“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News” will welcome visitors from around the region to the historic Dayton Arcade complex for the fifth consecutive year this December 10, 11, & 12, 2025. Organized by Friends of the Dayton Arcade and Cross Street Partners, the Dayton Arcade will host an artisan market featuring holiday shopping from over 50 vendors spread throughout the Rotunda, Tank, and North Arcade event spaces. The Contemporary Dayton will have its CoSHOP available, featuring a rotating selection of items curated by their team of art lovers, historians, book nerds, and décor enthusiasts. Come hungry! The Arcade complex’s full-service restaurants, Lucho at 37 W. Fourth Street, Table 33 at 45 W. Fourth Street, and the Garden Grille & Bar at 18 W. Third St. will be open for happy hour, dinner, and drinks during Holly Days at the Arcade. Members of the 6888 Kitchen will be serving a diverse menu from the Kitchen’s Rotunda entrance during the event, and food trucks will line Fourth Street near the Rotunda’s entrance. Cash bars will also be available throughout the Arcade. Live holiday entertainment will also be a highlight, with local performing arts groups set to perform in the Arcade’s Rotunda and Tank stages. Daily holiday character entertainment from Fairy Godmother Events will delight kids of all ages. Building on Holly Days at the Arcade’s history of giving back, the event will host a food drive benefiting Miami Valley Meals, an organization that creates free chef-prepared meals in bulk for distribution through organizations that serve those experiencing food insecurity in Dayton. Donations will be accepted in the Rotunda concourse during all three days of Holly Days at the Arcade, and a full list of suggested items will be provided on the Dayton Arcade’s website and social media pages. Miami Valley Meals will also be offering a donation-based gift wrapping service during the event on Thursday, December 11. This year, Holly Days at the Arcade is partnering with Waste Free Dayton to make the event more sustainable, helping reduce waste and promote eco-friendly practices throughout the three-day holiday celebration.

New this year, the Greater Dayton RTA will expand its free holiday shuttle service to all three days of Holly Days (Wednesday, December 10 through Friday, December 12), connecting visitors to several of downtown Dayton’s festive destinations. The shuttle will run from 3:00 to 8:00 PM with additional stops at the Oregon District Garage on Fifth Street and at Patterson and Monument Avenue, offering convenient access to Deck the Diamond at Day Air Ballpark and MetroParks Ice Rink at RiverScape. For the third year, Holly Days at the Arcade is partnering with Five Rivers MetroParks’ “Sunset at the Market” at 2nd Street Market event to create a comprehensive downtown holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 11. The RTA shuttle will add a stop at 2nd Street Market on Thursday ONLY. Guests can pick up a holiday punch card from volunteers at both the Arcade and 2nd Street Market during Holly Days, make a purchase at each location, and enter a completed card for a chance to win a prize basket filled with locally made goods donated by area vendors. “Holly Days at the Arcade is the epitome of community and culture, bringing together some of Dayton’s incredible talent in the fields of entertainment and cuisine, as well as locally owned businesses and artisans,” said Samantha Hughes, owner of Riley Street Merchants and Holly Days vendor. “Spanning three days where the spirit of the holiday season shines all the brighter, Holly Days is an event where memories are made in this iconic destination – and as always, being a part of the experience is an honor for vendors like me and guests alike.” “Holly Days continues to grow and transform into something truly special. This year, I’m excited for guests to experience the North Arcade retail marketplace through the opening of the Arcade’s Third Street entrance,” said Megan Dunn Peters, Marketing and Community Partnerships Manager for Cross Street Partners. “From discovering unique gifts at local vendor booths to enjoying live entertainment and celebrating the season with friends and family, the Dayton Arcade offers a holiday experience like no other. We’re thankful to our title sponsors, AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News, along with our many community partners, for helping make Holly Days at the Arcade a magical celebration for both Dayton residents and visitors from across the region.”

“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News”
Dates: Wednesday, December 10, Thursday, December 11, and Friday, December 12
Times: 3:00 – 8:00 PM daily
Location: The Arcade’s entrances at 35 W. Fourth St., 24 W. Third St., and 31 S. Main St.
Cost: Free & open to the public
For More: arcadedayton.com or the Dayton Arcade’s social media pages.
MEDIA CONTACT
Megan Dunn Peters
Marketing & Community Partnership Manager
mdunn@crossstpartners.com
937.657.3810
The vendor application has closed for this event. Interested vendors can email events@arcadedayton.com to receive information about future opportunities.
Presenting Sponsors: AES Ohio, Dayton Daily News Supporting Partners: Greater Dayton RTA, Legacy Event Group, iHeart Media, SpeedPro Dayton, Universal 1 Credit Union, & WYSO Public Radio