Here are the best things to do in Danville this weekend. Activities range from football to fundraisers, a meet-and-greet with local artists and artisans to an annual brew fest, and a comedy night to a concert featuring an advanced community handbell ensemble bringing sacred and secular handbell music to Danville.
Ready? Let’s go!
GW FOOTBALL
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: J.T. Christopher Stadium, Christopher Lane, Danville, VA
Last week, George Washington High School claimed the Piedmont District title in a 28-21 thriller over powerhouse rival Magna Vista. This week, GW moves on to the first round of the state playoffs. GW enters with a 9-1 record and seeded No. 7 in the Group 4A West and will host Liberty High School from the town of Bealeton in Fauquier County. Liberty has a record of 6-4 and is seeded No. 10. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
SCHOOLFIELD MUSEUM INDOOR YARD SALE
When: 7 a.m. Saturday
Where: Schoolfield Museum and Cultural Center, 917 Main St., Danville, VA
Calling all yard sale enthusiasts. The Schoolfield Museum and Cultural Center will hold a fundraiser yard sale in the basement of the museum. Lots of items from which to choose.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
When: 8 a.m. 10 10 A.M. Saturday
Where: Kickback Jack’s, 141 Crown Drive, Danville, VA
God’s Storehouse presents the second annual Breakfast with Santa. Come out and join Mr. and Mrs. Claus for breakfast. Tickets are $10 and will be sold at Karen's Hallmark (Piedmont Mall), Woodforest National Bank (inside Walmart), and God's Storehouse. Tickets will not be sold at the door, so make sure you buy them in advance! For more information, call (434) 793-3663.
RIVER DISTRICT ARTISANS’ CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: River District Artisans, 411 Main St., Danville, VA
Come meet local artists and artisans!. See beautiful handmade items that will make perfect Christmas gifts. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (434) 434) 228-4125 or visit www.thearcofsouthside.org/
BRIGHT LEAF BREW FEST
When: 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where Community Market, 629 Craghead St., Danville, VA
The 8th Annual Bright Leaf Brew Fest offers a day of fun with a thousand of your closest friends at Danville's historic Community Market. Sample from more than 100 different beers, enjoy live music, and eat some delicious food. Tickets remain available as of Tuesday, but a sellout is expected. This is a 21-and-over event. You must show your ID for entrance to the event. Purchase tickets by visiting or calling the Danville Welcome Center at (434) 793-4636. A portion of the profits from the Bright Leaf Brew Fest will be given to the Danville Area Humane Society. Cost is $27 in advance, $30 day of event. For more information, visit www.brightleafbrewfest.com
FUN COMEDY NIGHT (update)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Historic North Theatre, 629 North Main St, Danville, VA
Come and have a fun evening at our All-Star Comedy Night on the Gallery Stage featuring clean professional comedians. We have had many requests to serve alcohol for our comedy night, so we are honoring those requests and we will be serving beer, wine, and mixed drinks before and during the show. The headliner is John Floyd, sometimes known as "The Mouth of Mayberry." He was a finalist and voted audience favorite at the 2013 Clean Comedy Challenge. John has worked with about every comedian from legends, such as Milton Berle, Tommy Chong and Soupy Sales to current stars such as Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Jamie Foxx. He's also appeared on CBS-TV's "Central Park West" and was a semi-finalist in the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival. The feature will be Brad Tassell, who is an award-winning, hilarious and relevant comic with a lifetime of wisdom and a refreshing approach. Cost: $15. For more information, call (434) 793-SHOW (7469) or visit http://thenorththeatre.com/
The RALEIGH RINGERS
When: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where George Washington High School auditorium, 701 Broad St., Danville, VA
So it’s just churches that have handbell choirs, right? Well, think again when the Raleigh Ringers, playing their astonishing bells, cut loose with Boots’ Randolph’s “Yakety Sax” — and sometimes in the same concert, with the soaring finale to Stravinsky’s “Firebird.” The only word for these 16 dedicated Ringers — and their 32 virtuosic hands — is “WOW.” Presented by the Danville Concert Association. Cost: $20 adults, $10 student, and $15 for adult groups of 10 or more. For more information, call (434) 792-9242.