Grande Illumination

The 44th Annual Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights

November 24, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

The holiday season kicks off in Dayton with the annual Grande Illumination, presented by DP&L, and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights. This year marks 44 years celebrating the Dayton Holiday Festival. Activities planned include the NEW LIVE REINDEER display, live musical entertainment, carnival rides and games, holiday crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, the Tike’s Shoppe and a gingerbread house contest. Admission and all activities are free of charge.
NEW! Live Reindeer
Friday, November 25, 4-9 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Come 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!

Magic Glasses
For a fun and special added touch, we’ll be handing out free “magic glasses,” courtesy of CareSource. Grab a pair on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the holiday lights in a whole new way!

But the tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night! A full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned from 4 to 9 pm, including:

Live Main Stage Entertainment
We have plenty of entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Here’s the lineup:

4:00-4:20 pm – Dancing Divas
4:40-5:00 pm – Miami Valley Music Men
5:10-5:30 pm – Berachah Valley
5:40-6:05 pm – Young Professionals Choral Collective
6:20-6:55 pm – Alexis Gomez Trio
7:10-7:45 pm – Dayton Celebration Chorus

The Grande Illumination tree lighting

People gather round the tree as the countdown ends and the more than 100,000 lights are turned on for the first time during the Grande Illumination & Dayton Children's Parade Spectacular in Lights which begins the 39th Annual Dayton Holiday Festival in Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Friday, November 25, 2011.

Photo credit: MediaMoments.com

Friday, November 25, 7:45 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 7:45, we’ll throw the switch and approximately 100,000 colored lights will brighten the three-story-tall tree on Courthouse Square. Bill Nance & Melody Morris from FaithAndFriendsRadio.Com will do a live broadcast at the Old Courthouse from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by live announcing of the parade.

PARADE ROUTE:
The parade will begin at 7:50 pm at Second and Wilkinson streets; it will proceed east on Second Street to south on Main Street, then to west on Fourth Street. When at Fourth and Perry streets, the parade floats will disband and stage for escort to their designated storage area.

Closed from 9 am until 10 pm:
·         Third Street between Main and Ludlow
Closed from 3 pm until 10 pm:
·         Second Street between Perry and Vista View
Closed from 5:30 pm until 10 pm:
·         Wilkinson Street between Second and Third
·         Ludlow Street between First and Second
Closed from 7 pm until 10 pm:
·         Main Street between First and Fifth
·         Second Street between Jefferson and Perry
·         Third Street between Jefferson and Perry
·         Fourth Street between Jefferson and Ludlow
·         Wilkinson Street between Maple and Fourth
·         Southbound Red Cross Lane between First and Second
·         Southbound Stafford Street between First and Second
(Access to the Arts Garage will be maintained while surrounding streets are closed.)

Volunteers Still Needed for Dayton Holiday Festival

November 17, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again. The holiday season is right around the corner and The Downtown Dayton Partnership is once again kicking the season off with the Grande Illumination (presented by DP&L) and the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights (presented by Miami Valley Hospital) on November 27.

According to an email sent out by Sandy Gudorf, President of the Downtown Dayton, volunteers are still needed to help with the November 27 events. Volunteer shifts are short and fun, and there are several ways you can help. Click here for a list of over 40 volunteer opportunties, and sign up today to help kick off the holiday season!*

The Dayton Holiday Festival has been kindling the holiday spirit in downtown Dayton for more than four decades. This long standing tradition brings tens of thousands of children and families downtown to participate in everything the month-long festival has to offer.

There’s a wonderful lineup of events this year, including a variety of arts and cultural activities, as well as numerous family-friendly events that span the entire month of December. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy during this year’s Dayton Holiday Festival.

Dayton Holiday Festival Kicks Off Friday

November 23, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Holiday Festival is your source for family-friendly holiday fun in downtown Dayton. Started by Mrs. Virginia Kettering more than 40 years ago 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 and the Dayton Children’s Parade, and the fun continues throughout the month of December with activities like the Tike’s Shoppe, a family movie series at The Neon, pizza with Santa, and more! Mark your calendars for this year’s activities:

Kick off the Dayton Holiday Festival
Friday, November 28, 4-9 p.m. with:

The Grande Illumination tree lighting
Friday, November 28, 7:45 p.m.
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 7:45, we’ll throw the switch and approximately 50,000 colored lights will brighten the two-story-tall holiday tree on Courthouse Square. Sponsored by Big 106.5 FM.

The Dayton Children’s Parade
Spectacular in Lights
Friday, November 28, Approximately 8 p.m.
Along Second, Main & Fourth sts.
Immediately following the tree lighting, the Children’s Parade will round the corner of Second and Main streets to start 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.

Life-Size Snow Globe
Friday, November 28, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
New this year – a unique and fun way to capture your memories of the Grande Illumination and Parade! Jump inside the enormous snow globe and take photos among this whimsical winter scene! Sponsored by DP&L.

Magic Glasses
For a fun and special added touch, we’ll be handing out free ‘magic glasses,’ courtesy of CareSource. Grab a pair on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the holiday lights in a whole new way!

But the tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night! A full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned from 4-9 p.m., including:

Live Main Stage Entertainment
We have plenty of entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Here’s the lineup:

4:00-4:35 p.m. – Holiday Music
4:40-5:00 p.m. – Cathe Brown
5:10-5:30 p.m. – Josh Weston
5:40-6:10 p.m. – Meg Osman
6:20-6:55 p.m. – High Five Riot
7:10-7:45 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus

Main Stage Entertainment is sponsored by Kroger.

Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest
Old Court House, Third & Main sts.; 4-9 p.m.
View all of the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses. Best in show will receive $500! Winners will be announced on the Main Stage before the tree lighting ceremony. Sponsored by the Downtown Priority Board, with media sponsor B94.5 FM.

Holiday Village
Kettering Tower lobby, southeast corner of Second and Main streets; 4-9 p.m.
Visit a magical fantasy village featuring free crafts, games and lots of other surprises for kids. A favorite at the Holiday Village is Time Warner Cable Media’s ‘Dial-an-Elf’ phone bank, where kids can call the North Pole and share their wish list with one of Santa’s official helpers! The Holiday Village is sponsored by Time Warner Cable Media, with games and crafts sponsored by Hollywood Gaming – Dayton Raceway.

Junior League of Dayton’s Holiday Hunt
Courthouse Square; 4-7 p.m.
Don’t miss this free downtown scavenger hunt for kids! Start at the Junior League tent on Courthouse Square, where you’ll receive your map and instructions. Then follow the hunt to downtown locations to receive prizes!

Street Fair on Third
Third Street between Main and Ludlow; 4-9 p.m.
Blinking lights and whirring sounds are just a small part of the wonder you’ll find at the Street Fair on Third. Enjoy free carnival rides for kids throughout the evening! Street Fair on Third is sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.

Horse-drawn Wagon Rides
Second & Main, in front of the Premier Health Center; 4-7:30 p.m.
Enjoy a wagon ride through downtown! Plan to come early, as the rides are very popular and lines can be long. (Please note that in order to ensure everyone in line will get a ride, it is often necessary to close the line earlier than the scheduled end time.) $1 per person. Sponsored by Miami-Jacobs Career College.

The holiday fun continues through December with Family Weekends and other activities! Visit http://www.daytonholidayfestival.org for all the details.

Jane’s Best Bets (11/24 – 11/28)

November 24, 2010 By Jane Krebs Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

As it is Thanksgiving week, I want to take a minute to say how very thankful I am to all of you for reading Jane’s Best Bets! And thank you to DaytonMostMetro.com for giving me the opportunity to write on a topic I am so passionate about! Here’s to another great week in Dayton!

On Wednesday, consider getting a FREE t-shirt by donating blood at the You’re The Ticket To Saving a Life at Community Blood Center! Don’t worry…you’ll be eating plenty of food tomorrow, so I’m guessing your blood supply will be okay. At PNC 2^nd Street Market, do your last minute Thanksgiving shopping as part of their Stock-Up Wednesday event. And in the evening, be sure to catch the UD Flyers’ next win as they play Florida A&M at the UD Arena. And if you want to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving and have a good laugh, check out the Thanksgiving Eve Show at Wiley’s.

On Thursday, with it being the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to keep it brief. Consider participating in the The 32nd Annual Turkey Trot in downtown Miamisburg to counteract all the delicious food you’ll be eating later in the day. And from what I’ve been told, you DON’T have to be a runner…walking is perfectly acceptable! Over at the Dayton Convention Center, attend Thanksgiving in Dayton ‘A Feast of Giving’, in which several sponsors are helping to continue the Beerman family Thanksgiving dinner tradition. Regardless of where you go, have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and eat some turkey for me! Gobble Gobble!

On Black Friday, set your alarm clock early so you can catch some of those fabulous deals. Just be sure I don’t see you on the news later because you got into a fight over a super deal on the Emerson 32” LCD HDTV they’re selling at Wal-Mart! If you’re not up for fighting the crazy crowds, there are many other ways to officially kick off the Christmas season on Friday so let me fill you in one little secret…Downtown is THE place to be! If you want to burn off some of those calories from all that turkey you ate the day before, head to the MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape. Visit Santa and allow your kids to do a little shopping of their own at The Tike’s Shop, as well as see the Wonderland Windows (the old Rike’s holiday displays) at the Schuster Center. Check out some amazing gingerbread houses as part of the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest at the Old Courthouse. Over at Kettering Tower (which is actually in downtown, not Kettering!), bring the kids to the Holiday Village, which will include festive crafts and games. Also for the kids, The Junior League of Dayton will be sponsoring their 2010 Holiday Hunt. In addition to all these great events, there will also be a Street Fair on Third with free carnival rides, a McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour, and a Sounds of the Season concert at Fifth Third Center, where Culture Works brings together several local choirs for a free holiday concert! And finally while you’re downtown, you won’t want to miss the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights (Dayton Holiday Festival) at Courthouse Square. Oh…and if your legs are exhausted from doing all that shopping early in the morning, take one of the Horse-drawn Wagon Rides to get from location to location! Or if you want to kick your feet back and enjoy a show where others are doing all the legwork, head to the Schuster Center to see Cirque Dreams – Holidaze, which is a holiday musical with an international cast of acrobats, aerialists, singers, dancers, and musicians! Whew, I’m exhausted! If you don’t remember everything I said about Friday, don’t worry – just remember the word “downtown” and the rest will take care of itself!

On Saturday, head back downtown for one of the many things you may have missed, since after all, how could you possibly fit it all in on one day?!?! There will be The Tike’s Shop, Wonderland Windows, and Cirque Dreams – Holidaze at the Schuster Center; Carriage Rides and ice skating as part of MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape; the Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at Kettering Tower; and the McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour. Also, check out the PNC 2^nd Street Market and bring a non-perishable item or two to donate to the Foodbank as part of the Food for Friends event. At Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, they will have a Holiday Art Fair and Open House. If you are looking for a Christmas tree, head out to Choose & Cut Christmas Trees at Young’s Jersey Dairy. Bring your dancing moves to the Dayton Mall and participate in Dance Along Nutcracker…all are welcome! And finally in the evening, support the AIDS Resource Center by watching The Rubi Girls present ‘The Show Must Go On’ at Club Masque.

On Sunday, to be perfectly honest, I’m probably going to need to rest due to all the hustle and bustle from the previous days! But if you’re game, there will still be many events going on strong in the wonderful Dayton region! Have “Some-Fun” at the Schuster Center with crafts, entertainment, and more. While there, be sure to check out Wonderland Windows and The Tike’s Shop if you didn’t get a chance to see them earlier in the weekend. Or, check out the Cirque Dreams – Holidaze show. If you’re no Peggy Fleming, attend Fundamentals of Skating at Riverscape. And finally, if you’re a beer lover, attend the Tapping Dogfish Head Burton Baton at Chappy’s.

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

Why did the police arrest the turkey?

They suspected it of fowl play.

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!