Danville Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the River District Association, recently launched a new marketing effort promoting holiday events in Danville called December on the Dan. The event listing will appear in various advertising venues and on social media.
“I’m very excited about this partnership,” said Diana Schwartz, River District Association executive director. “There are so many great events in the River District and beyond this holiday season. We hope December on the Dan will help the community in planning their holiday activities and will add to their enjoyment of the season.”
In print, the listing focuses mainly on events hosted by Parks and Recreation, RDA, River District, and Community Partner Agencies. On social media, the listing includes events throughout the community.
“You would be hard pressed to find a weekend in December that doesn’t have an opportunity to celebrate the season,” said Bill Sgrinia, Parks and Recreation. “The holidays can be a very busy time; we want to make sure everyone takes a few minutes to slow down and enjoy themselves and make a few new memories with their friends and families.”
The season kicks off in grandeur fashion the first weekend of December with the following events:
December 2
- Holiday Market at the Danville Community Market ~ 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Danville Farmers’ Market for a special holiday treat featuring handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, locally grown trees and more. Free to browse.
- “The Polar Express” in the Digital Dome ~ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dress your children in their favorite pajamas and bring your entire family to the Danville Science Center to watch the holiday classic on the Digital Dome. Space is limited so call and reserve your spot now. Tickets are $15 per person. (434) 791-5160
- Christmas on the Plaza ~ 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kick off the holidays at the Main Street Plaza as the River District Association hosts its annual tree lighting event. Celebrate the season with music, treats and of course a little magic. The event is free to attend and participants are encouraged to vote for their favorite store windows.
- Luminaria Trail Walk ~ 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Danville Parks and Recreation will host the annual Luminaria Trail Walk following the tree lighting on the Plaza. Enjoy a walk on the Riverwalk Trail from Main Street Plaza to the Crossing while luminaries, carolers and hot chocolate add to your season. Free event.
- River District on Ice Opening Night ~ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. River District on Ice, a synthetic ice skating rink at the Crossing at the Dan, will open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 2 and will remain open through Jan. 2. The rink will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $2 per person for a 20-minute session (cash only). Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
December 3
- Jingle Bell Fun Run ~ 2:45 p.m. Race down the parade route in your favorite (or ugliest) Christmas sweater to kick off the parade. There is no registration or fee. Runners should meet at the intersection of Broad and Rison Streets prior to the start of the parade. This is a pet friendly event.
- Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade ~ 3 p.m. Danville‘s annual Christmas Parade will be held Sunday, Dec. 3. This year’s theme is “Peace on Earth.” The parade will start at Rison and Broad Streets and continue downtown, ending at the intersection of Main and Craghead Streets.
For a full list of events this December, visit www.Facebook.com/DecemberontheDan. Area organizations, churches and businesses wishing to promote events on the page can email links to their own Facebook events to carterr@danvilleva.gov or riverdistrictassociation@gmail.com.
