Danville residents and visitors will find downtown Danville bustling on the third Thursday of April, June, August, and October, thanks to the return of the popular shopping event – “Third Thursdays.”

Third Thursdays was launched in 2022 by the Heart of Danville as a promotion to encourage people to be intentional about supporting downtown businesses. Now in its third year, the events have become summertime favorites for locals looking to enjoy all that Danville has to offer in its historic downtown, from fine dining, to unique shops, to a world-class art museum, to green spaces perfect for family picnics.

“Now that the streetscape project is finished, there is just a surge of energy and excitement about downtown,” said Melanie Crossfield, Community Liaison for the City of Danville. “We’re looking forward to welcoming folks back downtown this summer.”

The basic structure of each Third Thursday event will include evening shopping hours at local shops, plus activation of the downtown entertainment district, which allows people to “sip and stroll” with alcoholic beverages purchased from licensed premises downtown.

The theme of the April 18 event is “Danville in Bloom,” designed to celebrate the arrival of spring in Kentucky. Several vendors from the Boyle County Farmers Market will be hosting pop-ups downtown, including Honest & Herbs, Good Thyme Family Farm, Stacy’s Studs (selling handmade earrings), and Faith Lane Farm. Harrodsburg flower farm Wild Roots is offering a special downtown bouquet pickup on the evening of the 18th (pre-orders required!). Lexington artist Sara Woods will be popping up at Plaid Elephant Books with her line of floral stationary, greeting cards, and stickers.

The Plein Air Artists of Central KY have organized a paint-out in conjunction with the Third Thursday event, inviting their members to create art ‘al fresco’ throughout the downtown area. Weather permitting, community members can chat with artists and learn more about the process of creating landscape art outdoors.

“What we’ve heard from people is that they’re looking for low-key, family-friendly events,” said Kate Snyder, owner of Plaid Elephant Books and one of the Third Thursday organizers. “They want a reason to come downtown beyond the big music events like Downtown Downbeat and the Great American Brass Band Festival or the Constitution Square Festival. Third Thursdays fits into that niche perfectly.”

The Boyle County Public Library will be hosting a “propagation station” on Main Street, where aspiring gardeners can pick up seeds and browse garden books for sale. For parents looking to enjoy a date night, the Art Center is hosting Kids Night Out, with art activities for kids in grades K-5. Chick-Fil-A of Danville will be providing dinner for participants. Pre-registration is required.

There will be four Third Thursday events in 2024, each with its own theme. April 18th – Danville in Bloom. June 20th – Downtown Adventures. August 15th – Lemons & Leftovers. October 17th – Witches Night.