Grande Illumination Tree Lighting
The festival kicks off with the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade, taking place on Friday, November 29, 2024, 3-7 p.m., on Courthouse Square at Third & Main Streets in downtown Dayton. The evening of family fun includes:
- Enjoy holiday songs and other live entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage from 3-7 p.m.
- Meet two of Santa’s reindeer on Courthouse Square from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
- View all the delicious entries in the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest from 3-7 p.m.
- Enjoy free rides and other activities for kids at the Street Fair on Third from 3-8 p.m.
- Take a Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride through downtown from 3-6:15 p.m. (Festival organizers note that the wagon rides are very popular and lines can be long)
- The Candy Cane Clubhouse in the lobby of the Stratacache Tower offers festive activities, music and surprises for kids from 3-7 p.m.
- The Holiday Adventure offers a scavenger hunt for kids around the festival from 3-7 p.m. - get a free book when you visit all of the stops
Food vendors will also be available for you to grab a bite to eat!
As the switch that lights the tree is thrown on at 7 p.m., approximately 50,000 gold lights that will brighten the two-story-tall tree on Courthouse Square.
Immediately following the tree lighting, the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights steps off from the corner of Second and Main Streets to start its route through downtown, sparkling with more than 100,000 lights! The parade features decorative floats, horses, drill teams and bands, as well as some special holiday treats.
The Dayton Holiday Festival continues throughout December with a wide variety of events and activities, including:
Rike’s Holiday Windows
The Rike’s department store holiday window displays, a longtime downtown Dayton tradition at the corner of Second & Main, are recreated in the Schuster Center Wintergarden from November 29 through January 3.
Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display
The Stratacache Tower lobby at the corner of Second & Main Streets will host this one-of-a-kind model train display, given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering. The trains will be on display November 29-January 1.
Winter Wonderland at Rabbit Hole Books
Santa's Workshop is coming to downtown Dayton on December 7, 14, and 21, from 1 to 5 p.m.! Children are invited to shop for gifts in a kid-sized store, enjoy delicious holiday treats, and take a photo with the big man in red!
Metroparks Ice Rink
Nestled beneath the sheltered pavilion, the MetroParks Ice transforms into a winter wonderland right in the heart of downtown Dayton. You can embrace the season's charm by taking a spin on the ice November 29 through February 28. And while you're there, treat yourself to delightful concessions, perhaps a steaming cup of hot chocolate, making your skating experience even more enjoyable. Be sure to explore the fun skating activities offered, including lessons and themed skating nights, for a complete winter adventure.
Family Movie Series
Gather your loved ones and head to The Neon for a jolly good time with holiday favorites:
- December 7: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
- December 14: Happy Feet
- December 21: Santa Clause: The Movie
This is only a small sampling of everything the Dayton Holiday Festival has to offer. For more information go to DaytonHolidayFestival.org where you'll find a downloadable map and calendar of events. Be sure to also follow the Downtown Dayton Partnership (@DowntownDayton) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as they share all things holiday related in the downtown area!
What are your favorite Holiday traditions? Let us know in the comments! We’ll also be featuring Carillon Christmas and the Woodland Lights (Dayton definitely has some of the best Christmas lights in Ohio!), as well as Dayton holiday shopping, in upcoming blog posts, so check back for more holiday fun!
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Be sure to request a FREE Destination Dayton Visitors Guide and download the FREE Destination Dayton App for more about things to see and do in Dayton. For more information about Destination Dayton and the services it offers, visit DestinationDayton.org or call 800-221-8235.
