Downtown Dayton Partnership

Happy Hour Paint-In
2025-01-03 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Join a Happy Hour Paint-In! Artists 21+ are welcome to bring their own drinks to enjoy while they do a still-live study in an Impressionist style! $30 per artist. Sessions run 4-6p and 6-8p. Guests must RSVP and pay in advance at 937-461-5149

First Friday
2025-01-03 17:00 - 21:00 | 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.

First Friday at Front Street
2025-01-03 17:00 - 21:00 | Front Street Galleries, 1001 E. Second St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Enjoy an evening of live music, food trucks, studio and gallery hopping, shopping, and more! It is always free to attend and park at our art hops. We are a family and pet-friendly community. With artwork and handmade goods from more than 250 artists, you’re going to want to get here early!

Swiftie! Theme Skate
2025-01-03 19:00 - 22:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Swiftie! Theme Skate
7:00pm – 10:00pm
AGE: All ages | $10.00
Swifties? We never go out of style! Grab your friends, hit the ice and sing along to all your favorite Taylor Swift songs at the MetroParks Ice Rink. Tell everyone you know, by the way, I’m going out tonight! The RiverScape Cafe will be open and skaters can also relax in our heated comfort tent. Skate admission is $7 and skate rental is $3. Thanks to our Access to Nature Program, residents who receive SNAP/EBT can simply show their card to the rental attendant to receive 75% off admission and skate rental. Weather Dependent.

Comedy Night
2025-01-03 19:30 | Gather by Ghostight, 37 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
It’s comedy night at the gallery! See The Gem City Comedy showcase at 7:30 p.m.! Hosted by Mike Shea and featuring Brent Bowser, Chris Karwoski, Ali Augusta, and Nick Osman. $10 Presale tickets are available online and $15 tickets are available at the door.

The Gem City Comedy Showcase
2025-01-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Gather by Ghostight, 37 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
It’s comedy night at the Dana L. Wiley gallery in Gather by Ghostlight!
Hosted by Mike Shea and featuring Brent Bowser, Chris Karwoski, Ali Augusta, and Nick Osman. $10 Presale tickets are available online and $15 tickets are available at the door. Show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Exhibits: Merry Grinchmas: Art of Dr. Seuss’ Holiday Classic & (B)ART! America’s Funniest Animated Family
2025-01-04, 2025-01-05 | 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.

Polar Bear Express
2025-01-04, 2025-01-05, 2025-01-06, 2025-01-07 | Downtown Dayton
Thru Feb. 28 • Polar Bear Express
Routes throughout downtown; call for dates, times, and cost.
Book a ride aboard the abominably decorated Pedal Wagon for a 2-hour pedaling adventure through the festive streets of Dayton and to the best bars and restaurants. Reservations required. pedalwagon.com/dayton. 388-3006.

Holly Jolly Social: A Holiday Pop-Up Experience
2025-01-04, 2025-01-05, 2025-01-06 | Two Social, 123 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Get ready to celebrate the season at Holly Jolly Social! We’re decking the halls and transforming Two Social into a festive haven with cheerful décor, seasonal cocktails, and plenty of holiday spirit. Join us for a cozy and merry time this holiday season! (11/8-1/12)

Ice Skating
2025-01-04, 2025-01-05, 2025-01-06 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Sheltered under the covered pavilion, the MetroParks Ice Rink sets the scene as a perfect winter wonderland in downtown Dayton. While the rink is open, you can enjoy delicious treats from the concession area, including a cup of hot chocolate. Take advantage of fun skating activities, such as lessons, themed skating nights and more. Visit metroparks.org/ice-rink to learn more, find daily open hours, and see a schedule of events. Admission: $7 daily, ice skate rental: $3 daily. Season passes available. Ages 3 and under are free with a paying adult. 278-2607.

Winter Gift Gallery (Local Artist Nook)
2025-01-04 11:00 - 13:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Dec. 1-23 • Winter Gift Gallery (Local Artist Nook)
K12 Gallery for Young People & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St.;
Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Artists will showcase paintings, ceramics, blown glass, prints, and
jewelry for sale. k12tejasgallery.org.

OEchella
2025-01-04 17:00, 2025-01-05 16:00 | Oregon Express, 336 E. 5th Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, USA
This multi genre, two day music fest will be held on January 3rd & 4th, 2025. With a line up filled with everything from Punk, Southern Rock, Hip Hop, Grindcore, Death Metal, Electronic; there is something to offer for everyone!

The Motortown All-Stars
2025-01-04 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Direct from Detroit – and featuring former members of The Capitols, The Miracles, and The Temptations – The Motortown All-Stars stop in Dayton for a night jam-packed with timeless Motown grooves, impeccable harmonies, and dazzling choreography. The All-Stars perform hits by The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more, with the unmistakable Motown sound that has inspired us since the 1950s.

Learn to Ice Skate! Children’s Course
2025-01-05 11:00 - 11:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Learn to Ice Skate! Children’s Course
11:00am – 11:30am
AGE: 5-8 | $50.00
This program will teach you ice skating skills, include skating forward and backward edges on a circle, three-turns, backward stops, bunny hop, lunges, and front and back crossovers! The registration fee includes use of skates and lessons on January 5, 12, and 19, with a potential makeup date on January 26. Please arrive 15 minutes early to prepare for the lesson. Weather Dependent.

Learn to Ice Skate! Youth Course
2025-01-05 11:40 - 12:10 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Learn to Ice Skate! Youth Course
11:40am – 12:10pm
AGE: 9-13 | $50.00
This program will teach you ice skating skills, include skating forward and backward edges on a circle, three-turns, backward stops, bunny hop, lunges, and front and back crossovers! The registration fee includes use of skates and lessons on January 5, 12, and 19, with a potential makeup date on January 26. Please arrive 15 minutes early to prepare for the lesson. Weather Dependent.

Learn to Ice Skate! Teen/Adult Course
2025-01-05 12:20 - 12:50 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Learn to Ice Skate! Teen/Adult Course
12:20pm – 12:50pm
AGE: 14 and up | $50.00
This program will teach you ice skating skills, include skating forward and backward edges on a circle, three-turns, backward stops, bunny hop, lunges, and front and back crossovers! The registration fee includes use of skates and lessons on January 5, 12, and 19, with a potential makeup date on January 26. Please arrive 15 minutes early to prepare for the lesson. Weather Dependent.

Family Skate Day
2025-01-05 13:00 - 17:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Family Skate Day
1:00pm – 5:00pm
AGE: All ages | $10.00
Enjoy child-friendly music and activities that will make you feel like you’re part of the family. The RiverScape Cafe will be open (serving hot chocolate for the kids) and skaters can also relax in our heated comfort tent where we will have crafts and activities. Skate admission is $7 and skate rental is $3. Ages three and under skate free with the purchase of an adult admission. Thanks to our Access to Nature Program, residents who receive SNAP/EBT can simply show their card to the rental attendant to receive 75% off admission and skate rental. Weather Dependent.

Paint-A-Park
2025-01-05 14:00 - 17:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Part of Paint-A-Park series
Paint-A-Park
2:00pm – 5:00pm
AGE: All ages | FREE
Jack Frost is nipping at our noses but there is still fun to be had outdoors. Come join us at the Riverscape ice rink for a cheerful afternoon of making art! Supplies will be loaned on sight for you to create with and at the end of the program all participants will be given the opportunity to share their art work on our digital gallery. Weather Dependent.

Photographer Vincent J. Musi: Where The Wild Things Are
2025-01-05 15:00 | Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
In this enlightening talk, Vincent shares highlights from more than 30 years traveling the world for National Geographic, documenting a changing planet – from close to home, to along the iconic Route 66, to what it’s like to live at the base of a volcano, to ancient Sicilian mummies. One story that captured his heart took readers “Inside Animal Minds” (National Geographic cover story, March 2008) and included a deep study of birds, apes, dolphins, and dogs, revealing a wide range of emotions and communication skills. With his trademark dry humor, Vincent takes us into the world of animal cognition and on a tour of some of the world’s most unusual pets, including a hilarious romp through his The Year Of The Dogs project. You may never look at man’s best friend the same way again!
Since 1993, Vincent J. Musi has been a regular contributor to National Geographic, covering a vast range of subjects from the Texas Hill Country to the legendary Route 66, to the ancient crypts of Sicily and life at the base of volcanoes. A specialist in animal portraits, his recent work includes projects on domestication, intelligence and cognition. When Vincent’s work shifted from documenting the world to photographing animals, he knew he was in over his head and feared it would end his career. He’s still unsure, as he works with subjects who routinely growl, bark, roar, bite, hiss, claw, poop, or pee… on him. When the world got smaller during COVID, Vincent and his wife, former White House Photographer Callie Shell, created the Unleashed Studio, where he taps into his inner Dr. Dolittle to capture unique dog portraits. As a way to amuse himself (and us), Vince imagines the inner lives of his subjects and shares often side-splitting and sometimes poignant life stories from their perspective. The weekly Instagram series, which grew into a book – initially planned to last one year – is called The Year Of The Dogs. The project and posts went viral and the world won’t let him end it. Vincent believes that everything we learn about animals teaches us everything we don’t know about ourselves.

Erica Keener and Emily Moores Exhibit Artwork at Sinclair Community College
2025-01-06 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present works by Erica Keener in the Works on Paper Gallery and Emily Moores in the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery. Erica Keener is exhibiting a collection of paintings made from pastels. Looking to the ordinary and her everyday surroundings, Keener focuses on observing the extraordinary. Her works often feature the sky, landscapes, and other natural beauty, which she hopes the viewer will find a connection to something larger than themselves. Emily Moores’s large scale collage-style installation features everyday materials like paper, fabric, and plastic. Her bright colors and varied textures create a whimsical space for viewers to experience feelings of joy and play as well as centering them in their physical space. There will be a virtual artist talk via Zoom on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 12pm. Visit www.sinclair.edu/artgalleries for details. The exhibitions will be on display from January 6–February 5, 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.

First Degree Mistletoe
2025-01-06 19:00 | Spaghetti Warehouse, 36 W. Fifth St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Holidays can be killer, especially for Detective Garnet Frost. She follows a trail of puzzles to solve what happened to her beloved Aunt Coco. The townspeople of Mistletoe, so named because of all the bushes that grow in the area, seem to be hiding something. Join the cast of First-Degree Mistletoe at the Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown Dayton. Mayhem & Mystery performs Monday evenings at 7:00 PM through January 27, 2025. Additional performances added on Wednesday, December 11 and Friday, December 27, 2024, and January 24, 2025. Three-course dinner and interactive mystery show only $39.95 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Call 937-461-3913 to make reservations.
