Downtown Dayton Partnership

Introduction to Tai Chi
2026-05-06 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Experience the traditional art of Tai Chi in the beautiful setting of The Dayton Woman’s Club ballroom, led by Tara Mar, Certified Lai Tung Pai Style Instructor.
Often described as “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi Chuan integrates mind, body, and spirit through slow, intentional movement. This gentle yet effective practice builds strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance using low-impact exercise sequences designed to support overall well-being.
This class is especially well-suited for seniors and anyone seeking improved balance, focus, and mobility in a welcoming and supportive environment. Chairs or stools will be available for participants who would like added balance support.
Tai Chi has gained worldwide recognition for its proven physical and mental benefits. Participants often leave class feeling centered, steady, and refreshed.
The Dayton Woman’s Club is open to the general public. Our venue is fully accessible with a ramp entrance.

Summer Thrills at the Donor Center: Donate blood for Kings Island Tickets
2026-05-06, 2026-05-05, 2026-05-04 | Versiti, 349 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Start the summer with a thrill! Donate blood May 4-9 in our Dayton Donor Center (349 S. Main Street) to get 1 FREE ticket to Kings Island amusement park as our thank you. But act fast – these tickets are limited, while supplies last! Donors may choose instead a $15 Kroger gift card if not interested in a Kings Island ticket. Don’t miss out on the fun – schedule your donation now! Visit VersitiDayton.org/blood-donation and schedule an appointment at the Donor Center May 4-9 or call (937) 461-3220. Walk-ins welcome! Did you know? More than 300 donors are needed every day in Dayton to keep the blood supply stable for local hospitals and local patients. Be a local hero. Donate blood! Donor Center hours are Monday-Thursday 7 am-6 pm, Friday 7 am- 4 pm, and Saturday 7 am-1 pm. The Donor Center is located at 349 S. Main Street, Dayton, Oh. Link if needed: https://donate.versitidayton.org/donor/schedules/center/1

Teresa Olavarria: Lichen
2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is pleased to present Teresa Olavarria: Lichen, featuring new work by Dayton-based artist Teresa Olavarria and presented as our May Member Spotlight Exhibition that celebrates the vibrant creativity of our local and regional artist community. The exhibition opens Wednesday, May 6 with a public reception from 6–8 PM.
Working in vitreous enamel on copper and patinated cast bronze, Olavarria translates the ephemeral qualities of lichen into enduring materials. Her meticulous processes include layering and firing glass onto metal, and casting bronze from wax models, resulting in richly textured forms that echo the organic structures found in nature. Through this transformation, fragile organisms are preserved in metal, becoming both study and tribute.
“The works in Teresa Olavarria: Lichen invites viewers to reconsider what they see and what they overlook,” says Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement at The Contemporary Dayton. “It’s about slowing down, looking closely, and recognizing the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world.”
Olavarria lives and works in Dayton, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Dayton’s Fine Arts program, her practice is informed by close observation, scientific curiosity, and a deep appreciation for nature. Olavarria has taught extensively throughout the region and is affiliated with numerous arts organizations, including The Contemporary Dayton.
All artworks in the exhibition are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.
Open to all current artist members, the Member Spotlight Exhibitions are an ongoing series that offers participants the unique opportunity to present a focused body of work in a solo exhibition at The Contemporary Dayton. Each exhibition is installed in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery and remains on view for one month, opening with a public reception on the first Wednesday and continuing through the last Saturday of the month. These exhibitions not only highlight the diverse practices and perspectives of our members but also provide a professional platform for artists to gain visibility and engage directly with audiences. Participation in the Member Spotlight series is one of the many valuable benefits of being an artist member of The Contemporary Dayton.

2026 Sinclair Community College Graduating Fine Art Students’ Portfolio Exhibition
2026-05-06, 2026-05-05, 2026-05-04 | 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 the 2026 graduating class. From April 18 through May 7, the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and other galleries in Building 13 will exhibit artwork by students graduating from Sinclair with an Associate of Arts, Art degree. The graduates are in charge of both selecting works from their portfolios for exhibition as well as installing the show. Exhibiting artists include Dean Abele, Allison Ander, Nar Byrd, Noah Caballero, Gail Coleman, Kaitlyn Cramer, Madison Dickey, Calista Dillon, Ashlyn Haywood, Arden Jackson, Ja’Shayla Jennings, Marcie Kincaid, Emma LaRocco, Taylor Law, Delaney Manzo, Bonita Mitchell, Melanie Perez-Garcia, Denell Pierce, Hailey Prather, Max Quinn, Charlotte Repasy, Alexia Richardson, Audrey Rickmon, Brendan Riley, Cosmo Steele, Jeremiah Wiggins, and Anna Ziegler. There will be a public reception on April 30 from 4:30pm-6pm in the 4th Floor Atrium of Building 13. The galleries are located at the corner of West Fifth and Perry Street in Building 13 on the 4th Floor. The galleries are free and open to the public from 8am–6pm Monday–Friday and 9am–12pm Saturdays.

Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Leviathan
2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Leviathan, a film by interdisciplinary artist Jamea Richmond-Edwards. Known for her monumental paintings and mixed-media collages informed by mythology, Afrofuturist iconography, and magical realism, Richmond-Edwards brings these influences into a cinematic form in this film. Using music and dance, Leviathan traces the artist’s family history and their enduring connection to Detroit. Raised in a family of dancers and musicians, and drawing on her experience as a competitive dancer and marching band member, Richmond-Edwards infuses the film with movement and sound. The film explores Detroit’s layered histories and evolving landscapes, invoking the mythic Leviathan as a metaphor for the powerful, often untold forces of the Great Migration. Richmond-Edwards is an artist from Detroit who holds a BFA from Jackson State University and an MFA from Howard University. Her work has been included in exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, New York; the Frist Art Museum, Nashville, Tennessee; and The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, and more. Her work is held in the collections of the Rubell Museum, Washington, DC; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; and the US Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, among others. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time.

Paul Verdell: Tabernacle
2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present a new body of work by Paul Verdell. In these gestural paintings, Verdell continues his exploration of loose and instinctive mark making, working with paint and collaged elements. These works become renditions of landscapes both visually and figuratively as the colors and forms subtly echo horizons and map Verdell’s mental terrain. Driven by intuition, his latest body of work delves deep into the realm of abstraction as the artist explores capabilities of medium and mind. Influencing the artist’s conceptual root is both internal discourse—an ongoing attempt to understand himself within a shifting and uncertain world through the act of painting—as well as his Black American heritage. Verdell is a painter based in Detroit. Originally from Long Beach, California, he moved to Ohio as a teenager and received a BFA from Bowling Green State University in 2018. He has been awarded residencies at Black Rock Senegal, Dakar, Senegal, and the Macedonia Institute, Chatham, New York. His work has been included in exhibitions at The Armory Show, New York; Hurst Contemporary, London; and the Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal, among others. Verdell’s work is held in the collections of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, Ohio, among others. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time

Jason REVOK: Mutually Exclusive
2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present new paintings by Jason REVOK. Self-taught, REVOK is known for pushing creative boundaries that began in the street. Although his story begins with graffiti, the artist has spent the last decade focusing on his studio practice and the evolution of process and concept. Refusing to be limited by his early recognition, REVOK allows only certain elements from graffiti culture to transition to his contemporary work—modest materials and industrial tools, ingenuity, his name—but his proclivity towards minimalism and post-painterly abstraction has become the driving force behind his practice. Examining the question of authorship from start to finish, REVOK has developed systematic yet imperfect tools to carry out his vision and has created a number of unmistakable bodies of work. His bold, balanced, geometry is heightened by the personal and imperfect sleight of the human hand. REVOK grew up in Southern California and is based in Detroit. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and the Pasadena Museum of California Art, as well as in galleries and special projects in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dubai. His work is held in important private collections worldwide. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time.

Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
2026-05-06 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
February 21–May 17, 2026, Gallery 120
Between 2007 and 2025, Tony Foster embarked on his 19th Journey, building it around a profound and layered theme: time. Across this body of work, he investigates how time shapes the land—from the quick shifts of light and weather, to the slow rhythms of seasons, to the immense scales of biological and geological transformation. As Foster explains, his aim is “to draw attention to the unseen forces that create place.”
Exploring Time brings together a remarkable series of watercolor diaries that capture nature in motion. His paintings reveal signs of change on multiple fronts: geological upheavals, biological cycles and the marks left by human activity. With a discerning eye, Foster records not only nature’s strength and resilience but also its vulnerability, even in landscapes once dominated by industry and later reclaimed.
In a world where environmental change is often conveyed through striking images of global warming, Foster offers a different perspective, one that considers Earth’s continual evolution and the visible traces of time’s passage. Organized into four themes: geological, biological, human and the fleeting, this exhibition invites viewers to engage with time at every scale, from the span of a moment to the stretch of millennia, while reflecting on the enduring impact of human presence.

Karaoke with Zane
2026-05-05 20:00 - 23:00 | 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!

Mrs. Doubtfire
2026-05-05 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Dayton in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune – one that proves we’re better together.

Karaoke
2026-05-05 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.

High School Baseball Showcase
2026-05-05 19:00, 2026-05-03 18:00, 2026-05-03 14:00 | Day Air Ballpark, 220 North Patterson Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45402
The Dragons High School Baseball Showcase, presented by Bob Ross Auto Group, is back at Day Air Ballpark! Forty-two teams from the greater Miami Valley area will play in twenty-one games at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.
The showcase provides a fundraising opportunity for high school programs, allowing them to sell Dragons tickets and raise money for their athletic departments.
The High School Baseball Showcase is open to the public and games are scheduled for various dates between April 14 and May 9.

Tuesday, April 14 7:00 PM Troy vs Vandalia Butler

Friday, April 17 5:00 PM Ada vs Lima Perry

Friday, April 17 8:00 PM Williamsburg vs Minster

Saturday, April 18 1:00 PM Arcanum vs Franklin-Monroe

Saturday, April 18 4:00 PM Troy Christian vs Catholic Central

Saturday, April 18 7:00 PM Greenon vs Preble Shawnee

Tuesday, April 28 7:00 PM Hagerstown vs Centerville

Wednesday, April 29 7:00 PM Brookville vs Oakwood

Friday, May 1 5:00 PM Northmont vs Miamisburg

Friday, May 1 8:00 PM Tippecanoe vs Bethel

Saturday, May 2 11:30 AM Botkins vs Newton

Saturday, May 2 4:00 PM Lehman Catholic vs West Liberty-Salem

Saturday, May 2 7:00 PM St. Henry vs Fort Loramie

Sunday, May 3 2:00 PM Alter vs Chaminade-Julienne

Sunday, May 3 6:00 PM St. Xavier vs Moeller

Tuesday, May 5 7:00 PM Dixie vs Twin Valley South

Friday, May 8 5:00 PM Jackson Center vs National Trail

Friday, May 8 8:00 PM Turpin vs Lebanon

Saturday, May 9 1:00 PM Triad vs Xenia

Saturday, May 9 4:00 PM Lima Sr vs Lima Shawnee

Saturday, May 9 7:00 PM Lancaster vs Springboro

Community Fitness: Tai Chi & Qigong at the River
2026-05-05 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).

Adult Weekday Classes
2026-05-05 15:30 - 17:30, 2026-05-05 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-05 13:00 - 15:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Tuesday and Wednesday weekday classes: Tuesdays (September-May) Stained Glass Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Ceramics/Clay Classes: 3:00pm-5:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 3:30pm-5:30pm Wednesdays (September-May) Still Life Oil Painting Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 2:00pm-4:00pm or 6:00pm-8:00pm. Call for Costs.

Student Success Centers – Reconnect
2026-05-05 15:00 - 18:00 | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library’s new program, Student Success Centers – Reconnect, is offered every Tuesday and Thursday, 3-6 pm, through May 21, in the Main Library’s Tech Lab A.

Reconnect offers support to youth ages 16-21 working toward a GED or high school diploma. Extra help with reading, writing, and math is available, along with life skills coaching, opportunities to build friendships, and connecting with mentors.

Reconnect grew out of a revamp of DML’s Homework Help Centers, now known as Student Success Centers, located within seven Branches. “We expanded to an eighth Center at the Main Library that focuses on serving an overlooked demographic of young people called ‘opportunity youth,’” explains Allison Knight, DML’s Youth Services and Programming Director. “Opportunity youth are young enough to be served by public schools but disengaged from formal school or work.”

Sinclair’s Fast Forward Re-Engagement Center has been an advocate for the gap in community services to opportunity youth. After speaking with their Project Director and researching the need, DML staff used existing plans for the Student Success Centers expansion to address it.

Renaming the Student Success Centers allows DML to designate Student Success Centers – K12 for its mainstream students and Student Success Centers – Reconnect for opportunity youth. With the noted distinction between the Centers and Reconnect, DML can train staff accordingly and specialize the services offered at each location.

Registration is not required for Reconnect. Patrons may drop in any time during the posted hours. For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

Artist in Training (AIT) Program
2026-05-05 15:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-04 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.

Bagels & Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire
2026-05-05 08:30 - 20:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Ever wonder what it takes to prepare a stage for a show? Join us for BAGELS & BROADWAY, a unique opportunity for you to find out first-hand. Have a cup of coffee and a bagel – then watch the show’s crew and members of IATSE Local 66 set up the sights and sounds for MRS. DOUBTFIRE!
BAGELS & BROADWAY is free, but you must register. Please register for only the number of people who can attend. If you need to cancel your registration, please do so within 48 hours of the event by calling the Ticket Office at 937-228-3630 or emailing tickets@daytonlive.org.

Community Fitness: Trailblazers HIIT & Run
2026-05-04 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
2026-05-04 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 Fitness: BootyMix
2026-05-04 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!

Collaboration of Colors
2026-05-03 | OH
View artwork from 4 pairings of artists who have collaborated in their own unique ways but all start with a common theme of color: Susanne Scherette King Megan Fiely Brian Mathus Tami Beale Sir Michael Surber Tom Jordan Joy Johnson Dave Scott Exhibition in collaboration with… the Dayton Collaboratory and is open from May 1 through May 31. Opening Reception on May 7th from 6pm-8pm
