Top 10 ways to celebrate the 52nd annual Dayton Holiday Festival

Mike ColvinDDP Press Releases

The Dayton Holiday Festival begins on November 29 with the Grande Illumination, Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, and more free, family-friendly activities

November 22, 2024 (DAYTON, Ohio) – The Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by AES Ohio, will welcome the holiday season to downtown Dayton in one week! The month-long Dayton Holiday Festival officially kicks off on Friday, November 29, with the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights. The fun at Courthouse Square and the surrounding areas begins at 3 p.m. with free entertainment and activities leading up to the tree lighting and parade at 7 p.m. Free, family-friendly events will then continue through the month of December.

“AES Ohio has proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the Dayton Holiday Festival since 2013. It is a privilege to be a part of this cherished tradition in downtown Dayton, where families come together to celebrate the season,” shared AES Ohio Community Impact Leader Vivian O’Connell. “AES Ohio is actively engaged in the community year-round and eagerly anticipates this family event each holiday season. Our employees volunteer and participate in the Grand Illumination and Children’s Parade.”

There are so many ways to enjoy the holiday season and create lasting memories during the Dayton Holiday Festival, but here’s our list of 10 can’t-miss things happening on Friday, November 29:

  1. Grab a bite to eat and snap a family photo on Courthouse Square
    Several local food vendors will be serving dinner, sweets, and treats to enjoy during the event! Also on Courthouse Square, be sure to grab a selfie for this year’s family photo with the iconic Happy Holidays sign!
  2. Enjoy live entertainment on the Main Stage
    Hear your favorite songs of the season in Courthouse Square! An incredible lineup of local musicians will be taking to the main stage, sponsored by Sinclair Community College, starting at 3 p.m. and continuing right up to the Grande Illumination.

Scheduled Main Stage performers include:
3:05-3:30 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus
3:35-4:15 p.m. – SaxTone
4:25-5:05 p.m. – Tori Lee
5:15-5:55 p.m. – Café con Leche
6:05-6:55 p.m. – Sam King + The Suspects

  1. Visit the Candy Cane Clubhouse to take an ‘elfie,’ see Mrs. Kettering’s model train, and make a souvenir
    Warm up with more fun, activities, and entertainment inside the Candy Cane Clubhouse at STRATACACHE Tower! Kids of all ages are invited to make and take a holiday craft, and snap a fun photo with The Real Elf to create lasting memories! Also inside, be sure to stop and see Mrs. Virginia Kettering’s one-of-a-kind holiday train display!

Scheduled performers at the Candy Cane Clubhouse include:
3:00-3:50 p.m. – Magic by Dave
4:00-4:50 p.m. – Juggling by Crazy Craig Muhlenkamp
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Disney Princess Sing-Along and Meet & Greet
6:00-7:00 p.m. – River City Puppet Show

  1. Earn a free book by going on the Holiday Adventure with the Junior League of Dayton
    Kids can join this adventure to visit stops located all around the festival footprint! After completing each of the three stops, kids will receive a free book to take home courtesy of the Junior League of Dayton and Wright-Patt Credit Union!
  2. Vote for your favorite confectionary creation in the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest
    Local bakers of all ages and skill levels have brought their best and most delicious creations to the table – now you decide the winner! See all of this year’s entries inside of the Old Courthouse and cast your vote for the winner of a cash prize.
  3. Take a scenic ride through downtown on a horse-drawn wagon
    Go dashing though downtown! Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Dayton Holiday Festival as you travel around the festival footprint in this festive wagon.
  4. See the Rike’s holiday windows in the Schuster Center
    Step back into holidays past and experience a reimagining of the Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner. Presented by Dayton Live.
  5. Enjoy the free merry-go-round and more at the Street Fair on Third!
    Third Street will be transformed into a carnival with free rides for kids of all ages! Nearby on Courthouse Square, Santa’s reindeer will be available for photos in the big man’s sleigh.
  6. Cheer along as the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights marches by
    More than 100,000 lights will adorn decorative floats, horses, drill teams, bands, and more during this glowing holiday tradition! Grab a free pair of magic glasses, sponsored by CareSource, to see an extra surprise in the twinkling lights during the parade! NOTE: This year’s parade has a slightly different route from previous years! See the new map here.

    1. Flip the switch on the holiday season and 50,000 lights during the Grande Illumination
    Join the countdown and watch in awe as the Dayton Holiday Festival tree comes alive with thousands of lights! This tradition signifies the official start to another great year of the Dayton Holiday Festival and the holiday season in downtown Dayton.

The Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade are just the beginning of a month-long holiday celebration downtown. The Dayton Holiday Festival continues through the month of December with Holiday Family Fun Days and a calendar full of family-friendly events including the Family Movie Series at THE NEON, The Winter Wonderland at Rabbit Hole Books, Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at STRATACACHE Tower, the Rike’s animated windows in the Schuster Center Wintergarden, and more. A complete list of festival events is available online, as well as a calendar of other downtown holiday events.

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 iHeartRADIODayton.com, and Key-Ads.

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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Grande Illumination & Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights Schedule

  • Grande Illumination, presented by AES Ohio ― Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 7:00 p.m., we’ll throw the switch and approximately 50,000 lights will brighten the Dayton Holiday Festival tree on Courthouse Square! Free.
    Holiday tree sponsored by Premier Health.
  • Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, presented by White Allen Chevrolet and Miami Valley Chevy Dealers– Immediately following the tree lighting, the Children’s Parade will round the corner of Second and Main streets to start its route through downtown, sparkling with more than 100,000 lights! Watch decorative seasonal floats, horses, drill teams and bands, and some special holiday treats. Free.
    LED parade lights sponsored by NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals.
  • Live reindeer photo station, sponsored by AES Ohio — Meet our North Pole ambassadors! Santa’s reindeer will be available to meet on Courthouse Square. Don’t miss your chance to take your picture on Santa’s sleigh! Free.
  • Main Stage Entertainment, sponsored by Sinclair Community College ― Enjoy live entertainment on the Courthouse Square stage. Scheduled to perform:
  • 3:05 – 3:30pm Dayton Celebration Chorus
  • 3:35 – 4:15pm SaxTone
  • 4:25 – 5:05pm Tori Lee
  • 5:15 – 5:55pm Café Con Leche
  • 6:05 – 6:55pm Sam King + The Suspects

 

  • Magic Glasses, sponsored by CareSource ― For a fun and special added touch, grab a pair of free “magic glasses” on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the surprise hidden in the holiday lights! Free.
  • Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest― View all the delicious contest entries, award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite. Located inside the old Montgomery County courthouse. Free.
  • The Candy Cane Clubhouse ― Located inside STRATACACHE Tower, this is a favorite stop for children, featuring free activities for kids and Mrs. Virginia Kettering’s train on display. Free. Scheduled to perform:
  • 3:30 – 3:50pm Magic by Dave
  • 4:00 – 4:50pm Juggling by Crazy Craig Muhlenkamp
  • 5:00 – 6:00pm Disney Princess Sing-Along and Meet & Greet
  • 6:00 – 7:00pm River City Puppet Show
  • Street Fair on Third ― At this holiday street fair, free rides and other activities will be set up on Third Street between Main and Jefferson streets. Free.
  • Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides ― From 3 to 6:15 p.m., wagons will pick up passengers near the corner of Second and Main streets for a ride through downtown. Lines can be long, so come early. Free.
  • Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Adventure, sponsored by Wright-Patt Credit Union – From 3 to 7 p.m., kids can join an adventure around the festival footprint, presented by the Junior League of Dayton. Children who visit all the stops will receive a free book! Presented by the Junior League of Dayton. Sponsored by Wright-Patt Credit Union
  • Rike’s Holiday Windows – Located inside the Schuster Center Wintergarden, experience a reimagining of the Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner. Free. Presented by Dayton Live

 

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