Holiday shopping returns to the Dayton Arcade

“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio” will welcome visitors from around the region to the redeveloped Arcade complex for the third year on December 6, 7, & 8, 2023.

 

Organized by Cross Street Partners and Culture Works, the Rotunda event space will host an artisan market featuring holiday shopping from over 30 vendors. The Tank Inspired by CenterPoint Energy will also have additional vendors, a community Lego Build hosted by Brixilated, and a cash bar. The Contemporary Dayton will have its CoSHOP available featuring a rotating selection of items curated by their team of art lovers, historians, book nerds, and decor enthusiasts. 

 

“In a city founded on the creativity of innovators, Holly Days at the Arcade keeps that tradition alive by supporting the small business community not just during the holidays but all year round,” said Samantha Hughes, owner of Riley Street Merchants and past Holly Days vendor. “To showcase the talents of this city and to give vendors a chance to shine and be seen - that is a gift beyond measure and appreciated by us all.”

 

The Arcade complex’s full-service restaurants, Gather by Ghostlight at 37 W. Fourth Street and Est! Est!! Est!!! at 45 W. Fourth Street, will be open for happy hour, dinner, and drinks during “Holly Days at the Arcade”. Supporting food trucks will line Fourth Street in front of the Arcade’s main entrance.

 

Live holiday entertainment curated by Culture Works will also be a highlight, with local performing arts groups set to perform in the Arcade’s Rotunda and Tank event spaces. These performances will take place throughout the three-day event with a full schedule to be announced the first week of December. Daily holiday character entertainment from Fairy Godmother Events will delight kids of all ages.

 

New to this year’s event, CrowdPurr will offer family-friendly trivia in the Tank event space every evening at 5:00 PM. Groups or individuals can compete to win prizes in multiple rounds.

 

Another new family-friendly feature of “Holly Days at the Arcade” is the Community Carol at 8:00 pm on Friday, December 8. Attendees are welcome to join their voices in singing festive holiday songs alongside local musicians to close out the event in the Rotunda.

 

 

Returning in 2023 is an art supply drive benefiting We Care Arts, a local non-profit that provides art programming to adults with disabilities, senior adults, and as a complement to medical treatments. Donations will be accepted in the Rotunda entrance concourse during all three days of “Holly Days at the Arcade”. A full list of suggested items will be provided on the Dayton Arcade’s website and social media pages.

 

“Holly Days at the Arcade” is partnering with Five Rivers MetroParks’ “Sunset at the Market” at 2nd Street Market to provide a comprehensive downtown holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 7. To encourage attendees to visit both locations, the Greater Dayton RTA is providing a free shuttle service between the two events from 5:15 to 9:00 pm with a stop at the Oregon District Garage on Fifth Street. Guests can grab a punch card from a volunteer at either event, make a purchase on Thursday, December 7 at both the Arcade and 2nd Street Market, and submit their card at either location for a chance to win a prize basket full of items donated by local vendors.

 

“We’re very excited to present such a multi-faceted event,” said Megan Dunn Peters, Arcade Community Manager for Cross Street Partners. “From interactive experiences to small business shopping to toasting the holidays with friends in the Rotunda, there is truly something for the whole family to enjoy. We’re grateful to our sponsor AES Ohio and numerous other community partners for helping to make Holly Days at the Arcade a magical holiday experience for both local Daytonians and regional visitors.”

 

“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio” is free and open to the public from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7, and Friday December 8 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.