Downtown Dayton Partnership

Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice
2026-07-29, 2026-07-26, 2026-07-25 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
June 27–September 13, 2026, Gallery 120
William H. Johnson (1901–1970) painted the Fighters for Freedom series in the mid-1940s as tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers and performers as well as international leaders working to bring peace to the world. It was his last body of work. This landmark exhibition brings together—for the first time since 1946—34 paintings featured in the series, drawn from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). This nationally traveling exhibition is accompanied by a scholarly, full-color exhibition catalog.
Of the series, SAAM states: “The exhibition illuminates the extraordinary life and contributions of Johnson, an artist associated with the Harlem Renaissance but whose practice spanned several continents, as well as the contributions of historical figures he depicted. Some of his Fighters—Marian Anderson, George Washington Carver, Mohandas Gandhi, and Harriet Tubman—are familiar figures; others—Nannie Helen Burroughs and William Grant Still, among them—are less well-known individuals whose achievements have been eclipsed over time. Johnson celebrates their accomplishments even as he acknowledges the realities of racism, oppression and sometimes violence they faced and overcame. Johnson clues viewers to significant episodes in the Fighters lives by punctuating each portrait with tiny buildings, flags and vignettes that give insight into their stories. Using a colorful palette to create evocative scenes and craft important narratives, he suggests that the pursuit of freedom is an ongoing, interconnected struggle, with moments of both triumph and tragedy.”

Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi
2026-07-29, 2026-07-25 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
June 12-September 12, 2026
Threads of History: Quilts by Carolyn Mazloomi is a landmark solo exhibition by award-winning artist, historian, and curator Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. Now an octogenarian, Mazloomi remains one of the most visionary leaders in contemporary quilting, widely recognized for her lifelong efforts to elevate African American quilt traditions. Her striking black-and-white quilts memorialize the lives and legacies of African American freedom fighters, capturing resilience, resistance, and remembrance through bold imagery and layered narrative. Originally trained as an aerospace engineer, Mazloomi shifted her focus in the 1980s to advocate for African American quilt artists whose contributions had long been marginalized. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and the founding of the Women of Color Quilters Network, she has transformed the cultural landscape, bringing international recognition to quilting as both fine art and historical record. Her extraordinary impact has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a United States Artists Fellowship, and an American Craft Council Honorary Fellowship. Her work is held in major collections, including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Folk Art Museum. Opening Reception: June 12, 2026, 6-8 p.m.

Karaoke with Zane
2026-07-28 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Yellow Cab Tavern Karaoke is BACK every Tuesday at 8pm with MC Zane Gerlach!
Entry is always free!
With a catalog of over 60,000 songs, we have your favorites to sing…and if we don’t, we’ll do everything we can to get it for you!
Get your friends and family together and we’ll see you on Tuesday nights at The Yellow Cab Tavern!

Karaoke
2026-07-28 19:00 - 23:00 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Tuesdays – Karaoke with @raineyday.entertainment – $5 off full draft flights until 9 p.m.

Community Fitness: Tai Chi & Qigong at the River
2026-07-28 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Offered by Immortal Tree Qigong. Each hour-long Tai Chi & Qigong session will start with breathing exercises, warm up, and gentle movements. You will then be guided through flowing movements that are part of the Tai Chi 24 form mixed with short standing meditations. We will end with a slightly longer guided standing (or sitting) meditation. This should leave a few minutes to answer questions or discuss any insights. Qigong and Tai Chi don’t require any special skills (other than breathing) or equipment (other than your body).

Artist in Training (AIT) Program
2026-07-28 15:00 - 18:00, 2026-07-27 15:00 - 18:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
After school Artist in Training program geared for grades 3rd-12th grades. Classes are Monday-Wednesdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Open Studio time to explore different types of mediums such as Drawing, Painting, Clay, Digital Art. 20.00 per session for Members/40.00 per session for Non-Members.

CURIO at Courthouse Square
2026-07-28 12:00 - 14:00 | Courthouse Square, Third & Main Streets, Dayton, OH, 45422, USA
Free entertainment in the heart of downtown
Throughout the summer months, fun, out-of-the-box entertainment can be found on Courthouse Square, with CURIO serving as the hub of community, connection, and collaboration!
Big ideas can come in small packages, and CURIO is the first step in a larger, longer-term plan to revitalize Courthouse Square. This shipping container transformed into an event hub has been combined with fun outdoor seating and other touches to create downtown’s newest summer hotspot!
FIND THE CALENDAR OF SCHEDULED ENTERTAINMENT HERE:
https://downtowndayton.org/things-to-do/curio/#schedule
Bring your friends and coworkers for a midday break outside!
CURIO features free lunchtime entertainment from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week during the summer months.
Food vendors also set up on Courthouse Square each weekday, allowing downtown workers and others to grab lunch from a vendor or a downtown restaurant and take in the entertainment while enjoying the outdoors downtown.
Be sure to “Like” CURIO at Courthouse Square on Facebook to get the latest updates on upcoming entertainment and more. You can also request to receive regular emails about what’s planned for CURIO.
If you are interested in performing on the Square or would like more information about CURIO, email events@downtowndayton.org.
CURIO at Courthouse Square is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, with support from Montgomery County.

Liz Quay, Jayne Struble, and Kathy McGhee Art Exhibits
2026-07-28, 2026-07-27, 2026-07-25 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present “Marks & Stitches” by Liz Quay & Jayne Struble in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery along with “Printed Landscapes” by Kathy McGhee in the Works on Paper Gallery. Through the collaborative lens of “Marks & Stitches” Struble and Quay delve into the connections found in nature and the human body. Their collaboration is an exploration of the invisible ties that bind humanity together and highlight the beauty of interconnectedness. Struble’s graphite drawings of the landscape investigate the way visual artifacts, such as images, are a tangible yet fragile representation of one’s memories, while Quay explores the tension and stagnation that is generated through managing emotional balance through fiber art and experimental sculpture. McGhee’s “Printed Landscapes” utilizes a variety of printmaking techniques to capture intimate moments of beauty in the landscape and explore the relationships between plants and the places they exist. She is inspired not only by the experience of being in nature but also by the visual patterns created through line, texture, and color as organisms naturally coexist. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from July 6–August 14, 2026. Galleries are located on the fourth floor of building 13 (located at West Fifth and South 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.

Community Fitness: Trailblazers HIIT & Run
2026-07-27 19:30 - 20:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Summer activities that make your body happy and healthy. Led by Fire Flame Fitness, this HIIT workout class is for everyone, including beginners and low impact participants. Come as you are! Be prepared to walk/jog after class.

Community Fitness: Bootcamp
2026-07-27 18:00 - 19:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join The Unit for an exciting bootcamp workout that will take you through RiverScape in a whole new way. Whether you’re running the stairs, doing push ups near the reflecting pools, or stretching along the levee, this effective workout will keep you moving. Combined with the uplifting support of the community members that make up The Unit, this is a workout you will want to make part of your weekly routine. All fitness levels welcome and encouraged!

Community Gardening at Cooper Park
2026-07-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Cooper Park
Hang with your neighbors at the Cooper Park Community Garden (behind the downtown library) as we weed, admire the native flowers, pick vegetables, water, and do other gardening tasks as needed throughout the season. All skill and ability levels are welcome! Contribute what you can and take what you need.

Community Fitness: BootyMix
2026-07-27 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Learn to love the raw, unedited version of yourself through dance fitness. BootyMix is a mixture of booty-centric experiences that make you feel alive and give you the confidence to take back your life through community, movement, and music. When you walk out of class, you’ll feel more connected to your body, more confident in your worth, and ready to take on the world like the unstoppable force you are!

Dayton Dragons vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels
2026-07-26 13:05, 2026-07-25 19:05, 2026-07-24 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.

Vinyl Vinyl Sundays
2026-07-26 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Sunday – Vinyl Vinyl Sunday – bring your records, we’ll play ’em

35th Anniversary Open House
2026-07-25 14:00 - 16:00 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Come celebrate 35 years of The Contemporary Dayton with a relaxed open house for friends, artists, and neighbors. We’ll have sheet cake, plenty of conversation, and a chance to reflect on the creative community that has grown here over the years. The afternoon will also mark the quiet beginning of 35 Forward, an endowment effort to help ensure that contemporary art and freedom of expression continue to thrive in Dayton. FREE and open to all.

Family Summer Film Fest
2026-07-25 11:00 | THE NEON, United States
Dayton Metro Library, The NEON, and ThinkTV have partnered again to host the Family Summer Film Fest at The NEON. Families can listen to free stories, watch select PBS Kids shows, and participate in activities. Doors open at 10:30 am, shows begin at 11 am, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Schedule:
June 13
You Can Be A Helper: Listen to a reading of Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling, then watch Daniel Tiger learn that it’s a good feeling to be a helper.
June 20: Use Your Observation Powers
Listen to a reading of A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel, then explore the powers of observation and perspective with weather hunters.
June 27: Caring for Pets
Listen to a reading of Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, then learn about caring for pets with Lyla in the Loops and meet puppies from Adopt-A-Pit.
July 11: Let’s Be Friends
Listen to a reading of Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, then share the joy as surprising connections blossom into meaningful friendships with Carl the Collector.
July 18: Better Together
Listen to a reading of Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry, then follow fraternal twins Phoebe and Jay as they model family, community, and friendship.
July 25: Wild Animals!
Learn about different kinds of birds with The Wild Kratts, then visit with friends from Glen Helen Raptor Center.
The NEON is located at 130 E. 5th Street in downtown Dayton. Free ground-level parking is located across the street from the cinema’s front doors. The Family Summer Film Fest is sponsored by Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz and FLOC (For Love of Children), with additional support from Montgomery County. For more information, visit neonmovies.com/family-summer-film-fest-2026 or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Summer Band Series
2026-07-25 08:00 - 17:00 | The Dayton Beer Company, 41 Madison St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join us for some summer fun with bands in the Biergarten every other Saturday all summer long!
Bi Weekly Saturdays from May – September 7-10pm
5/16: Different and the Same
6/13: The Wayward J
6/27: Ethan Timm
7/11: The Bowl Cuts
7/25: Ollie’s Acoustic Jam
8/8: Different and the Same
8/22: Ben & Pete
9/12: The Bowl Cuts
9/19: No Refunds
9/26: Chris Yakopcic

Exhibit: Our Fire Is Stronger Than Your Bombs
2026-07-25 | The International Peace Museum, 10 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war continues until now, ruining the lives of millions of people and uprooting the principles of civilized life as we know it. The goal of the exhibition is to raise awareness of the war still raging in the heart of Europe. Our exhibit showcases some of the brilliant artworks of contemporary Ukrainian illustrators living and working in Ukraine, sometimes, with no power, water, cell signal, or Internet connection. Many of them have long collaborated with global media, in particular The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Zeit, Adweek, and other outlets. The 25 posters on display have been created by 9 emerging and well-established illustrators since the start of the full-scale invasion. A poster, as a form of fine art blending imagery and text, is a convenient and iconic statement, a means of rapid, shareable response to the urgent events and personal emotions they trigger. In the context of the massive information war, illustrators have become the voices of the art community, and their activism adds tangible strength to the ‘cultural troops’ who fight propaganda every day, broadcasting facts through artistic images and defending the truth as eyewitnesses.

Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy
2026-07-25 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Niki Johnson: Pillars of Democracy, a series of four large-scale collaged portraits envisioning Liberty, Justice, Freedom, and Forward as first-time voters from Milwaukee. Set across Wisconsin landscapes at dawn, midday, dusk, and night, the works reflect how democratic values are lived, protected, and renewed at the local level.
Constructed from discarded stencil paper and leftover spray paint collected during the 2020 installation of Shepard Fairey’s Voting Rights Are Human Rights mural, the series bridges more than a century of voting rights activism through both material and design. Inspired in part by Bertha Boyd’s 1911 suffrage poster Votes for Women, the works foreground the central role of women in democracy, from early suffragists to first-time voters today, uniting generations through civic participation and creative resistance.
Built collaboratively over ten months with the support of Milwaukee artists and community volunteers, Pillars of Democracy reminds us that democracy is not abstract, but rather something we actively build, sustain, and strengthen through everyday acts of participation, dialogue, and collective care.
Presented during The Contemporary Dayton’s 35th anniversary season, the exhibition reflects our ongoing commitment to freedom of expression and to creating space for artistic inquiry, civic engagement, and public dialogue.
Johnson is a Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of the Forward Art Initiative. She earned her BFA from the University of Memphis and her MA/MFA in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work is included in the collection of the Dayton Art Institute and has been reviewed in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, Hyperallergic, and Vice Magazine.

OPENING NIGHT / Wednesday, July 1
Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm
Public Reception: 6-8 pm
Artist Talk: 6:30 pm

Friday Night Karaoke at Two Social
2026-07-24 22:00 | Two Social, 123 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The weekend just got louder — step into the spotlight at Two Social’s Friday Night Karaoke, Dayton’s best late-night sing-along happening every single week in the heart of downtown. Every Friday night, DJ Blake from Limelight Entertainment transforms Two Social into Dayton’s premier karaoke destination. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or finally working up the nerve to take the mic, the professional sound system and massive song library make sure you always sound your best. Pick your song, put your name on the list, and let the night take it from there. Key Details: – When: Every Friday night – Time: 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM – Where: Two Social, 123 E 3rd Street, Downtown Dayton, OH 45402 – Cost: FREE — no cover charge – Host: DJ Blake / Limelight Entertainment – Age: 21+ after 9:00 PM (valid ID required) – Includes: Professional sound system, massive song library, full bar, late-night arcade How to Attend: No reservations needed — just show up! Tables and bar seating are first-come, first-served. Arrive early if you want to throw axes (lanes close at 10:00 PM when karaoke begins). To book an axe throwing lane before the show, visit 2socialdayton.com. Frequently Asked Questions: Q: Is there a cover charge? A: Nope! Friday Night Karaoke is completely free to attend. Q: Do I need a reservation? A: No reservations needed for karaoke. Just walk in, grab a drink, and put your name on the list with DJ Blake. Q: Is this event 21+? A: Two Social is 21+ after 9:00 PM on Friday nights. Please bring a valid ID. Q: What time does karaoke start? A: Karaoke kicks off at 10:00 PM and runs until 1:00 AM. Q: Can I throw axes and do karaoke on the same night? A: Yes! Axe throwing lanes are open until 10:00 PM. We recommend booking an 8:00 or 8:30 PM lane so you finish right as the party heats up. Q: What kind of songs are available? A: DJ Blake has a massive library spanning classic rock, pop, country, hip-hop, and more. If you can think of it, chances are it’s on the list. Come out this Friday and take the mic — no reservations, no cover, just great vibes in downtown Dayton. https://www.2socialdayton.com/events/karaoke-night

Camp DNA Showcase
2026-07-24 18:00 - 20:00 | The Human Race Theatre Company, 126 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
The Human Race Theatre Company Event Description: Showcase/performance for The Human Race Theatre Company’s inaugural high school theatre camp. Open to the public and completely free! Come see the fantastic work of these young artists!

Downtown Dayton Historic Walking Tours
2026-07-24 17:30 | Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Explore and learn about the diverse selection of retail, industrial, entertainment, and residential sites on this guided walking tour of Downtown Dayton. 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. Reservations are required to attend. Tickets: https://www.preservationdayton.com/downtown_tours.html
