Downtown Dayton Partnership

Exhibit: Crosstown Connection
2025-07-18 12:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-19 12:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Crosstown Connection
July 11th – August 23rd
The Dayton Society of Artists (DSA) and the African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) are thrilled to present Crosstown Connections: A Collaborative Exhibition. This group exhibition brings together two of Dayton’s vibrant art organizations in a celebration of shared creativity, artistic mediums, and the connections that unite us. Through this partnership, we honor our commonalities, reflect on past collaborations, and look forward to future opportunities to uplift and support artists in our community. Showcasing a collection of works from both organizations, this exhibition will be held at both galleries, celebrating the rich artistic talent within our community. Make sure to visit the other half of this exhibition at AAVAG! Their gallery is located inside the CSU Dayton Campus on the second floor at 840 Germantown St.
Opening Reception: Friday, July 11th 5 – 8 PM, Free and open to the public.
Closing Reception: Sunday, August 24th, 2 – 5 PM at AAVAG gallery

Guided Downtown Dayton historic walking tours
2025-07-18 17:30 - 19:00 | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Many of the places that helped make Dayton a center of innovation were lost to history, while others survived and adapted, representing the city’s spirit of revitalization. Some of the city’s distinctive and significant structures were demolished, while others, including the Dayton Arcade and Centre City Building, saw challenging times but now await redevelopment. Explore and learn about the diverse selection of retail, industrial, entertainment, and residential sites on this guided walking tour of Downtown Dayton.
Tours are available on Fridays beginning May 2 and run through October 2025. The cost is $10 per person and reservations are required to attend.
Our guided downtown walking tours will launch promptly at 5:30 p.m. from the Dayton Arcade entrance on Fourth Street. This 90-minute, 1.5-mile tour may be deemed strenuous by some, and patrons should be able to walk/navigate city sidewalks and streets. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle if needed. Tours will launch rain or shine, except in the event of thunder or lightning.

Friday Night Patio Parties
2025-07-18 17:30 - 19:30 | THE NEON, United States
THE NEON – Dayton’s independent, arthouse cinema – will soon be hosting “Friday Night Patio Parties” on their recently renovated patio. Beginning June 13 and running through August 15, each week’s party, hosted by “Celebrity Guest Hosts,” goes from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. and features music, à la carte drinks from THE NEON’s patio bar and food from a local food truck. These weekly patio parties are made possible by the generous sponsorship of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty.
Guest hosts for these parties include team members from Berkshire Hathaway, representatives from Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and Generation Dayton, The RubiGirls, Discover Classical – Dayton Public Radio, Amelia Robinson & Anthony Shoemaker, representatives from various local theatre groups, and former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin. DJs spinning music throughout the summer will include DJ Luke Tandy, man dies., J[REDACTED], and Mike7. And lastly, food will be available each week via local food trucks including Bourbon On The Street, Freakin’ Rican, Bald Head Tone’s, Showdog Hotdogs, and De’Lish. THE NEON’s social media pages and weekly newsletter are the best places to find up-to-date details about each week’s party.
In May, THE NEON announced the name of their expanded patio – “The Eichelberger Foundation Patio.” This expansion received a lead grant of $75,000 from Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation.
Improvements included:

The expansion of the ground level patio and the building of an upper-level terrace
An awning to provide shade (Tensile Structure Systems, Inc – Baltimore, Maryland)
A new sound system, security cameras and improved lighting
New patio furniture

These improvements will enhance the outdoor experience for THE NEON’s patio guests and have already created an attractive addition to a busy downtown intersection.
Jonathan McNeal, THE NEON’s General Manager, expressed his thanks for the grant. “Because of the generosity of Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of The Dayton Foundation, THE NEON patio experience will only get better and allow us to expand our programming.” Besides the Friday parties in the summer, the patio hosts numerous events tied to special screenings and a welcoming place to enjoy a drink and popcorn before or after seeing a film.
This is the second grant made by the Foundation to THE NEON. The previous grant was $50,000 in 2021 to replace the cinema’s two projectors and sound system with new state-of-the-art laser projectors.

To learn about THE NEON, visit the website at: https: www.neonmovies.com
THE NEON can be found on InstaGram and Facebook at “neonmovies.”

Carlene Carter
2025-07-18 19:00 | Levitt Pavilion Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Carlene Carter

July 18 @ 7:00 PM

Free Admission

/

Series:

Tim Tye’s Midnight Sky Country/Bluegrass Series

Genre:

Country

Carlene Carter has been a vibrant force in music for over four decades. The daughter of June Carter Cash and Carl Smith, and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, she embodies the legacy of the Carter Family. Carlene began her career with The Carter Family and made her solo debut in 1978. Known for her edgy country style, she topped the charts with hits like “I Fell In Love” and “Every Little Thing.” Recently, she released Carter Girl, an album of Carter Family classics, and collaborated with John Mellencamp. Carlene was also featured in Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary series.

DLCA Performance: The Sisters Grimm
2025-07-18 19:00, 2025-07-19 13:00, 2025-07-19 17:00 | PNC Arts Annex, 46 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
It’s 2020, and sisters Jo and Riley have just moved into Grandma and Grandpa’s spare bedroom. Dad is deployed overseas, and Mom is suddenly working 24/7 as an E.R. nurse. Spring break has been extended indefinitely, the end-of-the-year musical has been canceled, and Grandpa hasn’t turned off the news in days. Follow along as Jo tries to get her younger sister’s mind off of the chaos around them with the help of a dusty old copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Grandma’s clutter, and the power of their combined imaginations. The Sisters Grimm tells a story about the strength of sisterhood in the face of change and uncertainty. With plenty of “happily ever afters,” a wealth of talking animals, and an extra dash of girl power, this play is sure to be fun for the whole family.
There are three performances of this show: Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening.

Dayton Dragons vs. Great Lakes Loons
2025-07-18 19:05, 2025-07-19 19:05 | Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45402
Catch one of the hottest tickets in sports – see the Dayton Dragons play baseball at Day Air Ballpark! For tickets and more information, visit www.daytondragons.com or call 228-2287.

Exhibit: Enduring the Seige of Sarajevo – Snapshots of Survival
2025-07-19 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402

Out on 5th
2025-07-19, 2025-07-20 | Oregon District, Fifth Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
What is Out on 5th?
Out on 5th is the street closure of Fifth Street in the Oregon District of downtown Dayton on weekends.
Closing down Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue every Friday night through Sunday evening allows
our business district to open up the street for guests to shop – dine – and relax in the open air.

Out on 5th gives restaurants and bars in the district room to expand patio seating into the streets.

Fifth Street is filled with public seating to allow guests room to spread out and enjoy the outdoors.

Retail shops can use extra sidewalk space in front of their business for sales. Looking to hold a retail pop-up? Apply here.

Local entertainment will be in the district every weekend to enhance the atmosphere. Looking to be an entertainer? Apply here.

When
Fridays 5 -10 p.m./ Saturdays noon – 10 p.m. / Sundays noon – 10 p.m.
Why
Shop, dine, and relax outdoors in the district
Where
In the Oregon District – Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue
Additional Information
Parking
Thousands of parking spaces on surface lots, parking garages, or metered side streets (free on weekends) surround the Oregon District.
During Out on 5th, please use the detour map at the bottom of this page to navigate around the street closures and into the parking lots.
Our Oregon District businesses kindly ask you to park in these lots, garages or public street spaces, and not in the residential neighborhood.

More info: https://www.theoregondistrict.org/outon5th

GREAT Miami Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge
2025-07-19 | Great Miami River
The 2025 GREAT Miami Riverway Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge June 13 – July 20, 2025 Hosted by the Great Miami Riverway, the 2025 GREAT Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge is a family-friendly, virtual fishing tournament. This is a catch and release tournament only. Anglers can fish anywhere on the Great Miami River. There is no better river for smallmouth bass fishing! Win prizes for your record catch. During the tournament, anglers will use the iAngler Tournament app to photograph their catch and record basic information while on the water. All Ohio fishing regulations apply. Unlimited number of fish entries. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the International Game Fish Association, we are able to offer FREE IGFA Digital Memberships* ($20 value per membership) for all registrants! Exclusive “Members Only” online access to: IGFA World Record database, Exclusive How-To & Historical Videos, World Record Game Fishes archives The monthly International Angler digital publication Members Only discounts on tackle, trips, charters and more from IGFA partners PRIZES TO BE ANNOUNCED! Read the Rules and Regulations below. Awards event date, time and location will be announced prior to the end of the tournament.

Heidi Brueckner and Jennifer Scheuer Exhibits
2025-07-19 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present work by Heidi Brueckner and Jennifer Scheuer in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and Works on Paper Gallery. Inspired by observing others as a way to understand ourselves, Brueckner creates intricate portraits filled with color, pattern, texture, and a variety of recycled materials. These works produce narratives which explore personage through self-presentation, facial expressions, and gesture. They inspect the under-revered and appreciate the subject’s presence and dignity, not only honoring the individual, but the earth and humanity as a whole. Scheuer addresses ideas of healing, the body, plants, and the history of medicine through printmaking. Much of her work responds to the historical idea of the Doctrine of Signatures, which suggests visual or sensory properties of plants correlate to healing properties. Additionally, she explores sequential imagery, narrative complexity, and play through artist books with their interactive, sculptural, and time-based qualities. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from July 1–August 9, 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.

Exhibit: Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon
2025-07-19 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon
July 12–September 14, 2025
A painter and educator, Curtis Barnes, Sr. was a longtime fixture of Dayton’s art scene. His bold, colorful, experimental paintings are a distinctive blend of naturalism and abstraction. They frequently include self-portraits and portraiture depicting the people in his life. His influence is still felt today among his students and in the African American Visual Arts Guild, which he co-founded with artist “Bing” Davis in 1992. He was recognized for his artistic contribution and presented with the “Paul Laurence Dunbar Humanitarian Award” in 1994 and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Ohio Arts Council in 2008.
This exhibition comes on the 90th anniversary of his birth and is a celebration of Barnes’ life and art. A DAI exclusive, this collection of works was drawn from his family and friends.

6888 Summer Marketplace
2025-07-19 08:00 - 17:00 | 6888 Kitchen Incuabator, 32 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The 6888 Kitchen Summer Marketplace returns for 2025! Join us on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays (June through August) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 32 S. Ludlow St. This event takes place rain or shine on the sidewalk outside of the 6888 Kitchen Incubator. Shop local, eat amazing food, and support local entrepreneurs We’ll see you out on Ludlow!

Columbus Iris Society Sale at the 2nd Street Market
2025-07-19 09:00 - 15:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Join us today for the annual Columbus Iris Society heirloom iris sale! Enjoy learning about numerous varieties of the iris or purchase a few plants to enhance your yard space from one of the oldest official iris societies in the United States. There will be an amazing grouping of heirloom Irises from the early 1900s.

Columbus Iris Society Sale
2025-07-19 09:00 - 15:00 | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Columbus Iris Society Sale
9:00am – 3:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Annual Columbus Iris Society heirloom iris sale! Enjoy learning about numerous varieties of the iris or purchase a few plants to enhance your yard space from one of the oldest official iris societies in the United States. There will be an amazing grouping of heirloom Irises from the early 1900’s.

Family Summer Film Series
2025-07-19 11:00 | THE NEON, United States
Dayton Metro Library has partnered with The Neon and ThinkTV PBS to host a free Family Summer Film Series on Saturday mornings at The Neon. Each screening will include a read-along video, a PBS Kids program, and an activity on The Neon’s patio.

Here’s the schedule:

June 14: Be My Neighbor: A Daniel Tiger Friendship Celebration, followed by a hands-on activity (Ages 2-4)
June 21: Carl the Collector, followed by creating collection jars (Ages 4-8)
June 28: Puppy Love: Tales of Tails, followed by visiting pups from Adopt-A-Pit (Families)
July 5: Dinosaur Adventures followed by digging for fossils and making dinosaur footprints (Ages 3-5)
July 12: Work it Out Wombats: Solving Problems Together, followed by making a whirligig (Ages 3-6)
July 19: The Wild Kratts: Wild Cats & Planet Heroes, followed by a visit from Five Rivers MetroParks and some of their special friends (Ages 6-8)

Doors to The Neon will open at 10:30 am each Saturday, with showtimes at 11 am. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Family Summer Film Series is sponsored by Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz and FLOC (For Love of Children).

The Neon is located at 130 E. 5th Street. Free ground-level parking is available across the street. For more information, visit neonmovies.com or DaytonMetroLibrary.org, or contact the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Chair Yoga
2025-07-19 11:00 - 12:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
CHAIR YOGA
Saturdays / 11 a-12 p / June 21 / July 19 / Aug 16
No experience necessary, bring your own mat. Led by Cynthia Brooks, Day Yoga Studio.

The Gothic Market
2025-07-19 12:00 - 17:00 | Dayton Convention Center, 22 East 5th Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Grimoire’s Gothic Market – Inspired by Pop-culture & classics like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Harry Potter, and American Horror Story, Our Goth & Witch Exhibition is a folklore-themed market & exhibition that works to bring together various aspects of witchcraft, Halloween, horror, tarot, folklore, renaissance, couture, supernatural, strange things, & metaphysical items (crystals, mediumship, reiki, psychics, candles, herbology, fairytales, fragrance, & professional businesses). This is a themed exhibition market. Halloween Witch Masquerade Market: because Grimoire is inspired by Halloween, we always encourage Costumes at this market, as well as beautiful crafted attire, linens, masquerade attire, or anything you’d like to wear on your experience. All things Gothic, Spooky, Victorian, or Ancient are encouraged (fashion & costumes are optional). In order to attend this event, you must have tickets in advance. Not only is it cheapest to get tickets earlier, but the option of buying tickets at the door is not allowed. Ticket prices will increase dramatically towards the event date, so why reserve later and pay more?

Slow Looking Tour
2025-07-19 12:30 - 13:15 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
SLOW LOOKING TOUR
Saturdays, 12:30 – 1:15 p / June 21 / July 19 / Aug 16
A guided experience reflecting on just a few selected artworks, focusing on deep engagement, mindfulness, and personal connection.

Exhibition Tour
2025-07-19 15:00 - 16:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
EXHIBITION TOURS
Saturdays, 3-4 p / June 21 / July 19 / Aug 16
Led by Heather Jones, Curator.

Declare Dayton
2025-07-19 15:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Declare Dayton
3:00pm – 7:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Declare Dayton is a celebration of community, faith and unity all across the Dayton region! Join us on July 19th for an evening of joy and family fun with food trucks and festivities from 3-5pm before a worship celebration under the tent from 5-7pm highlighting the diverse cultures and genres of our city. The bands will feature musicians from all across the Miami Valley as well as a city-wide gospel choir–all are invited to join in this celebration! Weather Dependent.

EV Me Out to the Ballgame
2025-07-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45402
Drive Electric Dayton (DED), a local non-profit organization promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Miami Valley, is gearing up for its fourth annual EV Me Out to the Ballgame, presented in partnership with the Dayton Dragons, on Saturday, July 19, at Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton.
From 5 to 7 p.m., a variety of EVs will be on display in Don Crawford Plaza, adjacent to Day Air Ballpark. Members of Drive Electric Dayton who own the EVs will be on hand to answer questions about their vehicles, as well as share their experiences driving, charging and maintaining electric vehicles. In 2024, nearly 50 electric vehicles took part in the event.
In conjunction with the event, specially priced tickets to that evening’s Dragons game against the Great Lakes Loons are available and may be purchased online at https://www.gofevo.com/event/Driveelectricdayton25. A portion of the proceeds from these ticket sales help fund Drive Electric Dayton’s education initiatives, ride-and-drive events, and community outreach events.
Drive Electric Dayton is also seeking EV owners to participate in EV Me Out to the Ballgame. Owners interested in displaying their vehicle at the event should contact DED President Rap Hankins at rap.hankins@driveelectricdayton.com or 937-239-7124 by July 12. EV owners participating in the event will receive two free tickets to that evening’s Dragons game.
“We’re excited to once again partner with the Dayton Dragons for this popular showcase event,” says Rap Hankins, President of Drive Electric Dayton. “This is an excellent way to learn more about electric vehicles and enjoy an evening out at one of Dayton’s premier attractions. Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the Miami Valley, and EVs offer a clean and sustainable alternative. Now more than ever, events like EV Me Out to the Ballgame help raise awareness about EVs and empower our community to make a positive impact.”
EV Me Out to the Ballgame is sponsored by the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC).
For more information about Drive Electric Dayton and EV Me Out to the Ballgame, visit www.driveelectricdayton.com or www.facebook.com/driveelectricdayton.

Josh Johnson: The Flowers Tour
2025-07-19 19:00, 2025-07-19 22:00 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
With nearly 4 million followers across his social media, Josh Johnson was recently called “the funniest guy on the internet” by WIRED and is a star on the rise. He is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. Johnson is currently a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program “The Daily Show” where he was previously a writer for the past seven years. Johnson is also a former writer and performer on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he made his late-night debut in 2017.
Johnson’s most recent stand-up special, “Josh Johnson: Up Here Killing Myself,” premiered on Peacock earlier this year to rave reviews touting Josh as a “naturally gifted story teller.” Comedy Central released Johnson’s first hour-long special “#(Hashtag)” in June 2021.
As a stand-up, Johnson headlines theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals around the world. He is also a prolific writer and performer who puts out weekly stand up sets on his YouTube channel. This year alone, Josh has released over 24 hours of stand up, and the content on his YouTube channel has been viewed over 140 million times by people all over the world.

Summer Band Series
2025-07-19 19:00 - 22:00 | OH
We’re happy to announce our 2025 Summer Band Series! Starting May 17th & going until September 20th, join us every Saturday night 7-10pm (excluding holiday weekends) for live music in the Biergarten. We’ve got something for everyone – Blues, Rock, Pop, and more! Looking forward to a great summer with you all!

Rock Night with George Balog
2025-07-19 19:00 - 23:00 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
George Balog is back behind the decks with an all-vinyl set of rock bangers. Air guitar free with every pint served. No cover, just vibes.
