games in the Roanoke Starcade, and different children’s productions from Mill Mountain Theatre.
- Preteens and teens will find the most to do at the Science Museum and Roanoke Starcade. You might also consider Mill Mountain Theatre’s musical concerts, or dinner for special occasions at Six and Sky Rooftop Grille.
- Adults can have a great time gaming in the Roanoke Pinball Museum and Roanoke Starcade, catching some of Mill Mountain Theatre’s mainline performances, or dining in elegance at Six and Sky.
Are there free things to do at Center in the Square?
The atrium aquariums and Centered Celebration art display on the first floor of Center in the Square are free for passing visitors to enjoy. The rooftop at Six and Sky Rooftop Grille is also open to the public, so you can walk around, enjoy the view and fresh air, and take some photos together without staying to eat or ordering a drink.
If you are exploring downtown Roanoke and need a convenient place to stop for clean restrooms, water fountains, air conditioning, and a little break, you should definitely have Center in the Square on your radar.
Would Center in the Square make a good field trip?
Absolutely! Organized field trips are available in partnership with multiple attractions, including the Kids Square Children’s Museum, Roanoke Starcade, Science Museum, and Mill Mountain Theatre. Students will be led through hands-on experiences, which can be designed and planned in collaboration with educators to focus on preferred topics.
Does Center in the Square host birthday parties?
Yes! Kids Square Children’s Museum offers party packages with pop-culture themes, decorations, and activities, along with access to all the engaging exhibits at the museum. The Level-Up Lounge can be rented individually or in a combination package with the Roanoke Starcade or Pinball Museum. The Science Museum of Western Virginia accepts birthday party reservations on Saturdays and Sundays, too.
What food is available at Center in the Square?
The Candy Store on the first floor sells a variety of popular candy brands and locally made confections. Six and Sky Rooftop Grille on the top floor offers cocktail and dinner service.
However, Center in the Square is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Roanoke, putting many wonderful restaurants within easy walking distance! We suggest considering Scrambled for breakfast, The Hatch for lunch, or Jaybird Tavern for dinner.
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