There’s a particular kind of Dayton summer evening that doesn’t exist anywhere else — blanket on the grass, kids running loops near the stage, a cold drink from the Cantina, and a band you’ve never heard of about to become your new favorite. That season is officially back. Levitt Pavilion Dayton’s 2026 Eichelberger Concert Season is underway, and as always, every single show is free and open to the public.

Funk Fest got things rolling on May 30 with The Bar-Kays, Plazmatic, and Freakquency, and the lawn doesn’t really let up until mid-September. If you’ve been waiting for the unofficial start of summer downtown, this is it.

What’s New This Year

The Levitt has never been content to just put bands on a stage, and 2026 leans into that even harder. A few things worth knowing before you head down:

A brand-new sound system. Installed this spring, so every act this season — national headliner or local opener — gets the upgrade.
Thursday Happy Hours. The lawn opens early on Thursdays, with the on-site Cantina pouring discounted drinks before the music starts. A reason to clock out a little early.
Family Fun Days. Select shows now open with kids’ activities, making the early evening as much for the eight-and-under crowd as the headliner is for everyone else.
Levitt Lawn Lit Club. A monthly book club — a partnership between the Levitt, Dayton Metro Library, and the Brunner Literacy Center. Books and bands in the same place. Very Dayton.

This Weekend (June 4–6)

The real opening-weekend energy hits now:

Thursday, June 4 — Pride Weekend featuring Flamy Grant. The trailblazing drag artist and musician from Asheville brings her Appalachian-rooted, fearlessly flamboyant show to kick off the weekend.
Friday, June 5 — The Vindys, with opener Cherry Yum Yum. The Youngstown rock-soul-pop outfit fronted by powerhouse vocalist Jackie Popovec (yes, the one Pat Benatar gushed over).
Saturday, June 6 — For Dayton By Dayton Festival (special 5 p.m. start).

A Few Shows to Circle

This is a deep, genre-hopping lineup — funk, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, blues, R&B, and even Shakespeare. A handful of nights I’d flag now so you don’t miss them later:

Friday, June 12 — Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, with hometown openers Paid Leave. If that name rings a bell: Paid Leave won this year’s Dayton Battle of the Bands, and this is their well-earned moment on the Levitt stage. A great example of the Gem Series, which puts local openers in front of national touring acts all season long.
Friday, June 19 — Juneteenth Commemoration and Celebration featuring Brownstone (special 4:45 p.m. start). The Grammy-nominated R&B group headlines one of the Levitt’s signature annual nights.
Saturday, June 27 — Blues Fest with Shemekia Copeland, Nikki D & the Sisters of Thunder, and Primetime Blues Band (5:30 p.m. start).
Saturday, Aug. 8 — World Indigenous Day Celebration featuring Supaman.
Thursday, Aug. 13 — Terrance Simien. The Grammy-winning zydeco artist returns to a stage he clearly loves.
Saturday, Aug. 22 — Slave. The legendary funk band formed right here in Dayton. If you only make it to one show all summer, make it a hometown legend.

The Essentials

Where: Levitt Pavilion Dayton, corner of Main and Fifth Streets, downtown.
When: Concerts run Thursday through Sunday through Sept. 19, starting at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Cost: Free. Always.
Full schedule & updates: levittdayton.org

Bring a blanket or a low chair, grab something from the Cantina, and go discover something new. That’s the whole point of the place.

2026 Eichelberger Concert Season — Full Schedule

All shows 7 p.m. unless noted

JUNE

Thu 6/4 — Pride Weekend: Flamy Grant
Fri 6/5 — The Vindys w/ Cherry Yum Yum
Sat 6/6 — For Dayton By Dayton Festival (5 p.m.)
Thu 6/11 — Kofi B w/ Harpoetic
Fri 6/12 — Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band w/ Paid Leave
Sat 6/13 — Slapbak
Thu 6/18 — Mo Lowda and the Humble
Fri 6/19 — Juneteenth: Brownstone (4:45 p.m.)
Sat 6/20 — Los Rakas w/ Isai Morales
Thu 6/25 — Gem City Groundlings present “Titus Andronicus”
Sat 6/27 — Blues Fest: Shemekia Copeland, Nikki D & the Sisters of Thunder, Primetime Blues Band (5:30 p.m.)

JULY

Thu 7/2 — Ernie Johnson from Detroit w/ MelinaMarie
Fri 7/3 — Honoring Our Veterans: Eric Jerardi Band
Thu 7/9 — Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears w/ Khrys Blank
Fri 7/10 — Steep Canyon Rangers w/ The Shady Pine
Sat 7/11 — Angie K w/ Ali Auburn
Thu 7/16 — Larry McCray
Fri 7/17 — J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band) w/ Berachah Valley
Sat 7/18 — Camp Student Showcase

AUGUST

Sat 8/1 — Rock Fest: Big Sandy & His FlyRite Boys, Spoils, The Boxcar Suite (5:30 p.m.)
Thu 8/6 — Ron Artis II w/ Kellen Williams
Fri 8/7 — SCYTHIAN
Sat 8/8 — World Indigenous Day: Supaman
Thu 8/13 — Terrance Simien
Fri 8/14 — American Patchwork Quartet
Sat 8/15 — McGuffey Lane w/ The New Old-Fashioned
Thu 8/20 — The Levert Experience
Fri 8/21 — Bywater Call
Sat 8/22 — Slave
Wed 8/26 — David Nail
Thu 8/27 — Bad Co. Legacy w/ Visitor
Fri 8/28 — J & the Causeways w/ Yuppie
Sat 8/29 — Cassidy Daniels w/ Sam King & The Suspects

SEPTEMBER

Thu 9/3 — DCDC (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company)
Sat 9/5 — Reggae Fest: The Meditations, Seefari, Da Squad (5:30 p.m.)
Thu 9/10 — Hot Toddies Jazz Band w/ Eddie Brookshire Quartet ft. Brenda Flowers
Fri 9/11 — Joanne Shaw Taylor
Sat 9/12 — Hispanic Heritage Month: Son del Caribe
Thu 9/17 — TBA
Sat 9/19 — Jazz Fest: Lao Tizer Band ft. Elliott Yamin, Nasty Nati Brass Band, Saxtone Arrington (5:30 p.m.)