Downtown Dayton Partnership

Friday Night Paint-In
2025-12-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-05 16:00 - 18:00 (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

Handmade Holiday
2025-12-05 17:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
One-of-a-kind handmade gifts from 25 local handmade vendors at the handmade party of the season! Art, clothing, jewelry, holiday and home decor, plus so many other unique, locally made items from local makers. Plus, food trucks, cocktails and more.

Front Street Art Hop
2025-12-05 17:00 - 21:00 (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
2025-12-05 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.

Holiday Open House
2025-12-05 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Square One Salon & Spa, 506 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Complimentary mini Aveda experiences, fairy hair, goodie bags, a gift with purchase, refreshments, and gift shopping assistance!

Holiday Greenery Crafting
2025-12-05 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Now and Zen DIY Studio, 121 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Stop in for a jolly good time with whimsical holiday plant projects, including terrarium snowmen, air plant ornaments, and more!

Soap Happens
2025-12-05 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Get ready for a sudsy good time. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create, cut, and gift wrap your very own handmade soap using simple ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store. You’ll walk away with about 40 oz of solid soap (that’s 9 bars, each weighing 5oz and normally $10 a bar)—all crafted by you! Your cost for the workshop is $60.00. It’s a bubbly, creative experience you won’t want to miss! Please register at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1859451382139?aff=oddtdtcreator

Coffee Talk
2025-12-05 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Join Poppets Coffee, a 2nd Street Market vendor, for an engaging talk on ‘The Fascinating History and Cultural Impact of Coffee.’ Discover the origins, worldwide journey, and social significance of coffee beyond the cup. Whether you’re a casual coffee lover or simply curious about this beloved beverage, this event offers stories, fun facts, and cultural insights that everyone will enjoy. Don’t miss this chance to connect over coffee’s rich heritage and enduring charm! Samples will be provided.

Members’ Spotlight: Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers
2025-12-05 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
December 3 – 27, 2025 Opening Reception: December 3, 6 – 8 pm Closing Reception: December 27, 2025, 4 – 6 pm Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers brings together a series of intimate encaustic works in which color, wax, and heat converge to form small but potent moments of energy. In each piece, Dayton-based artist Lori Daugherty coaxes organic bursts of form and pigment into being—gestures that feel alive, expanding, and quietly insistent. These works reward slow looking: what first appears delicate reveals surprising force, and what seems restrained carries a pulse of movement just beneath the surface. Working with encaustic wax and inks, Daugherty builds her compositions through layered translucency, texture, and the dynamic unpredictability of a torch and flame. The resulting surfaces hover between control and spontaneity, abstraction and suggestion. Together, the paintings in Bold Whispers invite viewers to linger in the space where subtlety becomes powerful and small moments open into larger stories. All artworks in this exhibition are available for purchase. Please visit the reception desk or speak to a staff member to purchase. Proceeds support both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.

RTA Holiday Bus
2025-12-05 | Downtown Dayton
Santa is coming to town aboard the Greater Dayton RTA’s holiday bus! This year’s holiday bus will run along Dayton routes through Dec. 31 with holiday music, free candy canes, and appearances by the big man himself – Santa! For the holiday bus route and schedule information, visit iriderta.org.

Winter Gift Gallery (Local Artist Nook)
2025-12-05 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Artists will showcase paintings, ceramics, blown glass, prints, and jewelry for sale. Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

RTA Historic Christmas Trolley
2025-12-05 | Downtown Dayton
Before nestling the children all snug in their beds, check out the Greater Dayton RTA’s Historic Christmas Trolley – #559! The 1948 Marmon-Herrington TC-48, famous for its simulated fireplace and plush seat for Santa, is back this holiday season for special events featuring photos with the trolley and Santa and a chance to ride through downtown on this piece of Dayton history. Schedule of events at www.iriderta.org.

Ice Skating
2025-12-05 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Sheltered under the covered pavilion, the MetroParks Ice Rink sets the scene as a perfect winter wonderland in downtown Dayton. While the rink is open, you can enjoy delicious treats from the concession area, including a cup of hot chocolate. Take advantage of fun skating activities, such as lessons, themed skating nights and more. Visit metroparks.org/ice-rink to learn more, find daily open hours, and see a schedule of events. Admission: $7 daily, ice skate rental: $3 daily. Season passes available. Ages 3 and under are free with a paying adult. 278-2607.

Downtown Dayton Holiday Hop
2025-12-05 | Downtown Dayton
Downtown Dayton’s small businesses need our help now, more than ever! This holiday season, while you’re celebrating and shopping small and local, you can Play, Shop, & Dine your way to some easy money to spend on yourself!
How to Play
1. Visit three of the 40+ participating businesses between November 29 and December 22, 2025.
(See participating businesses here: https://downtowndayton.org/hop/)
2. Collect three different stamps by making a purchase – one for each category of Play, Shop, and Dine – to complete the Hop.
3. After collecting three stamps, turn in your completed card to one of the drop-off locations to get $25 in Downtown Dollars*.
(See drop-off locations below)
Drop-off Locations
Base Camp Outdoors – 420 E. First St.
Downtown Dayton Partnership Office – 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 901
Heart Mercantile – 601 E. Fifth St.
Omega Music – 318 E. Fifth St.
Rabbit Hole Books – 29 W. First St.
RiverScape MetroPark – 237 E. Monument Ave.

*While supplies last. Purchase required to get stamps. Must provide an email address to receive Downtown Dollars. $25 prize will be emailed after Dec. 12 or Dec. 29, 2025. Limit one entry per person. Limit one stamp per business. Submit by December 22, 2025.

The CoSHOP Holiday Shopping
2025-12-05 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton’s CoSHOP gets a holiday refresh of new handmade ornaments, cards, decor, and all sorts of giftables from a selection of local artists and artisans.

Whimsical Windows & Elf Hunt
2025-12-05 | Downtown Dayton
Dec. 5-29
Select businesses throughout downtown
This annual contest shows off the creativity of downtown Dayton’s collection of small businesses as they decorate their storefront windows for the holidays in their own unique ways. Enjoy shopping, dining, and exploring downtown Dayton in this fun and festive atmosphere! Vote for your favorite window display online at DaytonDailyNews.com starting Dec. 5. YOU can be the winner in the Elf Hunt contest! Simply find elves hidden among holiday decorations in first-floor storefront windows and text a photo of it to 937-304-4041. Each photo taken of a different elf counts as one entry toward a weekly drawing for $100 in Downtown Dollars! Free.
Sponsored by Dayton Daily News
Whimsical Windows Locations:
Art + Soul Maison, 135 E. Main St. – Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St. – Clash Dayton, 521 E. Fifth St. – CrossFit Dayton, 150 S. Patterson Blvd. – The Dayton Arcade, 23 & 25 S. Main St. – Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, 8 N. Main St. Ste. 100 – The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Avenue – Golden Hour Piercing, 411 E. Fifth St. – Joui Wine, 117 E. Third St. – League of Women Voters, 127 N. Ludlow St. – Lisse Beauty Bar, 21 W. First St. – Rabbit Hole Books, 29 W. First St. – Reduce & Reuse Refillery, 133 E. Fourth St. – Secret Beauty Hats & Boutique, 131 N. Ludlow St. #129 – Space Three, 39 S. St. Clair St. – Val’s Bakery, 25 S. St. Clair St. – Wild Whiskers, 33 S. St. Clair St.
Elf Hunt Locations:
Art + Soul Maison, 135 E. Main St. – Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St. – Chairapy, 605 E. Fifth St. – Clash Dayton, 521 E. Fifth St. – CrossFit Dayton, 150 S. Patterson Rd. – The Dayton Arcade, 23 & 25 S. Main St. – Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, 8 N. Main St. Ste. 100 – Dayton Church Supply, Inc., 136 E. Third St. – Dayton Live, PNC Arts Annex, 46 W. Second St. – The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Avenue – Edward A. Dixon Gallery, 222 N. St. Clair St. – Golden Hour Piercing, 411 E. Fifth St. – Hotel Ardent Dayton Downtown + Bistecca, 137 N. Main St. – Joui Wine, 117 E. Third St. – Lucho, 37 W. Fourth St. – Rabbit Hole Books, 29 W. First St. – Reduce & Reuse Refillery, 133 E. Fourth St. – Secret Beauty Hats & Boutique, 131 N. Ludlow St. #129 – Space Three, 39 S. St. Clair St. – Table 33, 45 W. Fourth St. – Tony & Pete’s, 19 E. Third St. – Val’s Bakery, 25 S. St. – Clair St. – Wild Whiskers, 33 S. St. Clair St. – Winans Coffee & Chocolate, 221 N. Patterson Blvd.

Rike’s Holiday Windows
2025-12-05 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
November 28-January 4
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main sts.;
Hours of operation vary – for the most up-to-date info, visit daytonlive.org/rikes.
Closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day

Experience a reimagining of the Rike’s department store holiday window displays that once stood at this busy downtown corner. Free. (Not accessible during private events. Call 228-7591 to confirm hours.) Presented by Dayton Live

Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display
2025-12-05 | Stratacache Tower, 40 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45423
November 28-January 1
Stratacache Tower lobby at the corner of Second & Main sts.
View in building lobby Mon-Sat, or through windows anytime.

View this one-of-a-kind model train display given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering. (Use Second St. building entrance.) Free. 224-1518.

Holly Jolly Social: A Christmas Bar Pop-Up
2025-12-05 | Two Social, 123 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
A festive Christmas pop-up where holiday cocktails, sparkling decor, and cozy seasonal vibes transform the space into a winter wonderland. 2socialdayton.com
Nov. 7-Jan. 15

Small but Mighty 2025
2025-12-05 | Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
SMALL BUT MIGHTY 2025
NOVEMBER 7 – DECEMBER 13
SMALL BUT MIGHTY 2025 is the Dayton Society of Artists small works exhibition and holiday gift shop. All work is 12″ x 12″ or smaller and includes a wide variety of mediums and styles.
DSA will also have a gift shop full of original and handmade goods such as ornaments, cards, jewelry and more! So add a little wonder to your holiday season and visit the Dayton Society of Artists.

Polar Bear Express
2025-12-05 | Downtown Dayton
Book a ride on the abominably decorated Pedal Wagon for a 2-hour pedaling adventure through the fest streets of Dayton and to the best bars and restaurants. Reservations required. pedalwagon.com/dayton

Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven
2025-12-05 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven

NOVEMBER 14, 2025 – JANUARY 24, 2026

THE DR. ROBERT L. BRANDT, JR. GALLERY
THE IRA & SUSAN THOMSEN FAMILY GALLERY
THE JACK W. & SALLY EICHELBERGER VIDEO GALLERY

The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven, a major solo exhibition bringing together recent works in photography, painting, video, and the world premiere of a new body of bronze sculptures by one of the most bold and visionary artists of our time.

Simmons’ practice is deeply rooted in art history, both through deliberate assertion and continuous engagement, drawing on references that span from antiquity and the American landscape to contemporary media. Her work unfolds through a cinematic sensibility, where narrative, movement, and stillness intersect. This is evident in her photographic series such as American Book Covers and Sundown, in her monumental text paintings, and now in this new body of bronze sculptures.
Performance, choreography, and the sensual are integral to Simmons’ artistic language. In this recent sculptural work, these elements coalesce into forms that feel both classical and contemporary. As with much of her practice, Figure Eleven situates art history within an ongoing continuum, like a film that resists final resolution.
The sculptures recall the Venus of Willendorf and Venus de Milo while simultaneously reflecting the multiplicity of contemporary bodies and motifs. Their power lies in their capacity to collapse and reconcile distinct historical and cultural narratives. The figures embody a poised stillness that resonates with the language of movement and performance. Figure Eleven, both the exhibition’s title and the newest figurative sculpture, appears as if drawn from a film still, a moment suspended between gesture and permanence.
OPENING NIGHT / NOV 14
Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm
Public Reception: 6-8 pm
Remarks: 6:30 pm

An Afternoon with Xaviera Simmons: Artist Talk & Panel Discussion / NOV 15
2 – 4p
Join us for an afternoon with Xaviera Simmons, featuring an introduction of the exhibition from curator Heather Jones, an overview of the artist’s work and its place in art history from gallerist David Castillo, and a presentation by Simmons. The talks will be followed by a dynamic panel discussion with the speakers and Dr. Judith Huacuja, professor emeritus, University of Dayton.
This event will take place at The Tank, in the lower level of The Dayton Arcade.

RSVP for Artist Talk

Exhibit: Appropriate Everything
2025-12-05 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present “Appropriate Everything” by Darren Haper and John Sousa in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and Works on Paper Gallery. “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.” -T.S. Eliot The large paintings featuring white backgrounds and a knocked-together magazine collage vibe in “Appropriate Everything” takes the “great artists steal” adage and looks at it from several angles. Using a shared set of imagery “appropriated” from the Internet, both Haper and Sousa create their own body of work by “stealing” materials and techniques from the other. Despite covering common visual ground, the work lays bare the stylistic distance between both artists. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from November 10–December 13, 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: The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art
2025-12-05 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
October 18, 2025–January 11, 2026
The Triumph of Nature presents the refined, ever-popular and elegant curvilinear designs and nature-based motifs of Art Nouveau. From the rich holdings of the Chrysler Museum of Art, more than 120 turn-of-the-20th century treasures are included, with works by Tiffany, Mucha, Gallé, Beardsley and many others. Furniture, paintings, sculpture, mosaics, books, posters, prints, lamps, glass art and more highlight the innovative ways artists made harmonious visual arrangements. The DAI is the exclusive Ohio venue for this major traveling exhibition.

Water Street District Pint Path
2025-12-05 | 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

Music Bingo Thursdays
2025-12-04 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
2025-12-04 19:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Open Mic Night – sign up online, then show up and show out.

Back To The Future: The Musical
2025-12-04 19:30 (America/New_York) | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Great Scott!
Back To The Future, the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Dayton this December.
Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards (including Best New Musical), and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL is adapted for the stage by the iconic film’s creators Bob Gale (Back To The Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and directed by the Tony Award® winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy® winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror”), alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power Of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back In Time.”
When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future. When BACK TO THE FUTURE hits 88 mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.

Karaoke
2025-12-04 18:30 - 21:30 (America/Detroit)
Join us for Karaoke Thursdays at The Dayton Beer Company, hosted by Limelight Entertainment from 6:30 p.m.-9:30p.m. Cheers!
