Families invited to spend time in downtown Dayton to celebrate the holidays together
Once the giant switch is flipped doesn’t mean the seasonal celebrations end in Dayton. After the last float from the Children’s Parade rolls down the street at the Dayton Holiday Festival, Family Fun Days, presented by AES Ohio, take over throughout December.
The programs are all part of creating attractions to bring families downtown to support the local business community, and enjoy spending time with one another. “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 celebrate the holiday season together as a community,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership.
Free and low-cost programs will take place daily throughout downtown and vicinity, and some featured attractions will have posted schedules online.
● Downtown Jingle Lights: Now through Jan. 1, visitors to downtown Dayton can tune into 97.1FM and enjoy a free light show synchronized to holiday music. Downtown Jingle Lights, sponsored by iHeartRadio, run daily from 5 p.m. to midnight along Main Street between Monument Avenue and Fifth Street, Third Street between Wilkinson and St. Clair streets, and Monument Avenue between Patterson Boulevard and Main Street.
● Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display: View this one-of-a-kind model train display given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering, founder of the Dayton Holiday Festival. The train can be viewed in the lobby of Stratacache Tower.
● Rike’s Holiday WIndow Display: Experience a reimagining of the former Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner at Second and Main streets, inside the lobby of the Schuster Performing Arts Center.
● Whimsical Windows Contest: Downtown businesses compete pane-to-pane in a battle for the most beloved holiday display. Check out all the participating displays and go online to vote for the best. The winning business receives a cash prize. Thanks to students from The Modern College of Design for their assistance with many of the downtown displays this year! Watch for details about the hidden Elf on the Shelf contest for kids of all ages.
● Family Holiday Film Series: Saturdays in December, families can come to The Neon theater for special viewings of holiday movies. Catch “Polar Express” this Saturday, followed by “A Christmas Story” on Dec. 11 and “Jingle Jangle” on Dec. 18. All movies begin at 11 a.m. and are free for children 12 and younger; $2 for those over 12. Visit The Neon’s website for details on COVID-19 protocols.
● MetroParks Ice Rink: Located under the pavilion at RiverScape MetroPark, the ice rink offers outdoor ice skating options as well as a variety of programs for children and adults. Admission is $6 and skate rental is $2. To learn more about hours of operation (including holiday schedules), upcoming events and programs, details about concessions and facility rentals, and other information, visit the website.
● Carillon Christmas: Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus is transformed into a winter wonderland from 5 to 9 p.m. now through Dec. 30. Check out historical displays and interactive exhibits, including the one-and-only Carillon Tree of Light. For tickets and more information, visit the website.
