The Grande Illumination and the Dayton Children’s Parade.

Mark your calendar to kick off the Dayton Holiday Festival on Friday, November 29, 2024!

Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting on Courthouse Square, followed immediately by a nighttime parade for children, sparkling with more than 100,000 lights! Enjoy decorative seasonal floats, horses, drill teams and bands, and some special holiday treats.

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But the tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night! Leading up to those events, a full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned from 3 to 7 p.m., including such favorites as:

Live Main Stage Entertainment

Enjoy holiday songs and other live entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony.

Live Reindeer

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!

Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest

View all of the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses on display inside The Old Courthouse on November 29. Want to compete in the contest? Download the rules and application here.

Street Fair

Blinking lights and whirring sounds are just a small part of the wonder you’ll find at the Street Fair. Enjoy free carnival rides for kids throughout the evening!

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides

Enjoy a wagon ride through downtown!

Candy Cane Clubhouse

Visit a magical fantasy village inside the Stratacache Tower, featuring free crafts, games, live holiday music, and lots of other surprises for kids.

Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Adventure

Kids will go on an adventure around the festival footprint. Children who visit all of the stops will receive a free book.