The 52nd annual Dayton Holiday Festival kickoff celebration & parade will return on Friday, November 29, 2024.
October 29, 2024 (DAYTON, Ohio) – The kickoff to the holiday season in downtown Dayton is just one month away! The month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by AES Ohio, officially begins with the Grande Illumination tree lighting and the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights on Friday, November 29! The 52nd annual community tradition begins at 3 p.m. at Courthouse Square and the surrounding areas with live entertainment, crafts, and more free holiday fun for the whole family until the tree, sponsored by Premier Health, is officially lit for the season at 7 p.m. and the parade begins just moments later.
Free festivities planned for the Dayton Holiday Festival kickoff on Friday, November 29, include the Grande Illumination tree-lighting ceremony presented by AES Ohio, live musical entertainment on the main stage sponsored by Sinclair Community College, free carnival rides at the Street Fair on Third, crafts, performers, and more kids activities in the Candy Cane Clubhouse at STRATACACHE Tower, the Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Adventure sponsored by Wright-Patt Credit Union, horse-drawn wagon rides, and the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays gingerbread house contest in the Old Courthouse.
The Grande Illumination tree-lighting ceremony, begins at 7:00 p.m. on Courthouse Square, followed immediately by the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, presented by White-Allen Chevrolet and sponsored by CareSource with LED parade lights sponsored by NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals. The parade will feature a variety of seasonal floats, horses, and local entertainers illuminated by more than 100,000 LED lights to officially welcome the holiday season to downtown Dayton.
“The Dayton Holiday Festival has been a cherished tradition of our downtown Dayton community for more than 50
years, always keeping Mrs. Virginia Kettering’s mission and legacy at its forefront,” said Katie Meyer, President of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “This celebration is about bringing everyone in our community together to create lasting
memories, regardless of economic means, or any other factor. Helping make this tradition
happen is a joy every year for myself, our staff, our sponsors, and our community partners.”
More information about the Grande Illumination, Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, and the month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by AES Ohio, is coming soon to daytonholidayfestival.org. A complete list of downtown events, dining guides, parking maps and more can be found at www.downtowndayton.org. Follow the DDP on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, to keep up with more downtown events and news.
The Dayton Holiday Festival is presented by The Downtown Dayton Partnership and AES Ohio and is sponsored by White-Allen Chevrolet, CareSource, and the Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. Additional support comes from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals, Premier Health, Sinclair College, Wright-Patt Credit Union, Dayton Children’s Hospital as well as media sponsors iHeartRADIO, Dayton.com, and Key-Ads.
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