Family-friendly events are planned throughout the holiday season as the 50th Dayton Holiday Festival continues
December 5, 2022 (DAYTON, Ohio) – The holiday season is just getting started downtown! Free and family-friendly events are happening all this month as part of the 50th Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by AES Ohio. Visitors are encouraged to plan a day of family fun during Family Fun Days and keep coming back downtown for ongoing events happening through the holiday season.
Looking for lights? Look no further than the DOWNTOWN JINGLE LIGHTS! This interactive light show is set to music along East Monument Avenue and Main Street. This free activity invites you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Downtown Jingle Lights with the help of speakers installed along the route. Downtown Jingle Lights are presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership and are sponsored by iHeartRADIO. During your walk, take a look back at 50 years of magical memories along MEMORY LANE ON MAIN! Sponsored by Johnson Electric, this special display of historical photographs and other memories will be posted in business windows facing Main Street throughout December.
Voting is now open for the WHIMSICAL WINDOWS contest. Businesses around downtown have transformed their storefront windows into winter wonderlands and you get to decide the winner of this friendly competition. Stroll through downtown to see all of this year’s festive displays, then vote for your favorite on Dayton.com. The participating business that earns the most votes by noon on Friday, December 30, will win a cash prize! Find the elf hidden among some of the decorated windows for YOUR chance to win Downtown Dollars! Just text us a photo of the elf you spot in each window to (937) 668-7227. Each picture of an elf in a different window counts as one entry.
Celebrate the season with your friends and family in downtown throughout December! The Dayton Holiday Festival’s Family Fun Days, sponsored by AES Ohio and the Downtown Dayton Partnership include:
Family Movie Series
Dec. 3, 10, & 17; 11 a.m.
The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.
Bring the family for fun, festive films. Enjoy the following movies during this year’s series:
December 3 – Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone
December 10 – Elf
December 17 – White Christmas.
Titles subject to change – call theater for confirmation. (937) 222-8452.
UNO’S PIZZA WITH SANTA
Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, & 18; 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.
Have a special lunch with Santa Claus! Call 937-910-8000 to make a reservation.
Virginia Kettering’s Train Display
Now through Jan. 2
Stratacache Tower lobby, Second and Main streets
View in building lobby Mon-Sat, or through windows anytime.
Visitors can view this one-of-a-kind model train display that was given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering.
RIKE’S HOLIDAY WINDOWS
Thru December 31; Mon.-Sun.: 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main Sts.
Experience a reimagining of the Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner – but now all indoors and cozy warm. (Not accessible during private events. Call 228-7591 to confirm hours.)
NOONTIME ENTERTAINMENT
Dec. 6-9 & 13-16; 12 p.m.
Stratacache Tower lobby, Second and Main streets
A downtown office building rings with the sound of music during the holiday season. Groups from throughout the Miami Valley perform a mix of holiday selections during the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment Program. Starting at 12 noon, performing groups will present their holiday selections as lunchtime entertainment. Take a break from your chaotic schedule to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy the carols and instrumental sounds. Each musical group has a unique way to bring in the holiday season and entertain you with an upbeat performance you’re sure to love.
December 6 – Reyna Spears & Dana Farley
December 7 – Samuri West
December 8 – Harmonica Neil
December 9 – Vival la Strings
December 13 – Danny Voris
December 14 – SaxTone
December 15 – Horace Mann Choir
December 16 – Young Professionals Choral Collective
METROPARKS ICE RINK
Thru February 26
RiverScape MetroPark
Sheltered under the covered pavilion, the MetroParks Ice Rink sets the scene as a perfect winter wonderland in downtown Dayton. Patrons may skate daily. While the rink is open, you can enjoy delicious treats from the concession area, including a cup of hot chocolate. Take advantage of fun skating activities, such as lessons, themed skating nights and more. Visit metroparks.org/ice-rink to learn more, find daily open hours, and see a schedule of events.
More events are planned throughout the month of December. For a full list of activities and events, pick up the Dayton Holiday Festival Calendar at participating businesses or download an electronic version at daytonholidayfestival.org. Find dining guides, parking maps and more at downtowndayton.org to keep up with downtown events and news.
The Dayton Holiday Festival is presented by AES Ohio, and is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, and Montgomery County with funding from the Mrs. Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. Additional sponsorship support for December events comes from, Dayton.com, Dayton Children’s Hopsital, Dayton Live, Fifth Third Bank, iHeartRADIO, and Johnson Electric
The DDP’s website has a complete list of downtown’s events, dining guides, parking maps and more at www.downtowndayton.org. Follow the DDP on Facebook to keep up with downtown events and news.
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