This unique model display was commissioned in 1996 by Dayton Holiday Festival creator Virginia Kettering. Its miniature trains travel across Dayton landmarks including the Kettering Medical Center, Requarth Lumber and the former Dayton Daily News building.
The Neon independent movie theater, located at 130 E. Fifth St., will be getting in the holiday spirit with its Family Movie Series. The theater will be showing “Mad Max” director George Miller’s “Happy Feet” at 11 a.m. Dec. 14 and “Santa Claus: The Movie” at 11 a.m. Dec. 21. Tickets are $2 each, and children under 12-years-old are free. For more information on these performances, call 937-227-7469.
Credit: Russell Florence
Credit: Russell Florence
The North Pole’s favorite couple, Santa and Mrs. Claus, will make an appearance at Rabbit Hole Books’ Winter Wonderland event, taking place 1-5 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21. Visitors to the $1 book shop, located at 27 W. First St., will be able to get a photo with the duo during their visit.
The Schuster Center, located at the corner of Second St. and Main St., brought out its Rike’s Holiday Windows late last month. Running through Dec. 29, the various displays feature holiday vignettes filled with dolls and decorations.
Originally housed in the windows of Rike’s Department Store, these displays have been a Dayton tradition for over 80 years.
Beyond the Schuster Center, storefronts throughout Dayton will be decorating windows for the annual Whimsical Windows contest. The competition, held in collaboration with Dayton Daily News, will have the public vote online to see which display is the most popular. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
The contest runs now through Dec. 27. To find out more information, and to vote for your favorite display, check out the Dayton Daily News article on the topic.
Several of the displays also feature a hidden elf inside them. Anyone who finds these elves are recommended to take a picture of the creature and send it 937-304-4041. This will enter you in the Elf Hunt Contest, which chooses a random winner each week through Dec. 27 to receive $100 in Downtown Dollars. These e-gift cards can be used at more than 70 local businesses in Dayton.
There will be a variety of additional activities and events during the Dayton Holiday Festival, leading up to New Year’s Eve. For a full guide, check out the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website.
HOW TO GO
What: Dayton Holiday Festival
When: Now through Dec. 31
Location: Downtown Dayton
More info: downtowndayton.org
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