Downtown Dayton Partnership

Member’s Spotlight Exhibition: Elisha Frontz: vernal equinox
2026-03-06, 2026-03-05 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Elisha Frontz: vernal equinox March 4 – 28, 2026 Opening Reception: March 4, 6 – 8 pm Closing Reception: March 28, 4 – 6 pm
Elisha Frontz: vernal equinox features recent work by a Dayton-based artist, musician, and poet. Working with an interdisciplinary sensibility, Frontz allows material investigation and musicality to inform one another. Her process balances technical precision with intuitive gesture, resulting in compositions that feel at once deliberate and emergent. These mixed-media paintings—watercolor on paper combined with sewing patterns, string, and brass tacks—celebrate the vernal equinox, the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. As the sun crosses the celestial equator, day and night reach near equilibrium, marking a moment of balance, transition, and renewal that resonates through Frontz’s layered materials and luminous palette. All artworks in this exhibition are available for purchase. Please visit the reception desk or speak to a staff member for more information. Proceeds support both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.

Becoming: 70 Years of Growth, Expression, and Possibility
2026-03-06, 2026-03-05 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library’s newest art exhibit, Becoming: 70 Years of Growth, Expression, and Possibility, will be on display Sunday, March 1 – Tuesday, March 31, in the Main Library’s The 2nd Floor Gallery.
Becoming celebrates the artists of United Rehabilitation Services (URS) and the ways creativity serves as a powerful form of communication, identity, and connection.
For 70 years, URS has supported children and adults with developmental and acquired disabilities as they grow, explore independence, and express who they are. Their artwork reflects a journey of becoming, not as a fixed destination but an ongoing process shaped by experience, curiosity, collaboration, and self-expression.
The exhibit features a wide range of abilities, styles, and mediums. Some pieces were created individually, while others were created collaboratively, emphasizing the importance of community, shared effort, and collective voice. The scale of the work is intentionally varied, ranging from small, intimate pieces to large-format installations, mirroring the diversity of expression within the disability community.
Presented during Disabilities Awareness Month, Becoming invites viewers to look beyond labels and assumptions to see creativity, agency, and possibility. Each piece tells a story, not of limitation, but of growth, imagination, and presence.
For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Exhibits or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
2026-03-06, 2026-03-05 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
February 21–May 17, 2026, Gallery 120
Between 2007 and 2025, Tony Foster embarked on his 19th Journey, building it around a profound and layered theme: time. Across this body of work, he investigates how time shapes the land—from the quick shifts of light and weather, to the slow rhythms of seasons, to the immense scales of biological and geological transformation. As Foster explains, his aim is “to draw attention to the unseen forces that create place.”
Exploring Time brings together a remarkable series of watercolor diaries that capture nature in motion. His paintings reveal signs of change on multiple fronts: geological upheavals, biological cycles and the marks left by human activity. With a discerning eye, Foster records not only nature’s strength and resilience but also its vulnerability, even in landscapes once dominated by industry and later reclaimed.
In a world where environmental change is often conveyed through striking images of global warming, Foster offers a different perspective, one that considers Earth’s continual evolution and the visible traces of time’s passage. Organized into four themes: geological, biological, human and the fleeting, this exhibition invites viewers to engage with time at every scale, from the span of a moment to the stretch of millennia, while reflecting on the enduring impact of human presence.

Temporary Exhibit: Ordinary Lives
2026-03-06 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
“Ordinary Lives imagines Palestinian existence as an unbroken continuum—a lineage of care, memory, and everyday beauty that stretches from ancient ritual to the present moment. Across the gallery, Mona Gazala’s photographic works and George Harb’s intimate family archive come together to affirm that Palestinian life is shaped not solely by survival, but by an enduring inheritance of joy, dignity, and deep interior worlds.

In Gazala’s images, ancestral echoes surface through gestures and objects that bridge archaeology and lived experience. Portraits that invoke ancient forms of veneration and photographs that draw on the quiet symbolism of archaeological fragments work in concert to honor the overlooked, the ordinary, and the deeply rooted. Whether reimagining the visual language of early ancestral practices or elevating humble shards as vessels of story, these works collectively underscore a truth that stretches across millennia: what persists is reverence—reverence for family, land, and the accumulated layers of Palestinian life.

These themes resonate through the collage of George Harb’s archival videos and photographs spanning the diaspora, Ramallah, Jerusalem, and greater Palestine. His extensive family documentation—childhood scenes, celebrations, rites of passage, and landscapes of home—reveals generations living with tenderness, intuition, and grounded connection. It offers a glimpse of Palestinian joy and interiority, sustained independently of external forces and carried forward despite trauma.

Together, Gazala’s contemporary works and Harb’s historical archive form a unified narrative of continuity: a testament to the ancient and ongoing pulse of Palestinian life. Their stories—rooted in ritual, memory, everyday gestures, and deep familial ties—assert that Palestinian presence has never been broken.”

Sandra Aska, Andy Holliday, & Paul Rienzo Exhibits
2026-03-06, 2026-03-05 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present works by Sandra Aska, Andy Holliday, and Paul Rienzo in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and Works on Paper Gallery. Capturing moments of perplexity, quirkiness, thoughtfulness, and beauty, Aska gives clay life through her figurative sculptures. Toolmarks and fingerprints left in the works imbue an expressionistic looseness to the forms. She works intuitively by allowing each form to emerge from the clay and invites the viewer to offer their own interpretation. Holliday’s non-representational prints stem from images that are observed, recorded, and repeatedly reprocessed through systems to alter them. Exploring the idea of attention as a measure of value, he gathers an archive of media to process, builds complexity, and subsequently creates the final work through traditional printmaking techniques. Rienzo’s photorealistic still life paintings explore archetypal themes found across cultures and historical periods. The depicted objects are laden with symbolic power and when combined with others from differing cultures and eras, explore the idea of untold myths and interconnectivity. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on February 20, 2026, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from February 10 – March 13, 2026. Galleries are located on the fourth floor of building 13 (located at West Fifth and Perry Streets). The galleries are free and open to the public from 8am–6pm Monday–Friday and 9am–12pm Saturdays. Free and accessible parking is located in Parking Lot K.

RESILIENCE
2026-03-06, 2026-03-05 | Edward A. Dixon Gallery, 222 N. St. Clair St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Resilience opens at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery on February 5th featuring several local artists ranging from a University Student to 30 year career artists. This exhibition is the gallery’s response to Black History month and features images that are powerful, regal and positive. Please, mark your calendars for the Opening Reception on Thursday, February 5th from 5pm-8pm. The exhibition dates are February 5th through March 15th.

Music Bingo Thursdays
2026-03-05 20:00 (America/New_York) | The Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
We have music bingo every Thursday! It’s free to play, lots of fun, hosted by KG, and there are prizes galore. Come check it out!

Open Mic Night
2026-03-05 19:30 - 22:30 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Open Mic Night – sign up online, then show up and show out.

The Ten Tenors: 30th Anniversary World Tour
2026-03-05 19:30 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Get ready, North America! The vocal wonder from Down Under, The Ten Tenors, are bringing their electrifying 30TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR to your shores in 2026! Celebrated globally for their unique blend of soaring harmonies, dynamic stage presence, and genre-defying performances, The Ten Tenors deliver an unforgettable musical experience. This special anniversary show features a powerful mix of classical crossover, Neapolitan classics, and classic rock anthems – all delivered with their trademark Aussie charm and vocal brilliance.

PechaKucha Night Dayton Vol. 59
2026-03-05 19:30 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Join us for Dayton’s first PechaKucha Night of the year! We are so excited to have PK 59 at the beautiful Dayton Art Institute!
Speakers and Topics TBA
Cash bar will be available.
Cash donations are gladly accepted to help PK keep going. You can help grow our audience by inviting someone new to PK!
Special thanks to our sponsorsMega Sponsor: Catapult CreativeEvent Sponsors: Pink Moon Goods and Skeleton RecordsOther Sponsors: vellaINC
If you’re trying to describe us, this is what we say!
Established in 2009, PechaKucha Night Dayton is a free quarterly idea-sharing party and networking event for adults.PechaKucha is a fast-paced style of presenting using 20 slides discussed for 20 seconds each (20×20). This presentation format allows speakers to share their passions in a succinct format, telling their stories in their own voices, with unique visuals leading the way.
This creative outlet began as nighttime get-togethers in Tokyo in 2003 by two renowned architects. Since then, three million people have attended PechaKucha events worldwide. Dayton is one of over 1,200 official PK cities.
PK Dayton is a volunteer-run event by local organizers Shayna, Mike, Ron, Meg, Sean, and Sarah. Tracey Obenour did our beautiful event graphics!

The Primetime Blues Band & The Eric Henry Blues Band
2026-03-05 19:30 | The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, The Brightside lights up with a stacked lineup celebrating blues in all its grit, groove, and soul. Headlining the night is The Primetime Blues Band, bringing deep-pocket rhythms and road-tested swagger. They’re joined by The Eric Henry Blues Band, delivering classic blues power with modern muscle. Adding even more flavor to the bill: Special Guest: Snapper Mitchum Special Special Guest: Hema Lee Woodworth From slow burners to foot-stompers, this is a night built for blues lovers who like their music loud, live, and right up close. The Brightside Thursday, March 5, 2026 Doors:6:30 PM Show:7:30 PM $15 advance / $20 day of show Come early, grab a drink, and settle in for an evening of no-nonsense blues done right. https://eventvesta.com/events/133378/t/tickets

Oscar’s
2026-03-05 19:30 | THE NEON, United States
Overview
Joshua Matthieu of Alpha Marshall Productions is premiering his latest film at THE NEON on March 5. “At a neighborhood bar, a lonely mechanic, named Steven (JM Ward), and an overworked PR professional, named Audra (Lizzie Salata), meet by chance and form an unexpected bond. As their connection deepens, love collides with ambition, forcing them to confront what truly matters. OSCAR’S is a tender, grounded story about timing, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to choose love in a world that never slows down.”
Director
Joshua Matthieu
Producer
Joshua Matthieu
Cast
Lizzie Salata, JM Ward, Timmion Lichtenburg, Melany Burk, Malarie Williamson

Pillion
2026-03-05 19:20, 2026-03-05 17:00, 2026-03-05 14:40, 2026-03-04 19:20 | THE NEON, United States
Overview
“Colin, a timid man, is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.”
This kinky little gem from the UK, currently rated “99% Fresh” on rottentomatoes, is an uninhibited and non-judgmental BDSM romantic comedy-drama that stars Harry Melling & Alexander Skarsgård. IndieWire calls it “a deeply moving love story…chains, gags, and all.”
On Mondays during the run of its engagement, this film will be presented with Open Captions (captions presented on the screen).
No one under 18 will be admitted.
Director
Harry Lighton
Producer
Ed Guiney, Emma Norton, Andrew Lowe, Lee Groombridge
Cast
Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Lesley Sharp

Government Commons: An Equitable Civics Series
2026-03-05 18:30 - 19:30 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library will host Government Commons: An Equitable Civics Series. The first session will be on Thursday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 pm, at the Main Library, in The Center for Community Impact and Innovation, 1st Floor. This series is designed to make learning about historical and current government accessible to all ages. The first module explores The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison between October 1787 and May 1778. Published anonymously under the pen name “Publius” in New York newspapers, the essays urged New Yorkers to ratify the proposed U.S. Constitution. Copies of session readings are available for pickup in the Main Library’s Dayton Room, Monday-Thursday, 12-4 pm, leading up to the meeting. Registration required. For more information and to register, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Community Workshop – Flourish and Flow: An Oil Painting Journey
2026-03-05 17:30 - 19:30 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Our artist-led workshops are designed to make community connections between our guests, local artists, and The Dayton Art Institute through conversation and artmaking. Flourish and Flow: An Oil Painting Journey Date: Thursdays, April 10, 17 and 24, and May 1 and 8 – 5:30–7:30 p.m Cost: $100 for museum members; $125 for non-members Ages: 18+ In this multi-session workshop series, local artist Jamaal Durr leads participants through an exploration of the fundamentals of oil painting. Sessions will focus on layering, blending, and texture while developing skills through the creation of personalized artwork featuring birth flowers. Jamaal Durr, a Contemporary Artist, is recognized for his figurative works that intimately blend reality and the surreal. Using materials like oil paint, charcoal, and graphite, he explores themes of identity and self-reflection through his timely narratives. Jamaal has expanded his capacity within the realm of Art, having also gained experience as a Curator, Teacher, and Muralist. Jamaal is primarily self-taught, having only received a couple of years of formal training at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, OH and a brief stint studying architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

Memory Health: Even Elephants Forget Sometimes!
2026-03-05 17:30 - 19:00 | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Memory shapes who we are — and protecting it is one of the most important investments we can make. Join Dr. Cathy Rosenbaum for an engaging discussion on memory loss, medications, supplements, and proven lifestyle strategies that support long-term brain health. You’ll gain practical, evidence-based tools to help keep your mind sharp and resilient at any age.

Open Studio Session
2026-03-05 17:00 - 20:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Come get creative in a relaxed, welcome space–no experience necessary! We’ll provide materials, or feel free to bring your own. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to unwind and try something new, this night is all about making, experimenting, and connecting with others through art. Admission: $10 at the door / FREE for Co Members

LaunchPad
2026-03-05 09:00 - 17:00 | The Hub powered by PNC Bank, 31 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
LaunchPad brings together the Dayton entrepreneurial community to learn, connect, and grow. It’s where business takes off!

This free, community-focused event series is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creatives who want practical tools and meaningful connections. From January to July, each gathering offers expert-led sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that deliver actionable insights you can put to work right away. Together, these events build momentum leading up to Launch Dayton Startup Week, taking place from September 1–3, 2026.
Event Schedule

9:00 am – Doors Open
9:30–11:00 am – Speed Networking Sessions
11:00–11:45 am – Ashley Bethard: Becoming Newsworthy
12:00–1:00 pm – Panel Discussion: How People Find You
1:15–2:00 pm – Bryan Suddith: Own Your Story
2:30–4:00 pm – Happy Hour & Networking (Drinks provided)
5:00 pm – Doors Close

Breakfast, lunch, and happy hour drinks provided!
Guest Speakers

Ashley Bethard, Editor of Dayton Daily News and Chief Content Officer of Cox First Media (presenter, panalist)
Bryan Suddith, Mayor, City of Kettering and Deputy Director of Montgomery County Veteran Services Commission (presenter, panalist)
Jon Powell, Managing Partner at Christopher & Mae Design Company (panalist)
Panel moderator: TBD

Presentation Topics

Become Newsworthy: Who to pitch, how to pitch, and what makes your story journalist-ready.
How People Find You: Different channels working together to help the right audience discover your brand.
Own Your Story: Craft a compelling and authentic story about yourself and your business.

Title Sponsor: Fifth Third Bank
We extend our sincere gratitude to Fifth Third Bank, our title sponsor, for their continued commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship across the Launch Dayton community. Their partnership helps us keep these events free and accessible for all.
Learn more at https://launchdayton.com/events/launchpad

Wu-Tang Wednesdays
2026-03-04 19:00 - 23:00 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Dayton’s legendary Ike B spins old school hip hop and whateva else he wants.

Live Trivia
2026-03-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
We are excited to host live trivia every Wednesday at The Yellow Cab Tavern! Since there are a limited number of indoor tables, so please reserve as soon as possible.
Pepper Sprout Productions will be doing 3 rounds of general trivia from 6:30 – 8:30! Win prizes and gift cards! Watch their page on the day of for a clue about the bonus round theme!
You can enjoy pizza from The Pizza Bandit and beverages from The Yellow Cab Tavern!Pizza Bandit’s standard carryout, delivery, and onsite dining will be available from 4-9pm!

Adult Weekday Classes
2026-03-04 18:00 - 20:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Tuesday and Wednesday weekday classes: Tuesdays (September-May) Stained Glass Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Ceramics/Clay Classes: 3:00pm-5:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 3:30pm-5:30pm Wednesdays (September-May) Still Life Oil Painting Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 2:00pm-4:00pm or 6:00pm-8:00pm. Call for Costs.

Lent Taizé Services of Prayer and Meditation
2026-03-04 18:00 - 18:40 | Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
February 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25 (Wednesdays) – 6:00-6:40 p.m. Taizé Service of Prayer and Meditation – Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Wilkinson St., Downtown Dayton – a light supper follows each service.
