Downtown Dayton Partnership

LUNG with Nick Kizirnis, Nervous Verbs, and Wujeria
2025-12-06 19:00 (America/New_York) | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
LUNG RETURNS TO DAYTON OHIO SATURDAY DECEMBER 6 AT YELLOW CAB TAVERN with special guests NICK KIZIRNIS, WUJERIA and NERVOUS VERBS Since their inception in Cincinnati in 2016, Lung has gained a cult-like following with their impeccable, candy-coated, melodies atop a whirring, chainsaw, thunderclap of cello and drums. Lung consists of Kate Wakefield, a classically trained opera singer and cellist, and former Foxy Shazam bassist Daisy Caplan on drums. Fierce, ethereal, and heavy as hell, Lung plays with the intensity of early grunge layered with sinister undertones. Described as “loud, dissonant, innovative, and fearless” (Fair Shakes and Just Dessert), Wakefield runs her cello through distortion pedals and big amps, while Caplan pounds out earthquaking beats on epic horn-shaped vintage drums. A relentless touring machine since 2016, Lung has played over 900 shows across North America and Europe, sharing bills with The Jesus Lizard, Dead Bob (ex NoMeansNo), Brainiac, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Guided By Voices, Screaming Females, Big Business, Chat Pile and so many more. The band’s fifth studio album, The Swankeeper, sees them continue to develop and expand their genre defying sound.

Deck the Diamond
2025-12-06 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-12-05 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.

Family Open Studio
2025-12-06 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.

Winter Wonderland at Rabbit Hole Books
2025-12-06 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Rabbit Hole Books, 27 W. First St., Dayton, OH, 45402
December 6, 14, & 20; 1-4 p.m.
Rabbit Hole Books, 27 W. First St.
Santa’s workshop is coming to downtown Dayton! Little ones are invited to shop for gifts in a kid-sized store, enjoy tasty holiday treats, and take a photo with the big man in red! 999-4092.

Special Interest Tour – Food Tour
2025-12-06 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Join us at the DAI for our Food Tour! Explore unique portrayals of food and the ways the world is connected through appetite. End your tour experience with a customized charcuterie board created by you! DAI’s Special Interest Tours are community tours with specialized themes! Explore the museum and make new connections! Invoke your creative spirit following the tour with a quick, make-and-take art activity. Sponsored by AES Ohio Foundation. $35 Non-Member Cost: $40 (18+ years). Register here: https://dai.ticketapp.org/portal/product/87/events

Saturday Community Tours
2025-12-06 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | 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
2025-12-06 11:00 - 16:00, 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!

Handmade Holiday
2025-12-06 11:00 - 16:00, 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
2025-12-06 11:00 - 16:00, 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.

Saturday Art Workshops
2025-12-06 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Family Movie Series
2025-12-06 11:00 (America/New_York) | THE NEON, United States
December 6, 13, & 20; 11 a.m.
THE NEON, 130 E. Fifth St.
Bring the family to THE NEON for fun, festive films. Free admission for kids 12 and under, $2 for adults.
Sponsored by Dayton Children’s and THE NEON
Scheduled Films:
December 6 – The Polar Express (with a pajama party!)
December 13 – Jingle All the Way
December 20 – A Year without Santa Claus

Titles subject to change – call theater for confirmation.

The CoSHOP Holiday Shopping
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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

Rike’s Holiday Windows
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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
2025-12-06 | 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

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

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.

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
