A celebration of Christmas

DAYTON — Every year it seems that the Christmas season begins earlier and earlier in the commercial world.

Right now, it is the middle of September, and stores already have plenty of Christmas items on their shelves. MainStreet Dayton is beginning to plan for the season’s activities and is going to introduce “Holly Jolly Dayton,” this year’s festive event.

In previous years (beginning in 1997), Dayton has always celebrated with a parade. Miss Kitty McDonald is given credit for the idea of celebrating Christmas in Dayton with a parade.

Twenty-five years ago she was recovering in the hospital when she had the vision of an old fashioned Christmas parade as a celebration for the Dayton community. As a result of her dream, this event became a festival which displayed the beauty of horses and their riders, old fashioned carriages, wagons, groups of carolers and children in costumes along with Christmas critters.

All of these items and displays helped to celebrate a “hometown” Christmas season in Dayton. Miss Kitty’s niece, Mary Brooks, began the Dayton Merchants Association, and was instrumental in the development of Dayton into a MainStreet community.

Remembering the history of this celebration and Dayton’s relationship with the Main Street Dayton organization should bring back many fond memories of past Christmases and colorful events associated with the Christmas celebration.

Remember the date of Saturday, Dec. 7, for a festive day of “Holly Jolly Dayton!”