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City Of Dayton Kicks Off Series Of Holiday Events

Downtown Dayton's Grande Illumintation kicks off the holiday season.
Jerry Kenney
/
WYSO
Downtown Dayton's Grande Illumintation kicks off the holiday season.

On Friday night, the City of Dayton held their 47th Annual Grande Illumination Christmas tree lighting and Children’s Parade.

Thousands of spectators gathered on Courthouse Square and the surrounding streets to kick off the Christmas holiday season.

The popular event included a “live reindeer display, musical entertainment, games, holiday crafts, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, city and county commissioners and other community leaders were on hand for the ceremony.

The mayor said it had been a tough year for Dayton and said she remained grateful for the first responders, community leaders and residents who pulled together in the city’s time of need.

The city has a month-long series of holiday events scheduled through December. You can find a full list of those events online at downtowndayton.org.

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.