Downtown Dayton Partnership

Family Open Studio
2025-11-29 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Join us in Studio A in the Education Wing of Rike for a time of open-ended creativity and art making. Browse our weekly selection of open studio materials and unleash your inner artist. No Signup Necessary. Drop-ins Encouraged! Sponsored by AES Ohio Foundation. Free with museum admission.

Saturday Community Tours
2025-11-29 11:30 - 12:30 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Explore the museum and learn more with a guided tour! Come to the DAI for weekly tour themes like: Dayton History, Art and Architecture, Global Celebrations, and Art Basics for Everyone. Free with museum admission! Sponsored by AES Ohio Foundation. Register here: https://dai.ticketapp.org/portal/product/115/events

Holiday Greenery Crafting
2025-11-29 11:00 - 16:00 | 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!

Saturday Art Workshops
2025-11-29 11:00 - 13:00 | 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.

Record Store Day Black Friday
2025-11-29 08:00 - 20:00 | OMEGA MUSIC, 318 E 5th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Omega opens early with the Dayton area’s larges selection of limited edition Record Store Day titles, in addition to hundreds of new and used albums.

Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays
2025-11-29 08:00 - 18:00, 2025-11-28 16:00 - 19:00 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main sts., Friday 4-7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m.-6 pm.
View all the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite! Free.
(Please note that in order to ensure everyone in line will get to view the houses, it is often necessary to close the line earlier than the scheduled end time.)

RTA Historic Christmas Trolley
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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.

Rike’s Holiday Windows
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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

Member’s Spotlight Exhibition: Amy Deal: Impressions of Stillness
2025-11-29 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Member’s Spotlight Exhibition: Amy Deal: Impressions of Stillness

Featuring the current body of work by Dayton-based artist, Amy Deal.
Amy Deal, born in 1966 in Cranberry Prairie, OH, grew up in a rural setting as the daughter of a German potato farmer and a homemaker. In a community where traditional roles for women prevailed, her parents made it clear that they would support her pursuit of higher education. Amy spent her youth exploring the outdoors, collecting wildflowers to create pigments for her paintings and using her creativity to adorn her surroundings with her art.
She went on to earn a BFA in Visual Communications from Kent State University, driven by a desire for a fiscally responsible career in the arts. Her early career saw her working as a creative director, collaborating with public relations firms on annual reports and contributing to corporate branding and advertising campaigns. However, her path took a turn when she became a mother and found it impossible to leave her child in anyone else’s care. During these early parenting years, she returned to her passion for painting.
As her children grew, Amy dedicated more time to her painting, earning recognition and awards for her work, which now resides in both public and private collections across the United States. Her current series of paintings reflects her deep connection to nature, emphasizing themes of growth, dirt, and plant life.
Amy and her husband, Kevin, sold their family home and transformed a commercial building in downtown Dayton, OH, into a unique living space that includes her studio and his workshop. This move allowed them to stay close to the vibrant energy of the city while pursuing their creative passions.
For Amy, painting has been a source of contentment, providing her with a fulfilling outlet for her artistic expression and a profound connection to the natural world she holds dear.

On view inside The Jonathan Hale & T. Chase Gallery, also known as The CoSHOP.
OPENING RECEPTION: Nov. 5, 2025; 6-8 pm
CLOSING RECEPTION: Nov. 29; 4-6 pm
FREE and Open to All.

Xaviera Simmons: Figure Eleven
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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
2025-11-29 | 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

Winter Welcome Skate
2025-11-28 18:00 - 22:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of MetroParks Ice Rink Theme Nights series
Winter Welcome Skate
6:00pm – 10:00pm
AGE: All ages | $10.00 | Financial Assistance

Glide on over to the MetroParks Ice Rink as we celebrate the coolest way to kick off the holiday season – with the Winter Welcome Skate! Enjoy holiday themed music while you skate, then play some games in the heated comfort tent while you chill with your friends, slip into the holiday spirit, and carve out some time for fun at this opening day event. Weather Dependent.
Skaters are welcome to relax in one of several warming areas, including a heated comfort tent containing games and seating. The RiverScape Cafe will also be open, offering a variety of food and drinks (including our delicious hot cocoa!) for purchase. For those 21 and over, a variety of alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase as part of the Downtown Dayton DORA. Admission is $7, Skate Rental is $3, and there are a limited number of skate helpers available for free. Visitors receive a 75% discount – $1.75 admission and $0.75 skate rental – on admission and skate rental by presenting either a SNAP/EBT or Access to Nature card at the Rental Office. This discount is made possible by Five Rivers MetroParks’ Access to Nature financial assistance program, supported by the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation.

Deck the Diamond
2025-11-28 18:00 - 21:00 | Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45402
Step into a winter wonderland at Day Air Ballpark, where the magic of the season shines bright! Experience the enchantment of over 1.1 million dazzling lights and enjoy a festive lineup of holiday activities perfect for the whole family. Make unforgettable memories together at this one-of-a-kind holiday celebration. Enjoy festive displays, a themed light show, live performances and entertainment, family fun, holiday shopping, delicious treats, photos with Santa, ornament decorating, rides on the North Pole Express, fire pits and s’mores, carnival games, photo opportunities, letters to Santa, the grand tree, and so much more! For tickets and more information, visit dragonsdeckthediamond.com.

2025 McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour
2025-11-28 16:00 - 20:00 | McPherson Town Historic District, 205 W. McPherson St., Dayton, OH, 45405
Ring in the holidays with a tour of historic Dayton homes during the 2025 McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour. Last held in 2023, the popular event returns this year the weekend after Thanksgiving. The tour will be Friday, Nov. 28 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 29 from 3-7 p.m.

“This is a wonderful activity to share with family and friends visiting for Thanksgiving,” said Jenny Cruz, tour co-chair.

Seven historic homes featured on the guided walking tour include several houses not seen on tour for more than a decade. Tours are scheduled every 12 minutes and will accommodate 15-20 people. Guests will also make a stop in a dessert house for refreshments.

McPherson Town, known as ‘Dayton’s most neighborly neighborhood,’ was one of the Gem City’s first suburbs platted by Samuel McPherson in 1845. It was declared a historic district in 1977 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The neighborhood is known for its streetscapes of high style and Folk Victorian and Queen Anne architecture, popular during the late 19th century.

“The McPherson Town Historic District has become one of Dayton’s most sought-after neighborhoods,” said Cruz. “The residents are excited to show off their beautiful homes, each one with its own story to tell.”

Tickets for the timed tours are $20 in advance and can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2025-mcpherson-town-holiday-home-tour-2730169?aff=eivtefrnd&utm-campaign=social%2Cemail&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=checkoutwidget. Some of the homes require navigating stairs.
Tickets are $25 if purchased the day of the tour at Ed Smith Flowers and Gifts, 209 W. Riverview Ave., where the tour begins.

Be My Neighbor Day!
2025-11-28 16:00 - 19:00 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
oin ThinkTV for Be My Neighbor Day at the International Peace Museum. Meet Daniel Tiger and Miss Elaina, dive into hands-on activities, enjoy fun games and story time, and learn about being a community helper. Don’t miss out on this free, fantastic, family experience!

Dayton Holiday Festival – Grande Illumination Tree Lighting & Parade
2025-11-28 16:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Dayton
The Dayton Holiday Festival is your source for family-friendly holiday fun in downtown Dayton!
Started by Mrs. Virginia Kettering in 1972 so that all children could enjoy the holiday season regardless of their economic means, the festival continues today with free attractions for the community.
Each year, the festival kicks off Thanksgiving weekend with the Grande Illumination tree lighting and parade. The fun continues throughout the month of December with family fun days and other holiday activities.
Mark your calendar to kick off the Dayton Holiday Festival on Friday, November 28, 2025!
The Grande Illumination tree lighting
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts. 6:30 p.m.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 6:30 p.m., we’ll throw the switch and approximately 50,000 lights will brighten the big tree on Courthouse Square! Free.
Holiday tree sponsored by Premier Health
Media sponsor: iHeartRADIO
The Grande Illumination parade
Presented by White Allen Chevrolet
Along Fourth & Main sts., 6:30 p.m.

Immediately following the tree lighting, the parade will start at the corner of W. Fourth and Ludlow sts. and round the corner onto Main Street on its route through downtown, sparkling with more than 100,000 lights! Watch decorative seasonal floats, horses, drill teams and bands, and some special holiday treats. Free.
LED parade lights sponsored by NECA/IBEW Electrical Professionals
NOTE: This year’s parade has a slightly different route from previous years. See the map here.
Live Main Stage Entertainment
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy holiday songs and other live entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Free.
Sponsored by Sinclair College

4:05-4:30 p.m. – Dayton Celebration Chorus
4:35-7:00 p.m. – Live DJ from Electric Vibe Entertainment.
Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest
Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second & Main sts., Friday 4-7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m.-6 pm.
View all the delicious contest entries and the award-winning houses, and vote for your favorite! Free.
(Please note that in order to ensure everyone in line will get to view the houses, it is often necessary to close the line earlier than the scheduled end time.)

Street Fair and Food Trucks on Second
Second Street between Ludlow & Jefferson sts., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy free rides and other activities for kids throughout the evening! Grab a bite to eat from one of multiple food vendors while you’re there. Vendors scheduled to appear include S’more Fun, Courtland Mobile Grill, Iggy Ragu’s, Potato Tornado Gals & More, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck, Hearts Hot Dogs, Spin City Concessions, Funnel Cakes & More. (Vendors subject to change.)

Candy Cane Clubhouse
Stratachache Tower lobby, 40 N. Main St., 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy festive kids’ entertainment, crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, and more! Free. Scheduled to perform:
4:00-4:50 p.m. – Juggling by Crazy Craig Muhlenkamp
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Elsa & Anna Sing-Along and Meet & Greet from Fairy Godmother Events
6:00-6:30 p.m. – Roz Puppet Show
Holiday Adventure
Start at CURIO on Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts., 4-7 p.m.
Kids will go on an adventure around the festival footprint. Children who visit all of the stops will receive a free book. Free.
Presented by the Junior League of Dayton.

Grande Illumination Make & Take Art Project
2025-11-28 16:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
K12 will offer a holiday-themed make-and-take project.

Meet Daniel Tiger & Katerina Kitty Cat
2025-11-28 16:00 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Meet Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kitty Cat and create fun crafts during the Dayton Holiday Festival kickoff!

Storytime at the Market
2025-11-28 13:00 - 14:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Hear a story, do a craft, and have a fun activity.

North Pole on South Ludlow
2025-11-28 12:00 - 17:00 | America’s Packard Museum, 420 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Stop by for pictures with Santa and other fun holiday activities.
