Miami Valley residents can nominate a tree now for the event’s 50th anniversary in November

The 50th anniversary of the Dayton Holiday Festival is quickly approaching and the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) is looking for a grand tree to mark the celebration. The selected tree will be decorated with more than 50,000 lights and gold accents to mark the golden anniversary of the Dayton Holiday Festival planned for Friday, November 25.

“This year’s Dayton Holiday Festival will be a celebration of the season, but also a celebration of Dayton’s history and how the event has grown,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, President of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “We’re looking for a monumental tree to highlight what this festival means to our community.”

Trees should meet the following guidelines:
● The ideal tree should stand at approximately 45 to 60 feet tall and 25 feet wide.
● Colorado green spruce or blue spruce trees are preferred, but other grand and stately evergreens will be considered.
● The tree must be located in the front or side yard of nominee’s property with clear access to the tree, free from power lines or transit cables.

Miami Valley residents who would like to nominate a tree can do so by calling Colleen Turner at the Downtown Dayton Partnership at (937) 224-1518, or by emailing turner@downtowndayton.org. A search crew will select this year’s winning tree at the end of October. The tree will be removed and transported to Courthouse Square at no cost to the owners. The tree’s owners will also be recognized during the official tree lighting ceremony on Friday, November 25.

The 2022 Dayton Holiday Festival and Grande Illumination are presented by AES Ohio. Additional support comes from the Mrs. Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton. Details about this year’s Dayton Holiday Festival activities, maps, program, and additional sponsors will be made available at www.downtowndayton.org/things-to-do/holiday-festival/ in the coming months.