DAYTON — It’s a well-known fact that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has been a tradition for nearly a century, but did you know that Dayton held its very own parade one year earlier?
That’s right-- The Rike’s department store put on a Thanksgiving parade for nearly 20 years, beginning in 1923. Macy’s held their first parade in 1924.
The parades down Main Street consisted of patrons dressed in costume, and floats designed by local art students.
The store continued other local traditions far longer, including their holiday windows around Christmas time. The windows now live on inside the Schuster Center, although the 2020 display was canceled due to COVID-19.
Memories of Rike’s continue to hold a soft spot in the hearts of many Dayton area natives, especially when it comes to holiday nostalgia. Who knows, maybe Macy’s got the idea for their parade from the Gem City.
Cox Media Group
