DAYTON — Part of the Dayton Holiday Festival downtown will not be held this year due to the rising COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County, according to event organizers.
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The Dayton Children’s Parade in Lights, originally scheduled for Nov. 28 will not be held this year, after event organizers consulted with Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County.
The event was changed in October from its traditional parade to a drive-thru event.
“Although every precaution to maintain health and safety of guests, participants, volunteers and staff was included in parade preparation, due to current circumstances surrounding the spread of the coronavirus in Montgomery County, and the stay-at-home advisory in Montgomery County, parade organizers have decided it is best for the community not to press forward with this event on Nov. 28,” a spokesperson for the Downtown Dayton Partnership said in a media release Friday.
Despite the cancellation of the parade, other events that are part of the Dayton Holiday Festival, including The Grande Illumination, will take place.
“The silver -- or should I say, ‘multi-colored’ -- lining to this bad news is our community can still enjoy a festive drive-through experience any time when they drive down Main Street,” DDP President Sandra Gudorf said in the announcement.
“This free light display will begin the day after Thanksgiving and run through early 2021, giving visitors lots of opportunities to share a socially distant moment with their families while celebrating the season, and patronizing their favorite downtown businesses.”
The Grande Illumination will be televised on WHIO-TV starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 27.
“We know planning events during this pandemic has been challenging at every turn, and while we’re disappointed we won’t be able to present the community with a parade, we’re happy we have other options to share the spirit of the season with Dayton, like the televised Grande Illumination and Holiday Lights on Main,” Guldorf said.
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