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Washington Township Woodland Lights

The Lights Go On in Washington Township!

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The 29th season of Woodland Lights at Countryside Park features a fantasy land of holiday lights and displays along the half-mile paved path. The month-long festival has more lights, more vignettes, and the same winter whimsy that enchants thousands of visitors each year. Open Friday – Sunday: November 19 through December 19 from 6-9pm and then nightly December 20 through December 30, except for
December 24 & 25 when they will be closed.  Tickets run $9 and can be purchased in advance online or on the night of! Children 2 and under are free.

For the first year ever, visitors can stroll through the ten acres of sparkling light and whimsical displays or take a ride on the Rieck Express train along a new 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. The train was partially sponsored through a generous donation from Rieck Services last year and 2021 will mark its maiden run at Woodland Lights as it’s sure to delight young and old alike. Please note that the trains have replaced the amusement rides.

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. Our traditional horse drawn carriage rides will run every night except December 3 & 4.

A variety of amusements and concessions round out the month long celebration including a community favorite:

Pet Night: December 3 & 21-  Pets are people too on select night when they are invited to walk the holiday path with their loving owners. Please be sure they are leashed, people-friendly and that owners pick up any waste left behind.

Character Night: December 4 – Meet some of your favorite characters along the path! From Mickey to Minnie to Olaf – and more!

The train, lights and displays of Woodland Lights are powered by the generosity of event sponsors, led by the Sam’s Club of Washington Township, Beavercreek and North Dayton. Sam’s Club has been the festival’s Major Sponsor for ten consecutive seasons, including last year’s modified event. “The community spirit of local businesses shines bright at each Woodland Lights,” says Mark Metzger, Recreation Director. “But we are especially grateful for last year’s sponsors that did not withdraw their support when the traditional festival was canceled by the pandemic. We expect record attendance when Woodland Lights return to Countryside Park this year, which will be a fitting tribute to those who make this community celebration possible.” All sponsors for this year’s event are recognized on our website, on social media and throughout the festival.

Woodland Lights is an outdoor event that rarely closes, even when the weather is cold and snowy. However, rain and ice can force the holiday event to shut down for all or part of an evening.  The decision to close rides or the event is taken very seriously and is made at or before 2 pm on a daily basis. To get the latest information on weather-related closings, visit the Woodland Lights Facebook page.

Countryside Park

895 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd
Washington Township, OH 45459

937-433-0130

Friday – Sunday: November 19 through December 19
Nightly: December 20 through December 30
Closed December 24 & 25
Hours of Operation:
6-9 pm
Gate closes at 8:30 pm

Jane’s Best Bets (12/22 – 12/26)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s so hard to believe that Christmas is this week!  I bet many of you are continuing to do your Christmas shopping, gift wrapping, and decorating, so I’m going to keep it brief.  Here are a few entertainment options if you can make some time during this busy week!

On Wednesday, to get in the true spirit of Christmas, attend At the Manger or the Narrative Enchantment: Nativity Stories in Gold and Blue, both at the University of Dayton.  If you need to unwind after all that Christmas shopping, attend the Wine Tasting at Dorothy Lane Market, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, or the Naughty & Nice Beer Tasting at Heather’s Coffee & Café.  I know some geese can get on your nerves, but if you don’t mind them, attend the Annual Goose Dinner at C’est Tout.  And if you’d like to add a little mystery to your dinner, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Hollywood Holiday’ at the Spaghetti Warehouse.

On Thursday, do some holiday “sightseeing” by checking out Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at the Kettering Tower, the Washington Township Woodland Lights, or Wonderland Windows at the Schuster Center.  My almost 7-month old niece went last week to see the windows and she told me she had a good time.  In order to complete your holiday shopping, visit The Tike’s Shop at the Schuster Center, the Beer & Peanuts Shopping Party at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, or Live Art, Give Art! at the Cannery Art and Design Center.  If you would like to make the holidays better for those less fortunate, bring a non-perishable item as part of Food for Friends at PNC 2nd Street Market or as part of the Holiday Food Drive at the Cannery Art and Design Center.  And if you’re a music lover, attending Holidayton at Blind Bob’s is a must, as several bands/musicians will be performing!

On Christmas Eve (Friday) and Christmas Day (Saturday), hopefully you’ll be celebrating with your family/friends!  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  Please be sure to celebrate responsibly!  If you plan to celebrate the holidays with alcohol, have a DD or take advantage of the “Arrive Safe” program.  From December 24th-26th, Montgomery County residents can get a free cab ride (up to $50).  Just program 449-9999 in your cell phone!

On Sunday, I’m guessing you’ll probably want to relax or get up early to get some good shopping deals, return/exchange that ugly Christmas sweater, and/or use any gift cards you may have gotten!  If you are sick and tired of all things Christmas and feel like doing something totally unrelated, you can head over to the Dayton Art Institute for one of their exhibits, including 100 Years of African-American Art: The Arthur Primas Collection, Marking the Past/Shaping the Present: The Art of Willis ‘Bing’ Davis, or the Max May Memorial Holocaust Art Exhibition.  And if you would like to remain in the spirit of Christmas, check out the Washington Township Woodland Lights, Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at the Kettering Tower, or Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia.

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

Why is it so cold at Christmas?
Because it’s in Decembrrrr!

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!

Jane’s Best Bets (12/1 – 12/5)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Just think…in less than four weeks, Santa Claus is coming to town.  You better watch out for the many fun things going on this week!

On Wednesday, head over to the University of Dayton for their Narrative Enchantment: Nativity Stories in Gold and Blue, which is a visual display created by an award-winning illustrator.  You better not cry when you see Scrooge in A Christmas Carolat the Victoria Theatre.  At the Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries, bring in canned goods to create an artistic display, which will then be donated to the Foodbank as part of the Show of HeART: The Foodbank Installation.  At the Oakwood Dorothy Lane Market, attend the Season’s Greetings Beer Tasting. And in the evening, make your way over to UD Arena to watch the Flyers play East Tennessee State!

On Thursday, learn how social media can help grow your business by registering for Social Media Boot Camp at Sinclair.  If you’re a young professional interested in marketing and new media and would like to give back (after all, Santa knows if you’ve been bad or good), you will definitely want to learn about a new and wonderful group in town called CultureMASH at their launch event at Wright State.  And if you’re a young professional in the defense industry, definitely check out the Young AFCEAn End of Year Social at the Pub at the Greene.  For a good laugh, head over to the Victoria Theatre to see the stand-up comic Lisa Lampanelli.  Santa knows who is naughty and nice, and according to what I’ve heard, Lisa’s stand-up routine is more of the former, as she has been hailed the “Queen of Mean”…however, she is well-liked by many!  If you’ve been making a list of all the songs of the 70s you know and love, then you’ll be able to listen to them as part of 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre.  And if you would like to hear another style of music, watch the University of Dayton Orchestra, as they put on a FREE show!

On Friday, head over to the PNC 2nd Street Market to make Azra’s Favorite Christmas Cookies.  Watch the Miami Valley Dance Company’s Performance of the Nutcrackerat Bellbrook High School.  Attend the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s First Friday, which is an amazing art hop downtown.  Don’t worry, if you’re not an art fanatic, there are plenty of other things to do while you’re downtown!  Ice skate at RiverScape (that sounds like the beginning of a tongue twister) to some music like the professionals do as part of their DJ Skate: Holiday and Top 40, or take a Horse-drawn Carriage Ride. At the Schuster Center, check out the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, ‘Twas the Night: Holiday at Home’. At The Loft Theatre, be entertained by 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s.  And finally downtown, I am so pleased to announce that Bryan Adams will be performing at Victoria Theatre!  Yeah, I’m pretty sure that “Bryan Adams” is a common name, but I checked and it is THE Bryan Adams…you know, the singer!  Please forgive me for the fact that my words come straight from the heart…I’m just that excited about it!  At Triangle Park, take the kids and attend the City Of Dayton Winter Wonderland to experience a fun, outdoor light display…just tell them to be good for goodness sake.  And if you are in the suburbs, consider seeing A Christmas Carolat the Beavercreek Community Theatre, the Washington Township Woodland Lights, or Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smellsat Town Hall Theatre in Centerville.  I don’t think little Junie is aware of the fact that Santa knows if she’s been good or bad!

On Saturday, you better be making a list of the things you would like to do, as there are so many awesome events from which to choose!  Santa Claus will REALLY be coming to town and you can have breakfast with him at Rusty Bucket at the Dayton Mall or at Polen Farms.  Also at Polen Farms, you can attend their Holiday Boutique to find unique holiday gifts.  Not sure how unique they are, as there will also be the Christkindlmarkt German Christmas Bazaar at Dayton Liederkranz Turner and the Omega Holiday Bazaar at Omega Baptist Church, which both offer one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.  Kind of reminds me of the quote, “You’re unique, just like everybody else.”  I guess it’s the same way with Christmas gifts.  Sorry, I digress.  I’m thinking Santa must have a pretty busy day, as he will also be at Uno’s Chicago Grill and at the PNC 2nd Street Market for Pet Pictures with Santa.  While at the PNC 2nd Street Market, you can also participate in the Christmas Walk, which is my kind of walk as it is a “noncompetitive walk for the health of it”.  Although my kind of walk is probably more like the We Care Arts Cookie Walk going on at We Care Arts in Kettering, which is a wonderful organization that seeks to change disabilities into possibilities through art.  If you’re in downtown Lebanon, check out the Historic Christmas Festival and Horse Drawn Carriage Parade.

Continuing with Saturday…At the Victoria Theatre, check out Mooseltoe:  The Moosical…gotta love puns!  Also for more theater action, check out Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, the Miami Valley Dance Company’s Nutcracker at Bellbrook High School, or A Christmas Carol at the Beavercreek Community Theatre.  If you enjoy music, consider listening to The Dayton Philharmonic ‘Twas the Night: Holiday at Home’at the Schuster Center, the UD Ebony Heritage Singers at the University of Dayton, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre.  Eat and dance the night away with The Soul Express Band at the Dayton Neighborhood Ballat the Dayton Masonic Center.  Give those vocal chords a workout (although you may need to see one of my colleagues for voice therapy afterwards!) by cheering on the Flyers as they take on Miami at UD Arena.  At the University of Dayton’s campus, you will be able to see Holiday Happenings – DCDC2’s Family Holiday Performance, in which there will be fun-filled dance performances to traditional and non-traditional holiday music.  And finally on Saturday evening, I am excited to be  celebrating with Generation Dayton at their Annual Holiday Party at the Old Courthouse downtown!

On Sunday, you will once again be able to get some holiday shopping accomplished at the Omega Holiday Bazaar at Omega Baptist Church and the Christkindlmarkt German Christmas Bazaarat Dayton Liederkranz Turner.  If you’re looking for something musical, check out Mooseltoe:  The Moosical at Victoria Theatre, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre, Afternoon Musicales: Dayton Music Club at the Dayton Art Institute, Advent Dinner and Choral Program at Westminster Presbyterian Church, or the UD Choral Union/ World Music Choir/ Hands in Harmony at the University of Dayton.  And if you love all the Christmas decorations this time of year, hit up the Washington Township Woodland Lights!

You better not pout because you can’t hit up all these awesome events this week!  I’m confident that whatever you choose to do, you’ll have an awesome time!

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

What do you call Santa when he has no money?
Saint “Nickel”-less!

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!