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Danville, VA Fitness and Outdoor Recreation Options
Danville and Pittsylvania County's recreation opportunities include everything from water sports on the Dan River or local lakes to Danville Science Center programs, combining education, culture and beautiful scenery with opportunities for fitness and exercise.Rivers and Lakes Pittsylvania County offers plenty of water-based fun, with the Dan River snaking through the southern half of the county. One of the chief pursuits on the Dan River is paddling, with canoeists and kayakers visiting from... Read More »
Mary's Diner and Midtown Market Exemplify Food Scene Success in Danville
Delicious food combined with history and dedication is the recipe for success in Danville and Pittsylvania County. Two businesses that exemplify this success are Mary's Diner and Midtown Market.
Mary's Diner When Mary Williams opened her one-room diner in 1951‚ she had one goal: serve good‚ home-cooked meals in a Christian atmosphere. A couple of relocations and several expansions later‚ the second, third and now fourth generations of her family are carrying on that tradition... Read More »
Danville and Pittsylvania County Arts and Culture Scene Rich in History
The arts scene in Danville and Pittsylvania County showcases the area's dedication to preserving history, from a renovated vintage theater to the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, to walking tours of some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in Virginia.
Gretna TheatreThe Gretna Theatre 30 miles to the north of Danville has been restored to imbue a sense of nostalgia as it serves new generations of audience members. Gretna Theatre is open mostly on Friday‚... Read More »
Danville Museum of Arts and History Graces Impressive Sutherlin Mansion
Visual art and rich history unite at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.
The museum is in the Sutherlin Mansion on Millionaires Row, an antebellum home that originally served as the residence of tobacco entrepreneur and former Danville mayor Major William T. Sutherlin. In 1865, the house became the temporary residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, where he penned his last official proclamation as president of the Confederacy, thus shaping Danville's legacy as the Last... Read More »
Education, Recreation and Culture Converge at Crossing at the Dan
A centerpiece of downtown Danville, Crossing at the Dan first appears to be a complex of restored old buildings near the Dan River. Get in a bit closer, and you’ll see a lot going on any given day. The site consists of a live performance venue called Carrington Pavilion, which is located on what was formerly called Auctioneers’ Park, where the tobacco was once sold. Nearby are two renovated Southern Railway buildings – now used to house a train station and portions of the Danville Science... Read More »
Gretna Theatre, North Theatre Renew Silver Screen Experience
Shh, the movie's starting once again at North Theatre and the Gretna Theatre.
For those who recall the flicker of old film reels on the screen‚ the North and Gretna theaters bring back memories. And for kids lining up to see the latest Disney movie‚ it’s all about creating new ones.
The North Theatre in Danville and the Gretna Theatre 30 miles to the north both have been restored carefully‚ imbuing a sense of nostalgia as they serve new generations of audience members in the Danville-... Read More »
Danville Farmers Market Brings Farm Fresh Fare
Danville farmers know a thing or two about farm fresh, and every spring and summer they pool their knowledge at the Danville Farmers' Market. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the market features the freshest of the farmers' stock, including everything from locally grown fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, fresh baked goods and more. Saturday sees master gardeners on hand to give free advice to gardening beginners, and on the third Saturday of each month guests can get a free blood pressure... Read More »
Rivers and Lakes Provide Plenty of Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
With the Dan River snaking through the southern half of the county and the dual lakes of Smith Mountain and Leesville to the north, Pittsylvania County suffers no shortage of fun for outdoor enthusiasts.
The river that gave Danville its name remains at the heart of recreational activities – in and out of the water. The Dan River borders several of the community’s parks, including the Dan Daniel Memorial, Anglers, Abreu-Grogan and Camilla Williams parks.
One of the chief pursuits on the Dan... Read More »
Danville Science Center Studies Science of Fun
Schools aren’t the only education resource in Danville these days, and there is a place where kids – and their parents – can go where science is especially fun.
The Danville Science Center welcomes more than 25,000 visitors each year, offering a variety of programming for children and adults alike. Many of the exhibits are hands on, meaning that kids of all ages can become even more engrossed in the colorful displays of learning.
The center originated from an idea in 1993... Read More »
Arts and Barbecue Come Together Each May at Ballou Park
Danville knows how to celebrate spring’s arrival.
A Festival in the Park takes place in late May‚ and a Pigs in the Park barbecue competition occurs that same weekend at Ballou Park each year.
The original intention of Festival in the Park in 1974 was to celebrate spring’s arrival with a community picnic‚ and today a huge crafts and artist’s show highlights the weekend. Meanwhile‚ the Pigs in the Park barbecue competition features 40 contestants vying for $20‚000 in prize money. Read More »
