Dansville Travel Guide

On Labor Day weekend, every year, Dansville hosts the festival of balloons; hot air balloons that you can ride in.

The place is packed with arts and craft tents and a food court and thousands of people. There are entertainers (clowns, musicians, jugglers) for kids and adults. But mostly there are huge balloons taking off on various balloon races. They are all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors.
If you are not a member of one of the balloon association crews, then you can always take a ride on a tethered balloon that rises way over the Maple Street area and is brought back down after a 15 minute view from way up there.

It is four days of fun and excitement, from Friday to Monday. How much you spend is dependent on how much you do. $25 for a balloon ride; $5 for a food plate; the entertainment is free (but you need your own chair if you want to sit down). Everything else costs similar to what you would pay for souveniers anywhere.

Come on down for one day (Saturday is best) or for the whole event weekend.

1 more image

Arby's is popular with the local inhabitants because it is relatively good food, fast and cheap.

The main item of the menu is Roast Beef (R.B.) in the form of hot and cold sandwiches. The sandwiches are made when you order them (as opposed to some places where they are pre-packaged and microwaved). You get a fair portion of meat on a bun or sub sandwich with additives (cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonaise, special sauce).

From that popular start, the restaurant has added chicken sandwiches and various vegetable and meat wraps. Garden salads, cinnamon treats, ice cream shakes and a whole breakfast selection of fast finger foods makes this menu comparable to any of the bigger name fast food places.

Late August, Dansville, and the skies are covered with colorful hot air balloons.

This three-day event has arts and crafts tents and food vendors and live entertainment.
There will be amusement rides and a local car show. It is a feast for the eyes and a festival of the spirit.

You can take an early morning balloon ride (for a price) or watch some local talent belt out a classic song with guitar accompaniment. But the main attraction is the balloons; dozens of them at each launching and 4-5 launches over the festival period.

So bring your own seat and a few bucks in your wallet. Pack the kids in the car and head down to Dansville.

see website below for details of time and date

to get there:
take route 15 or I-390 to Dansville. in Dansville , go to the airport and see the signs

We have never had any problems in Dansville, but we have only been there during the day or early evening.

The crime statistics show that the town is about average for violent crimes and a bit above average for non-violent ones. The prevelant crimes were rape, assault and theft. About the only crimes I have ever seen there are speeders and drunken drivers.

There are 13 registered sex offenders in the area and information about them can be seen at the website below.

Use some common precautions if you are staying in Dansville. Keep your valuables out of sight and locked away; lock car doors and the motel door. Don't venture into unfamiliar areas alone or late at night.
Common sense will reduce the risks and keep you safe on your vacation.