Downtown Dayton Partnership

Artist Talk: Edd McGatha
2026-03-28 18:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
March 28, 2026. 6-6:45PM @The Dayton Society of Artists. 48 High Street. Dayton, Ohio. 45403
Ends with a special raffle prize for attendees.
Join us for an artist talk with Edd McGatha in conjunction with his exhibition, 2024/366 Picture of the Day Project.
In 2024—a leap year with 366 days—Edd committed to creating a photograph every single day. The only rule: the selected image had to be taken on the specific day it represents. What began as a simple framework evolved into a year-long discipline that resulted in more than 10,000 images and countless stories.
During this talk, Edd will share insights into his creative process, the challenges and discoveries of daily image-making, and his experience documenting life primarily in Tipp City and Dayton, with additional work captured during a trip to New York City. Attendees will gain perspective on the rigor, intuition, and storytelling behind selecting one image to represent each day.

Storm Large: Love, Lust & Rock ‘n’ Roll
2026-03-28 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
From smoky jazz to rock anthems, showstoppers to sultry originals, Storm Large is a force of nature. Backed by her fearless band Le Bonheur, she tears into songs by Cole Porter, Queen, Brandi Carlile, and her own searing catalog with raw emotion and razor-sharp wit. A Pink Martini favorite and “America’s Got Talent” standout, Storm brings powerhouse vocals, punk-rock attitude, and a whole lot of heart to this genre-defying symphonic ride.

Petty Thieves – A Tribute to Tom Petty
2026-03-28 20:00 - 22:00 | The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The Petty Thieves, a Dayton tribute to Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty, performing greatest hits and beloved deep cuts. How to Go? Saturday, March 28, 2026 The Brightside (905 E 3rd St Dayton) Doors 7pm / Show 8-10pm All ages welcome! Tickets $20 GA advance ($25 at the door) Reserved Tables $75 for Two; $120 for Four Tickets and info: https://www.handstamp.com/e/the-petty-thieves-kcdpx2gl

Foraging for Morels
2026-03-29 10:30 - 11:30 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Join Michael Goldstick from Guided By Mushrooms, a Market Vendor, for an introduction on how to forage for Morels. Join Michael for an introduction on how to forage for Morels, the elusive and fleeting fungi, along with other Spring mushrooms. Slide presentation along with Q & A. Meet in the Market’s east dining room.

Natchez
2026-03-29 12:00 | THE NEON, United States
Join us for a special, one-time screening of the Tribecca award-winning documentary NATCHEZ – Sunday, March 29 at Noon! “Filmmaker Suzannah Herbert takes a sharp look at the American South’s unreconciled history through a Mississippi town that mixes antebellum tourism with a community deeply divided over its past. With an unflinching lens, the film captures the debates, memories, and tensions that are building toward a reckoning.”
A post-screening discussion will be led by Miranda Brooks, Justice & Inclusion Administrator of Dayton’s Human Relations Council.
Tickets are $12.50 each.

Bagels & Broadway: Suffs
2026-03-31 08:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Ever wonder what it takes to prepare a stage for a show? Join us for BAGELS & BROADWAY, a unique opportunity for you to find out first-hand. Have a cup of coffee and a bagel – then watch the show’s crew and members of IATSE Local 66 set up the sights and sounds for SUFFS!
BAGELS & BROADWAY is free, but you must register. Please register for only the number of people who can attend. If you need to cancel your registration, please do so within 48 hours of the event by calling the Ticket Office at 937-228-3630 or emailing tickets@daytonlive.org. Dayton Live reserves the right to remove email addresses from future BAGELS & BROADWAY emails if you register and do not attend without letting us know.

Paris Is Burning – With Special Guest Trace Lysette
2026-03-31 19:30 | THE NEON, United States
Overview
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, we’re screening the classic documentary PARIS IS BURNING – featuring a post screening discussion with special guest – actress Trace Lysette. Lysette is known for her roles in TRANSPARENT, HUSTLERS, POSE and MONICA…and she has ties to the NYC Ballroom scene. You don’t want to miss this special screening on the big screen!
“Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is ‘throwing shade?’ This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.”
Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30. Tickets on sale now!
Director
Jennie Livingston
Producer
Jennie Livingston, Barry Swimar
Cast
Pepper LaBeija, Octavia St. Laurent, Venus Xtravaganza

Paris Is Burning – With Special Guest Trace Lysette
2026-03-31 19:30 | THE NEON, United States
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, we’re screening the classic documentary PARIS IS BURNING – featuring a post screening discussion with special guest – actress Trace Lysette. Lysette is known for her roles in TRANSPARENT, HUSTLERS, POSE and MONICA…and she has ties to the NYC Ballroom scene. You don’t want to miss this special screening on the big screen!
“Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is ‘throwing shade?’ This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.”

Suffs
2026-03-31 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Behind every powerful woman… are more powerful women. Direct from Broadway, comes the acclaimed Tony Award®-winning musical SUFFS about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Created by Shaina Taub, the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) new musical boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality that’s far from over. Winner of the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Musical.
“SUFFS does what all of the best Broadway musicals do: it humanizes and empowers, and it entertains and moves an audience.” – Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

Discover Dayton Scavenger Hunt
2026-04-01 | Downtown Dayton
Explore downtown like never before during the Discover Downtown Dayton Scavenger Hunt! Throughout the month of April, participants will visit local businesses, complete fun challenges, and learn interesting facts about downtown Dayton. Each participating location will feature a unique challenge such as taking a photo, trying a signature item, answering trivia, or discovering something new about the space. Participants who complete challenges will be entered into prize drawings while supporting local businesses and exploring everything downtown has to offer. Grab your friends, family, or coworkers and see how many locations you can discover! This is a month-long interactive scavenger hunt taking place April 1–30, 2026. Participants may complete challenges anytime during regular business hours at participating downtown locations. https://linktr.ee/livedowntown

Member’s Spotlight Exhibition: Amy Dolan: Along the Path
2026-04-01 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Amy Dolan: Along the Path features new work by the Dayton-based artist. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Dolan’s paintings explore the balance between chaos and harmony, capturing moments that feel both still and in motion. Influenced by her upbringing in upstate New York and the Finger Lakes region, Dolan is deeply attuned to the ways light, color, and reflection shape our experience of landscape. Each work begins on a black canvas, building outward through layered color, texture, and expressive mark-making. Her intuitive process embraces irregularity and change, allowing each composition to evolve organically. Guided in part by her background in design, Dolan balances this looseness with a strong sense of structure and visual harmony. The works in Along the Path reflect both a physical and emotional journey, one shaped by observation, memory, and a sensitivity to the natural environment. Through vibrant color and fluid brushwork, Dolan invites viewers to experience a sense of tranquility alongside a quiet energy, offering space for reflection, connection, and renewal.
Exhibition Dates: April 1-24, 2026 Opening Reception: April 1, 6-8 pm Closing Reception: April 24, 4-6 pm

Student Success Centers – Reconnect
2026-04-02 15:00 - 18:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library’s new program, Student Success Centers – Reconnect, is offered every Tuesday and Thursday, 3-6 pm, through May 21, in the Main Library’s Tech Lab A.

Reconnect offers support to youth ages 16-21 working toward a GED or high school diploma. Extra help with reading, writing, and math is available, along with life skills coaching, opportunities to build friendships, and connecting with mentors.

Reconnect grew out of a revamp of DML’s Homework Help Centers, now known as Student Success Centers, located within seven Branches. “We expanded to an eighth Center at the Main Library that focuses on serving an overlooked demographic of young people called ‘opportunity youth,’” explains Allison Knight, DML’s Youth Services and Programming Director. “Opportunity youth are young enough to be served by public schools but disengaged from formal school or work.”

Sinclair’s Fast Forward Re-Engagement Center has been an advocate for the gap in community services to opportunity youth. After speaking with their Project Director and researching the need, DML staff used existing plans for the Student Success Centers expansion to address it.

Renaming the Student Success Centers allows DML to designate Student Success Centers – K12 for its mainstream students and Student Success Centers – Reconnect for opportunity youth. With the noted distinction between the Centers and Reconnect, DML can train staff accordingly and specialize the services offered at each location.

Registration is not required for Reconnect. Patrons may drop in any time during the posted hours. For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

The Drama
2026-04-02 17:15 | THE NEON, United States
A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.

Artist Talk: Jason REVOK
2026-04-02 18:30 - 20:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join us for a chill chat with artist Jason REVOK as he shares his creative journey and art insights. Led by Curator, Heather Jones REVOK grew up in Southern California and is based in Detroit. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and the Pasadena Museum of California Art, as well as in galleries and special projects in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dubai. His work is held in important private collections worldwide. This event is FREE and open to all.

Coffee Talk
2026-04-03 11:00 - 12:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Join Poppets Coffee, a Market vendor, where you’ll explore the rich flavors of specialty coffee paired with sweet and savory bites.

April First Friday at the Arcade
2026-04-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join us for April First Friday at the Arcade! The Arcade’s historic concourse will be open on Friday, April 3 from 5–8 PM, welcoming visitors to explore the heart of the complex. Shop our Arcade tenants! The Contemporary Dayton The Garden Grille & Bar Luke’s Grab & Go Lucho Maria’s at the Market Pink Moon Goods, Too Popup Gallery: John Landsidel Art Road Runner Espresso Bar Smales Pretzel Bakery Table 33 Willow Rust 6888 Kitchen Check out our 15 popup vendors – full list to be announced! Enjoy acoustic music from BJSR in the Concourse from 5-7 PM. Concourse doors will be open 5–8 PM at: 24 W. Third St. 35 W. Fourth St. Come explore, grab a DORA drink, support local, and kick off your weekend at the Arcade!

Earth DAYton Kick-off
2026-04-04 09:00 - 15:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Celebrate Earth Month with Five Rivers MetroParks, City of Dayton and other local organizations during the Earth Dayton Kick Off event. Get resources and learn about opportunities to live a greener lifestyle all April – and beyond. Plus, meet farmers and vendors at the 2nd Street Market, who are an important part of keeping the region’s food system more sustainable.

Wine Bottle Terrarium Workshop
2026-04-04 12:00 - 15:00 | Now and Zen DIY Studio, 121 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Get ready to dig in and let your creativity flow! Join us for a one-of-a-kind workshop where you’ll transform a wine bottle into a stunning succulent terrarium centerpiece. Choose from an amazing assortment of succulents, cacti, and quirky embellishments to make your masterpiece truly your own. This fun, hands-on project is the perfect way to bring fresh vibes and greenery into your space! Workshop Includes: A horizontal wine bottle vessel 4 succulents and/or cacti to choose from A variety of unique embellishments to make your creation pop Hands-on instruction to guide you every step of the way Take-home boxing and care tips to keep your terrarium thriving.

YSFF Mini-Fest Presents: IN CONVERSATION with SANDRA BERNHARD
2026-04-04 19:00 - 21:30 | The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
YSFF Mini-Fest Presents: IN CONVERSATION with SANDRA BERNHARD Join us for a moderated conversation, Q&A + meet and greet with Sandra Bernhard who will be discussing her career in film, comedy and TV. April 4, 2026 DOORS: 7:00p / SHOW: 8:00p – Meet and Greet to follow the show Sandra Bernhard has been a performer, actress, singer, and author for nearly five decades. She defies categorization. She is currently headed to the South of France to film Season 4 of White Lotus. In 2026, this American icon and “OG” comedy queen can be seen on the big screen in the A24 feature film, Marty Supreme alongside Timothée Chalamet, directed by Josh Safdie. In addition, on the smaller screen, she starred as a guest judge in the hugely popular RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) when she wasn’t appearing in season two of both Survival of the Thickest (Netflix) opposite Michelle Buteau, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Disney +), based on the highly acclaimed fantasy book series. She is also in her ninth year hosting her weekly radio show “Sandyland” on SiriusXM, for which she won a broadcasting Gracie Award. Past television credits include Ryan Murphy’s series American Horror Story and the Emmy Award winning POSE, Broad City, Difficult People, 2 Broke Girls, Brooklyn 99, You’re the Worst, Will & Grace, The Sopranos, and Roseanne. Bernhard’s most notable film credit in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy opposite Robert De Niro, won her Best Supporting Actress by the National Society of Film Critics. Bernhard gained attention in the late ‘70s with her stand-up comedy and continues today with live stage performances throughout the U.S. and overseas. A pioneer of the one-woman show, Bernhard brings a completely unique and raucous mix of cabaret, stand-up, rock-n-roll, and social commentary. MORE INFO: https://www.ysfilmfest.com/ TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ysff-mini-fest-presents-in-conversation-with-sandra-bernhard-tickets-1983903479713

Easter Brunch
2026-04-05 08:00 - 15:00 | Bistecca, 137 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Bistecca’s Easter Brunch will be available Easter Sunday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, and will feature an array of egg-forward dishes including Caprese Eggs Benedict, Creamy Polenta & Eggs, a Breakfast Sammy, and Italian Easter Omelet.

Breakfast main dish offerings will include Strawberry Ricotta Pancakes, Warm Fig & Walnut Oatmeal, Spiedini di Frutta and Crustless Quiche; and lunch highlights will include Roasted Carrot with Whipped Ricotta, Spring Salad Nicoise, Roasted Leg of Lamb with Garlic & Rosemary, and Cotoletta di Pollo. Additional sides and à la carte items will also be available.

Reservations are highly recommended and can be made on OpenTable. For more information, visit www.bisteccadayton.com or let me know if I can connect you with a member of the Bistecca team directly to learn more.

Easter Brunch
2026-04-05 11:00 - 15:00 | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Celebrate Easter with a delightful brunch at The Dayton Woman’s Club! Enjoy a delicious buffet-style meal in our historic Victorian mansion, a cherished landmark in the heart of Dayton. Featuring breakfast favorites, chef-prepared stations, and seasonal dishes in a welcoming spring setting, this festive gathering is the perfect way to spend the holiday with family and friends.
Seatings: 11:00 am, 12:15 pm, and 1:30 pm
Reservations required. Adults: $35 | Children ages 5-10: $12 | Children ages 4 & under: Free

The Foundry’s Easter Sunday Brunch
2026-04-05 11:00 - 15:00 | The Foundry, 124 Madison St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join The Foundry on the rooftop for a special Easter edition of their Sunday Buffet Brunch! Enjoy omelet, waffle & carving stations, along with a buffet of Easter dishes, a mimosa/bloody mary bar, and, of course, an extravagant display of Easter desserts. Kids will also meet the Easter Bunny and receive an Easter Basket.

Premier Mobile Health Unit Visit
2026-04-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Premier Mobile Health Unit Visit, Tuesday, April 7, 11 am-2 pm, Main Library, The Center for Community Impact & Innovation: Attendees can pick up diabetes education materials and receive free screenings for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood glucose, and hemoglobin A1C via finger stick (no fasting required). Registration required. Adults

Intersecting Interests – Teen Diverse Media Club
2026-04-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Intersecting Interests – Teen Diverse Media Club, Tuesday, April 7, 4-5 pm, Main Library, Teen Edge: Read As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh, then meet to discuss while learning how to make rosewater and rose syrup, important components for culinary, ritual, and cosmetic uses in Syria and other countries. Registration required.

Dayton Dragons vs. Lake County Captains
2026-04-07 19:05 | Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45402
Catch one of the hottest tickets in sports – see the Dayton Dragons play baseball at Day Air Ballpark! For tickets and more information, visit www.daytondragons.com or call 228-2287.

Hay Fever
2026-04-07 19:30 | The Human Race Theatre Company, 126 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
APRIL 8 – 19, 2026
Hay Fever

Playwright: Noël Coward
Director: Bob Hetherington
COLLABORATION with Wright State University
Hoping for a quiet weekend in the country with some guests, Judith and David Bliss, a retired actress and her novelist husband, find peace to be impossible when their children, Simon and Sorel, appear with guests of their own. A houseful of misunderstandings, tempers, and drama ensue as the quiet weekend comes to a hilarious and exhausting end.
Recommended if you liked… Noises Off; This is Tom Jones!
Buy Tickets

Riverdance 30: The New Generation
2026-04-07 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Since RIVERDANCE first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy Award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established RIVERDANCE as a global cultural sensation.
To celebrate this incredible 30th year milestone, RIVERDANCE will embark on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences around the world. This spectacular production rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and costumes and state-of-the-art lighting, projection, and motion graphics. And for the first time RIVERDANCE welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when show began 30 years ago.

Open Studio Sessions
2026-04-09 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. 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. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-studio-sessions-at-the-contemporary-dayton-tickets-1962654637855?aff=oddtdtcreator

Government Commons: An Equitable Civics Series
2026-04-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library will host the next installment of the Government Commons: An Equitable Civics Series on Thursday, April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm, in The Center for Community Impact & Innovation at the Main Library.

This second session will explore the Constitution of the United States, examining its historical context and the core beliefs of the framers, the delegates who established the framework for the U.S. government.

Reading materials for the session are available for pickup in the Main Library’s Dayton Room, Monday-Thursday, 12-4 pm. Registration required. (All Ages)

For more information and to register, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Spring Heat: Sound of the City
2026-04-09 19:30 - 22:00 | The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Spring Heat: Sound of the City brings live hip hop back to The Brightside on Thursday, April 9th. Six artists, one stage, all energy. Blanch Robinson headlines a stacked lineup featuring Feyth M., Luke the Duke, Amirah Muse, YVNN, and Dub the Poet. How to Go? April 9, 2026 Doors at 7pm Show at 8- 10pm. $10 presale / $15 at the door. Ages: 18+
