Festivals have fun Danville, heritage |

Eight years in the past, Van Wagner and a gaggle of volunteers took on the duty of holding an occasion that was not going to take the place of Danville’s Iron Heritage Pageant, however was going to run in the summertime and canopy a lot of the identical territory.

For as a lot as Wagner did not wish to change the unique — a terrific neighborhood occasion that grew by leaps and bounds throughout its 16-year run from 1998 to 2014 — the brand new Danville Heritage Pageant can be eternally linked to it. In comparison with it.

Now, Wagner and mates are approaching a decade of working the brand new occasion, and giving no indicators of slowing down, particularly after partnering with the Danville Enterprise Alliance (DBA) and its Fall Arts and Crafts Honest.

“The Heritage Pageant has discovered its residence by partnering with the DBA for the Arts and Crafts Pageant,” he stated. “It is an important match.”

This yr, Wagner will probably be main a hike from Danville to Minersville (recognized as we speak as Mausdale a couple of mile away from the borough) on Friday, then at 1 p.m. Saturday he’ll give a presentation on the eel dam — a construction constructed 6,000 years in the past by native People that also stands as we speak — earlier than conducting a stay musical efficiency at 3 p.m., then taking part in a heritage live performance beginning at 7 p.m.

“I’m excited for the iron ore mining heritage stroll across the Robbins path (assembly at Hess discipline at 6:30 p.m. Friday),” he stated. “I’ll focus on the places of a number of iron ore mines in addition to some tragedies that befell there. We’ll go to the location of the deepest mine within the borough of Danville — you will must attend if you wish to know the place that is.”

That solely scratches the floor of deliberate occasions, which embody a 5K run, historical past displays — together with a featured discuss on meals manufacturing and storage Sunday — historic excursions, prepare rides, extra stay music and fireworks Saturday night time. And, in fact, the forty third Arts and Crafts Pageant may even be happening concurrently on Saturday.

In 2016, a yr after the primary profitable pageant, Wagner stated Danville is an “superb city” with an “superb historical past.”

“The information and expertise of native historians, performers and musicians is unparalleled,” he stated. “The neighborhood has proven that we wish to have fun this heritage.”

Wagner and his volunteers began with cellphone calls, a finances of zero and a drive to let the neighborhood proceed to have fun its wealthy heritage throughout a summer time pageant.

Now, after partnering with the DBA and the Arts and Crafts Pageant, it appears in place to proceed on for a very long time.