DAYTON HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
HOLIDAY KICKOFF & A FULL MONTH OF FUN EVENTS
The Dayton Holiday Festival is your source for family-friendly holiday fun in downtown Dayton!
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.
Each year, the festival kicks off Thanksgiving weekend with the Grande Illumination tree lighting and parade. The fun continues throughout the month of December with family fun days and other holiday activities.
Mark your calendar to kick off the Dayton Holiday Festival on Friday, November 28, 2025!
Get all the details below.
The Grande Illumination tree lighting
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts. 6:30 p.m.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton's traditional tree lighting. At 6:30 p.m., we'll throw the switch and approximately 50,000 lights will brighten the big tree on Courthouse Square! Free.
Holiday tree sponsored by Premier Health
Media sponsor: iHeartRADIO
The Grande Illumination parade
Presented by White Allen Chevrolet
Along Fourth & Main sts., 6:30 p.m.
Immediately following the tree lighting, the parade will start at the corner of W. Fourth and Ludlow sts. and round the corner onto Main Street on 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. Free.
LED parade lights sponsored by NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals
NOTE: This year's parade has a slightly different route from previous years. See the map at left or here.
But the tree lighting and parade aren't the only highlights that night!
A full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned beginning at 4 p.m., including such favorites as:
Live Main Stage Entertainment
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy holiday songs and other live entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Free.
Sponsored by Sinclair College
4:05-4:30 p.m. - Dayton Celebration Chorus
4:35-7:00 p.m. - Live DJ from Electric Vibe Entertainment.
Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main sts., Friday 4-7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m.-6 pm.
View all the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite! Free.
(Please note that in order to ensure everyone in line will get to view the houses, it is often necessary to close the line earlier than the scheduled end time.)
Street Fair and Food Trucks on Second
Second Street between Ludlow & Jefferson sts., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy free rides and other activities for kids throughout the evening! Grab a bite to eat from one of multiple food vendors while you're there. Vendors scheduled to appear include S'more Fun, Courtland Mobile Grill, Iggy Ragu's, Potato Tornado Gals & More, Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck, Hearts Hot Dogs, Spin City Concessions, Funnel Cakes & More. (Vendors subject to change.)
Candy Cane Clubhouse
Stratachache Tower lobby, 40 N. Main St., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy festive kids' entertainment, crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, and more! Free. Scheduled to perform:
4:00-4:50 p.m. - Juggling by Crazy Craig Muhlenkamp
5:00-6:00 p.m. - Elsa & Anna Sing-Along and Meet & Greet from Fairy Godmother Events
6:00-6:30 p.m. - Roz Puppet Show
Holiday Adventure
Start at CURIO on Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts., 4-7 p.m.
Kids will go on an adventure around the festival footprint. Children who visit all of the stops will receive a free book. Free.
Presented by the Junior League of Dayton.
ONGOING EVENTS THRU DECEMBER
The holiday fun continues through December with
Family Fun Days & Other Activities, including:
Virginia Kettering's Holiday Train Display
November 28-January 1
Stratacache Tower lobby at the corner of Second & Main sts.
View in building lobby Mon-Sat, or through windows anytime.
View this one-of-a-kind model train display given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering.
(Use Second St. building entrance.)
Free. 224-1518.
Rike's Holiday Windows
November 28-January 4
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main sts.;
Hours of operation vary - for the most up-to-date info, visit daytonlive.org/rikes.
Closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day
Experience a reimagining of the Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner. Free.
(Not accessible during private events. Call 228-7591 to confirm hours.)
Presented by Dayton Live
MetroParks Ice Rink
November 28-February 28
RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave.
Sheltered under the covered pavilion, the MetroParks Ice Rink sets the scene as a perfect winter wonderland in downtown Dayton. Patrons may skate daily. While the rink is open, you can enjoy delicious treats from the concession area, including a cup of hot chocolate. Take advantage of fun skating activities, such as lessons, themed skating nights and more. Visit metroparks.org/ice-rink to learn more, find daily open hours and costs, and see a schedule of events. 278-2607.
Downtown Dayton Holiday Hop
November 29-Dec. 22
Participating locations throughout downtown
New this year! Play, shop, and dine throughout downtown this holiday season and collect three stamps to receive $25 in Downtown Dollars! Participating locations, rules, and more info here. 224-1518.
Whimsical Windows Contest & Elf Hunt
Dec. 5-29
Select businesses throughout downtown
This annual contest shows off the creativity of downtown Dayton's collection of small businesses as they decorate their storefront windows for the holidays in their own unique ways. Enjoy shopping, dining, and exploring downtown Dayton in this fun and festive atmosphere! Vote for your favorite window display online at DaytonDailyNews.com starting Dec. 5. YOU can be the winner in the Elf Hunt contest! Simply find elves hidden among holiday decorations in first-floor storefront windows and text a photo of it to 937-304-4041. Each photo taken of a different elf counts as one entry toward a weekly drawing for $100 in Downtown Dollars! Free.
Sponsored by Dayton Daily News
Family Movie Series
December 6, 13, & 20; 11 a.m.
THE NEON, 130 E. Fifth St.
Bring the family to THE NEON for fun, festive films. Free admission for kids 12 and under, $2 for adults.
Sponsored by Dayton Children's and THE NEON
Scheduled Films:
December 6 - The Polar Express (with a pajama party!)
December 13 - Jingle All the Way
December 20 - A Year without Santa Claus
Titles subject to change - call theater for confirmation.
Winter Wonderland at Rabbit Hole Books
December 6, 13, & 20; 1-4 p.m.
Rabbit Hole Books, 27 W. First St.
Santa's workshop is coming to downtown Dayton! Little ones are invited to shop for gifts in a kid-sized store, enjoy tasty holiday treats, and take a photo with the big man in red! 999-4092.
MORE INFO
In addition to all of the Dayton Holiday Festival events, you'll find plenty of holiday themed and other events going on all season long downtown. For the most up-to-date listing of downtown happenings, check out our online Calendar of Events.
If you have questions about the Dayton Holiday Festival, email Lynn Robertson, or call her at (937) 224-1518 ext. 227.
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