Downtown Dayton Partnership

Second Saturday Poetry Salon
2024-11-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Detroit) | Rabbit Hole Books, 27 W. First St., Dayton, OH, 45402
A comfortable environment to share your work or talk about poems and poets who interest you. Poets of all levels are welcome, but these free programs are intended for adults.
November’s optional prompt is “Confessional.”
There will be a short talk at 7:40 on November’s featured poet, Sylvia Plath, from queer poet and artist Shailyn Elliott. When Shailyn Elliott isn’t writing, they can be found crocheting or doodling with watercolors. They currently reside in Ohio with their black cat names Catastrophe.
Given the powerful and intensely personal nature of confessional poetry, we are setting aside the first half-hour or so for poems that are not confessional in nature. Don’t be shy! Come out and read us some poems!
Free bottled water, coffee, and cookies.
This program may run longer or shorter depending on attendance.

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media
2024-11-14 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Detroit) | Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
Join Sinclair’s Associate Provost Lisa Mahle-Grisez & Assistance Provost, Jared Cutler, for a discussion and viewing of the pre-recorded TedTalk by Luis Von Ahn. When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and mobile games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.
This event will be held in Sinclair’s Tartan Marketplace, Bldg. 7, Room 7006. Once you enter the set of glass doors to building 7 Tartan Marketplace, the conference room is to your right, through the doorway across the area of tables. Complimentary parking is available in the garage (Lot C) under Building 12 and parking passes will be provided at the event.

Centering Women of Color, Community, and Health Justice
2024-11-23 10:00 - 17:30 (America/Detroit) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Join us on November 23, 2024, from 10 to 6 p.m., in person or virtually, for a conference designed to serve BIPOC women (Black, Indigenous, Latina, and/or Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern) in Greene County, Montgomery County, Miami County, and other counties throughout the Miami Valley.
Through various workshops, presentations, and interactive sessions, participants will gain valuable knowledge and resources to help them navigate health and wellness systems, make informed decisions, and advocate for their health needs. Through contemplation, cultivation, and care, we are excited to do the following: Equip women of color with the knowledge and tools to effectively navigate health and wellness systems. Foster collaboration among providers, community health workers, community leaders, and policymakers to address health disparities and promote health equity. Raise awareness of the unique challenges and systemic barriers faced by women of color in healthcare.

Base Camp Presents: Cruisin’ with the Colemans “Camino 101”
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Base Camp Outdoors Co., 420 E. First St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Colemans Are Back for Part 3 of Their Speaking Series!

“So, You’re Ready to Book Your First Camino—Now What?”

Planning your first Camino can be overwhelming. How do you train? How much time do you need? Where will you sleep? What will you eat? Will you have cell service?
With six Caminos under their belts—covering over 3,000 miles across four different trails in three countries—Michelle and Brian Coleman are here to guide you through it all. In this session, they’ll help you prepare, set expectations, share Camino history, and highlight their favorite moments from their journeys.

As an added bonus, Burnt Out Winery will be on-site offering libations for the evening.
Donations Encouraged || BYO Camping Chair

Paint & Sip: Brush Painting Workshop
2025-03-28 17:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-29 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join us at The Dayton Woman’s Club to learn about ancient East Asian ink-and-wash brush painting. Enjoy a glass of wine or a mimosa while you create your own beautiful artwork during this hands-on workshop led by Dr. Yufeng Wang, an award-winning artist and professor at Sinclair College. The goal of Chinese ink and wash painting is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its soul.
All materials will be provided – just bring yourself!
This event is open to the public — please invite your friends!
This workshop will be conducted by Dr. Yufeng Wang, an award-winning artist and professor at Sinclair College.
Advance Ticket Purchase Required
$40 per person
(includes drink & materials)
Lotus Flowers Workshop
Friday, March 28, 2025
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Thriving Peonies Workshop
Saturday, March 29, 2025
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Early Bird Market
2025-04-04 10:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-05 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Come visit our beautiful Victorian Mansion in Downtown Dayton and discover new, vintage, and collectible treasures from local artisans and merchants.
We’ll be serving from scratch meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with baked goods and savory snacks.
All proceeds will fund our community programs and preserve our nationally recognized historic landmark. We hope to see you there!
Please invite your friends — all are welcome to attend this public event!
All proceeds will go towards helping preserve our historic landmark.
Free entry!
Friday, April 4, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 5, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Free concert: Sinclair Jazz Ensemble and Youth Jazz Ensemble
2025-04-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Blair Hall Theatre – Sinclair, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Enjoy free music from Sinclair Jazz Ensemble and Youth Jazz Ensemble with vocalist Felita LaRock and saxophonist Greg Pflugh
Directed by Bill Burns
Blair Hall, Building 2
Full concert season at https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/divisions/lcs/mus/current-concert-season/

LaunchPad
2025-04-17 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-15 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The Hub powered by PNC Bank, 31 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
LaunchPad is a free, monthly event designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives and startup founders looking to grow, learn, and connect.
From April to August, each event will focus on Marketing, Money, or Business, featuring expert speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

These events lead up to Launch Dayton Startup Week on September 9-10—the 10th anniversary of Dayton’s biggest gathering for entrepreneurs—so, mark your calendars!

Ladies First Pop-Up Shop at Mintha’s Boutique
2025-04-26 12:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-27 12:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Mintha’s Boutique, 520 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Visit Mintha’s Boutique this weekend to shop with local female entrepreneurs!

SWAY Art Exhibition Closing Reception
2025-04-26 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Edward A. Dixon Gallery, 222 N. St. Clair St., Dayton, OH, 45402
SWAY Closing Reception. 4pm-7pm. This exhibition by Susanne Scherette King will close the weekend of April 26th. Come in and visit for your final opportunity to see this amazing show and mingle with other art lovers and the artist, as well.
Free and Open to the Public. On-street parking and lot next to building.

Free concert: Sinclair Concert Band
2025-04-28 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Blair Hall Theatre, 444 West Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Enjoy a free live concert from the Sinclair Concert Band With Greenon High School Wind Ensemble
Michael Berning, conductor
Blair Hall, Building 2
Full concert season at https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/divisions/lcs/mus/current-concert-season/

Free concert: Sinclair Wind Symphony
2025-04-30 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Blair Hall Theatre – Sinclair, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Enjoy a free concert with the Sinclair Wind Symphony With Troy High School Wind Ensemble
Michael Berning, conductor
Blair Hall, Building 2
Full concert schedule at https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/divisions/lcs/mus/current-concert-season/

Guided Downtown Dayton historic walking tours
2025-05-02 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-05-09 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-05-16 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-06-06 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Many of the places that helped make Dayton a center of innovation were lost to history, while others survived and adapted, representing the city’s spirit of revitalization. Some of the city’s distinctive and significant structures were demolished, while others, including the Dayton Arcade and Centre City Building, saw challenging times but now await redevelopment. Explore and learn about the diverse selection of retail, industrial, entertainment, and residential sites on this guided walking tour of Downtown Dayton.
Tours are available on Fridays beginning May 2 and run through October 2025. The cost is $10 per person and reservations are required to attend.
Our guided downtown walking tours will launch promptly at 5:30 p.m. from the Dayton Arcade entrance on Fourth Street. This 90-minute, 1.5-mile tour may be deemed strenuous by some, and patrons should be able to walk/navigate city sidewalks and streets. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle if needed. Tours will launch rain or shine, except in the event of thunder or lightning.

Free Yoga – Arcade Arts & Wellness
2025-05-07 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The 2025 Arcade Arts & Wellness Series is a rejuvenating journey with a variety of local yoga instructors amidst the timeless charm of this iconic landmark. Come and join us for these exciting events!
Traditional Yoga with Michelle Daniel of The Lifestyle Technique | The Arcade’s Rotunda, 35 W. Fourth St. Wednesday, May 7 – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Wednesday, June 11 – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Wednesday, July 2 – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
This series is free and open to all but may require Eventbrite pre-registration and on-site waivers. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arcade-arts-wellness-yoga-tickets-1279326974419?aff=oddtdtcreator
Doors open to registered participants 15 minutes before the start of each class. Equipment will not be provided. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise or wellness program. After your practice ends, plan to shop from a curated selection of vendors. We’ll see you at the Arcade on the mat soon!
Series Presented by: The Contemporary Dayton, Friends of the Dayton Arcade, and The Hub Powered by PNC Bank

Free concert: Sinclair Classical Guitar Ensemble
2025-05-07 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Blair Hall Theatre – Sinclair, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Enjoy a free concert from Sinclair Classical Guitar Ensemble
Noah Ward, director
Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2
Full concert schedule available at https://www.sinclair.edu/academics/divisions/lcs/mus/current-concert-season/

Exhibit: Erin Holscher Almazan: What These Arms Hold
2025-05-16 11:00 - 2025-08-23 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present a new body of work by Erin Holscher Almazan. In these gestural oil paintings, Holscher Almazan examines the physical and emotional changes that naturally occur between a mother and her children, while reckoning with the fact that as her sons grow older, they also become more independent. In this series, she navigates this emotional space of attachment and detachment, of holding and letting go, through the use of color with an emphasis on hands and touch.
Erin Holscher Almazan is a Professor of Drawing and Printmaking at the University of Dayton. A native of North Dakota, she received a BFA in Fine Arts from Minnesota State University Moorhead and an MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She resides in Dayton with her husband and two sons. In conjunction with the exhibition, a selection of prints by the artist will be available for purchase in The CoSHOP Pop-up Print Shop.

Exhibit: Christine Gaffney: Well-Balanced
2025-05-16 11:00 - 2025-08-23 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present a solo exhibition of the work of interdisciplinary artist Christine Gaffney. Her sculpture and videos act as intimate self-portraits and reflections on her psyche and the dualities of female identities. Gaffney portrays the dichotomy of what we present to the public versus what we keep to ourselves, often employing her own body as a sculptural object to express agency and to collapse the relationship between object and maker.
Gaffney is an interdisciplinary artist from Dayton, Ohio. She holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts where she studied Art and Technology and Integrated Media. Gaffney also studied Fine Art at Pratt Institute and the Columbus College of Art and Design. She earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Her practice embraces ideas around body image, body politics, feminism, and disability justice.

Children’s Free Book Fair
2025-05-17 10:00 - 19:00, 2025-05-18 10:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Rabbit Hole Books, 27 W. First St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Rabbit Hole Books is hosting a free book fair for kids! All children from infancy to 18 can choose five free books and the first hundred kids will also get a free canvas book bag.
We will be opening early both days at 10 AM to 7PM.
On Sunday at four, we will be drawing for a free hammock with stand, because summer reading in a hammock is something close to bliss!

Mental Health Brunch + Vision Session
2025-05-17 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 5 Star Salon Academy, 125 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join 5 Star Salon Academy for a mental health brunch and vision space!
This event will have a focus on mental wellness, emotional clarity, goal setting, and more.
RSVP at https://www.5starsalonacademy.com/offers/6aWoX3bi/checkout

Pride Rocks!
2025-05-17 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Levitt Pavilion Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join us for Pride Rocks!, a supportive community event dedicated to raising awareness and providing resources for mental health and suicide prevention within our LGBTQ+ community. This FREE, family-friendly event is open to everyone! ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ: Join us in painting colorful, Pride-themed rocks with messages of hope and support. All materials will be provided! Fuel up with delicious eats from a variety of local food trucks, connect with local mental health providers and learn more about available mental health resources, browse unique crafts & products from local vendors, and enjoy live music from LGBTQ+ musicians.

Pride Weekend at Yellow Cab Tavern
2025-06-06 21:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join us for Dayton Pride this June 6th and 7th!
Friday:heavyheadTybee and the Buzz$7 cover at 9pmMusic at 9:30

Saturday:Kim L$5 cover9pm

Pride on Fifth 2025
2025-06-07 12:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Oregon District, E. Fifth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join us for another year of celebrating PRIDE in The Oregon District!

We’ve got a ton of entertainment and activities in the works- retail vendors, kid’s activities, two stages with music and performances from our favorite local Queens and musicians and much more!

Stop in to the Trolley Stop from 1-3 p.m. and Blind Bob’s from 2-6 p.m. for live music!

On the main stage! Scarlett Moon Event Productions will be taking over from 2-4:30 p.m. for a FREE show with a meet and greet to follow!
