Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton is one of many sponsors of Springfield’s Holiday In The City, and the shared buzzword for both is “expansion.”
Habitat expanded into Clark County on Feb. 15 of this year. Likewise, Holiday In The City is expanding from a one-day event into a month-long “destination-level attraction” celebration.
The event kicked off the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, Nov. 26, with the Grand Illumination of Downtown. Rest assured there wasn't anything black about this past Friday as hundreds of thousands of lights will were lit, according to organizers. More events will be held through Jan. 7.
“We see Holiday In The City as a tremendous opportunity to continue to build our brand and share our mission with the community,” said Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton Development Director Dave Mauch. “2022 promises to take us to even greater heights as we will soon open our new Habitat ReStore on Derr Road and break ground on our newest Habitat home on West Perrin Avenue. We are proud to join other sponsors and community groups to support Holiday In The City!”
The expansion of this year’s event will also maximize the dollars invested in the event, giving downtown merchants weeks to reap the benefits of the event instead of just one day.
“There is a lot of momentum in Springfield right now and Habitat for Humanity is excited to play a role in that progress,” said Dave. “We have seen several new enterprises come on-line over the past year and Habitat and our new ReStore are thrilled to be included in that expansion. It’s an exciting time to be living and working in Clark County!”
Holiday In The City highlights will include an outdoor skating arena (at City Hall Plaza sponsored by Speedway, running Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 26 through Jan. 2), a live nativity (Dec. 17-18 at National Road Commons sponsored by Kettering Health), horse carriage rides (Nov. 30, Dec. 14, 21, 28 and Jan. 4 from 6-9 p.m.), and a Christmas market.
Other connected events this year include:
- Nov. 26: Cameron Vorhees Trio w/ Special Guest Grant Koeller plays Vince Guaraldi Peanuts Jazz
- Nov. 27: Isaac Alan Bryant - Johnny Cash Christmas
- Nov. 27: Small Business Saturday
- Nov. 30: Salsa Night at COHatch
- Dec. 3: First Friday
- Dec. 3: Caroling at Crust/COHatch & Salato/Le Torte Dolci
- Dec. 3: Mike Highmiller - Jim Morrison/Frank Sinatra Christmas at COHatch
- Dec. 4: Beat Market Christmas at COHatch
- Dec. 4: Christmas Market & Springfield Symphony Winds at Mother Stewarts
- Dec. 4: Welcome Christmas! @ Pennsylvania House Museum
- Dec. 5: Carolers at the Esplanade
- Dec. 10 & 11: Illuminate Springfield Light Show presented by AuroraMax, sponsored by Westcott House and IMLS
- Dec. 10: Ashley Hubler - Bluegrass Christmas, COHach
- Dec. 11: Cameron Vorhees Trio plays Vince Guaraldi Peanuts Jazz, COHatch
- Dec. 11: Santa Con presented by United Way
- Dec. 11: Christmas with the Celts presented by Springfield Arts Council
- Dec. 11: Free cookie decorating at Le Torte Dolci
- Dec. 14: HAIRSPRAY @ PAC
- Dec. 16: Downtown Sound Series with Noah Back, presented by Springfield Arts Council
- Dec. 17: Hort! Holiday at Mother Stewart’s
- Dec. 17 and 18: ‘Holiday Jazz’ at Mother Stewart’s
- Dec. 17: Charlie & Amanda - Country Western Christmas, COHatch
- Dec. 18: Isaac Alan Bryant - Elvis / John Lennon Christmas, COHatch
- Dec. 20: Manheim Steamroller @ PAC
- Dec. 25: Christmas Day, Larry Humphrey Holiday Funk at Mother Stewart’s
- Dec. 28: Salsa Night, COHatch
- Dec. 30: The Wrong Elevator, COHatch
- Dec. 31: The Great Serpent Mound of Ohio - Grateful Dead New Year's, COHatch
And, of course, what’s a Christmas celebration without Santa? He is also scheduled to make nearly 20 visits at downtown locations.
