Dayton937

Free Buffet
2025-11-27 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit) | Amar India Restaurant, 2751 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville, OH, 45459, United States
Will again host a FREE lunch buffet rom 11am – 2pm
Donations in the form of cash or check will be accepted for the Dayton Food Bank.

Thanksgiving Buffet
2025-11-27 11:00 - 17:00 | The Florentine Restaurant, 21 W Market St, Germantown, OH, 45327-1353, United States
Buffet features roasted turkey, ham, meatloaf, traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, macaroni & cheese, baked beans, green beans, corn pudding, sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, cole slaw, cranberry sauce, pasta salads, rolls and pumpkin pie

Seatings every hour from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
$37.99, Kids (12 & under) $12.99
For 6 or less, reserve your table today at www.theflorentinerestaurant.com.
For parties of 7 or more, please message us with your party size and preferred reservation time!
FREE MIMOSAS & BLOODY MARY’S @ 11:00 + 12:00 SEATINGS

Open Thanksgiving
2025-11-27 11:00 - 20:00 | Smokey Bones, 6744 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH, 45414-2661, United States
Dig into our Turkey Platter – $18.99, complete with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green beans. Craving BBQ instead? Our full regular menu is available too!

Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet
2025-11-27 14:00 - 18:00 | Ellie’s Restaurant at the Mills Park Hotel, 321 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH, 45387
Two Seatings 2pm or 6pm

Buffet Menu
Roasted Turkey
Spiral Ham
Gravy & Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Cornbread Casserole
Brussels Sprouts & Carrots
Green Beans
Cinnamon Apples
Cranberry Sauce
Mac & Cheese
Pecan & Pumpkin Pie* A full bar is available at both seatings.
* Server gratuity is not included in ticket price.

Woodland Lights
2025-11-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-28 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-29 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Washingon Township Rec Plex, 895 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH, 45459, United States
Visitors can stroll through the ten acres of sparkling light and whimsical displays or take a ride on the Rieck Express train along a separate path! Climb aboard this colorful four car train that seats up to sixteen and take a scenic ride that winds past the Pollinator Garden and the vernal pond, creating a treasured new memory for long-time visitors. Please note that the trains will replace the amusement rides.
Activities:

Accessible Santa’s Cabin, sponsored by the Centerville Rotary Club
Our traditional horse-drawn carriage rides
Seating around the pond
Two Character Nights
Two Pet Nights, partnering with SICSA (see below)
Woodland ONE-derland Walk Night, partnering with Up & Running
Photo-op spots
A $20 season pass, allowing you to attend multiple times throughout the season
Lover’s Lane, sponsored by Elizabeth Diamond Company
Facebook Gingerbread House Competition
Scavenger Hunts

Visit with Santa
As always, Santa will be tucked cozily by the fireplace in our historic log cabin, waiting for children to share their wish lists with him. Have your camera ready to take a photo with Santa or any of the costumed characters and animated vignettes you will encounter along the path.
Woodland Lights is located at Countryside Park, next to the Washington Township RecPlex, 895 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. For more information call 937-433-0130 or visit our web site.

Pyramid Hill Lights
2025-11-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-28 18:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-29 18:00 - 22:00 | Pyramid Hill, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton, OH, 45013, United States
Pyramid Hill’s annual holiday light show! The 2-mile drive-through light show includes over 1 million lights as you immerse yourself in a journey to the North Pole filled with art and nature
November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026
6PM TO 9PM TUESDAYS TO THURSDAYS
6PM TO 10PM FRIDAYS TO SUNDAYS
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON MONDAYS
The Pyramid Hill Lights features a unique route through our art and nature filled sculpture park. Families can look forward to light projections, installations by local artists, interactive games, and seeing the park lit up in a whole new way.
We invite you and your family to take in this spectacular show from the comfort of your own car as you get in the holiday spirit!
Cost: $25/carload for non-members & $15/carload for park members

Light Up Middletown
2025-11-27 18:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-28 18:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-29 18:00 - 22:00 | Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown, OH, 45042, United States
Light up Middletown is a driving tour through a 100-acre park. We’re open 6-10 PM every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve regardless of the weather, including all holidays.
Enter through the tunnel of lights to enjoy a sparkling fantasyland. Light up Middletown is a driving tour through a 100-acre park. Several themed displays include a floating Sea Serpent in the reflecting lake, Santa’s Workshop, American Flag, Penguin Village, Deer Leaping Over the Roadway, Helicopter, Whales and much more – all with thousands of twinkling LED animated lights. The fun expands every year. Motorcoach tours are welcome. All arches over roadways accommodate buses.
Admission by cash donation – you set the price!

Christmas Glow Drive-Through Experience
2025-11-27 18:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-28 18:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-29 18:00 - 22:00 | Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Rd, Middletown, OH, 45042, United States
A Two-Mile Journey Through 3.8 Million Lights Across 8 Magical Lands
See the wonders of the world — and the magic of Christmas — all in one unforgettable night, wrapped in dazzling lights! At the Land of Illusion Christmas Glow, you can soak in the beauty of the season from the warmth and comfort of your own vehicle. No cold toes. No tired legs. Just holiday music, twinkling displays, glowing scenes, and the kind of memories families talk about for years.
Roll down the windows, hum along to your favorite carols, and watch the kids stare wide-eyed at the lights (and, amazingly, NOT argue for a few minutes). It’s a timeless holiday tradition — made easy, cozy, and spectacular.
From our family to yours: Merry Christmas. We can’t wait to share the glow with you.
✨ Explore All 8 Magical Lands
Each land you’ll drive through is its own fully themed holiday world — full of color, surprises, photo moments, giant displays, and immersive lighting.
🍭 1. Candy Land
Welcome to a sugar-filled world where everything sparkles and nothing melts! Giant lollipops tower over the road, glowing gumdrops line the path, and peppermint arches swirl overhead. It’s a whimsical, candy-coated dream brought to life — and the perfect start to your journey.
🎁 2. Toy Land
Enter a land powered by imagination. Oversized teddy bears, marching soldiers, glowing trains, toy robots, spinning tops, and classic childhood favorites fill this bright, cheerful world. Kids will point out their favorites as parents remember the toys they grew up loving.
🇺🇸
3. Honor Our Military Land
A glowing, patriotic tribute to America’s heroes. Red, white, and blue displays illuminate the night as you pass through a beautifully lit area dedicated to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. It’s a heartfelt salute that reminds us of the true meaning of service, sacrifice, and freedom.
🌲 4. The Enchanted Forest Land
Wander into a forest where trees shimmer in waves of color and creatures from holiday folklore peek out between branches. The lights feel alive — dancing, twinkling, and guiding you deeper into a magical woodland filled with wonder.
🏖 5. The Beach Land
Even Santa needs a vacation! Drive through a tropical holiday escape complete with palm trees wrapped in lights, glowing surfboards, sandy snowmen, and a sunny twist on the Christmas spirit. It’s the warmest winter moment you’ll ever experience.
🍪 6. Gingerbread Land
Sweet, warm, and full of holiday charm — Gingerbread Land looks as if an entire village sprang from the oven. Giant gingerbread men smile as you pass, cookies “freshly baked” in lights, icing-lined houses glow from within, and candy canes stand tall at every turn.
🎄 7. Christmas Land
The heart of the Glow. Experience classic Christmas scenes brought to life: nativity moments, glowing reindeer, giant ornaments, twinkling trees, angels, elves, sleighs, stars, and traditional holiday magic. This is where nostalgia meets lights in the most beautiful ways

🌍 8. Travel Around the World Land
No passport required — just roll through and journey across the globe in minutes! Visit iconic landmarks from around the world as they shine in brilliant holiday colors.
You’ll see:

Stonehenge
The Colosseum
The Eiffel Tower
Sydney, Australia
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
And dozens more global wonders

This is one of the most talked-about attractions in the U.S., drawing visitors from all over.
PLUS — it includes our famous “Find the 13 Hidden Rudolphs” game!
Kids and adults alike search for all 13 glowing Rudolphs tucked into scenes around the world.
🎯 Hint: There is one Rudolph dropping gifts from the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
After your glowing drive, join us in the Santa’s Village—for extra Holiday Lights & Fun, sweet treats, petting zoo, special character entertainment, and capture photos with Santa and random Grinch Sightings!!! 🎅
(Reminder – Santa is not available after Dec. 23rd. Santa is delivering presents on Christmas Eve and will need his rest after visiting everyone until next year!!)

Grande Illumination Dayton Holiday Festival
2025-11-28 15:00 - 20:00 | OH, United States
Started by Mrs. Virginia Kettering in 1972 so that all children could enjoy the holiday season regardless of their economic means, the festival continues today with free attractions for the community.

Activities at the 2025 Dayton Holiday Festival
The Grande Illumination tree-lighting ceremony – FREE – 7p.m. Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. When we throw the switch, approximately 50,000 lights will brighten the two-story-tall tree on Courthouse Square!
Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights – FREE – 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.

Live musical entertainment – FREE – Enjoy holiday songs and other live entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony.
Scheduled Main Stage performers: tbd

Live Reindeer – FREE – Meet our North Pole ambassadors! Two of Santa’s reindeer will be available to meet on Courthouse Square. Don’t miss your chance to take your picture on Santa’s sleigh!
Street Fair on Third – FREE – Enjoy free rides and other activities for kids throughout the evening!
Horse-drawn Wagon Rides – Enjoy a wagon ride through downtown! Plan to come early, as the rides are very popular and lines can be long (Please note that in order to ensure everyone in line will get a ride, it is often necessary to close the line earlier than the scheduled end time.) Suggested donation: $1 per person.
Holiday Village – FREE – Enjoy festive activities, music, and lots of surprises for kids. Free.
Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays – FREE – View all the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite, located inside the old Montgomery County courthouse.
Rike’s Holiday Windows – FREE – 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.
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!
Scheduled performers at the Candy Cane Clubhouse: tbd
Virginia Ketterings Holiday Train Display – FREE – View this one-of-a-kind model train display given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering.

McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour
2025-11-28 16:00 - 17:00 | McPherson Town Historic District, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Step back in time and explore the enchanting McPherson Town neighborhood during our 2025 Holiday Historic Home Tour, a must-attend 2 evening event to kick off your holiday season!
Last held in 2023, the popular event returns this year the weekend after Thanksgiving. The tour will be Friday, Nov. 28 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 29 from 3-7 p.m.
“This is a wonderful activity to share with family and friends visiting for Thanksgiving,” said Jenny Cruz, tour co-chair.
Seven historic homes featured on the guided walking tour include several houses not seen on tour for more than a decade. Tours are scheduled every 12 minutes and will accommodate 15-20 people. Guests will also make a stop in a dessert house for refreshments.
McPherson Town, known as ‘Dayton’s most neighborly neighborhood,’ was one of the Gem City’s first suburbs platted by Samuel McPherson in 1845. It was declared a historic district in 1977 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The neighborhood is known for its streetscapes of high style and Folk Victorian and Queen Anne architecture, popular during the late 19th century.
“The McPherson Town Historic District has become one of Dayton’s most sought-after neighborhoods,” said Cruz. “The residents are excited to show off their beautiful homes, each one with its own story to tell.”
Tickets for the timed tours are $20 in advance and can be purchased online.
McPherson Town, established in 1845, is known as Dayton’s first suburb. Most of the houses on the tour were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The neighborhood has survived many trials over the decades, from the 1913 flood which flooded houses to the second stories, to commercial development plans in the 1970s which would have bulldozed the area. Fortunately, efforts to obtain historic district status succeeded in 1977 when McPherson Town was declared Dayton’s third historic district. Since 1993 when it was the site of the first Rehabarama, McPherson Town’s houses have been carefully restored and the neighborhood has become a tight-knit community which is proud to call itself “Dayton’s most neighborly neighborhood.”

The Grand Illumination
2025-11-28 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Troy, Troy, OH, 45373, United States
As twilight settles over the charming streets of downtown Troy, a hush of anticipation fills the air. Families gather, bundled in scarves and mittens, clutching hot cocoa and sharing smiles as the first snowflakes begin to drift gently from the winter sky. The Grand Illumination is more than just a tree lighting, it’s a moment of pure holiday enchantment that transforms Troy into a glowing wonderland.
At the heart of the square, a towering Christmas tree stands proudly, adorned with twinkling lights and ornaments that shimmer like stars. Storefronts gleam with festive displays, each window a tiny stage telling its own story of warmth and cheer. Christmas songs echo through the crisp air like magic, wrapping the community in nostalgia and joy.
Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop through the streets, while Santa Claus himself greets little ones with twinkling eyes and hearty laughter. Local shops offer sweet treats, unique gifts, and handmade crafts, and everywhere, there is laughter, love, and the unmistakable feeling that you’re part of something timeless.
Then… like a spell cast over the crowd the countdown begins. Children’s eyes widen, and the tree bursts into brilliance, igniting the entire square in a dazzling display of light. Gasps of delight and applause ripple outward as Downtown Troy glows, garlands sparkle, and every twinkling light becomes a beacon of the season.
The Grand Illumination is more than an event, it’s a memory in the making, a reminder that magic lives in togetherness, and a shining symbol of the spirit that lights up Troy all year long.

Yuletide Village Season of Lights
2025-11-28 17:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-29 15:00 - 21:00 | Renaissance Park, 10542 East State Route 73, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
Celebrate the season at Renaissance Park – home of the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Wander through sparkling lights, enjoy festive shows, savor cozy treats, and find unique gifts in our Yuletide Market.

Marketplace

From bespoke jewelry to classic wooden toys, you’ll find something for everyone on your list at our Yuletide Market’s unique booths and shops.
Entertainment

Wander through our Rivers of Lights or stroll through Gum Drop Alley as carolers serenade you. Be on the lookout for Santa, but beware of the wicked Krampus!

Food & Drink

The best way to stay warm? Get some chili and a pipping hot spiced cider while you warm yourself at one of our many firepits.

WinterFest
2025-11-28 17:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-29 16:00 - 22:00, 2025-11-30 17:00 - 22:00 | Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island D, Mason, OH, 45040, United States
WinterFest Returns to Kings Island
Voted as one of the top Theme Park Holiday Events in the country by USA TODAY readers, ring in the holidays with WinterFest at Kings Island on select nights November 28 through December 31
Imagine an old-fashioned winter…rosy-cheeked skaters gliding under twinkling lights, the magic of dazzling holiday attractions and carolers in traditional costumes, shops filled with ornaments, trinkets and toys, the aroma of freshly baked treats. The spirit of everyone’s favorite season is captured in an atmosphere of warmth and nostalgia at Cincinnati’s premier holiday event–a place where memories of holidays past are present; a place where memories of holiday activities are waiting to be made.
An unforgettable holiday experience for the entire family!
Step into a world of Holiday Magic! During Winterfest, the iconic 314-foot tall Eiffel Tower will be converted into the “world’s largest Christmas tree”, decorated with thousands of lights which will be seen for miles. Below the Eiffel Tower, International Street will be transformed into a colorful and quaint winter village, featuring the fun of holidays past with Christmas carolers, and homemade crafts.

Enjoy some of your favorite family rides at WinterFest, including Mystic Timbers and Kings Mills Antique Autos.
Treat your taste buds to a delectable menu of holiday fare, including savory mains, delicious desserts and irresistible snacks.
Fill your night with holiday fun like skating on the Royal Fountain, decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus and getting a family photo with the big man in red himself!

The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill
2025-11-28 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-29 18:00 - 21:00 | Clifton Mill, 75 Water St., Clifton, OH, 45316, United States
The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill was nominated again as one of USA TODAY’S 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards for 2022! The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill was a contender for Best Public Holiday Lights Display. Thank you for your votes!
For 36 years Clifton Mill has celebrated the Christmas season in a very special way. Our light display, featured in Midwest Living and Ohio Magazine, is one of the country’s finest with over 4 million lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, trees and bridges. There is even a 100 foot “waterfall” of twinkling lights. The flip of one switch turns all the lights on at once transforming night into a fantastical winter wonderland which includes a Miniature Village, a Santa Claus Museum, a Toy Collection and a spectacular synchronized lights and music show that features the old Covered Bridge.
Every night until the night before Christmas Eve you can peek into Santa’s Workshop to see a live Santa at work and then, every 15 minutes or so, watch him check his list and go up the chimney to load his sleigh.

Admission is $15 per person for everyone age 4 and older. Children 3 and under always get in free!

Every night EXCEPT Christmas and New Year’s Eve we serve hot dogs, BBQ pork sandwich, soup, cornbread, hot chocolate, cookies, pie, popcorn, and soft drinks.

Christkindl Market at Front Street
2025-11-29 11:00 - 16:00 | 1001 E. 2nd St., Dayton 45402, 1001 E. Second Street, Bldg. 100, 3rd Floor, Dayton, OH, 45402
Holiday Shopping in Downtown Dayton at the Christkindl Market
Shop small and local this holiday season! On Small Business Saturday, bring your friends and family to Front Street’s 6th Annual Christkindl Market! Dress up for FREE selfies with Santa! Check in on the Ohio State vs Michigan game in the game tent! The Christkindl Market has it all… A hot lunch and sweet treats from the food trucks, activities for all ages, and indoor shopping from more than 250 artists and artisans! Explore studios, galleries, shops, and boutiques right in the heart of Dayton’s Arts District, but keep an eye out for the Grinch!!
This is a rain or shine event. We are a family and pet friendly community! The Christkindl Market is free to attend. Our campus offers free parking. Visit frontstreet.art for more information.

Home for the HollyDays
2025-11-29 17:00 - 21:00 | N. Plum Street, Germantown, OH, United States
It is with great excitement to announce Germantown’s 1st “Home for the HollyDays ” Christmas festival sponsored by the Historical Society of Germantown!
Join us for an evening on Plum Street as you enjoy all the sights, sounds, and smells of the Christmas season.
Germantown will hold its first community tree lighting downtown at the corner of Plum and Market through the generosity of Scott Weidle. Meet Santa in the Historical Society and have your kids make an old fashioned ornament. Bundle up for the evening and enjoy a horse drawn wagon ride through town or just walking the Street to shop vendor booths. Eat awesome food from our participating food trucks. Sip on hot chocolate, coffee or spiced cider from The Creamery as you sit by the bonfire to warm up our just chat with friends. It’s a night you don’t want to miss!

Breakfast with Santa
2025-11-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Trolley Stop, 530 E 5th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
