Grande Illumination

2025 Dayton Holiday Festival on Friday

November 27, 2025 By DowntownPartnership

Holiday cheer and celebration are alive in Downtown Dayton as an annual and family favorite tradition returns! The Dayton Holiday Festival is back for another year of ushering in the holiday season and creating a community celebration for all. The fun begins the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 28, and kicks off a full month of free and family-friendly events around Downtown Dayton.

The Dayton Holiday Festival dates back to 1972, created thanks to Mrs. Virginia Kettering. It was Mrs. Kettering’s wish that this annual festival be a place of community warmth and celebration for all kids and families in the Dayton area, regardless of economic means. Now, 53 years later, Mrs. Kettering’s vision and mission remain at the forefront of the event with a free tree lighting, parade, and more activities for guests of all ages.

Grande Illumination Tree Lighting & Parade

The Dayton Holiday Festival kicks off with a countdown! The community is invited to help light the Dayton Holiday Festival tree during the Grande Illumination at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 28. More than 50,000 lights will bring the tree to life and mark the start of the holiday season in Downtown Dayton. The party starts at 4:00 p.m. with performances from local artists and musicians on Courthouse Square! The evening of family fun includes:

Holiday music, live entertainment, and photo ops on Courthouse Square from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
More than a dozen delicious entries created by local bakers in the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest! Entries will be on display for a public vote inside the Schuster Center Wintergarden from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 28. Voting will continue Saturday and Sunday after the Grande Illumination.
Free games and inflatable activities for kids and kids-at-heart along East and West Second Street from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The Candy Cane Clubhouse in the lobby of the Stratacache Tower. Enjoy festive make-and-take crafts, face painting, music, juggling, a sing-along with Elsa & Anna, a puppet show, and more surprises from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The Holiday Adventure scavenger hunt! Families and kids are invited to find and complete three activities from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. to earn a free book!
Story Hour and free activities inside the International Peace Museum from 4 – 7:00 p.m.
Food trucks offering tasty meals, sweets, treats, and more available for purchase on Second Street

The countdown to the Grande Illumination begins at 6:30 p.m. Watch in awe as tens of thousands of lights set Courthouse Square aglow for the holiday season! The tree will be in place on the Courthouse Square stage all holiday season long to create a festive backdrop for photos with friends and loved ones.

Just moments after the tree is lit, the Dayton Holiday Festival Parade will begin! This year’s parade will begin at Fourth and Ludlow Streets. The parade route marches along Main Street to First Street and will feature a variety of seasonal floats, horses, local organizations, drill teams, bands, dancers, costumed characters, community partners, and more, all illuminated by more than 100,000 LED lights.

Children on a parade float with Santa during the Dayton Holiday Festival Children's Parade

Activities on Friday, November 28, are just the beginning of the holiday season in Downtown Dayton! The Dayton Holiday Festival continues throughout December with Holiday Family Fun Days and a calendar full of family-friendly events including:

Whimsical Windows Decorating Contest & the Elf Hunt

Downtown Dayton’s first-floor businesses are brightening up the community this season! Visit participating businesses to see all of the festive decorations and vote for your favorite on Dayton.com. The business with the public’s favorite display will win a $500 cash prize!

While you’re there, look closely for elves hiding in the window! Snap a photo of each numbered elf and text it to the Downtown Dayton Partnership to be entered into a drawing for Downtown Dollars. Drawings take place each week in December.

Rike’s Holiday Windows

rikes windows

Take a step back to holiday celebrations past! This reimagining of the iconic Rike’s department store holiday window displays is on view inside of the Schuster Center Wintergarden from November 28 through January 4.

Winter Wonderland at Rabbit Hole Books

Downtown favorite bookstore, Rabbit Hole Books, is transformed into Santa’s Workshop this December! Visit the shop on E. First St. on December 6, 13, and 20, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for a kid-sized shopping experience, tasty treats, and even a chance to meet Santa Claus himself!

Metroparks Ice Rink

a costumed penguin mascot standing by an ice rink with people ice skating

Whether you’re a skating rookie or have been lacing up your skates for decades, and whether you’re looking for a leisurely afternoon with the family or a competitive night on the ice, there is a full slate of activities to choose from at the MetroParks Ice Rink. The ice rink is located within RiverScape MetroPark and features sweeping views of both the Great Miami River and the downtown Dayton skyline. It measures 70 feet by 150 feet and is sheltered under a pavilion. The rink has something for everyone: beginners’ lessons, open skating, broomball and curling leagues, not to mention hot cocoa and music. Ice skating is a great way to experience the outdoors during the cooler weather and provides a winter tradition for Miami Valley families looking for something fun to do together.

Family Movie Series

Kids are invited to see classic holiday movies at The NEON for free on Saturdays in December! Tickets for adults are just $2 per show. Shows begin at 11:00 a.m.

December 6: The Polar Express
December 13: Jingle All the Way
December 20: The Year Without A Santa Claus

Road Closures To Be Aware Of:

Dayton Holiday Festival Returns with Grande Illumination & Dayton Children’s Parade

November 22, 2021 By Dayton937

Downtown Dayton will celebrate 49 years of the holiday season during the month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, which kicks off with the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights from 4 to 9 pm Friday, Nov. 26. Courthouse Square will be the center of the evening full of family entertainment.

Activities planned for the day include the Grande Illumination tree-lighting ceremony, along with live musical entertainment on the main stage, the Street Fair on Third, fun children’s activities in the Holiday Village on Second Street outside Stratacache Tower, the Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Adventure, horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with live reindeer, and a gingerbread house display in the Old Courthouse. The suggested cost for wagon rides is $1 per person, but all other activities are free.

The tree-lighting ceremony will take place at 7:55 p.m. on Courthouse Square, followed immediately by the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights. Thousands of lights will illuminate the 45-minute parade, featuring a variety of festive floats, entertainers, animals and several surprises.

Extra precautions have been taken for this year’s Dayton Holiday Festival in order to allow in-person gathering in the safest way possible. The vast majority of the festival’s activities will take place outdoors this year. Guests are encouraged to wear masks covering the mouth and nose, and free masks with festive holiday designs also will be available at the festival for attendees to wear.

“The Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights is a great night for the family to come downtown,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “The past couple of years have been difficult for all of us, but we are so happy to be able to gather again safely this year to kick off the holiday season together as a community. It will truly be a magical night guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.”

Those unable to attend this year’s festivities in person can still enjoy the holiday kickoff by tuning in to WHIO-TV at 7:30 pm on Nov. 26 to watch the Grande Illumination TV special and tree lighting live on television.

The Dayton Holiday Festival continues throughout the month of December with Holiday Family Fun Days and other holiday fun, featuring such activities as the Family Movie Series at The Neon, Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at Stratacache Tower, the Rike’s animated window displays in the Schuster Center Wintergarden, the Whimsical Windows storefront decorating contest throughout downtown, ice skating at the MetroParks Ice Rink at RiverScape, photos with Santa, and more. Returning this year is Downtown Jingle Lights – an expanded version of last year’s new and popular interactive holiday light show. Drive along Main Street, Third Street, and Monument Avenue evenings through January 1, and tune to 97.1 FM to see downtown streets transformed into an interactive, drive-thru light show, choreographed to the beat of your favorite holiday tunes!

A complete list of festival events is available online, as well as a calendar of other downtown holiday events.

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

Grande Illumination ― The tree-lighting ceremony will take place at 7:55 p.m. on Courthouse Square. Media sponsor: WHIO-TV
Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights– Starts immediately following the Grande Illumination. The route: West Second Street to Main Street, south on Main Street to Fourth Street, and then west on Fourth Street. LED parade lights sponsored by NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals.
Live reindeer photo station — Take a family photo with a sleigh and live reindeer. It’s unique and fun way to capture your memories of the Grande Illumination and Parade!
Main Stage Entertainment ― Enjoy live entertainment on the Courthouse Square stage. Performances begin around 4 p.m. The schedule is:

- 4:00-4:25 p.m. – Viva La Strings
- 4:30-4:55 p.m. – Queen Amazon
- 5:05-5:30 p.m. – Berachah Valley
- 5:40-6:05 p.m. – Joe Waters
- 6:15-6:40 p.m. – Gwen Brown
- 6:50-7:15 p.m. – Alexis Gomez
- 7:25-7:50 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus

Magic Glasses ― Look for volunteers passing out these special glasses on Courthouse Square prior to the tree lighting, or pick up a pair at any information station.
Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays ― View all the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite, located inside the old Montgomery County courthouse.
The Holiday Village ― Located on Second Street outside the Stratacache Tower from 4 to 9 p.m., this is a favorite stop for children, featuring free activities for kids and Mrs. Virginia Kettering’s train on display.
Street Fair on Third- ― At this holiday street fair, free rides and other activities will be set up on Third Street between Main and Ludlow streets.
Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides ― From 4 to 7:30 p.m., wagons will pick up passengers near the corner of Second and Main streets for a ride through downtown. Rides are $1 per person suggested donation. Lines can be long, so come early.
Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Adventure, sponsored by Wright-Patt Credit Union – Kids will go on an adventure around the festival footprint, presented by the Junior League of Dayton. Children who visit all the stops will receive a free book.
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.
Downtown Jingle Lights – Along Main Street, Third Street, and Monument Avenue, see downtown streets transformed into an interactive, drive-thru light show, choreographed to the beat of your favorite holiday tunes! Tune your radio to 97.1 FM as you drive the route throughout the holiday season.
Ice Skating – The MetroParks Ice Rink at RiverScape MetroPark opens for the season on Nov. 26.

The 44th Annual Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights

November 24, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

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

People gather round the tree as the countdown ends and the more than 100,000 lights are turned on for the first time during the Grande Illumination & Dayton Children's Parade Spectacular in Lights which begins the 39th Annual Dayton Holiday Festival in Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Friday, November 25, 2011.

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.)

Volunteers Still Needed for Dayton Holiday Festival

November 17, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again. The holiday season is right around the corner and The Downtown Dayton Partnership is once again kicking the season off with the Grande Illumination (presented by DP&L) and the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights (presented by Miami Valley Hospital) on November 27.

According to an email sent out by Sandy Gudorf, President of the Downtown Dayton, volunteers are still needed to help with the November 27 events. Volunteer shifts are short and fun, and there are several ways you can help. Click here for a list of over 40 volunteer opportunties, and sign up today to help kick off the holiday season!*

The Dayton Holiday Festival has been kindling the holiday spirit in downtown Dayton for more than four decades. This long standing tradition brings tens of thousands of children and families downtown to participate in everything the month-long festival has to offer.

There’s a wonderful lineup of events this year, including a variety of arts and cultural activities, as well as numerous family-friendly events that span the entire month of December. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy during this year’s Dayton Holiday Festival.

Dayton Holiday Festival Kicks Off Friday

November 23, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Holiday Festival is your source for family-friendly holiday fun in downtown Dayton. Started by Mrs. Virginia Kettering more than 40 years ago so that all children could enjoy the holiday season regardless of their economic means, the Festival continues today with free attractions for the community.

Each year the festival kicks off Thanksgiving weekend with the Grande Illumination and the Dayton Children’s Parade, and the fun continues throughout the month of December with activities like the Tike’s Shoppe, a family movie series at The Neon, pizza with Santa, and more! Mark your calendars for this year’s activities:

Kick off the Dayton Holiday Festival
Friday, November 28, 4-9 p.m. with:

The Grande Illumination tree lighting
Friday, November 28, 7:45 p.m.
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 50,000 colored lights will brighten the two-story-tall holiday tree on Courthouse Square. Sponsored by Big 106.5 FM.

The Dayton Children’s Parade
Spectacular in Lights
Friday, November 28, Approximately 8 p.m.
Along Second, Main & Fourth sts.
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.

Life-Size Snow Globe
Friday, November 28, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
New this year – a unique and fun way to capture your memories of the Grande Illumination and Parade! Jump inside the enormous snow globe and take photos among this whimsical winter scene! Sponsored by DP&L.

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 4-9 p.m., 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:

4:00-4:35 p.m. – Holiday Music
4:40-5:00 p.m. – Cathe Brown
5:10-5:30 p.m. – Josh Weston
5:40-6:10 p.m. – Meg Osman
6:20-6:55 p.m. – High Five Riot
7:10-7:45 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus

Main Stage Entertainment is sponsored by Kroger.

Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest
Old Court House, Third & Main sts.; 4-9 p.m.
View all of the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses. Best in show will receive $500! Winners will be announced on the Main Stage before the tree lighting ceremony. Sponsored by the Downtown Priority Board, with media sponsor B94.5 FM.

Holiday Village
Kettering Tower lobby, southeast corner of Second and Main streets; 4-9 p.m.
Visit a magical fantasy village featuring free crafts, games and lots of other surprises for kids. A favorite at the Holiday Village is Time Warner Cable Media’s ‘Dial-an-Elf’ phone bank, where kids can call the North Pole and share their wish list with one of Santa’s official helpers! The Holiday Village is sponsored by Time Warner Cable Media, with games and crafts sponsored by Hollywood Gaming – Dayton Raceway.

Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Hunt
Courthouse Square; 4-7 p.m.
Don’t miss this free downtown scavenger hunt for kids! Start at the Junior League tent on Courthouse Square, where you’ll receive your map and instructions. Then follow the hunt to downtown locations to receive prizes!

Street Fair on Third
Third Street between Main and Ludlow; 4-9 p.m.
Blinking lights and whirring sounds are just a small part of the wonder you’ll find at the Street Fair on Third. Enjoy free carnival rides for kids throughout the evening! Street Fair on Third is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.

Horse-drawn Wagon Rides
Second & Main, in front of the Premier Health Center; 4-7:30 p.m.
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.) $1 per person. Sponsored by Miami-Jacobs Career College.

The holiday fun continues through December with Family Weekends and other activities! Visit http://www.daytonholidayfestival.org for all the details.

Jane’s Best Bets (11/24 – 11/28)

November 24, 2010 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

As it is Thanksgiving week, I want to take a minute to say how very thankful I am to all of you for reading Jane’s Best Bets! And thank you to DaytonMostMetro.com for giving me the opportunity to write on a topic I am so passionate about! Here’s to another great week in Dayton!

On Wednesday, consider getting a FREE t-shirt by donating blood at the You’re The Ticket To Saving a Life at Community Blood Center! Don’t worry…you’ll be eating plenty of food tomorrow, so I’m guessing your blood supply will be okay. At PNC 2^nd Street Market, do your last minute Thanksgiving shopping as part of their Stock-Up Wednesday event. And in the evening, be sure to catch the UD Flyers’ next win as they play Florida A&M at the UD Arena. And if you want to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving and have a good laugh, check out the Thanksgiving Eve Show at Wiley’s.

On Thursday, with it being the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to keep it brief. Consider participating in the The 32nd Annual Turkey Trot in downtown Miamisburg to counteract all the delicious food you’ll be eating later in the day. And from what I’ve been told, you DON’T have to be a runner…walking is perfectly acceptable! Over at the Dayton Convention Center, attend Thanksgiving in Dayton ‘A Feast of Giving’, in which several sponsors are helping to continue the Beerman family Thanksgiving dinner tradition. Regardless of where you go, have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and eat some turkey for me! Gobble Gobble!

On Black Friday, set your alarm clock early so you can catch some of those fabulous deals. Just be sure I don’t see you on the news later because you got into a fight over a super deal on the Emerson 32” LCD HDTV they’re selling at Wal-Mart! If you’re not up for fighting the crazy crowds, there are many other ways to officially kick off the Christmas season on Friday so let me fill you in one little secret…Downtown is THE place to be! If you want to burn off some of those calories from all that turkey you ate the day before, head to the MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape. Visit Santa and allow your kids to do a little shopping of their own at The Tike’s Shop, as well as see the Wonderland Windows (the old Rike’s holiday displays) at the Schuster Center. Check out some amazing gingerbread houses as part of the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest at the Old Courthouse. Over at Kettering Tower (which is actually in downtown, not Kettering!), bring the kids to the Holiday Village, which will include festive crafts and games. Also for the kids, The Junior League of Dayton will be sponsoring their 2010 Holiday Hunt. In addition to all these great events, there will also be a Street Fair on Third with free carnival rides, a McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour, and a Sounds of the Season concert at Fifth Third Center, where Culture Works brings together several local choirs for a free holiday concert! And finally while you’re downtown, you won’t want to miss the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights (Dayton Holiday Festival) at Courthouse Square. Oh…and if your legs are exhausted from doing all that shopping early in the morning, take one of the Horse-drawn Wagon Rides to get from location to location! Or if you want to kick your feet back and enjoy a show where others are doing all the legwork, head to the Schuster Center to see Cirque Dreams – Holidaze, which is a holiday musical with an international cast of acrobats, aerialists, singers, dancers, and musicians! Whew, I’m exhausted! If you don’t remember everything I said about Friday, don’t worry – just remember the word “downtown” and the rest will take care of itself!

On Saturday, head back downtown for one of the many things you may have missed, since after all, how could you possibly fit it all in on one day?!?! There will be The Tike’s Shop, Wonderland Windows, and Cirque Dreams – Holidaze at the Schuster Center; Carriage Rides and ice skating as part of MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape; the Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at Kettering Tower; and the McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour. Also, check out the PNC 2^nd Street Market and bring a non-perishable item or two to donate to the Foodbank as part of the Food for Friends event. At Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, they will have a Holiday Art Fair and Open House. If you are looking for a Christmas tree, head out to Choose & Cut Christmas Trees at Young’s Jersey Dairy. Bring your dancing moves to the Dayton Mall and participate in Dance Along Nutcracker…all are welcome! And finally in the evening, support the AIDS Resource Center by watching The Rubi Girls present ‘The Show Must Go On’ at Club Masque.

On Sunday, to be perfectly honest, I’m probably going to need to rest due to all the hustle and bustle from the previous days! But if you’re game, there will still be many events going on strong in the wonderful Dayton region! Have “Some-Fun” at the Schuster Center with crafts, entertainment, and more. While there, be sure to check out Wonderland Windows and The Tike’s Shop if you didn’t get a chance to see them earlier in the weekend. Or, check out the Cirque Dreams – Holidaze show. If you’re no Peggy Fleming, attend Fundamentals of Skating at Riverscape. And finally, if you’re a beer lover, attend the Tapping Dogfish Head Burton Baton at Chappy’s.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why did the police arrest the turkey?

They suspected it of fowl play.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!