No plans yet for the weekend? Here is information on things to do in Danville. The events include annual favorites such as the Danville Pittsylvania County Fair and the Old 97 Rail Days. Sports fans will enjoy high school and college football and sports car vintage racing.
However, you also will enjoy two new events: the performance of Tango Buenos Aires hosted by the Danville Concert Association and the Park and Recreation Department’s first Barktober Fest featuring a variety of both pet and kid friendly activities.
27TH ANNUAL DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY FAIR
When: Through Saturday
Where: Danville Pittsylvania County Fairgrounds, 1861 Milton Hwy, Ringgold, VA
Come celebrate 27 years of fun and excitement at the 2017 Annual Fair! This year’s event continues through Saturday, Sept. 23. This weekend, the fair features a demolition derby at 7:30 p.m. on both on Friday and Saturday. James E. Strates Shows runs a midway featuring your favorite rides, games and shows. For a full schedule, go to wwww.dpcfairgrounds.com.
BARKTOBER FEST
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Community Market, 629 Craghead St.
Have a howling good time this fall at Danville’s first Barktober Fest sponsored by Mt. Hermon Family Vet! Bring your pup to The Community Market for a wide variety of both pet and kid friendly activities. The event will feature various pet product vendors, live music, beverage tent provided by Danville Riverview Rotary, German themed photo booth and Kat-n-Around Authentic German Food Truck! Admission and parking are free. Call Morgan Kerns at 434-799-5150 for more information.
FOOTBALL FEVER
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: J.T. Christopher Stadium, 701 Broad St.
After a bye week, the GW Eagles (2-1) are home to face Martinsville (1-3). Prior to the bye, the Eagles defeated Jefferson Forest 57-56 in a thriller. The Bulldogs are coming off a 47-14 loss to Byrd. Their lone victory came two weeks ago against Chatham, 48-19. The weather forecast calls for mostly clear skies and a temperature in the high 70s at kickoff.
TANGO BUENOS AIRES DANCE AND MUSIC
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Frith Fine Arts Center at Averett University, 100 Mountain View Ave., Danville, VA
The Danville Concert Association’s performance series will feature direct from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tango Buenos Aires performing a journey through dance and music of the "Spirit of Argentina." Tango Buenos Aires has become one of Argentina’s great cultural exports, known throughout the Americas, Europe and the Far East as the most authentic and uncompromising representative of the Tango. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and can be ordered online through Eventbrite. For more information, visit www.danvilleconcert.org or visit Facebook.
HEACOCK CLASSIC GOLD CUP HISTORIC RACES & TRANS AM RACING SERIES
When: 8 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Virginia International Raceway, 1245 Pine Tree Road, Alton, VA
The Sports Car Vintage Racing Association returns to VIR to close its east coast season, bringing with it cars and a passion for racing that have stood the test of time. Memories will return with every turn of the tire as VIR continues the tradition of its annual Gold Cup Historic Races & Car Show. Past event favorites include a group of 25 Austin Healeys and a Maserati 450S just like the one Caroll Shelby drove when he won the first race at VIR. For more information, visit www.virnow.com.
OLD 97 RAIL DAYS
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St., Danville, VA
Enjoy N-scale models traveling through tiny towns and rural areas brought to by the Eastern N-Lines partnership. Check out a 1,200 square-foot display of model trains running and weaving along multi-layer tracks crossing artistic landscapes of mountains, valleys and rivers. Everything is to scale from the loads on the boxcars to the cows in the fields. Walk through a fully restored Norfolk and Western caboose along the train tracks and check out a miniature version of the Old 97 wreck scene and Danville’s historic train station in Science Station. Fifty percent off gallery admission on Saturday. Regular admission price on Sunday. For more information, visit www.dsc.smv.org.
BE PART OF THE AVERETT TEAMS
When: Various times Friday and Saturday
Where: Averett North Campus, 707 Mount Cross Road, Danville, VA
The university’s women’s volleyball, men’s soccer and football teams will be in action at home on Friday and Saturday.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the women's volleyball team hosts Bridgewater College at the Grant Center.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, the men’s soccer team takes on Covenant College. At 6 p.m. Saturday, the football team (1-2, 1-0 USA South) returns home to face Methodist University. Last weekend, big plays by the defense and special teams propelled Averett University football to a 19-7 road win at Ferrum College as both teams opened conference play. Methodist is winless on the season, with losses to Campbell University (70-0), Guilford College (56-17) and a home loss last weekend to LaGrange (39-30).