The holiday season kicks off in Dayton with the annual Grande Illumination, presented by DP&L, and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights. This year marks 44 years celebrating the Dayton Holiday Festival. Activities planned include the NEW LIVE REINDEER display, live musical entertainment, carnival rides and games, holiday crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, the Tike’s Shoppe and a gingerbread house contest. Admission and all activities are free of charge.
NEW! Live Reindeer
Friday, November 25, 4-9 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Come 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!
Magic Glasses
For a fun and special added touch, we’ll be handing out free “magic glasses,” courtesy of CareSource. Grab a pair on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the holiday lights in a whole new way!
But the tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night! A full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned from 4 to 9 pm, including:
Live Main Stage Entertainment
We have plenty of entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Here’s the lineup:
4:00-4:20 pm – Dancing Divas
4:40-5:00 pm – Miami Valley Music Men
5:10-5:30 pm – Berachah Valley
5:40-6:05 pm – Young Professionals Choral Collective
6:20-6:55 pm – Alexis Gomez Trio
7:10-7:45 pm – Dayton Celebration Chorus
The Grande Illumination tree lighting
Photo credit: MediaMoments.com
Friday, November 25, 7:45 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 7:45, we’ll throw the switch and approximately 100,000 colored lights will brighten the three-story-tall tree on Courthouse Square. Bill Nance & Melody Morris from FaithAndFriendsRadio.Com will do a live broadcast at the Old Courthouse from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by live announcing of the parade.
PARADE ROUTE:
The parade will begin at 7:50 pm at Second and Wilkinson streets; it will proceed east on Second Street to south on Main Street, then to west on Fourth Street. When at Fourth and Perry streets, the parade floats will disband and stage for escort to their designated storage area.
Closed from 9 am until 10 pm:
· Third Street between Main and Ludlow
Closed from 3 pm until 10 pm:
· Second Street between Perry and Vista View
Closed from 5:30 pm until 10 pm:
· Wilkinson Street between Second and Third
· Ludlow Street between First and Second
Closed from 7 pm until 10 pm:
· Main Street between First and Fifth
· Second Street between Jefferson and Perry
· Third Street between Jefferson and Perry
· Fourth Street between Jefferson and Ludlow
· Wilkinson Street between Maple and Fourth
· Southbound Red Cross Lane between First and Second
· Southbound Stafford Street between First and Second
(Access to the Arts Garage will be maintained while surrounding streets are closed.)
