Downtown Dayton Partnership

A Sanctuary for Peace
2025-05-24 08:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-25 08:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-26 08:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-27 08:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Christ Episcopal Church, 20 W. First St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join us between 8 am and 8 pm while the NATO General Assembly meets (May 22-26) as we raise our hopes and prayers for continued good will, honest communication, and collaborative support, as we pray for peace. Our worship sanctuary will be available for open prayer with resources provided. Twice each day, at 1 pm and 7 pm will will offered short, structured prayer services (20-30 minutes), supporting the work of peace. All are welcome!

Exhibit: Peace Talks
2025-05-24 12:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Dayton Society of Artists (DSA) proudly presents PEACE TALKS, our annual spring juried exhibition. This timely exhibition reflects on Dayton’s historic role in international diplomacy—the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords—and the ongoing complexities of global and personal peace. PEACE TALKS invites artists and viewers alike to explore the fragile, dynamic nature of peace: how it is achieved, maintained, challenged, and sometimes lost.

-On view May 2 – June 21
-Open Fridays & Saturdays | 12–5 PM

Between Riverside and Crazy
2025-05-24 20:00, 2025-05-25 15:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Avenue, Dayton, OH, 45410, USA
Retired cop Pops Washington struggles to hold on to one of the last great rent-stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive. Fresh grief, old wounds, and sketchy new houseguests collide in a final ultimatum.

Exhibit: Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled
2025-05-25 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
March 15–June 8, 2025
A distinguished figure in contemporary art, Jamie Wyeth is recognized for his fiercely independent, realistic approach to art. This exhibition follows Wyeth’s entire career and looks at a specifically darker thread within his oeuvre of troubling and unnerving imagery. Unsettled is divided into three distinct sections: “Strangers and Specters;” “Natural and Supernatural Worlds;” and “Haunted Places and Disturbing Spaces.” Drawn from museums and private collections from across the country, the DAI is the exclusive Ohio venue and the final stop for this major traveling exhibition. Organized by the Brandywine Museum of Art.

NATO Summit – The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace & Security in the Balkans
2025-05-25, 2025-05-26 | Roger Glass Center for the Performing Arts, 29 E. Creative Way, Dayton, OH, 45469
NATO Summit – The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace & Security in the Balkans

May 22-25; Concert Hall, Roger Glass Center for the Arts
Schedule of Events
Registration will open on May 1, 2025.
The introduction of a public forum alongside the official NATO PA event marks a unique addition to this year’s Spring Session, providing and opportunity for the entire Dayton community to come together and highlight the City’s role as a dynamic, world-class hub on a global stage.
The programming will feature thought-based discussions with high-level elected officials, security and policy experts, and local leaders across the NATO countries. The conversations will be anchored by the historic Dayton Peace Accords and focus on the current tenuous situation in the Balkins, highlighting the need for the transatlantic alliance to work together towards a lasting peace.

Out on 5th
2025-05-25 | Oregon District, Fifth Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
What is Out on 5th?
Out on 5th is the street closure of Fifth Street in the Oregon District of downtown Dayton on weekends.
Closing down Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue every Friday night through Sunday evening allows
our business district to open up the street for guests to shop – dine – and relax in the open air.

Out on 5th gives restaurants and bars in the district room to expand patio seating into the streets.

Fifth Street is filled with public seating to allow guests room to spread out and enjoy the outdoors.

Retail shops can use extra sidewalk space in front of their business for sales. Looking to hold a retail pop-up? Apply here.

Local entertainment will be in the district every weekend to enhance the atmosphere. Looking to be an entertainer? Apply here.

When
Fridays 5 -10 p.m./ Saturdays noon – 10 p.m. / Sundays noon – 10 p.m.
Why
Shop, dine, and relax outdoors in the district
Where
In the Oregon District – Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue
Additional Information
Parking
Thousands of parking spaces on surface lots, parking garages, or metered side streets (free on weekends) surround the Oregon District.
During Out on 5th, please use the detour map at the bottom of this page to navigate around the street closures and into the parking lots.
Our Oregon District businesses kindly ask you to park in these lots, garages or public street spaces, and not in the residential neighborhood.

More info: https://www.theoregondistrict.org/outon5th

Reni Gower and Kate Santucci Exhibit
2025-05-26, 2025-05-27 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present “GEOmatrix: a Perfect Proof” by Reni Gower in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and “Waxing On” by Kate Santucci in the Works on Paper Gallery. Gower’s “GEOmatrix: a Perfect Proof” recognizes geometric perfection as the matrix of humanity and the blueprint of the cosmos. Large hand-cut papercuts, stencil-masked pulp paintings, and machine cut vinyl decals are imbued with repetitive, geometric pattens. These tessellations, similar to decoration across many cultures, offer a calming, luminous, and contemplative respite from these unprecedented times. Working with colored beeswax and resin layered with pigments and oil paint, Santucci reveals and obscures symbols and images formed through drawing, mark making and hand-cut stencils. The multi-layered encaustic works exhibited in “Waxing On” explore themes such as communication, time, place, and the perception of the way things change, both in the short and long term. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from May 19–June 23, 2025. 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.

Exhibit: SELFie: The Power Within
2025-05-26, 2025-05-27 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
The museum’s pop-up exhibit, SELFie: The Power Within, will be in the Main Library’s Opportunity Space @ St. Clair in May. Patrons can let their selfies tell stories of strength, growth, and self-love. The photos that are taken will celebrate the real, unfiltered moments of mental health, with hopes of breaking the stigma surrounding it, thus allowing patrons to explore the power of being their authentic selves.
A reception opening the exhibit will be held on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30-8 pm, in the Main Library’s Atrium. Local advocates and mental health professionals will be present. All ages are welcome to attend the exhibit throughout the month, including the reception.

Exhibit: Enduring the Seige of Sarajevo – Snapshots of Survival
2025-05-27 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402

First Friday at The Arcade
2025-05-27 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | OH
The historic Dayton Arcade is thrilled to announce its inaugural First Friday event, set to take place on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the newly revitalized North Arcade.
This exciting event marks a significant milestone in the Arcade’s ongoing transformation into a vibrant hub for community engagement, arts, and commerce. The North Arcade, part of the second phase of the Dayton Arcade’s redevelopment, features 7,500 square feet of retail space under its iconic skylight, providing a picturesque setting for this community celebration. The recently opened 93-room Hilton Garden Inn adds to the Arcade’s appeal as a destination for both locals and visitors.
Event Features:
Vendor Market: The North Arcade first-floor concourse will host 15 local vendors offering a diverse range of products, from handmade crafts and artisanal goods to delicious food and beverages. This event will feature several tenants of the North Arcade’s retail marketplace, set to open later this summer.
Food & Libations: Grab dinner and drinks from the Hilton Garden Inn’s full-service bar and restaurant, The Garden Grille and Bar, located on the second floor of the North Arcade overlooking the concourse. Reservations are not required! Take a beverage in a DORA cup to go to explore the North Arcade and other First Friday experiences downtown.
Live Music: Enjoy live music from BJSR! Ben Rivet’s breathy baritone, eclectic influences and sentimental outlook are the connective tissue behind the self-titled songwriter project “BJSR”. The lively atmosphere will be perfect for individuals of all ages.
Arcade Activation: Other areas of the Arcade complex will be activated during this event, with the 6888 Kitchen Incubator, Table 33, and Gather offering a variety of dining options. The Contemporary Dayton’s free galleries and CoSHOP will be open to browse and shop at 25 W. Fourth St. Please note that during this event, the Arcade’s Rotunda will be closed for a public ticketed Silent Disco – more information can be found at https://www.daytonsilentdisco.com/.
Community Engagement: Attendees will be able to meet and mingle with community members and explore the North Arcade’s recently opened Hilton Garden Inn before checking out the rest of the First Friday events happening downtown, including a free concert at the neighboring Levitt Pavilion featuring Reo Classics Band Ft. Terry Luttrell.
Event Details:
Where: North Arcade, 24 W. Third St. Dayton, OH 45402
When: Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Admission: The event is free and open to the public.
Parking and Transportation: Metered street parking around the Arcade complex is free after 6:00 PM. There are nearby paid parking garages such as the Reibold Garage (Fifth Street) and the City of Dayton Municipal Garage (Third Street). The event is easily accessible by public transportation.
Join us for a fun evening celebrating the spirit of Dayton’s community, creativity, and revitalization.
For more event information and vendor list, visit arcadedayton.com or the Dayton Arcade’s social media pages.

Exhibit: Dayton Around the World
2025-05-27 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Old Court House, 7 N. Main Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
The old Montgomery County Court house is being transformed into a museum ahead of a NATO delegation coming to Dayton on Memorial Day weekend.
Titled “Dayton Around the World,” the exhibit will feature a curated collection of original and replica documents, including the Wright Brothers’ groundbreaking innovations in aviation, historic photographs, and a variety of geologic and fossil specimens discovered in the Miami Valley.
The exhibit will be open throughout the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session, and will remain accessible to the public from May 27-29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The courthouse’s first floor will be open for tours and equipped with public restrooms for visitors.
This announcement was made April 24 on the steps of the old courthouse. In attendance were U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton), Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr., Montgomery County Commissioners Judy Dodge and Mary McDonald, Dayton History President and CEO Brady Kress, and Dayton Society of Natural History President and CEO Tracey Tomme, which runs the Boonshoft Museum.
“The museum started at the library downtown back in the 1800s. So our collections were saved from the flood because they were on the top level,” Tomme said. “It’s nice to bring some of them back downtown.”
Turner sees it as another opportunity to highlight Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its more than 38,000 military and civilian employees who contribute ational security.
“Their work is important, it strengthens our country and Ohio, and make our nation and our allies stronger every day,” Turner said. “There are businesses throughout Ohio that also contribute to that overall work.”
The courthouse will also house artifacts on loan from the Truman and Clinton Presidential Libraries, historical items from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and images of the Dayton Peace Accords, signed in 1995 to end the Bosnian War.
McDonald said she is excited to show off Dayton’s national and global contributions.
“And for these individuals to come here, and to take part in seeing all the things that the Ketterings have done, NCR, many of these companies that have really touched all over the world — it’s going to be significant for us,” McDonald said.

Mini Resource Fair: Connect to Support & Stability
2025-05-27 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Every Tuesday, except for the second one of the month, DML hosts a Mini Resource Fair: Connect to Support & Stability in the Main Library’s Opportunity Center, from 12-2 pm. Several vendors are always present, offering support and services for various needs, including housing, employment, crisis recovery, mental health, legal aid, and child care.

Exhibit: Think Freedom
2025-05-27 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
We’re thrilled to announce a series of public programs surrounding the Think Freedom art installation, on display in the historic Dayton Arcade’s Rotunda during the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly. This marks the installation’s first appearance in the United States.​
Created by Sarajevo-based artist Edina Seleskovic, Think Freedom is a multidisciplinary project that combines sculpture, light, text, and technology to convey messages of peace and unity. Having traveled to 22 cities worldwide, its presence in Dayton commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.
Join Culture Works at the Dayton Arcade for a chance to view and interact with Think Freedom, accompanied by performances from a variety of local musicians.
Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, May 30 5:00 – 8:00 PM each evening Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St. Learn More: https://cultureworks.org/think-freedom-dayton/ Project Sponsor: Dayton Arcade

Empowered Voices: Story Sharing with LORE
2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
In partnership with LORE, the Gem City Selfie Museum will host a storytelling session where participants can share personal experiences relating to mental health in Empowered Voices: Story Sharing with LORE, in the Main Library’s Opportunity Center, on Tuesday, May 27, from 6-8 pm. All ages are invited to attend. This program is in conjunction with the museum’s pop-up exhibit, SELFie: The Power Within, on display in the Main Library’s Opportunity Space @ St. Clair until the end of May.

Trivia Tuesday
2025-05-27 19:00 (America/Detroit) | OH
Trivia Tuesdays are fun for everyone at The Dayton Beer Company! Get $3.50 DBC Pints every Tuesday with trivia starting at 7:00 p.m. Cheers!
