Downtown Dayton Partnership

“The Contemporary Dayton 2025” – Juried Members’ Exhibition
2025-10-03 11:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Juried Members’ Exhibition has been a fixture of The Co’s community programming since its founding in 1991. Participation is open to all current Members of The Co and the exhibition celebrates the talent and vision of both accomplished professional artists and emerging voices in our region. Through this inclusive and collaborative experience, artists inspire, encourage, and elevate each other’s creative practice. SEP 12 – OCT 11, 2025 Opening Reception / SEP 12 / 5-8p Award Announcements 6:30p Free Family Day / SEP 20 / 11a-4p Artist Demos, Scavenger Hunt, Spotlight Tours, and More! Curator’s Tour with Select Artists / OCT 4 / 2p

Friday Night Paint-In
2025-10-03 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-10-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Friday Night Paint-In on first Fridays of every month between October 2025-April 2026. 2 sessions available 4:00pm-6:00pm and 6:00pm-8:00pm. Bring your own beverage of choice and a snack. $30.00 per person Register online: www.k12tejasgallery.org or in person at K12 TEJAS Gallery 341 S. Jefferson St. Dayton, OH 45402

First Friday
2025-10-03 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Detroit) | Downtown Dayton
The beginning of every month starts with a bang in downtown Dayton. First Friday is a free art hop featuring exhibit openings at the galleries, along with a variety of entertainment options, arts demonstrations, live music and more. Add to that everything going on at the restaurants, bars, nightclubs, theaters, comedy club, movie theater and more that make up the downtown mix. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. For more info and specific event details, visit the First Friday Facebook page. 224-1518.

Front Street Art Hop
2025-10-03 17:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-04 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit) | Front Street Galleries, 1001 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Art, Music, Food, Community: First Friday Art Hop at Front Street. We are so excited to announce that we have a NEW ART HOP SCHEDULE!! Join us every First Friday & the Saturday after for our monthly art hops. FRIDAY, 5PM – 9PM Explore art studios, shops, and galleries across campus! Live demonstrations, gallery openings, and new work on display by more than 150 artists! Meet our artists, learn about their work, or sign up to take a class! Don’t just see art, live it! Kool Beanz Cafe is open! Order at the tent and step inside to warm up while your made-to-order treat is prepared! SATURDAY, 11AM – 4PM Saturday after is your chance to visit what you couldn’t fit in on Friday! Of course, Kool Beanz Cafe will have things fired up and ready to make your lunch fresh.

First Friday Art Hop and October Halloween Market
2025-10-03 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Front Street Galleries, 1001 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join Front Street to kick start the Halloween season during October’s First Friday and Saturday Art Hop! The artists have been busy preparing for the spooky season with a costume contest; you help choose the winner! For our guests, a treasure hunt, find four hidden items, and win a Front Street t-shirt! Trick or treating for the kid! Special appearance by Batman! On Saturday… Free pumpkin painting. Mom and Dad can paint a free pumpkin with the kids and bring it home! Food Truck Rally by Dayton Food Truck Rally Music and more!

Guided Downtown Dayton historic walking tours
2025-10-03 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.

John Crist: Jokes For Humans
2025-10-03 19:00 (America/New_York) | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
John Crist is one of today’s fastest-rising stand-up comedians, earning more than one billion video views, more than seven million fans on social media and sold-out shows from coast to coast — even ending 2023 as one of Pollstar’s Top 10 Global Touring Comedians. John has sold out the majority of his current 2024 U.S. Emotional Support Tour dates and continues to add multiple shows in select cities.
In 2023, John released his special “John Crist: Would Like to Release a Statement” on YouTube, garnering more than 2.8 million views, with more than 200 million views on social clips alone. In 2022, Crist also independently released his “What Are We Doing?” special, and that compilation has more than 100 million views across platforms. John also has a podcast titled “Net Positive,” which regularly charts on Spotify and Apple’s top podcast charts. Filmed in downtown Nashville, the weekly installment has featured guests like comedian Matt Rife, Creed frontman Scott Stapp, comedian Leanne Morgan, musician Michael W. Smith, NFL all-pro wide receiver Eric Decker, and many more. Additionally, John released his book Delete That in 2022. John has been seen on ESPN, “Sports Illustrated,” CBS Sports, Barstool Sports, and Buzzfeed just to name a few.

With Friends, For Friends
2025-10-03 19:30 (America/New_York) | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
In this special event, we celebrate Neal Gittleman. The concert begins with two works (one a world premiere) by local composers, longtime collaborators, and close friends Austin Jaquith and Steve Winteregg. Then, in an homage to those on stage and in the audience, maestro Gittleman leads the orchestra in Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” a gorgeous symphony which Elgar wrote in honor of his own friends.
Neal Gittleman, conductor
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Austin Jaquith: “Containing The World” (world premiere)
Steve Winteregg: “Dante’s Journey”
Edward Elgar: “Enigma Variations”

Funky Friday with Cooley the Curator
2025-10-03 20:00 (America/New_York) | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States

Water Street District Pint Path
2025-10-04 | Water Street District
Sip your way through local brews, grab a bite at buzzworthy spots and discover why Water Street District is where Dayton comes to play. Pick up a free Water Street District Pint Path passport from any participating business. Once a passport has been picked up, purchase a menu item of choice at each stop to receive a stamp on the passport. Once you’ve sipped and stamped at all 14 locations, turn in your passport to Water Street District’s leasing office (115 Madison Street) to claim your prize. Pint Path Passport stops can be completed at the leisure of each participant. Cheers! Please remember to drink responsibly. Find a list of participating businesses and more details here: https://www.waterstreetdayton.com/wsdpintpath

Ding Chao and John Tronsor Exhibit
2025-10-04 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present The Dialogue by Chao Ding in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and limen series by John Tronsor in the Works on Paper Gallery. The Dialogue is a visual diary of paintings exploring evocative moments and fragments of time in the artist’s life. Ding explores loneliness and mystery through textural layers and subtle colors, focusing on revealing forgotten beauties and poetic significance through deserted spaces in the work. Tronsor’s limen series is a collection of photographs created during a period of self-quarantine focusing on his apartment windows, which were sealed shut and covered with a white semi-opaque film. The resulting photos reflect landscapes paralleling tundras or oceans with their own depth and singularity. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from September 29–October 28, 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. Free and accessible parking is located in Parking Lot K.

Exhibit: Beyond Guilt
2025-10-04 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Beyond Guilt is a compelling visual experience that tells the powerful and redemptive stories of those impacted by over-sentencing and over-punishment. This exhibit will be available for public view during our normal operating hours from August 15, 2025 through November 9, 2025. In their stories we learn about the human consequences of second chances and the ethical necessity to see and treat people beyond their guilt. The exhibition features a growing collection of work, including thirteen short films, a powerful photo series by Cincinnati artist, Harriet Kaufman, and works of art across visual, written, andother media by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals whose stories embody the mission of Beyond Guilt. The exhibition is a collaboration with the International Peace Museum and the Ohio Justice & Policy Center’s Beyond Guilt project – a state-wide advocacy project that serves incarcerated people who have been over-sentenced and demonstrate the ability to be safely released from prison. Materials were created in collaboration with Northern Kentucky University and The Ohio State University. Learn more about the Beyond Guilt project at: ohiojpc.org/our-work/beyond-guilt

Inaugural Dayton Home + Design Show
2025-10-04 10:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Convention Center, 22 East 5th Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Saturday, October 4th: 10am – 6pm; Sunday, October 5th: 10am – 4pm The Dayton Convention Center – 22 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402 Discover endless inspiration for your home at the inaugural Dayton Home + Design Show, October 4-5 at the Dayton Convention Center, where local and regional experts will showcase the latest trends in interior design, renovation, and home improvement. Connect directly with trusted contractors, designers, and specialty vendors who can bring your dream home vision to life, all under one roof in downtown Dayton. From kitchen and bath makeovers to outdoor living spaces and smart home technology, you’ll find innovative solutions and exclusive show discounts to transform every corner of your home at this convenient Convention Center location. Don’t miss this exciting new event at the Dayton Convention Center that’s set to become Dayton’s premier destination for homeowners, decorators, and anyone passionate about creating beautiful living spaces.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you’re a homeowner or future homeowner looking for helpful advice, solutions, and new products for creative ideas with new builds, renovations, and decorating projects, save the date and secure your RSVP today! Guest Experience: Inspiration for Home Improvement Discovering New Products & Services Expert Advice & Guidance Great Deals and Promotions Kids Zone + Local Brews & Bites *Handicap Accessible PLEASE NOTE: RSVPing online or receiving a physical ticket will get guests in the door for FREE. Any At The Door Tickets will be a $5 charge. Thank You To Our Partners & Sponsors: Host Partner: Dayton Convention Center Silver Sponsor: Pella Windows and Doors & Improveit Home Remodeling Bronze Sponsor: Altafiber Inc & American Home Tech Swag Bag Sponsor: Garage Force Media Partners: WDTN & WYSO Community Partner: Better Business Bureau of Dayton & Miami Valley

Saturday Art Workshops
2025-10-04 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Saturday Art Workshops for Kindergarten-12th Grade and Adults. Each month explore a different art medium (Clay, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Mosaics, Drawing, Photography, in a different theme/artistic style (K-12th grade). For Adults classes in Mosaics, Stained Glass, and Glassblowing. Saturday Classes run from September 2025-May 2026. 11:00am-1:00pm. Call for Costs.
