Montgomery Courthouse Square

Alright, I’m not knocking Dayton, but I wasn’t expecting this! Courthouse Square was the start of the recent Dayton Urban Nights (
) and I was briefly taken aback when I saw it. Its large and spacious and is wonderfully suited as an event space as it was being used that evening.
There is plaza space, a fountain, and plenty of access to the street-​front. The Courthouse itself is neat looking! Old fashioned and the cannon out front added a great deal of local charm. From all the people taking pictures at the cannon, it must be a great photo op!
The water in the fountain was abnormally green, however. Made me wonder what they put in the water in Dayton!

During most of the year, the square tends to cater to the downtown lunch crowds with occasional music and a so-​so market during the noon hour. La de da.
For me, the square is best at christmas time. The weekend after thanksgiving is the tree lighting ceremony. Local celebrities (aka annoying news anchors) show up, we all sing jingle bells, and we light our tree. It’s not quite a Seuss-​esque Whos-​down-​in-​Whoville gathering, but it’s close. While you’re there, ride some horse-​drawn carriages, try to get a sneak-​taste of the gingerbread houses, and check out the old Rike’s display.
For a very long time tubas accompanied the jingle bells sing along. This was always a great trainwreck of a performance and a helluva a lot of fun. I wonder what has happened to our tubas…