Winter in the Village is a day-long community-wide holiday festival in Dansville, NY. A myriad of events, activities, shopping and dining opportunities are offered from morning to evening on Saturday, December 7. There is something for everyone to enjoy and experience at the 28th annual festival! Here are a few of the highlights.
The 2024 theme is Vintage Christmas. Business and building owners use the theme to inspire their beautiful storefront and window décor. Additionally, a Winter in the Village costume contest selects six individuals (3 children/3 adults) best representing the theme on the Dansville Public Library lawn at 4 p.m. Prizes are generously provided by the Griese family and Scovill’s.
Winter in the Village is the perfect day to shop local! Many downtown stores and restaurants offer specials and activities for the festival. Holiday shopping opportunities can also be found at North Dansville Town Hall from 10 a.m.to 7 p.m. and Genesee Community College from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. where arts and crafts vendors and community organizations will be set up. More vendors, service groups, and a few favorite food trucks will be on Main Street, including some indoors hosted by businesses.
Santa and Mrs. Claus stop by Dansville Public Library to visit with children from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Then look for them in the parade at 4:45 p.m. as they make their way to Church Park to light the trees at Dansville Lion’s Club Fantasy of Lights.
Dansville’s first responders join in the parade with their vehicles, along with K’s Canines, DCS drum line, and community groups, notably Western New York Side Saddle Club. Look forward to their caroling up and down Main Street in advance of the parade.
Thanks to dozens of donors, 20 ice sculptures in the Vintage Christmas theme are scheduled to arrive and be set in place midday on December 7. Make sure to see them all and the live ice carving demo at Main and Ossian Streets at 5:30 p.m.
An evening Wine and Spirits Walk in the downtown business district rounds out the evening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wine, beer, and cider as well as many non-alcoholic options, refreshments and treats are free at participating locations with the purchase of the 2024 commemorative tasting glass ($15 each). Glass sales and ID checks happen at the Dansville Chamber office (Wamp Real Estate), 126 Main Street starting at 5:15 p.m. There are no prior glass sales.
Main Street between Perine and Chestnut Streets will be closed 4 to 8:30 p.m. for the parade and wine walk. Parking in municipal lots is recommended all day; there are two on Elizabeth Street and another behind the town hall on Clara Barton Street.
The Dansville Chamber of Commerce Events Committee coordinates information and marketing for the festival, and several of the activities are sponsored by the Chamber. Flyers with all activities and event details will be available in some Main Street shops the week of Thanksgiving and on dansvillechamber.com(Events/Winter in the Village). Updates will be posted on Facebook and Instagram pages: Dansville’s Winter in the Village. Questions: dansvillechambermarketing@gmail.com .
