Take Home Danville Spirit This Weekend

Head downtown this Friday and Saturday for the continuation of the Discover Danville Association's  'Spirit of Danville' holiday shopping event.

Participating merchants downtown, at , and the , will help spread holiday cheer with a complimentary ornament, raffle and shopping discounts.

Marcia Harmon of downtown, and the current President of the Discover Danville Association, encourages shoppers to head downtown and "avoid the mob at the mall," to get personalized help selecting gifts.

She says shopping locally at her store and others, can make gift buying less of a chore and a more of a holiday delight.

"The shop is brimming with holiday sparkly sparkle," said Harmon. "I have a wide assortment of unique items, including vintage and antique ornaments, and gift items."

Her store offers complimentary wrapping and cards with a gift purchase, to "make the experience easy, and the gifts unique."

As part of the local shopping event, a trolley will transport shoppers between the shops for free, while entertainers will keep the atmosphere festive.

Participating merchants along Hartz Avenue will be part of a candy cane trail of treats and stocking-stuffers (pickup a walking map at the corner of Hartz and Prospect Avenues). When you visit the participating merchants, you'll qualify to enter a raffle on Dec. 4 for a flat screen television.

Activities and entertainment for kids includes a special guest appearance by Santa at on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8:p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids can take pictures with Santa at his workshop near . Parents bring and take the photos with their own cameras. 

Want to enjoy the shopping festivities without the kids? The town has a "Kids' Night and Day Out" drop-off program at the Danville Community Center on Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-register by calling 925-314-3400. Cost is $20 for Danville residents, and $24 for non-residents. Children must be fully potty trained to attend.