Downtown Dayton Partnership

Dayton Art Institute 2024 Oktoberfest
2024-09-29 12:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Raise your glass for the return of Dayton’s favorite fall festival, Oktoberfest, presented by Miller Lite, taking place September 27-29 on the museum grounds.
A Dayton tradition established in 1971, DAI’s Oktoberfest is southwest Ohio’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration, and the museum’s largest annual fundraiser. This community event boasts artisans, unique foods, ample domestic, international and craft beers, international wines, kid-friendly art activities, live music throughout the weekend, and much more! Money raised by Oktoberfest helps support everything we do at the Dayton Art Institute. Prost!
OKTOBERFEST HOURS:
Saturday, September 28: Noon – 11:00 pm.
Sunday, September 29: Noon – 7:00 pm.
ADMISSION
Advance Tickets: $8 adults, $5 seniors (60+) & youth (7-18)
At the Gate: $10 adults; $7 seniors (60+) & youth (7-18)
Children 6 and under admitted free
TICKETS GO ON SALE AUGUST 1!
*Presale General Admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday are available online or at the Dayton Art Institute during regular museum hours.
For more info: Daytonartinstitute.org/Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest
2024-09-29 12:00 - 19:00 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Raise your glass for the return of Oktoberfest, presented by Miller Lite, taking place September 27-29 on the museum grounds.
A Dayton tradition established in 1971, DAI’s Oktoberfest is southwest Ohio’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration, and the museum’s largest annual fundraiser. Money raised by Oktoberfest helps support everything we do at the Dayton Art Institute.
The DAI Oktoberfest features all the things the community has come to love about the festival, as well as some new additions for 2024! The celebration kicks off on Friday, September 27, with the Lederhosen Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Preview Party from 7 to 11 p.m., followed by two full days of Oktoberfest fun, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 29.

Steinholding Competition
2024-09-29 14:00 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration, presented by Miller Lite, on the museum grounds from September 27 to September 29. This year, the festival will hold its first Steinholding Competition on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. in front of the main museum entrance

Masskrugstemmen, or beer Steinholding, is a relatively new sport in America, but its popularity has quickly grown. During this traditional Bavarian strength contest, competitors hold a full one-liter beer stein (or Masskrug in German) out in front of their bodies with a straight arm parallel to the ground. Competitors hold the stein up as long as possible, and the winner is the last person holding with good form. The glass stein weighs approximately 5 pounds when full.

For the first year, the DAI will bring this longstanding sport to their Oktoberfest celebration as an official U.S. Steinholding Association qualifying event. The DAI’s inaugural Steinholding competition will begin with the women’s category competition, followed by the men’s. There is no cost to compete; however, all competitors must have valid admission to the Oktoberfest festival and register for the competition at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest-steinholding-competition. Winners from both the men’s competition and the women’s competition will be eligible to compete in the U.S. Steinholding Association Ohio State Championships, held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Moerlein Lager House in Cincinnati.

The U.S. Steinholding Association was founded in 2015 with the goal to build a central informational source for athletes everywhere to discover the sport. Quickly, the association has grown and spread across the country as it has continued to expand its services. Those interested in learning more about the U.S. Steinholding Association and the rules of Steinholding can access more information at www.ussteinholding.com.

Advance general admission tickets for Oktoberfest (Saturday/Sunday) are $8 adults, $5 seniors and youth (ages 7–18). Tickets purchased at the gate are $10 adults, $7 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free. Guests may purchase a weekend pass, allowing them to attend the festival on both Saturday and Sunday at a discounted price of $15. Advance General Admission tickets may be purchased online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest or at the Dayton Art Institute during regular museum hours.

For more information about Oktoberfest, including volunteer opportunities at this year’s festival, go to daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest. The website serves as the go-to location for all things festival-related, including ticket information, festival activities and announcements, event schedules and more. Be sure to also connect with the DAI on Facebook and Instagram for more about Oktoberfest. Join the conversation online with the hashtags #OktoberfestDayton and #OKTDAI.

For more information about planning a visit to the DAI, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278).

Nurse Couture Launch Celebration
2024-09-29 15:00 - 19:00 | After5, 111 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton’s First Homegrown Scrub Line Launch – Nurse Couture!
We are thrilled to invite you to a very special event—the Nurse Couture Launch Celebration! Join us as we unveil our latest collection designed exclusively for healthcare professionals, blending style, comfort, and functionality.
Here’s what you can expect:
Be camera ready for the red carpet !
Nurse Couture Society Meet & Greet: Network with like-minded professionals and meet the creative minds behind our brand.
Enjoy some delicious appetizers while listening to our guest speakers!
Scrubs Fashion Show: Be the first to see our new collection live on the runway.
Networking & Business Exchange: This event is open to everyone! Bring your business cards and flyers, enjoy delicious appetizers, enter exciting giveaways, and grab your exclusive Nurse Couture merchandise.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the fashion revolution in healthcare!

Justin Willman: Illusionati Tour
2024-09-29 19:00 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
JUSTIN WILLMAN: ILLUSIONATI TOUR is an interactive evening of magic, comedy and mind-control for the whole family. Prepare to join a secret society of wonder where the only conspiracy theories are about how the hell he does these things.
Justin Willman wants to melt your brain while making you laugh. He’s best known as the star and creator of the hit Netflix series “Magic For Humans” and “The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman.” But you may recognize him from one of his many television appearances (“The Tonight Show,” “The Today Show,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “Conan”). Or maybe you know his work as a host (“Baking Impossible;” “Cupcake Wars;” “Win, Lose or Draw”). Or maybe he’s the child magician you hired in suburban St. Louis in the ‘90s. If you don’t know Justin, he’s a magician and comedian who’s mastered the art of turning cynics into believers (or at least getting them to laugh).
Justin is also a proud father, a loving husband, and has zero experience as a licensed boat mechanic (that’s a different Justin Willman).

Kintsugi Breast Cancer Photo Exhibit
2024-09-30, 2024-10-01, 2024-10-02, 2024-10-03, 2024-10-04 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library will host the Kintsugi Breast Cancer Photo Exhibit in the Main Library’s Opportunity Space at St. Clair from Monday, September 30 through Friday, October 11, with a special reception on Thursday, October 3, from 5:30-7 pm in the Opportunity Space as well.

The exhibit features breast cancer survivors from the Dayton area, and patrons will be able to hear behind the scenes details about the exhibit at this reception, as well as survivors sharing their stories and experiences. Resources for those who may be experiencing breast cancer will also be available. Organizations on hand will include Breast Wishes; Pink Ribbon Good; Noble Circle; The Well; Center for Women’s Wellness; and Christina Siegel R.N., B.S.N., Tattoo Nipple Fairy.

The Kintsugi Breast Cancer Photo Exhibit was created by Carolyn Reveal, a two-time breast cancer survivor. Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that takes something broken and puts it back together using a precious metal, such as gold – thus an object’s breakage becomes part of its history, not something to disguise. Inspired by this art, Reveal and other survivors have used it as a healing tool.

Patrons who visit this exhibit will see how breast cancer has been used to create something stronger and more beautiful and are reminded that this exhibit may include personal and sensitive images and text.

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

‘Every Child Matters’ Storytime & Film Screening
2024-09-30 16:00 - 20:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
With Native American Heritage Month in October, Dayton Metro Library is beginning its recognition and celebration with a few key events.

Monday, September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a.k.a. Orange Shirt Day, and in honor of this, DML will host two ‘Every Child Matters’ programs for all ages:

‘Every Child Matters’ Storytime, 4-4:30 pm, Main Library, Story Corner: Autumn Lee, a local Indigenous community leader, will read and share stories about Indigenous experiences at residential boarding schools. Stories include: “When I was Eight,” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton; “When We Were Alone,” by David Robertson; “Stolen Words” by Melanie Florence; and “The Orange Shirt Story” by Phyllis Webstad.

‘Every Child Matters’ Film Screening, 5:30-8 pm, Eichelberger Forum: Patrons can participate in a film screening of Older Than America (NR, 2008), which tells the story of a Native American woman being haunted by visions that compel her to seek the truth about a residential school. A discussion will also take place to educate and build awareness of Indigenous history, prompting the question of how can educators diversity their strategies in teaching?

Yoga with Passaddhi Yoga
2024-09-30 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Community Fitness series
Yoga with Passaddhi Yoga
6:00pm – 7:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Aleasha with Passaddhi Yoga will lead you in all-levels yoga flow. If you’re a beginner, she will guide you through modifications to ensure you are comfortable to help you to become more familiar with poses. If you’re experienced, she will help grow your current practice. This class is truly for everyone! Weather Dependent.

Bootcamp with The Unit
2024-09-30 18:00 - 19:30, 2024-10-02 18:00 - 19:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Community Fitness series
Bootcamp with The Unit
6:00pm – 7:30pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Join The Unit for an exciting boot camp workout that will take you through RiverScape in a whole new way. Whether you’re running the stairs, doing push ups near the reflecting pools, or stretching along the levee, this effective workout will keep you moving. Combined with the uplifting support of the community members that make up The Unit, this is a workout you will want to make part of your weekly routine. All fitness levels welcome and encouraged! Weather Dependent.

RTA How to Ride Class
2024-10-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Wright Stop Plaza, 4 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join the Greater Dayton RTA for a hands-on “How-to-Ride” class at Wright Stop Plaza, where new, current, and returning riders will gain skills and confidence to navigate Montgomery County’s public transit system.

To create equitable access to RTA’s “How-to-Ride” class multiple dates will be provided for riders to choose from. Participants are asked to register. The class will cover what riders need to know, from what to do before boarding the bus to how to let the driver know you’re ready to exit at your stop. Topics of discussion will include Tapp Pay, fare and fare capping, trip planning via the Transit app, Google, and/or RTA’s website, as well as a brief overview of RTA services.

Class dates are as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon

All classes will take place in the multipurpose room at Wright Stop Plaza, 4 S. Main St. Registered participants can enter through the side door of the concourse next to RTA’s parking lot located along Third Street. Signage will be posted indicating where to enter, and a transit ambassador will also be available to assist with directions.

Participants must register in advance due to the limited amount of seating. Attendees must register by contacting Communications Specialist Michael Everman no later than the Thursday at 4 p.m. before their desired class. He can be reached at 937-425-8374 or meverman@greaterdaytonrta.org.

Kayak Rentals at RiverScape with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions
2024-10-01 14:00 - 18:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Kayak Rentals series
Kayak Rentals at RiverScape with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions
2:00pm – 6:00pm
AGE: 14 and up | $12.00
Paddle under the fountains with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions all summer long at RiverScape MetroPark! Regular walk-up rental hours will take place Tuesdays from 2-6pm and Thursdays from 4-8pm, June-October. Launch from under the Riverside Bridge along the Great Miami Recreational Trail. The cost to participate is $12 per person per hour. Taiter’s Kayak Solutions staff will provide visitors with brief instructions prior to entering the water, which will include a safety tutorial, and help visitors get into their vessels. All visitors will be required to wear a properly fitted life jacket. Swimming is prohibited in the Great Miami River, but visitors should come prepared to get wet. Those renting will not be permitted to go through the RiverScape River Run whitewater feature. No lifeguards are on duty, and paddling is at all visitors’ own risk. All visitors must sign a waiver to participate. Visit Facebook.com/TaitersKayakSolutions for more information. Weather Dependent.

A Night in Conversation with Julia Quinn
2024-10-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
For fans of the Julia Quinn Bridgerton novel series, Dayton Metro Library is the place to be. A Night in Conversation with Julia Quinn will be held on Tuesday, October 1, from 6-7 pm in the Main Library’s Eichelberger Forum, or from the comfort of a location patrons may choose.

During her virtual visit to DML, Quinn will discuss the significance of public libraries, the right to read, banned books, and the concept of a book sanctuary, which DML is proud to be.

Quinn is the 2024 National Ambassador for EveryLibrary, whose mission is to “help public, school, and college libraries win funding at the ballot box, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come.” They “support grassroots groups across the country who defend and support their local library against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure.”

Quinn will visit DML virtually, so patrons can either register to participate in a “watch party,” at the Main Library, with the possibility to engage in a brief Q&A session, or they can register to participate in a “view only” experience from home or another location outside of the Library.

Quinn is the author of the many titles within her Bridgerton novel series, which has become a wildly popular TV show on Netflix.

Registration is required for adults to participate in either the “watch party” or the “view only” options. For more information and to register, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River
2024-10-01 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Community Fitness series
Tai Chi & Qigong at the River
6:00pm – 7:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Offered by Immortal Tree Qigong. Each hour-long Tai Chi & Qigong session will start with breathing exercises, warm up, and gentle stretching. You will then be guided through flowing movements mixed with short standing meditations. We will end with a slightly longer guided standing (or sitting) meditation. This should leave a few minutes to answer questions or discuss any insights. Qigong doesn’t require any special skills (other than breathing) or equipment (other than your body). Find “Immortal Tree Qigong” on Facebook or Instagram for more information! Weather Dependent.

Cornhole Tournament
2024-10-01 18:30 - 21:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of Tuesday Nights in the Park series
Cornhole Tournament
6:30pm – 9:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
If you have a competitive spirit, enjoy being outdoors and winning prizes, you won’t want to miss our monthly cornhole tournament! Grab your friends or co-workers and join us under the RiverScape pavilion on the first Tuesday of the month from June through October for some friendly cornhole competition! While our tournament is family-friendly, we recommend participants be 14 and older. Registration will begin on-site at 6:30 PM, with the tournament beginning at 7 PM. Spots are first come, first serve. Additional giant lawn games will also be available to play. Admission is free! The RiverScape Cafe will be open and now offers an expanded food and dessert menu. For those 21 and over, cocktails, wine and other beverages will also be available for purchase as part of the Downtown Dayton DORA. Weather Dependent.

Hamilton
2024-10-01 19:30, 2024-10-02 19:30, 2024-10-03 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation.
Best ticket availability Tuesday, October 8-Sunday, October 13!
HAMILTON is the epic saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. HAMILTON features book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire. In addition to its 11 Tony Awards®, it has won a Grammy®, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

CURTIS MANN: Precious Blood
2024-10-02 11:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-03 11:00 - 18:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
CURTIS MANN: Precious Blood

THE DR. ROBERT L. BRANDT JR. FAMILY GALLERY
THE IRA & SUSAN THOMSEN FAMILY GALLERY

SEP 6 – DEC 21, 2024

Dayton native, Curtis Mann, returns home to present an experimental new body of work inspired by reflections on his childhood attending Parochial schools, his mother’s Catholic funeral services this past May, and the challenges he faced hiding and then embracing his atheism. Using a mixture of personal family photographs, found, and AI-generated images, Mann has cut and affixed them to shards of glass to create sculptural collages. The work presents us with questions about what a photograph is, about the precarious space between the image and the object, and about the larger ideas of absolute faith, its teachings, and leaders. The work also serves as a love letter to his mother and his own feelings of mortality. Curated by Jeffrey Cortland Jones.
Mann is a graduate of the University of Dayton, where he worked under the mentorship of Sean Wilkinson, whose work is on view in the companion exhibition, Flora, also on view. His work has been exhibited widely, most notably at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

OPENING NIGHT / SEP 6

Members Preview with the Artist 5-6 pm / Public Reception 6-8 pm

ARTIST TALK / NOV 22 / 6:30 pm

Curtis Mann and Sean Wilkinson in Conversation with artist and writer, Carmen Winant
Doors open 6 pm / Reception immediately following ‘til 8 pm / FREE & open to all / The Tank at The Dayton Arcade

SEAN WILKINSON: Flora
2024-10-02 11:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-03 11:00 - 18:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
SEAN WILKINSON: Flora

THE MITOSIS GALLERY

SEP 6 – DEC 21, 2024

Wilkinson’s ongoing series of photographs, Flora (2020-2024) are the artist’s response to the exuberant vitality of plants, their thrusting and thriving, their boundless energy and raw power, their elegance and grace, their constant changing, and their utter disregard for anything to do with the human world. Photographed over many seasons at Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks, Wilkinson brings attention to change, the overlooked, the undisturbed, and how profoundly meditative life can be. Curated by Jeffrey Cortland Jones.
Wilkinson is a Distinguished Service Professor and Professor Emeritus at the University of Dayton, where he served as chair of the Department of Visual Arts and as the Graul Endowed Chair in Arts and Languages. He is the recipient of several Ohio Arts Council and Montgomery County Fellowships among many other awards and prizes. His work has been widely exhibited and housed in over twenty-five significant collections.

OPENING NIGHT / SEP 6

Members Preview with the Artist 5-6 pm / Public Reception 6-8 pm

ARTIST TALK / NOV 22 / 6:30 pm

Curtis Mann and Sean Wilkinson in Conversation with artist and writer, Carmen Winant
Doors open 6 pm / Reception immediately following ‘til 8 pm / FREE & open to all / The Tank at The Dayton Arcade

SWERK with MVP Dance Fit
2024-10-02 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Community Fitness series
SWERK with MVP Dance Fit
6:00pm – 7:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
SWERK (Sweat, Work, Twerk) combines current HipHop style dance moves with lower body toning exercises to bring you one Booty-licious bod. A true “lift your booty, love your body” experience. Beyonce’s welcome. No previous dance experience necessary, just come MOVE and have FUN. We can’t wait to SWERK with you! Weather Dependent.

Kayak Rentals at RiverScape with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions
2024-10-03 16:00 - 20:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of RiverScape Kayak Rentals series
Kayak Rentals at RiverScape with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions
4:00pm – 8:00pm
AGE: 14 and up | $12.00
Paddle under the fountains with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions all summer long at RiverScape MetroPark! Regular walk-up rental hours will take place Tuesdays from 2-6pm and Thursdays from 4-8pm, June-October. Launch from under the Riverside Bridge along the Great Miami Recreational Trail. The cost to participate is $12 per person per hour. Taiter’s Kayak Solutions staff will provide visitors with brief instructions prior to entering the water, which will include a safety tutorial, and help visitors get into their vessels. All visitors will be required to wear a properly fitted life jacket. Swimming is prohibited in the Great Miami River, but visitors should come prepared to get wet. Those renting will not be permitted to go through the RiverScape River Run whitewater feature. No lifeguards are on duty, and paddling is at all visitors’ own risk. All visitors must sign a waiver to participate. Visit Facebook.com/TaitersKayakSolutions for more information. Weather Dependent.

Jueves Primero Mi Salud! My Health First Thursday!
2024-10-03 17:30 - 19:30 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
This monthly program, held on the first Thursday through December 5 and presented by El Puente, involves workshops to help build resiliency among community members. Presentations are presented in Spanish. (Adults)

Cult Movie Night
2024-10-03 19:30 | THE NEON, United States
Join us for 2 Halloween classics! First up, the 2007 film Trick R’ Treat (based in Ohio) on October 3rd followed by the infamous Halloween 3: Season of the Witch on the 24th! As always, short films, trailers, and more! Thanks to our sponsors Catacomb Records and Blood Scream Comics!
