Danville
Around Danville
Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Kentucky · 56k people
Danville
“City of Firsts”, “Heart of the Bluegrass”
Where the Bluegrass begins
UK blueBourbon goldBluegrass green
Welcome to Danville, the heart of the Bluegrass! Whether you're here for the history, the horses, or just a good bourbon, you'll find a friendly community with plenty to explore. Come join the conversation and share what you love about this corner of Kentucky.
Clubs for Danville
No clubs for Danville yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Danville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Danville. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Restored 19th-century Shaker community with crafts and farm.
- Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site Site of Kentucky's largest Civil War battle, with trails.
- Constitution Square Historic Site Where Kentucky's first constitution was drafted.
- Old Fort Harrod State Park Reconstructed pioneer fort in Harrodsburg.
- Centre College Historic liberal arts college with a classic campus.
- Pioneer Playhouse Outdoor summer theater since 1950.
- Outdoors Hiking the Perryville Battlefield trails
- Outdoors Boating and fishing on Herrington Lake
- With kids Exploring Shaker Village's hands-on history
- With kids Visiting the Great American Dollhouse Museum
- Evenings Live bluegrass at local bars
- Evenings Bourbon tastings at area distilleries
- Locals love horse farm tours
- Locals love bourbon distillery visits
Through the year
- Great American Brass Band Festival June A signature brass band celebration in June.
- Perryville Battlefield Reenactment October Civil War reenactment at the historic battlefield.
- Boyle County Fair July County fair with rides, exhibits, and local food.
- Mercer County Fair July County fair in Harrodsburg with classic attractions.
Humid subtropical with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, winters mild with occasional snow, springs rainy, and autumns crisp and colorful. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be outside.
Talk like a local
- “y'all”
- you all
- “fixin' to”
- about to
- “crick”
- creek
- “holler”
- hollow or valley
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for University of Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals
Eat and drink
- Kentucky burgoo beer cheese
- Beer cheese country ham biscuits
- Country ham biscuits Derby pie
- Derby pie Bourbon
- Bourbon end
Where people go
- Historic downtowns Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Horse farms
- Horse farms Battlefield sites
- Battlefield sites Bluegrass music venues
- Bluegrass music venues Bourbon distilleries
- Bourbon distilleries end
Heritage and traditions
Danville and its neighbors are proud of their role as the birthplace of Kentucky's statehood, their well-preserved Shaker and Civil War heritage, and the warm, small-town Bluegrass hospitality that welcomes visitors to historic streets, horse farms, and rolling countryside.
This time of year in Danville
- Color drives Fall Scenic drives through the Bluegrass countryside to see autumn leaves.
- Apple picking Fall Visiting local orchards for apple picking and cider.
- Crab Orchard Apple Festival October A celebration of the apple harvest with crafts and local food.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Shaker Village Christmas by Candlelight December A candlelit tour of the Shaker Village with carols and traditional decorations.
- Harrodsburg's Olde Kentucky Christmas December Historic home tours and holiday events in Harrodsburg.
- Kentucky State BBQ Festival September A barbecue competition and tasting event held in Danville.
- Crab Orchard Apple Festival October A celebration of the apple harvest with crafts and local food.
Landmarks with a story
- Old Mud Meeting House A 19th-century church built of clay and straw in Harrodsburg, one of the oldest surviving churches in Kentucky.
- Ephraim McDowell House Where Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed the first successful ovariotomy in 1809.
- Morgan Row A Federal-style row house in Harrodsburg dating to the early 1800s.
- Kentucky School for the Deaf Founded in 1823, the first state-supported school for the deaf in the U.S., with a museum.
Food traditions
- Burgoo A thick stew of meat and vegetables, a staple at local gatherings like the Brass Band Festival.
- Beer cheese A spicy cheese spread, often served with crackers, a Kentucky original.
- Country ham biscuits Salt-cured ham on a biscuit, a breakfast favorite.
- Derby pie A chocolate and walnut pie, a Kentucky classic.
- Shaker lemon pie A tangy pie made with thinly sliced lemons, a recipe from the Shaker community at Pleasant Hill.
Music and arts
- Brass band music A strong tradition celebrated at the Great American Brass Band Festival.
- Outdoor theater Pioneer Playhouse is the oldest outdoor theater in Kentucky.
- Shaker craftsmanship Oval boxes and furniture made at Pleasant Hill are preserved and taught.
- Bluegrass music Local venues host bluegrass performances, a Kentucky staple.
A little history
- Harrodsburg founded as the first permanent settlement in Kentucky. 1774
- Kentucky's first constitution drafted at Constitution Square in Danville. 1792
- Ephraim McDowell performs the first successful ovariotomy in Danville. 1809
- Kentucky School for the Deaf established in Danville. 1823
- Shaker community at Pleasant Hill flourishes. 1805-1910
Rivalries
- Kentucky Wildcats vs Louisville Cardinals College basketball bragging rights.
- Danville High vs Boyle County High Local football rivalry.
- Centre College vs Transylvania University Oldest college rivalry in Kentucky.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day High school basketball
- Outdoors Walking the historic districts of Danville and Harrodsburg
- Outdoors Kayaking on the Kentucky River
- With kids Attending the Kentucky State BBQ Festival
- With kids Making a craft at Shaker Village
Locals speak with a Southern accent, often using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' They may drop the 'g' in words like 'going' and say 'git' for 'get.' The pronunciation of 'Danville' is often 'Dan-vul' with a soft 'a'.
Only here
- The first Kentucky constitution was signed in Danville, making it the 'Birthplace of the Commonwealth.'
- The Kentucky School for the Deaf is the first state-supported school for the deaf in the U.S.
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is the largest restored Shaker community in the country.
- The Perryville Battlefield is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the slow pace: Danville is a small town where people greet each other.
- Try the local food: country ham, beer cheese, and a Derby pie.
- Visit the historic sites: Constitution Square, Shaker Village, and Perryville Battlefield.
- Learn about the Civil War history; the battlefield is a must-see.
- Be aware of horse farm etiquette: don't feed or touch horses without permission.
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Nearby
Every areaHarrodsburgKentuckyWhere Kentucky's story begins.LebanonKentuckyRolling bluegrass hills, bourbon air, and small-town warmth.RichmondKentuckyWhere the mountains meet the bluegrassLexingtonKentuckyWhere horses and bourbon set the pace of life.CampbellsvilleKentuckyWhere bluegrass meets Southern hospitality.FrankfortKentuckyWhere Kentucky’s bourbon, horses, and history meet.SomersetKentuckyWhere the lake meets the hillsCorbinKentuckyRooted in the mountains, rich in heart.
Danville, KY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.