Downtown Dayton Partnership

Members’ Spotlight: Lori Daugherty: Bold Whispers
2025-12-04 | 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.

Holiday Greenery Crafting
2025-11-06 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!

Sinclair Theatre presents ‘Twas: A Holiday Musical
2025-12-11 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Blair Hall Theatre – Sinclair, 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Sinclair Theatre is proud to present ‘Twas: A Holiday Musical, live on stage for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, December 11-14, in Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2, on Sinclair’s downtown Dayton campus.
Tickets are $10 and are available online at  www.sinclair.edu/tickets. Groups of 20 or more ordering online save all ticketing fees.
Every performance will be interpreted by American Sign Language (ASL) shadow performers.
When the family pets are left alone on Christmas Eve, they are visited by the neighborhood animals who teach them that humans celebrate winter holidays in different ways. They learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and La Posada and discover that while humans have different traditions, ultimately all celebrations are about love and togetherness.
“This production is the result of a lovely collaboration between Sinclair’s Theatre department and Interpreter Education department,” says director Kelsey Celek. “In the same way the play’s characters share their traditions and cultures, these departments are sharing their skills and resources. The result will be a true celebration of community, both on stage and off.”
The cast consists of Ryan Ford, Ryan Hester, William Finnell, Cormari Pullings, Jhoana Novelo, Adalia Gaynier, Tiffany Higgins, Zella Younce, Lucas Caldwell, and Laura Fuentes and featuring ASL shadow performers Tyrone Newsome, Liza Throne, Calli Diehl, Cheyenne “Chey” Reumann, and Hailey Mount.
Where: Sinclair Community College, Blair Hall Theatre (Building 2), 444 W. Third St., Dayton Ticket Information: $10 plus $2 service fee. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.sinclair.edu/tickets
Photo Credit: Scottie Jackson

Holiday Magic at the Market
2025-12-11 15:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
The Market will open for an evening of Holiday shopping and entertainment this Thursday evening. Roaming carolers, special artisans and all your favorite Market vendors will be bringing a little holiday magic to the evening. The Market will be partnering with the Arcade for their Holly Days event with free RTA buses going back and forth to both locations all evening for even more holiday fun.

Holly Days
2025-12-10 15:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The fifth annual Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio & Dayton Daily News returns on Wednesday 12/10, Thursday 12/11, and Friday 12/12 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM. This annual three-day event in the Arcade’s event spaces will feature holiday shopping from over 50 small business vendors, dining at food trucks and restaurants, live entertainment, family-friendly activities and performances, cash bars, and holiday surprises. More information, including a full vendor list and entertainment schedule, can be found at arcadedayton.com.

“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News” will welcome visitors from around the region to the historic Dayton Arcade complex for the fifth consecutive year this December 10, 11, & 12, 2025. Organized by Friends of the Dayton Arcade and Cross Street Partners, the Dayton Arcade will host an artisan market featuring holiday shopping from over 50 vendors spread throughout the Rotunda, Tank, and North Arcade event spaces. The Contemporary Dayton will have its CoSHOP available, featuring a rotating selection of items curated by their team of art lovers, historians, book nerds, and décor enthusiasts. Come hungry! The Arcade complex’s full-service restaurants, Lucho at 37 W. Fourth Street, Table 33 at 45 W. Fourth Street, and the Garden Grille & Bar at 18 W. Third St. will be open for happy hour, dinner, and drinks during Holly Days at the Arcade. Members of the 6888 Kitchen will be serving a diverse menu from the Kitchen’s Rotunda entrance during the event, and food trucks will line Fourth Street near the Rotunda’s entrance. Cash bars will also be available throughout the Arcade. Live holiday entertainment will also be a highlight, with local performing arts groups set to perform in the Arcade’s Rotunda and Tank stages. Daily holiday character entertainment from Fairy Godmother Events will delight kids of all ages. Building on Holly Days at the Arcade’s history of giving back, the event will host a food drive benefiting Miami Valley Meals, an organization that creates free chef-prepared meals in bulk for distribution through organizations that serve those experiencing food insecurity in Dayton. Donations will be accepted in the Rotunda concourse during all three days of Holly Days at the Arcade, and a full list of suggested items will be provided on the Dayton Arcade’s website and social media pages. Miami Valley Meals will also be offering a donation-based gift wrapping service during the event on Thursday, December 11. This year, Holly Days at the Arcade is partnering with Waste Free Dayton to make the event more sustainable, helping reduce waste and promote eco-friendly practices throughout the three-day holiday celebration.
New this year, the Greater Dayton RTA will expand its free holiday shuttle service to all three days of Holly Days (Wednesday, December 10 through Friday, December 12), connecting visitors to several of downtown Dayton’s festive destinations. The shuttle will run from 3:00 to 8:00 PM with additional stops at the Oregon District Garage on Fifth Street and at Patterson and Monument Avenue, offering convenient access to Deck the Diamond at Day Air Ballpark and MetroParks Ice Rink at RiverScape. For the third year, Holly Days at the Arcade is partnering with Five Rivers MetroParks’ “Sunset at the Market” at 2nd Street Market event to create a comprehensive downtown holiday shopping experience on Thursday, December 11. The RTA shuttle will add a stop at 2nd Street Market on Thursday ONLY. Guests can pick up a holiday punch card from volunteers at both the Arcade and 2nd Street Market during Holly Days, make a purchase at each location, and enter a completed card for a chance to win a prize basket filled with locally made goods donated by area vendors. “Holly Days at the Arcade is the epitome of community and culture, bringing together some of Dayton’s incredible talent in the fields of entertainment and cuisine, as well as locally owned businesses and artisans,” said Samantha Hughes, owner of Riley Street Merchants and Holly Days vendor. “Spanning three days where the spirit of the holiday season shines all the brighter, Holly Days is an event where memories are made in this iconic destination – and as always, being a part of the experience is an honor for vendors like me and guests alike.” “Holly Days continues to grow and transform into something truly special. This year, I’m excited for guests to experience the North Arcade retail marketplace through the opening of the Arcade’s Third Street entrance,” said Megan Dunn Peters, Marketing and Community Partnerships Manager for Cross Street Partners. “From discovering unique gifts at local vendor booths to enjoying live entertainment and celebrating the season with friends and family, the Dayton Arcade offers a holiday experience like no other. We’re thankful to our title sponsors, AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News, along with our many community partners, for helping make Holly Days at the Arcade a magical celebration for both Dayton residents and visitors from across the region.”
“Holly Days at the Arcade Presented by AES Ohio and Dayton Daily News”
Dates: Wednesday, December 10, Thursday, December 11, and Friday, December 12
Times: 3:00 – 8:00 PM daily
Location: The Arcade’s entrances at 35 W. Fourth St., 24 W. Third St., and 31 S. Main St.
Cost: Free & open to the public
For More: arcadedayton.com or the Dayton Arcade’s social media pages.
MEDIA CONTACT
Megan Dunn Peters
Marketing & Community Partnership Manager
mdunn@crossstpartners.com
937.657.3810
The vendor application has closed for this event. Interested vendors can email events@arcadedayton.com to receive information about future opportunities.
Presenting Sponsors: AES Ohio, Dayton Daily News Supporting Partners: Greater Dayton RTA, Legacy Event Group, iHeart Media, SpeedPro Dayton, Universal 1 Credit Union, & WYSO Public Radio

Holiday Magic
2025-12-11 15:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
Holiday Magic
3:00pm – 8:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
The Market will open for an evening of Holiday shopping and entertainment this Thursday evening. Roaming carolers, special artisans and all your favorite Market vendors will be bringing a little holiday magic to the evening. The Market will be partnering with the Arcade for their Holly Days event with free RTA buses going back and forth to both locations all evening for even more holiday fun.

Bring Your Own Comic Book Club
2025-12-11 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Bring Your Own Comic Book Club, Thursday, December 11, 4-5 pm, Conference Room 1B, Teen Edge: Teens are welcome to bring what they are currently reading to share. Registration required.

Business Finance and Tax Prep Workshop
2025-12-11 16:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Business Finance and Tax Prep Workshop, Thursday, December 11, 4:30-6:30 pm, Main Library, Opportunity Center: Learn how to track business financial statements and prepare for filing business taxes. Includes time for Q&A. Registration required.

Color Me Calm: Holiday Bookmarks
2025-12-11 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Color Me Calm: Holiday Bookmarks, 5:30-6:30 pm, Main Library, Conference Room 1A: Color holiday-themed pages while relaxing to music. Adults

Community Workshop – Flourish and Flow: An Oil Painting Journey
2025-04-10 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Our artist-led workshops are designed to make community connections between our guests, local artists, and The Dayton Art Institute through conversation and artmaking. Flourish and Flow: An Oil Painting Journey Date: Thursdays, April 10, 17 and 24, and May 1 and 8 – 5:30–7:30 p.m Cost: $100 for museum members; $125 for non-members Ages: 18+ In this multi-session workshop series, local artist Jamaal Durr leads participants through an exploration of the fundamentals of oil painting. Sessions will focus on layering, blending, and texture while developing skills through the creation of personalized artwork featuring birth flowers. Jamaal Durr, a Contemporary Artist, is recognized for his figurative works that intimately blend reality and the surreal. Using materials like oil paint, charcoal, and graphite, he explores themes of identity and self-reflection through his timely narratives. Jamaal has expanded his capacity within the realm of Art, having also gained experience as a Curator, Teacher, and Muralist. Jamaal is primarily self-taught, having only received a couple of years of formal training at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, OH and a brief stint studying architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

Deck the Diamond
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Karaoke
2025-05-08 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-30 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-01 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-15 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-01-30 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-02-13 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-16 18:30 - 21:30, 2025-05-22 18:30 - 21:30 (America/Detroit) and 10 more dates | OH
Join us for Karaoke Thursdays at The Dayton Beer Company, hosted by Limelight Entertainment from 6:30 p.m.-9:30p.m. Cheers!
