e

e
your e e
Celebrate
the Season
with RiverScape and the National City 2nd Street Market, two downtown MetroParks, have a full
slate of holiday activities planned this season.
downtown Your Special Improvement District Update
from the Downtown Dayton Partnership
Holiday 2008

Five Rivers RiverScape’s ice rink will open on November 29, the day after the Grande Illumination, and will be open

Extra Sparkle Planned for

until February 22, 2009. They’ve got plenty of special events planned including:

MetroParks
l Ice skating with Santa’s elves on Dec. 21
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day skates

Downtown’s Holiday Festival Kick-Off

l

l Starlight Skates on Friday nights, with laser and music shows

l Sunday FUNdamentals of Skating lessons on Dec. 7, 14 & 21
l WDTN Channel 2 Food for Friends on Fridays in December – free admission and a free rental when you The Grande Illumination in downtown Dayton has been
bring three non-perishable food items the place to start your holiday season for over 35 years,
l Horse-drawn carriage rides on Dec. 19-20 & 26-27 and this year the extravaganza will be even more spec-
tacular. On Friday, November 28, from 4-9 p.m., Court-
At the National City 2nd Street Market, it’s the perfect place to get ready for the holidays: house Square will be the center of the celebration for a full
l Stock up for Thanksgiving on Stock-Up Wednesday, Nov. 26, evening of entertainment: the Grande Illumination takes
place at 8 p.m., and, for the first time ever, it will be fol-
l Do your holiday shopping at the official Holiday Shopping Kick-Off on Nov. 28 lowed by a lighted, nighttime Dayton Children’s Parade.
l Take your children to meet Santa and get a photo on Dec. 20 and bring your This free event, newly dubbed the Grande Illumination &
pets for their own photo shoot on Nov. 29! Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, marks the
For more information on these great events, including complete schedules, visit their beginning of the Dayton Holiday Festival. Fam-
Web sites at www.riverscape.org and www.2ndstmarket.com. ily-friendly activities planned for the evening
include live musical entertainment, the Street
For the first time, the Fair on Third (sponsored by Fifth Third Bank),
Dayton Children’s Parade the Gingerbread Homes for the Holiday Contest
is a nighttime parade! (sponsored by Elder-Beerman/Bon-Ton, Mix
107.7 and Times Community Newspapers),
With illuminated floats, the Holiday Village (sponsored by Time Warner
Marketing Manager entertainers and even Cable), the Junior League’s Holiday Hunt, Sounds
Kristin Armstrong a peek at the man in red! of the Season, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Editor: Don’t miss it! More than 50,000 lights will illuminate the
Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights,
gudorf@downtowndayton.org which replaces the parade that historically took
place the following Sunday. The parade route will
remain the same, starting at W. Second St. near Wilkinson
at (937) 224-1518 or
Sandy Gudorf, President,
St., heading east to Main St. — arriving at the corner of
in our efforts, please contact Second and Main at the official start time of 8 p.m. —
would like to be a partner heading south on Main to Fourth St., and moving west on
downtown Dayton. If you Fourth, dispersing near Sinclair Community College.
planning organization for The 45-minute parade will still feature everyone’s favorite
The DDP is the strategic floats and entertainers. This year’s Grand Marshal is Clif-
Become a DDP Partner! ford The Big Red Dog, and children can look forward to
catching a glimpse of Santa at the end of the parade. Clif-
www.downtowndayton.org ford’s appearance in the Dayton Children’s Parade is made
possible by ThinkTV 16.
(937) 224-1518
We wish to thank this year’s generous sponsors. The 2008
Grande Illumination is sponsored by Rieck Services, and
Dayton, Ohio 45423 media sponsors are WDTN Channel 2 and Lite 99.9 FM.
Permit 1085 40 North Main Street, Suite 1360 The month-long Dayton Holiday Festival is presented by
Dayton, OH Time Warner Cable. The festival is also sponsored by the
PAID Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, DAYTON
US Postage Montgomery County, and the Virginia W. Kettering
Standard Dayton Holiday Festival Fund.
Presorted * For street closing information during the Grande Illumination &
*OBS\!MENITIES\(OUSING\%NVIRONMENT\!DVOCACY Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, please visit
downtowndayton.org.
HOLIDAY
F E S T I V A L

LETTER
President
We are once again
from the
preparing for the
Dayton Holiday
Festival in our
downtown, and I
want to extend a
warm invitation to
everyone to come
celebrate with us.
This year’s festival Sandy Gudorf,
promises to be our DDP President
most dazzling yet
as we unveil the Grande Illumination
and Dayton Children’s Parade Spec-
tacular in Lights. For the first time ever,
the Dayton Children’s parade will be a
lighted nighttime parade. Volunteers
have been working tirelessly to add fes-
tive lights to the floats, and we wish to
extend our gratitude to all of them.
I would also like to recognize the long-
time chairmen of the parade, Mike
Lafferty and Ron Weir. They work hard
every year to make the parade a success,
and their passion has helped drive the
evolution of the parade into an evening
spectacular.
Of course, the Dayton Holiday Festival
continues throughout the month of
December. All your favorite activities
and events are back, including The Tike’s
Shop, Pizza with Santa, the Family Movie
Series and ice skating at RiverScape.
Please join me in extending our sincer-
est thanks to Time Warner Cable, the
presenting sponsor of the entire 2008
Dayton Holiday Festival. Rieck Services
is also back, sponsoring the Grande
Illumination, as are media sponsors
WDTN Channel 2 and Lite 99.9. The City
of Dayton, Montgomery County, the
Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday
Festival Fund, Fifth Third Bank, and many
other businesses are also among the
sponsors who are critical to the festival’s
success. On behalf of all of us, we wish
you happy holidays!
Sandra K. Gudorf
President
Downtown Dayton Partnership
AT A GLANCE
Holiday Family Fun
The holiday fun continues throughout December with special events at
downtown businesses.
’tis the (arts) season! Shop for Everyone on
Your List Downtown
This holiday season, downtown has more choices than ever
when it comes to doing your shopping. With the diverse
Uno’s Pizza with Santa
Santa Claus will be stopping in to Uno Chicago Grill in downtown Dayton this holiday season mix of locally-owned shops and retailers, you don’t have
to look further than downtown to find a one-of-a-kind gift.
for lunch on December 6, 13 and 20. Children can visit with Santa from 10:30-11 a.m. Lunch is
There are plenty of art galleries and specialty stores in the
served at 11 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (937) 910-8000. Uno
Oregon Arts District and The Cannery Shops to make your
Chicago Grill is located at 126 N. Main St. holidays merry and bright. Check out First Friday on Dec. 7
to see the latest exhibits and pieces available for sale.
Holiday Movie Series at The Neon
There’s nothing quite like seeing a classic holiday film on the big screen with your friends and Downtown is also known for its unique retailers, and
family. At noon on December 6, 13 and 20, kids of all ages can enjoy three popular holiday films between all their eclectic offerings, you’ll find great gifts for
at The Neon in downtown Dayton. This year’s films are A Christmas Story (Dec. 6), Elf (Dec. 13), One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is to take in the songs and everyone from the kids to the grandparents. Here are just
performances synonymous with the season. Downtown’s outstanding some of things you can purchase downtown: art, books,
and Miracle on 34th Street (Dec. 20). Come early, seats fill up fast! Titles subject to change; call
theatres and production companies have another full schedule of great vintage clothing, cigars, furniture and home décor, dining
theater for confirmation. Free for kids 12 & under; $2 adults. (937) 222-7469. The movie series is
sponsored by CareSource; media sponsors are Dayton City Paper and Channel 945. holiday entertainment. Tickets for most performances are available at gift certificates, car accessories, music, instruments, jewelry,
TicketCenterStage.com, but we encourage you to call these venues or visit massages and spa treatments, wine and beer, pottery,
HollyLights on the Square their Web sites for more details. floral arrangements, religious artifacts, designer clothing
We’re excited to bring back one of the most recent additions to the Dayton Holiday Festival! All of and handbags, British teas and candies, photography, and
the trees on Courthouse Square will be illuminated with color and “dance” to the sounds of clas- Dayton Ballet theatre tickets. Downtown’s retail businesses are open
sic holiday tunes. A 15-minute light show will run every 30 minutes during these times: Mon.-Fri., www.daytonballet.org, (937) 228-3630 year-round, providing high-quality merchandise and great
service to downtowners. Of course, there’s not enough
12-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. (Fri. till 10 p.m.), Sat. & Sun., 12-10 p.m. from Nov. 28 to Jan. 4. HollyLights l The Nutcracker, Dec. 12-21
on the Square is sponsored by DP&L. space to mention everything here, so for a complete list of
Schuster Performing Arts Center
downtown’s retail, visit downtowndayton.org and head to
The beloved story of a girl, a nutcracker, prancing little mice and the
Some Fun at the Schuster Center our “News & Publications” section to find an online copy of
Sugar Plum Fairy with a splash of Dayton history comes to life on stage
Crafts, entertainment and more in the Schuster Center Wintergarden will make the afternoon lots our consumer guide, Downtown at your Fingertips.
once again. Don’t miss this holiday tradition.
of fun for kids on Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 7, 14 & 21! Be sure to come for the special Wonderland Festival on In addition to all these choices, several special holiday gift
Dec. 6 & 7. (937) 228-7591. Dayton Philharmonic shops have opened to offer even more selection. These
www.daytonphilharmonic.com, (937) 224-3521 shops and shopping events are another reason why down-
town is a treasure trove of gifts this season. Here’s a look at
l Bach’s Lunch, Dec. 12
Loft Theatre some of the seasonal shops and events:
The Carillon Brass present an eclectic repertoire and traditional
The Tike’s Shop Opens Christmas music. ARTtoBUY, Nov. 7-Dec. 27
for the Holidays l Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 13
Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St; 224-3822
This annual exhibition and sale of giftable art created by 50+
on November 28! Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St.
Join us for this beloved holiday tradition. Neal Gittleman conducts
area artists includes paintings, prints, fiber art, ceramics, glass
sculpture, woodwork, ornaments, cards, and more. And there’s
and Hank Dahlman is the chorus director. something to fit everyone’s budget!
The Tike’s Shop, the “just for kids” holiday store, opens for business in the Schuster Cen-
The Loft Theatre Urban Hand Made,
ter Wintergarden on Friday, November 28.
www.humanracetheatre.org, (937) 228-3630 Nov. 15-16, 22-23, Dec. 6-7, 13-14
The Tike’s Shop began decades ago at Rike’s Department Store and has been a popular l A Christmas Carol, Dec. 4-21 The Cannery, 520 E. Third St.;
holiday stop for children ever since. The shop is full of goodies that chil- The Human Race Theatre Company presents a new twist on the urbanhandmade.wordpress.com
dren can purchase as gifts for their friends and families. Plus, Santa Claus Dickens classic, complete with plenty of Christmas music. Holiday cheer A collective of independent artists will showcase handmade
will be dropping in on the Tike’s Shop during selected hours! overcomes Scrooge’s bahs and humbugs – a treat for the whole family. items, including jewelry, accessories, hand bags, sewn items,
paper goods, clothing, bath & body, original art, and more. 30
The Tike’s Shop is managed by Miami Valley Youth Career Services and vendors will be present with good food, live music & entertain-
Rhythm in Shoes
generously sponsored by KeyBank. The media sponsor is ABC 22/FOX ment, henna & body art, and raffle & door prizes.
www.rhythminshoes.org, (937) 226-7463
45.
l Holiday on Thin Ice, Dec. 12-13 Give Art!, Nov. 7-Dec. 24
2008 Tike’s Shop Schedule: Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St. Cannery Art & Design Centre, 434 E. Third St.; 228-2232
Don’t miss the 10th and final Holiday on Thin Ice, an irreverent take on Give Art!, the Cannery Art & Design Centre’s second annual
Fri., Nov. 28. . . . . . . 3-9 p.m. (Santa 4-8 p.m.) Wed., Dec. 17. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. the holiday season as only Rhythm in Shoes can provide: a little risky, a holiday gift gallery, will feature artwork perfect for gift-giving,
Sat., Nov. 29. . . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. little wry! including pottery, jewelry, wood-turned bowls and clocks,
Thurs., Dec. 18. . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) photography, small paintings and small-scale sculptures. Gift
Fri., Dec. 19. . . . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Victoria Theatre
Sun., Nov. 30. . . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) certificates and a wish-list registry will be available to fill out.
Sat., Dec. 20. . . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. www.victoriatheatre.com, (937) 228-3630
Sat., Dec. 6 . . . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) Holiday Shopping Kick-Off, Nov. 28
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) l The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller, Nov. 30
Sun., Dec. 21 . . . . 12-7 p.m. International favorite Mannheim Steamroller perfectly captures the National City 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.;
Sun., Dec. 7. . . . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) (Santa 2-5 p.m.) 228-2088
spirit of the season when it arrives in Dayton for just one performance.
Sat., Dec. 13. . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Dec. 22. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Start off your holiday shopping at the market, where you can
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) (Santa 2-5 p.m.)
l Riders in the Sky: Christmas the Cowboy Way!, Dec. 6 & 7 enjoy lunch, live music with Dan Rivers, and shop for all those
Part of the Young at Heart Family Series, this show is full of great music, special gifts.
Sun., Dec. 14. . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) Tues, Dec. 23. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. wacky antics and witty humor sprinkled with a dash of holiday spice.
(Santa 2-5 p.m.)

LETTER
President
We are once again
from the
preparing for the
Dayton Holiday
Festival in our
downtown, and I
want to extend a
warm invitation to
everyone to come
celebrate with us.
This year’s festival Sandy Gudorf,
promises to be our DDP President
most dazzling yet
as we unveil the Grande Illumination
and Dayton Children’s Parade Spec-
tacular in Lights. For the first time ever,
the Dayton Children’s parade will be a
lighted nighttime parade. Volunteers
have been working tirelessly to add fes-
tive lights to the floats, and we wish to
extend our gratitude to all of them.
I would also like to recognize the long-
time chairmen of the parade, Mike
Lafferty and Ron Weir. They work hard
every year to make the parade a success,
and their passion has helped drive the
evolution of the parade into an evening
spectacular.
Of course, the Dayton Holiday Festival
continues throughout the month of
December. All your favorite activities
and events are back, including The Tike’s
Shop, Pizza with Santa, the Family Movie
Series and ice skating at RiverScape.
Please join me in extending our sincer-
est thanks to Time Warner Cable, the
presenting sponsor of the entire 2008
Dayton Holiday Festival. Rieck Services
is also back, sponsoring the Grande
Illumination, as are media sponsors
WDTN Channel 2 and Lite 99.9. The City
of Dayton, Montgomery County, the
Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday
Festival Fund, Fifth Third Bank, and many
other businesses are also among the
sponsors who are critical to the festival’s
success. On behalf of all of us, we wish
you happy holidays!
Sandra K. Gudorf
President
Downtown Dayton Partnership
AT A GLANCE
Holiday Family Fun
The holiday fun continues throughout December with special events at
downtown businesses.
’tis the (arts) season! Shop for Everyone on
Your List Downtown
This holiday season, downtown has more choices than ever
when it comes to doing your shopping. With the diverse
Uno’s Pizza with Santa
Santa Claus will be stopping in to Uno Chicago Grill in downtown Dayton this holiday season mix of locally-owned shops and retailers, you don’t have
to look further than downtown to find a one-of-a-kind gift.
for lunch on December 6, 13 and 20. Children can visit with Santa from 10:30-11 a.m. Lunch is
There are plenty of art galleries and specialty stores in the
served at 11 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (937) 910-8000. Uno
Oregon Arts District and The Cannery Shops to make your
Chicago Grill is located at 126 N. Main St. holidays merry and bright. Check out First Friday on Dec. 7
to see the latest exhibits and pieces available for sale.
Holiday Movie Series at The Neon
There’s nothing quite like seeing a classic holiday film on the big screen with your friends and Downtown is also known for its unique retailers, and
family. At noon on December 6, 13 and 20, kids of all ages can enjoy three popular holiday films between all their eclectic offerings, you’ll find great gifts for
at The Neon in downtown Dayton. This year’s films are A Christmas Story (Dec. 6), Elf (Dec. 13), One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is to take in the songs and everyone from the kids to the grandparents. Here are just
performances synonymous with the season. Downtown’s outstanding some of things you can purchase downtown: art, books,
and Miracle on 34th Street (Dec. 20). Come early, seats fill up fast! Titles subject to change; call
theatres and production companies have another full schedule of great vintage clothing, cigars, furniture and home décor, dining
theater for confirmation. Free for kids 12 & under; $2 adults. (937) 222-7469. The movie series is
sponsored by CareSource; media sponsors are Dayton City Paper and Channel 945. holiday entertainment. Tickets for most performances are available at gift certificates, car accessories, music, instruments, jewelry,
TicketCenterStage.com, but we encourage you to call these venues or visit massages and spa treatments, wine and beer, pottery,
HollyLights on the Square their Web sites for more details. floral arrangements, religious artifacts, designer clothing
We’re excited to bring back one of the most recent additions to the Dayton Holiday Festival! All of and handbags, British teas and candies, photography, and
the trees on Courthouse Square will be illuminated with color and “dance” to the sounds of clas- Dayton Ballet theatre tickets. Downtown’s retail businesses are open
sic holiday tunes. A 15-minute light show will run every 30 minutes during these times: Mon.-Fri., www.daytonballet.org, (937) 228-3630 year-round, providing high-quality merchandise and great
service to downtowners. Of course, there’s not enough
12-1 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. (Fri. till 10 p.m.), Sat. & Sun., 12-10 p.m. from Nov. 28 to Jan. 4. HollyLights l The Nutcracker, Dec. 12-21
on the Square is sponsored by DP&L. space to mention everything here, so for a complete list of
Schuster Performing Arts Center
downtown’s retail, visit downtowndayton.org and head to
The beloved story of a girl, a nutcracker, prancing little mice and the
Some Fun at the Schuster Center our “News & Publications” section to find an online copy of
Sugar Plum Fairy with a splash of Dayton history comes to life on stage
Crafts, entertainment and more in the Schuster Center Wintergarden will make the afternoon lots our consumer guide, Downtown at your Fingertips.
once again. Don’t miss this holiday tradition.
of fun for kids on Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 7, 14 & 21! Be sure to come for the special Wonderland Festival on In addition to all these choices, several special holiday gift
Dec. 6 & 7. (937) 228-7591. Dayton Philharmonic shops have opened to offer even more selection. These
www.daytonphilharmonic.com, (937) 224-3521 shops and shopping events are another reason why down-
town is a treasure trove of gifts this season. Here’s a look at
l Bach’s Lunch, Dec. 12
Loft Theatre some of the seasonal shops and events:
The Carillon Brass present an eclectic repertoire and traditional
The Tike’s Shop Opens Christmas music. ARTtoBUY, Nov. 7-Dec. 27
for the Holidays l Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 13
Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St; 224-3822
This annual exhibition and sale of giftable art created by 50+
on November 28! Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St.
Join us for this beloved holiday tradition. Neal Gittleman conducts
area artists includes paintings, prints, fiber art, ceramics, glass
sculpture, woodwork, ornaments, cards, and more. And there’s
and Hank Dahlman is the chorus director. something to fit everyone’s budget!
The Tike’s Shop, the “just for kids” holiday store, opens for business in the Schuster Cen-
The Loft Theatre Urban Hand Made,
ter Wintergarden on Friday, November 28.
www.humanracetheatre.org, (937) 228-3630 Nov. 15-16, 22-23, Dec. 6-7, 13-14
The Tike’s Shop began decades ago at Rike’s Department Store and has been a popular l A Christmas Carol, Dec. 4-21 The Cannery, 520 E. Third St.;
holiday stop for children ever since. The shop is full of goodies that chil- The Human Race Theatre Company presents a new twist on the urbanhandmade.wordpress.com
dren can purchase as gifts for their friends and families. Plus, Santa Claus Dickens classic, complete with plenty of Christmas music. Holiday cheer A collective of independent artists will showcase handmade
will be dropping in on the Tike’s Shop during selected hours! overcomes Scrooge’s bahs and humbugs – a treat for the whole family. items, including jewelry, accessories, hand bags, sewn items,
paper goods, clothing, bath & body, original art, and more. 30
The Tike’s Shop is managed by Miami Valley Youth Career Services and vendors will be present with good food, live music & entertain-
Rhythm in Shoes
generously sponsored by KeyBank. The media sponsor is ABC 22/FOX ment, henna & body art, and raffle & door prizes.
www.rhythminshoes.org, (937) 226-7463
45.
l Holiday on Thin Ice, Dec. 12-13 Give Art!, Nov. 7-Dec. 24
2008 Tike’s Shop Schedule: Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St. Cannery Art & Design Centre, 434 E. Third St.; 228-2232
Don’t miss the 10th and final Holiday on Thin Ice, an irreverent take on Give Art!, the Cannery Art & Design Centre’s second annual
Fri., Nov. 28. . . . . . . 3-9 p.m. (Santa 4-8 p.m.) Wed., Dec. 17. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. the holiday season as only Rhythm in Shoes can provide: a little risky, a holiday gift gallery, will feature artwork perfect for gift-giving,
Sat., Nov. 29. . . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. little wry! including pottery, jewelry, wood-turned bowls and clocks,
Thurs., Dec. 18. . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) photography, small paintings and small-scale sculptures. Gift
Fri., Dec. 19. . . . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Victoria Theatre
Sun., Nov. 30. . . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) certificates and a wish-list registry will be available to fill out.
Sat., Dec. 20. . . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. www.victoriatheatre.com, (937) 228-3630
Sat., Dec. 6 . . . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) Holiday Shopping Kick-Off, Nov. 28
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) l The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller, Nov. 30
Sun., Dec. 21 . . . . 12-7 p.m. International favorite Mannheim Steamroller perfectly captures the National City 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.;
Sun., Dec. 7. . . . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) (Santa 2-5 p.m.) 228-2088
spirit of the season when it arrives in Dayton for just one performance.
Sat., Dec. 13. . . . . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon., Dec. 22. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Start off your holiday shopping at the market, where you can
(Santa 2-5 p.m.) (Santa 2-5 p.m.)
l Riders in the Sky: Christmas the Cowboy Way!, Dec. 6 & 7 enjoy lunch, live music with Dan Rivers, and shop for all those
Part of the Young at Heart Family Series, this show is full of great music, special gifts.
Sun., Dec. 14. . . . 12-6 p.m. (Santa 2-5 p.m.) Tues, Dec. 23. . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m. wacky antics and witty humor sprinkled with a dash of holiday spice.
(Santa 2-5 p.m.)
 e
e
your e e
Celebrate
the Season
with RiverScape and the National City 2nd Street Market, two downtown MetroParks, have a full
slate of holiday activities planned this season.
downtown Your Special Improvement District Update
from the Downtown Dayton Partnership
Holiday 2008

Five Rivers RiverScape’s ice rink will open on November 29, the day after the Grande Illumination, and will be open

Extra Sparkle Planned for

until February 22, 2009. They’ve got plenty of special events planned including:

MetroParks
l Ice skating with Santa’s elves on Dec. 21
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day skates

Downtown’s Holiday Festival Kick-Off

l

l Starlight Skates on Friday nights, with laser and music shows

l Sunday FUNdamentals of Skating lessons on Dec. 7, 14 & 21
l WDTN Channel 2 Food for Friends on Fridays in December – free admission and a free rental when you The Grande Illumination in downtown Dayton has been
bring three non-perishable food items the place to start your holiday season for over 35 years,
l Horse-drawn carriage rides on Dec. 19-20 & 26-27 and this year the extravaganza will be even more spec-
tacular. On Friday, November 28, from 4-9 p.m., Court-
At the National City 2nd Street Market, it’s the perfect place to get ready for the holidays: house Square will be the center of the celebration for a full
l Stock up for Thanksgiving on Stock-Up Wednesday, Nov. 26, evening of entertainment: the Grande Illumination takes
place at 8 p.m., and, for the first time ever, it will be fol-
l Do your holiday shopping at the official Holiday Shopping Kick-Off on Nov. 28 lowed by a lighted, nighttime Dayton Children’s Parade.
l Take your children to meet Santa and get a photo on Dec. 20 and bring your This free event, newly dubbed the Grande Illumination &
pets for their own photo shoot on Nov. 29! Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, marks the
For more information on these great events, including complete schedules, visit their beginning of the Dayton Holiday Festival. Fam-
Web sites at www.riverscape.org and www.2ndstmarket.com. ily-friendly activities planned for the evening
include live musical entertainment, the Street
For the first time, the Fair on Third (sponsored by Fifth Third Bank),
Dayton Children’s Parade the Gingerbread Homes for the Holiday Contest
is a nighttime parade! (sponsored by Elder-Beerman/Bon-Ton, Mix
107.7 and Times Community Newspapers),
With illuminated floats, the Holiday Village (sponsored by Time Warner
Marketing Manager entertainers and even Cable), the Junior League’s Holiday Hunt, Sounds
Kristin Armstrong a peek at the man in red! of the Season, and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Editor: Don’t miss it! More than 50,000 lights will illuminate the
Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights,
gudorf@downtowndayton.org which replaces the parade that historically took
place the following Sunday. The parade route will
remain the same, starting at W. Second St. near Wilkinson
at (937) 224-1518 or
Sandy Gudorf, President,
St., heading east to Main St. — arriving at the corner of
in our efforts, please contact Second and Main at the official start time of 8 p.m. —
would like to be a partner heading south on Main to Fourth St., and moving west on
downtown Dayton. If you Fourth, dispersing near Sinclair Community College.
planning organization for The 45-minute parade will still feature everyone’s favorite
The DDP is the strategic floats and entertainers. This year’s Grand Marshal is Clif-
Become a DDP Partner! ford The Big Red Dog, and children can look forward to
catching a glimpse of Santa at the end of the parade. Clif-
www.downtowndayton.org ford’s appearance in the Dayton Children’s Parade is made
possible by ThinkTV 16.
(937) 224-1518
We wish to thank this year’s generous sponsors. The 2008
Grande Illumination is sponsored by Rieck Services, and
Dayton, Ohio 45423 media sponsors are WDTN Channel 2 and Lite 99.9 FM.
Permit 1085 40 North Main Street, Suite 1360 The month-long Dayton Holiday Festival is presented by
Dayton, OH Time Warner Cable. The festival is also sponsored by the
PAID Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, DAYTON
US Postage Montgomery County, and the Virginia W. Kettering
Standard Dayton Holiday Festival Fund.
Presorted * For street closing information during the Grande Illumination &
*OBS\!MENITIES\(OUSING\%NVIRONMENT\!DVOCACY Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights, please visit
downtowndayton.org.
HOLIDAY
F E S T I V A L