Downtown Dayton Partnership

DLCA Performance: The Lightning Thief (Theatre For Young Audience Edition)
2024-10-26 17:00, 2024-10-27 13:00 (America/Detroit) | PNC Arts Annex, 46 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
A 70-minute, one-act adaptation of the Broadway hit! As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score.

Hauntfest
2024-10-26 19:00 | Oregon District, Fifth Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
October 26, 2024 7pm – 1am

$10 pre-sale (Until 10/26), $15 at The gate
The biggest Halloween party in the Miami Valley has returned! More than just a party, it’s an opportunity to come together as a community and support the positive and cohesive spirit of our Entertainment & Entrepreneurial neighborhood!. In addition to being an amazing party, HAUNTFEST serves as a fundraiser for the Oregon District Business Association to cover improvement efforts in the District throughout the year. HAUNTFEST will feature live music and DJs, food trucks, beer trucks, and street performers. Halloween costumes are encouraged! HAUNTFEST has a strict weapons-free policy. No weapons—real or fake—will be permitted. Visitors must be 18 years old to enter, and 21 to drink. Purchase Presale Hauntfest Tickets Here!

Don’t Stop Believin’: The Music Of Journey
2024-10-26 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Philharmonic’s Rockin’ Orchestra Series opens with a tribute to the iconic rock band Journey! Relive the ’70s and ’80s with THE MUSIC OF JOURNEY, another collaboration with Jeans ‘n Classics. Journey’s catchy, emotive pop-rock hits are paired with an orchestra, rock band, and brilliant vocals. Get ready to rock with some of Journey’s most popular songs, such as: “Any Way You Want It,” “Separate Ways,” and of course, “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Remember The Time
2024-10-26 19:30, 2024-10-27 16:00 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
REMEMBER THE TIME highlights the spellbinding artistry of DCDC through three enduring works. Tommie-Waheed Evans’ “Home/An Untitled Portrait” wraps the interior of the Victoria Theatre in brilliant light, text, and snapshots of “home” in all of its complicated glory. In “Double Dutch And Broken Levees,” Stafford C. Berry Jr. transports viewers to a twilight time where a rain-soaked block party recalls the great migration. “Sets And Chasers” by Kevin Ward celebrates Duke Ellington’s groundbreaking radio broadcasts of the swinging ‘40s.

Seth Gilliam and the Fake News
2024-10-26 20:00 | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Spooky season is upon us, and it’s prime time for heady brews and rockin’ tunes!
The Fake News and The New Old-Fashioned will take over Yellow Cab to shepherd you into the season!
10/26/24
$10 at the doorDoors at 8pmMusic at 9pm
We’ll see ya then!
Seth Gilliam & The Fake News are an indie-rock outfit from Dayton, OH that combines elements of many genres of music into their own brand of rock ‘n’ roll.
Often heralded, The New Old-Fashioned are the beating heart of Dayton Americana, combing elements of all the things you love into something you’ll love even more.

Church of Funk
2024-10-27 11:00 - 14:00 | Oregon Express, 336 E. 5th Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Cooley the Curator, *Aka Pastor Cooley,* will be presiding over the wheels of steel between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Entry is free! He’ll be offering up the finest Funk, Soul, & Reggae during our Sunday lunch service! Join us for the Funk but stick around for special themed drinks and food specials.

Trick or Treat at the Market
2024-10-27 11:00 - 15:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume for a fun, festive day and trick or treat with the Markets vendors. Also, decorate a free pumpkin to take home, craft supplies will be available to make your pumpkin your very own.

Spooky Tours
2024-10-27 13:00, 2024-10-31 18:00 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
The Dayton Art Institute will be featuring a Spooky Tour for the Halloween Season! Join us for an evening of art filled with spooky legends, symbols and signs, and death and dying. Following the tour, invoke your creative spirit with a quick, spooky make and take art activity. You have 3 OPPORTUNITIES to attend: Next Thursday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m. October 27 at 1:00p.m. Followed by the Skinner Pipe Organ Spooktacular concert! October 31, at 6:00 p.m. (A Halloween special! ) This activity will be $10 for #MuseumMembers, and $15 for Non-member.

Pedal Wagon Dayton: Specters and Spirits
2024-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | OH
Join us for this “Specters & Spirits” haunted pedal wagon ride through downtown Dayton.
Bring your ghouls and guys to ride along as local author and ghostie Sara Kaushal and Paula Dytko, paranormal investigator extraordinaire- team up to take you around to some of the great haunted places this city has to offer all while onboard the Pedal Wagon!
You will learn about Dayton’s hanging grounds, the haunted Victoria Theatre, and many more haunted stories. All with enough time to stop by a couple of watering holes for those other kinds of Spirits.
Your booking cost covers The Pedal Wagon rental and a guide.
Want a Family Friendly & Minor welcome cruise option?! Book the 6pm time slot, either Private or Public. 8:15pm is for 21 and over only!
We need 8 riders to launch a public cruise.

Hocus Pocus Movie & Dress Up Party
2024-10-27 18:00 - 21:00 | The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Celebrate Halloween Adultish Style with Music, Meal, Trivia, and Dayton Dinner Theater’s famous interactive movie experience with the hit film Hocus Pocus! Enjoy creative pizza from the Dayton Pizza Factory, a fancy salad, appetizer, and dessert by Baker Benji. Yum! Themed Attire – Choose Witch ever outfit suits your mood. HOW TO GO? Oct 27, 2024, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH Doors open at 5:45 – Food and live music is available from 6-7 pm – Movie starts at 7 pm. A short intermission for dessert and trivia will start at 8 pm – Movie ends around 9:15 pm. Alcoholic drinks available for purchase Get tickets here: https://www.daytondinnertheater.com/events/hocus-pocus-movie-and-dress-up-party Table reservations only for parties of 6 or more, otherwise we have open seating. For table reservations or other questions, please email Daytondinnertheater@gmail.co

BA DUAN JIN 八段锦 (Eight Sections of Brocade)
2024-10-28 15:00 - 17:00 | Sinclair Conference Center, 301 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Join our guest, PING YANG, for this 4-session combination of lectures and exercises on Ba Duan Jin, one of the forms of traditional Chinese Qigong exercises with a history of more than 1000 years.
Ba Duan Jin comprises eight relatively simple movements that can be practiced at any place or time and by people of all ages. Literature has shown that Ba Duan Jin is very beneficial and will yield positive health effects if practiced regularly over time.
Free and open to the public! Please wear comfortable clothing & shoes.

Conversation with the Readers
2024-10-29 13:00 - 14:30 | Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
Looking into Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist Darrin Bell. Please come join the library staff to discuss the award-winning graphic memoir The Talk. We will be exploring the life of the author along with his book’s themes and characters. Light refreshments will be provided and we hope to see you there.

Kayak Rentals at RiverScape with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions
2024-10-29 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 Conversation with Paul Strozier
2024-10-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Sinclair Conference Center, 301 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Free and open to the public!
If you’re familiar with Sinclair’s Multifaith Campus Chaplain, Paul Strozier, you’re aware of his talent for captivating storytelling. If you haven’t met him yet, you’re in for a treat—his stories about our shared human connections and his own journey of redemption are both compelling and touching.
Don’t miss this engaging and heartwarming conversation.
This event will be held at Sinclair’s Conference Center (Bldg.12) in the Charity Earley room.

Serial Killers With Dr. Scott Bonn
2024-10-29 19:30 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Spend a deliciously chilling evening with renowned criminologist and serial killer expert, Dr. Scott Bonn, as he takes you inside the minds of the world’s most savage and prolific murderers.
In this thrilling 90-minute show, Dr. Bonn reveals the insatiable, psychological hungers that drive the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer to kill repeatedly with impunity and no remorse. He explains why the majority of serial killers are either psychopaths or sociopaths, how the two differ, and the powerful influences of nature and nurture on the development of fledgling serial killers. Dr. Bonn reveals that every serial killer is compelled by a unique fantasy need and he also explains how/why serial killers are able to successfully avoid apprehension, blend into a crowd and become invisible.
Dr. Bonn is a best-selling author, professor, public speaker, and he has interacted with such notorious serial killers as Dennis Rader (“Bind, Torture, Kill”) and David Berkowitz (“Son of Sam”). He shares shocking tales from his actual experiences with these killers. Dr. Bonn also developed a profile of the unknown “Long Island Serial Killer” in 2011 that matches the alleged perpetrator, Rex Heuermann, perfectly. He shares the secrets of how he was able to predict the psychological and behavioral makeup of the Long Island Serial Killer with such incredible precision.
Dr. Bonn explains our curious fascination with serial killers and true crime. Finally, you can ask anything you ever wanted to know about serial killers in a dynamic, live Q&A session with Dr. Bonn. Don’t miss out on this exciting event.
CAUTION: Given the subject, the content in Dr. Bonn’s show is frequently dark and can be disturbing. He incorporates some dark humor which in no way is intended to minimize the seriousness of the topic or the fact that lives have been destroyed by the diabolical killers he discusses throughout the show.

Exhibits: Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic & (B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family
2024-10-30, 2024-10-31 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) will close its 2024 Special Exhibition season with an exciting presentation of two combined traveling exhibitions, Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic & (B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family, on view now through January 19, 2025. Just in time for the holidays, enjoy these nostalgic exhibitions highlighting two beloved classics that continue to influence the art of animation. View original drawings of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and Chuck Jones, who brought Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday tale to life in the 1966 animated special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, then laugh alongside Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Bart as you experience the original handmade animation cels of the acclaimed series.

“The art displayed in our newest exhibitions explores the significant influence animation has had in pop culture and the worlds of art, entertainment and business,” said DAI Head Curator & Curatorial Affairs Director Jerry N. Smith. “Animation art is beloved worldwide, and for many of us, this medium is our introduction to art. This work showcases how in each animated classic, thousands of individual artworks come together to tell a story and create a larger singular work.”

In 1966, the animation of Chuck Jones brought to life Dr. Seuss’ treasured 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The animated story is a true television classic, with generations tuning in annually to watch the story of redemption with the despicable Grinch, the sweet Cindy Lou Who and the innocent dog Max. The exhibition Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic features original cel art used in the cartoon’s production, along with concept drawings by Jones (famous for Looney Tunes) and those by Dr. Seuss.

(B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family showcases the often-irreverent antics of Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and Bart—alongside many other unforgettable figures from the longest-running animated series on American television. Since its debut in 1989, there have been more than 770 episodes. Initially crafted through traditional ink-and-paint techniques on transparent acetate cels, the first 13 seasons (1989–2002) were produced by hand before transitioning to cost-effective digital animation. These hand-drawn cels are featured in the exhibition. In the early seasons elements, now vital to the series, were created, including the famous sofa and living room set used to open each episode, which is replicated at the DAI, allowing guests the chance to truly enter the fictional world of Springfield.

Fun and colorful, these two exhibitions showcase the art of illustration. A family-friendly and nostalgic outing, guests will enjoy more than 400 works of original art, as well as interactive sensory stations, educational resources and photo opportunities.

“In addition to learning about the art of animation and illustration, those attending our newest special exhibitions can expect a joyful, playful, and nostalgic experience,” said DAI Director & President Michael R. Roediger. “This artwork was created to bring a smile to your face and brighten your day. We’re excited to offer each guest the chance to slip away from any of life’s stresses and spend time reconnecting with characters they know and love. These two exhibitions are fun, colorful and truly memorable.”

Several related programs will be offered in conjunction with the Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic & (B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family. These include:

Community Tour: November 2, 1–2 p.m.; November 23, 1–2 p.m.; December 7, 1–2 p.m.; December 19, 6–7 p.m.; January 18, 1–2 p.m.
Cost: Members: Free, Non-members: Included with the Price of Admission

Family Studio Special: December 7, 12:30–3:30 p.m.
Cost: Members: $20, Non-members: $25, Member Family 4-pack: $70, Non-member Family 4-pack: $90
Adult Studio Special: November 16, 12:30–3:30 p.m.
Cost: Members: $35, Non-members: $45
Ask Me Anything: November 7, 6–7 p.m., December 12, 6–7 p.m. and January 9, 6–7 p.m.
Cost: FREE

These exhibitions are from the collection of Bill Heeter and Kristi Correa. Admission to Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic & (B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family is included in the museum’s general admission, which includes access to all Special and Focus Exhibitions currently on view, as well as the museum collection galleries. General admission is $15 adults; $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more); $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17); and free for children (ages 6 & younger). Admission is free for museum members. Membership information can be found online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership.

Other current and upcoming Exhibitions at the museum include Captivating Clay: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection (on view until September 2025), Devil’s Promenade (on view until January 5, 2025), Making Faces: 18 Essential Kabuki Plays (on view until March 30, 2025) and The Need for Beauty (on view from November 30, 2024–May 18, 2025).

For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and exclusive offers.

John Lauer: Demon Heads
2024-10-30 11:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-31 11:00 - 18:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Drawing on fantasy, queer culture, and architecture, Lauer creates demon heads out of paper. Combining digital and manual techniques, he first models the heads with architectural software, converts them into patterns which he cuts out of paper with a digital cutter, then meticulously assembles them by hand. Inspired by natural forms—bones, leaves, shells—demons and horned creatures burst forth from more placid human heads merging into structures that are both intertwined and interdependent symbolizing an inner struggle in conflict with the outside world.
John Lauer is an artist and architectural/exhibit designer who lives in a treehouse on the edge of Appalachia. He has a BA in Architecture from Washington University, St. Louis, an MFA in Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI, and an M.Arch from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

CURTIS MANN: Precious Blood
2024-10-30 11:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-31 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
2024-10-30 11:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-31 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

Young People’s Concert: Pure Imagination
2024-10-30 11:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Learn how music, opera, and dance come together to tell a story and evoke memories, emotion, and more. You’ll explore drama and comedy with Mozart’s Don Giovanni and take a musical trip down the flowing Moldau River with conductor Neal Gittleman. The Dayton Opera Artists-In-Residence and Dayton Ballet School Ensemble are your tour guides, accompanied by the 2024 Young Artists Concerto Competition Winner and the Dayton Philharmonic.

Lunch & Learn: A Voice for Social Change – The Life of Activist Hallie Quinn Brown
2024-10-30 12:00 - 14:30 | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Lunch & Learn: A Voice for Social Change – The Life of Activist Hallie Quinn Brown
Wednesday, October 30th from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Enjoy lunch with us and hear Dr. Amy Hobbs Harris discuss Hallie Quinn Brown, an educator and elocutionist who pioneered the movement for African American women’s clubs. A graduate of Wilberforce University, she lectured widely on the cause of temperance, women’s suffrage, and civil rights. She helped found the Colored Women’s League in Washington, D.C., which became the National Association of Colored Women and adopted the motto, “Lifting as We Climb.”
https://daytonwomansclub.org/programs-events/lunch-and-learn-2024-october

“The Dream Whisperer” film screening & discussion
2024-10-30 15:00 - 17:00 | Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
Free and open to the public!
Join us for a discussion and screening of the 2023 documentary, directed by Eric Drath.
In the midst of segregation, the all-black Tennessee A&I Tigers were the first collegiate basketball team to win three consecutive national championships. Yet they were never duly recognized for this singular achievement. The team’s captain, legendary Knicks player Dick Barnet, began a nine-year quest to ensure his team’s immortality. His tenacity, dedication, and struggle finally paid off in 2019.
VIEW OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE
The screening will be held in Bldg. 7 Tartan Marketplace, Room 7006 at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third Street, Dayton OH 45402.

AMOUR
2024-10-31 15:00 - 17:30 | Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
Join us for a discussion and screening of the 2012 drama directed by Michael Haneke. Retired music teachers Georges and Anne have spent their lives devoted to their careers and too each other. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested when Anne suffers a debilitating stroke; and though Georges himself suffers from the aches and infirmities of old age, he is determined to keep his promise to her that she never goes back to the hospital. Following the film, there will be a discussion led by Trish Burke-Williams, Sinclair College
