The commission voted to set the city’s multicultural festival on the second Saturday in September and approved moving the Juneteenth celebration to the third Saturday of July to reduce scheduling conflicts with holidays and nearby regional events.

At the meeting commissioners discussed competing festivals across the region and the citywide garage-sale schedule. Members said fixing consistent festival dates would help vendors and community organizations plan and improve attendance. One commissioner moved to change the Juneteenth Festival from Sunday to the third Saturday of July; the motion carried by voice vote. Later, after discussion of competing September events, a motion to keep the multicultural festival on the second Saturday in September was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or named mover/second for either motion.

Why it matters: commissioners framed the date changes as steps to make the multicultural festival a signature annual event and to maximize vendor participation and public attendance. Members repeatedly noted multiple large regional events in September and October and said avoiding those dates would make vendor recruitment easier.

The commission also discussed vendor outreach and logistics. Members agreed to locate and reuse past vendor letters where appropriate and to distribute new invitations through DIPHY, Marvin (community contacts), Welcome Dayton and the Chamber of Commerce. Staff and volunteers were assigned to follow up on vendor distribution lists and to coordinate with community partners, including cultural organizations and the Asian American Council.

Other planning items discussed included the parade and tree-lighting logistics for the winter season, the possibility of a table at the new event center, and use of existing banners and printed material to advertise festival dates. Commissioners asked staff to compile vendor and organizational contact lists and to circulate a draft letter for review.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to move Juneteenth Festival to the third Saturday in July — outcome: approved (voice vote; individual tallies not recorded).
- Motion to keep the multicultural festival on the second Saturday in September — outcome: approved (voice vote; individual tallies not recorded).