The annual Dayton Holiday Festival kicks off on November 28 on Courthouse Square.
November 24, 2025 (DAYTON, Ohio) – The Dayton Holiday Festival, a favorite family tradition in Downtown Dayton, officially returns this Friday! The month-long community celebration begins on Friday, November 28, with the Grande Illumination and Parade. The fun at Courthouse Square and the surrounding areas begins at 4 p.m. with free entertainment and activities leading up to the tree lighting and parade at 6:30 p.m. This week’s celebration is just the beginning; free, family-friendly events are scheduled throughout December as part of the Dayton Holiday Festival.
There are so many ways to create lasting memories during the Dayton Holiday Festival, but here’s our list of 10 can’t-miss things happening on Friday, November 28:
10. Snap a family photo on Courthouse Square
There are several photo ops on Courthouse Square this year! Snap a selfie with the iconic Happy Holidays sign outside of the Old Courthouse, Liftoff Entertainment’s photo booth next to the Old Courthouse Stairs, the newly renovated fountain, or the Dayton Holiday Festival tree to create a memento of a fun evening with loved ones!
9. Enjoy live entertainment on the Main Stage
Sponsored by Sinclair College
Sing and dance along to your favorite holiday songs on Courthouse Square! Talented local musicians will perform on the main stage starting at 4 p.m. followed by holiday tunes for all to enjoy until it’s time to light the tree!
Scheduled Main Stage performers include:
4:05-4:30 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus
4:35-6:30 p.m. – Live DJ from Electric Vibe Entertainment
8. Make your own souvenir at the Candy Cane Clubhouse
The lobby of STRATACACHE Tower is transformed into the Candy Cane Clubhouse with fun, activities, and entertainment to explore! Kids of all ages are invited to make and take a holiday craft while enjoying performances from local acts!
Scheduled performers at the Candy Cane Clubhouse include:
4:00-4:50 p.m. – Juggling by Crazy Craig Muhlenkamp
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Elsa & Anna Sing-Along and Meet & Greet from Fairy Godmother Events
6:00-6:30 p.m. – Roz Puppet Show
7. Go on the Holiday Adventure with the Junior League of Dayton and get a free book!
Start at CURIO on Courthouse Square to find and complete the three activities located around the festival footprint! After completing all three stops, kids will receive a free book to take home courtesy of the Junior League of Dayton and Wright-Patt Credit Union!
6. Choose the Best Baker on the Block in the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest
Local bakers and makers of all ages and skill levels have put their skills to the test for these confectionery creations! Find this year’s entries inside the Schuster Center Wintergarden, and cast your vote for the winner of a cash prize. Entries will be on display all weekend long in the Wintergarden, and voting will remain open through Sunday after the Grande Illumination!
5. See history come alive with the Rike’s holiday windows
Presented by Dayton Live
Just a few steps away from the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest, guests can take a step back into holidays past! A reimagining of the iconic Rike’s department store holiday window displays will be active for view and photos inside of the Schuster Center Wintergarden. Did you know: the original windows once stood at this busy downtown corner! The Rike’s holiday windows are presented by Dayton Live.
4. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy free games and activities for all ages on Second Street
New this year, East and West Second Street will be transformed into a fun zone with inflatable activities and games for kids of all ages! You’re in the perfect place to work up an appetite. Food trucks will take to Second Street with dinner sweets, treats, and more for purchase throughout the evening. Or, enjoy one of the many delicious downtown restaurants just a few steps away!
3. See Mrs. Virginia Kettering’s one-of-a-kind model train!
In addition to being a community champion, Mrs. Kettering was also a model train enthusiast! You can see her one-of-a-kind model train display in the lobby of Stratacache Tower at the corner of Second & Main Streets. View the display inside during the festival, daily Monday through Saturday, or take a look through the windows anytime!
2 Enjoy a glowing parade through Downtown Dayton
Presented by White Allen Chevrolet
More than 100,000 lights will set Main Street aglow for the Dayton Holiday Festival Parade! Watch as decorative floats, horses, drill teams, bands, and more march through the city to usher in the holiday season! NOTE: This year’s parade has a slightly different route from previous years! See the new map here.
1. Help make holiday magic happen during the Grande Illumination
Holiday tree sponsored by Premier Health
Media sponsor: iHeartRADIO
Join the countdown to flip the switch on the holiday season and more than 50,000 lights as the Dayton Holiday Festival tree is officially lit for the holiday season! Stick around after the parade for photos with this beautiful centerpiece of the holiday season!
The Grande Illumination and Parade are just the beginning of a month-long holiday celebration in Downtown Dayton. The Dayton Holiday Festival continues throughout 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 is sponsored by the Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund and White Allen Chevrolet. Additional support comes from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, NECA & IBEW Electrical Professionals, Premier Health, Sinclair College, Key-Ads, and Dayton Children’s Hospital. Thanks to our media sponsors, iHeartRADIO and the Dayton Daily News.
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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