Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
In this Pilates class you will learn basic Pilates principles, how to change your posture to improve pain syndromes, strengthen the entire body and core muscles, and improve flexibility.
Free. No registration required.
Ages 16 & up. If under 18 years a parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver.
All abilities are welcome. Please bring a mat and water bottle.
Dark Star Orchestra will bring its critically-acclaimed live, Grateful Dead tribute performance to Rose Music Center at The Heights on Saturday, August 9.
Performing to critical acclaim for over 25 years and over 3,100 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these seven fine musicians. On any given night, the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. This allows fans both young and old to share the experience. By recreating set lists from the past, and by developing their own sets of Dead songs, Dark Star Orchestra offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within this musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.
Dark Star Orchestra offers much more than the sound of the Grateful Dead, they truly encapsulate the energy and the experience. It’s about a sense of familiarity. It’s about a feeling that grabs listeners and takes over. It’s about that contagious energy…in short, it’s about the complete experience and consistent quality show that the fan receives when attending a Dark Star Orchestra show.
Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the entire United States, including a sold-out debut at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, plus shows in Europe and the Caribbean with the band touching down in seven different countries. DSO continues to grow its fan base by playing at larger venues for two and even three-night stands, as well as performing at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Milwaukee’s SummerFest, The Peach Music Festival, Jam Cruise, Wanee Festival, SweetWater 420 Festival, Mountain Jam, and many more.
In addition to appearing at some of the nation’s top festival, Dark Star Orchestra hosts its own annual music festival and campaign gathering, titled the “Dark Star Jubilee”, currently in its eighth year where DSO headline all three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts. Beyond the shores of the United States, DSO has taken its internationally-acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute to the beaches of Jamaica in the dead of winter for the past six years, with their event appropriately titled ‘Jam in the Sand’. Featuring an ocean-side stage, DSO sets up camp to perform shows for four nights along the tropical sands of an all-inclusive resort, selling out the event each year for hundreds of lucky attendees.
Fans and critics haven’t been the only people caught up in the spirit of a Dark Star show. The band has featured guest performances from six original Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and many more.
“For us it’s a chance to recreate some of the magic that was created for us over the years,” keyboardist and vocalist Rob Barraco explains. “We offer a sort of a historical perspective at what it might have been like to go to a show in 1985, 1978 or whenever. Even for Deadheads who can say they’ve been to a hundred shows in the 90s, we offer something they never got to see live.”
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 25 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
Rosewood Arts Center, Kettering Health Art Gallery announces the opening of Yiyun Chen X Fremaux-Valdez Solo Exhibition on April 21st. It will run through May 24th. Yiyun Chen’s photographic project, Whispers in the Breeze, began as a pastime and was prompted by the artist’s wandering as a pedestrian along Lake Erie. The project became a ritual, and then a process of self-reflection and self-discovery for the artist as an Asian immigrant – exploring the relationship between people, environment and society.
The collaborative work of partners Ghislaine and Lando Fremaux-Valdez is on a gargantuan scale, executed in gouache and pastel on paper. Each drawing naturalistically portrays one or both of the artists’ bodies (sometimes many times over), but deranges them through fragmentation, anatomical corruption, and/or pictorial chaos
Closing Reception and Artist Talks: May 24, 2025, 1 – 3 p.m.
You’re invited to an unforgettable evening at The Brightside’s “Vod-Vil Bar” on Thursday, April 24th! Get ready to indulge in:
Burlesque Entertainment: Experience the captivating artistry of Gem City Burlesque.
Live Music: Enjoy electrifying performances from Ayn Swann & The High Standards.
Delicious Cocktails: Sip on expertly crafted drinks that will tantalize your taste buds!
VIP and Standard tables are available as well as single tickets (seated, no table). 
HOW TO GO?
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Doors 6:30pm
Show 7:30pm
The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton
GA tickets $30 each / Reserved Tables for 2 $100 – $150
Get your ticket here: https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/gem-city-burlesque-2025-04-24-the-brightside-music-event-venue-dayton-3631e0
Ages 21+
Join your community on May 1 as Levitt Dayton announces the 2025 Eichelberger Concert season with…a concert!
Cut the ribbon on the new concession stand and pick up your season schedule as early as 6 p.m. and Subterranean takes the stage at 7 p.m.
Subterranean is an improvisational rock band from Dayton, Ohio that is best experienced at a live show. Their infectious grooves and spontaneous yet polished musical ventures create a unique adventure for their audience every time they step onto a stage. The band has been together for over 10 years. Subterranean has played venues all around the region from Michigan to Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and West Virginia. They have played many prestigious festivals such as The Werkout, Resonance, The Mad Tea Party Jam, and Hookahville. They have shared the stage with icons such as Ron Holloway, Bernie Worrell, Johnny Neel, and Doug Wimbish.
At the Levitt Pavilion Dayton you can tailor your experience to you! Whether you bring in your own food, beverage and lawn chair or purchase refreshments and rent a chair, your experience should be easy!
Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton is the non-profit that manages, programs, and fundraises for the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton. Levitt Pavilion Dayton is reinvigorating Dayton’s urban core by reactivating Dave Hall Plaza, which in turn inspires people’s health, happiness, and well-being by offering enjoyable experiences through a rich spectrum of music genres. The venue also provides access to high quality cultural and educational experiences for all audiences from the community. Levitt Pavilion Dayton presents free family-friendly concerts with a reach annually to over 70,000 individuals of all ages and backgrounds in the Dayton region. As the only free major outdoor performance space in Dayton, they provide access to all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status.
Thrill-seekers and families alike are counting down the days until Kings Island officially opens for the 2025 season on Saturday, April 19th. With extended hours, exciting new attractions, and beloved classics returning, Opening Day promises to deliver a full day of unforgettable fun.
Kings Island will be open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on April 19th, giving guests all day to explore everything the park has to offer. Early birds can take advantage of shorter lines in the morning, while night owls can enjoy the park’s dazzling evening atmosphere and illuminated coasters. They will be opened April 26 & 27, May 2nd & 3rd and May 9 and 10 from 10am to 9pm, and on May 4th and May 11th from 10am – 7pm and then daily starting May 14th.
This year, Kings Island is debuting “Sol Spin,” a brand-new flat ride in the Oktoberfest section of the park. Suspended high above the midway, Sol Spin launches riders into a swirling, soaring adventure with 360-degree rotations and epic views of the park.
Also new for 2025 is the revamped Camp Snoopy area, which has been expanded with two additional family-friendly rides: “Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers”, a junior coaster perfect for little thrill-seekers, and “Woodstock’s Wagon Wheel”, a gentle spinning ride that’s great for all ages.
Kings Island is home to over 100 rides, shows, and attractions, including:
Orion, one of only seven giga coasters in the world
The Beast, the longest wooden roller coaster on the planet
Mystic Timbers, a fan-favorite with a mysterious surprise ending
Planet Snoopy, voted the best kids’ area in the world several years running
Live entertainment – Enjoy a lineup of shows throughout the park, with performances suitable for the whole family.
Dining and Shopping: Savor a variety of food options and shop for souvenirs to commemorate your visit.
Soak City Water Park at Kings Island will open to the public on Saturday, May 24th. The park is expected to feature the new RiverRacers, Ohio’s only side-by-side dual racing water coaster, and Splash River Junction, a new kids’ play area with seven slides.
For tickets, season passes, and more information, visit the official Kings Island website: Kings Island
Join us on April 22nd for an exciting Earth Day celebration! Take on the challenge of our Rockwall with a 15-minute climb for just $5 and experience the thrill of reaching new heights. After your climb, head to the field and plant your very own flower to take home as a reminder of your achievement and our commitment to a greener planet. 
*While supplies last.
The Wonderlands’ Great Escape Tour of 2025 is one of the “don’t miss” music events of the spring! This special show features two other awesome bands local bands: crabswithoutlegs and October Tuesday.
HOW TO GO?
Friday, April 18, 2025
at The Brightside (905 E 3rd St Dayton)
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
Tickets $15 advance / $20 at door
EXPLORING WRIGHT-DUNBAR—PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Thurs. April 17 A History Presentation and Guided Walking Tour 5 pm-7pm Celebrate the rich history and vibrant revitalization of Dayton’s Wright Dunbar district in partnership with Preservation Dayton and the American Institute of Architects. Light refreshments 5-5:30 p.m.; The Evolution of Wright Dunbar presented by John Gower; 6 p.m Guided Walking Tour with Preservation Dayton Experts; 7:15
Optional social gathering at West Social Tap and Table
The event is free but space is limited. Register to secure your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/…/exploring-wright-dunbar…
We will walk you through the featured craft cocktail, Dayton Barrel Works spirits, along with a charcuterie board, and a take-home cocktail recipe card. Here are some things to know:
*IMPORTANT: If you have a NUT ALLERGY or other allergy, please let us know by the Tuesday before the event (5/27).
*This date’s featured craft cocktail is: TBD.
*Each ticket includes: 1 craft cocktail, 3 samples of Dayton Barrel Works spirits, a charcuterie board for 1, and a take-home cocktail recipe card.
*While we will still be open to the public, in order to be guaranteed a charcuterie board, you must purchase tickets by the Tuesday before the event (5/27).
*You choose what time is convenient for you, between the hours of 6:00-9:00 PM
KANSAS, America’s legendary progressive rock band, and southern rock titans 38 Special are joining forces for a Summer 2025 Tour. The tour will stop in Huber Heights, OH for one night only, performing at Rose Music Center on Thursday, July 3.
KANSAS
With a legendary career spanning five decades, KANSAS has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This “garage band” from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
Composing a catalogue that includes sixteen studio albums and five live albums, KANSAS has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), one quadruple-Platinum single ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ and another triple-Platinum single ‘Dust in the Wind.’ KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ continues to be one of the top five most played songs on classic rock radio, and ‘Dust In the Wind’ has been played on the radio more than three million times!
The summer of 2020 marked the release of “The Absence of Presence,” KANSAS’s sixteenth studio album, which debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums chart. The wide-ranging progressive rock album, released by InsideOut Music, follows-up 2016’s “The Prelude Implicit,” which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.
Throughout 2016-2022, the band celebrated the anniversaries of multi-Platinum breakout albums “Leftoverture” and “Point of Know Return” with anniversary tours for both albums. Both tours were commemorated with live album releases “Leftoverture Live & Beyond” (2017) & “Point of Know Return Live & Beyond” (2021).
The band is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, guitarist Zak Rizvi, violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon, bassist/vocalist Dan McGowan, and original guitarist Richard Williams. Drummer Eric Holmquist is currently performing on drums while Phil Ehart continues to recover from a major heart attack. With no signs of slowing down, KANSAS continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences.
Along with constant touring, KANSAS continues to remain a fixture of Classic Rock radio and popular culture. The band continues to reach a whole new audience through their unmistakable presence in various commercials, live sports broadcasts, popular video games Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Grand Theft Auto; the band’s documentary film “KANSAS: Miracles Out of Nowhere,” and a guest appearance on The CW’s television show ‘Walker.’ The band’s songs have also been included in various television shows such as ‘Supernatural,’ ‘Reacher,’ ‘All Elite Wrestling,’ ‘South Park,’ ‘The Office,’ and ‘The Simpsons;’ as well as blockbuster films including ‘Old School,’ ‘The Suicide Squad,’ ‘Anchorman,’ ‘Pitch Perfect,’ and ‘Happy Gilmore.’
38 SPECIAL
After five decades, 38 SPECIAL continues to bring their signature blast of Southern Rock to over 100 cities a year. At each and every show, thousands of audience members are amazed by the explosive power of the band’s performance. Their many Gold and Platinum album awards stand in testament to the endurance of a legendary powerhouse.
With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance,” and more. Timeless hits that remain a staple at radio, immediately recognizable from the first opening chord and paving the way to their present-day touring regimen.
Guitarist/vocalist and founding member, DON BARNES, says it’s all about maintaining that intensity in their live shows. “We never wanted to be one of those bands that had maybe gotten a little soft, or complacent over the years. We’re a team and it’s always been kind of an unspoken rule that we don’t slack up, we stack up. We go out there every night to win.”
Completing the team is bassist BARRY DUNAWAY, drummer GARY MOFFATT and keyboardist/vocalist BOBBY CAPPS. The most recent addition to the band is legendary virtuoso guitarist and vocalist JERRY RIGGS.
For 38 Special onstage, it’s a celebration of camaraderie and brotherhood, a precision unit bringing the dedication and honesty to a long history of classic songs, as well as surprisingly fresh new material.
Since 1976, the band has released more than 15 albums. And from the start, they’ve toured relentlessly, bringing their signature brand of ‘muscle and melody’ to fans worldwide.
It is that steely determination that lives on in the hearts of these ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys.’
Barnes adds, “This music keeps our wheels on the road. We’re a band that’s tried to stay honest with what has driven us over the years. We started out with nothing but bold determination to make our own history and to endure. Looking back now, it has been our greatest pride to have persevered and attained that level of success and longevity. For us, it’s the ultimate validation.”
“The magic’s still there,” adds Barnes. “It’s an emotional high for us to keep ‘bringing it’ after all these years. When those lights go down and we all walk up those steps to the stage and hear that crowd roar, it’s a real rush to the head. It feels like we’re getting ready to strap ourselves in and it just takes off from there.”
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 18 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
Date & Time:
Every Tuesday, starting April 15, 2025
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Game Night)
Location:
Kroc Center Outdoor Courts, [Insert Address or Map Link]
Hosted in partnership with @2Socialdayton
Event Description:
Ready to serve up fun, friendly competition, and community vibes? Gem City Social Sports, in partnership with @2Socialdayton, invites you to our 6-Week Adult Social Pickleball League Spring Session – a dynamic, inclusive league designed for every skill level!
What to Expect:
• Divisions for Everyone: Choose your challenge – Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced.
• Action-Packed Matches: Enjoy four fast-paced games each Tuesday night.
• 6-Week Season: Experience continuous pickleball excitement from April 15, 2025, through the season.
• Social & Engaging Atmosphere: Stay updated with live scoring and join us for post-game hangouts. Let @2Socialdayton help you connect with other local players and boost your network!
Registration Options:
• Full Team Registration: $80 per team (2-4 players)
• Free Agent Registration: $50 per player (we’ll match you with a team)
How to Register:
Head over to our registration page now:
Gem City Social Sports Pickleball League – Tuesday Spring Registration
Click the “Register Now” button and follow the prompts. Payment is securely processed via LeagueApps.
Why You Should Join:
• Meet & Compete: Forge new friendships and join a vibrant local community led by @2Socialdayton.
• Improve Your Game: Benefit from organized play, live scoring updates, and professional league management.
• Have Fun: Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, our league is all about social connection, friendly rivalry, and pure enjoyment!
Additional Details:
• Bring your paddle – the nets, balls, and court setup are provided.
• Arrive 15 minutes early for a quick warm-up and check-in.
• Registration closes one week before the league begins, so secure your spot ASAP!
Connect With Us:
For questions or more info, email info@GemCitySocialSports.com or call 937-791-9414.
Follow us and @2Socialdayton on Facebook for updates and behind-the-scenes action!
Discover the authentic flavors and natural treasures of Greece with Collias Estates’ olive oil. Get ready for a culinary trip through the Mediterranean with oil infused food, cocktails, and more. Reservations are highly encouraged for this event. Please follow the link below to secure your spot.
https://www.meridienuptown.com/make-a-reservation/locations/meridien
A KENTUCKY CLASSIC, REIMAGINED.
Introducing Graeter’s Bourbon Ball Ice Cream, crafted with New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon.
Full of whiskey-glazed pecans and dark chocolate chips, each bite captures the signature flavors of New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon, offering a one-of-a-kind ice cream experience that blends tradition, craftsmanship, and indulgence.
Barrel #28493 was selected for its bold warmth and rich character, a perfect pairing for this ice cream. By incorporating their award-winning bourbon into Graeter’s small-batch French Pot ice cream, they’ve created a bold yet balanced dessert that speaks to bourbon enthusiasts and ice cream lovers alike.
TASTE IT FIRST AT NEW RIFF!
Pints will be available in the New Riff Gift Shop beginning Saturday, April 12 for $6.99
Enjoy free samples at the distillery from 11AM-2PM
Available in Graeter’s Scoop Shops beginning Monday, April 14.
Available for nationwide shipping at Graeters.com
Look for it at Meijer, Jungle Jim’s, and Dorothy Lane Market in the coming weeks
