Explore the active side of Dayton with the return of the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience, a Five Rivers MetroParks event featuring two days of outdoor adventure that celebrates Dayton as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. The festival is held at Eastwood MetroPark (park side), 1385 Harshman Rd. in Dayton, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2. Admission and parking are free.
Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience
MetroParks Cancels Its Annual Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience
Due to the uncertainty of precautions that will be in place to slow COVID-19, particularly when it comes to gatherings of large groups, and concern for the health and safety of MetroParks staff, volunteers and community, MetroParks’ annual Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience has been cancelled.
A Five Rivers MetroParks event, the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is the region’s premier outdoor adventure festival and a celebration of Dayton as the outdoor adventure capital of the Midwest. The event — previously scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, at Eastwood MetroPark — features dozens of exhibitors and food trucks, live entertainment, competitions and more than 20 hands-on, outdoor activities. Last year, MetroParks welcomed 25,652 attendees to Eastwood MetroPark for this event.
“Families can still enjoy many of the activities that make the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience special in their favorite parks or neighborhood greenspace,” said MetroParks Event Coordinator Angela York.
With 18 clean, safe parks, 160 miles of paved and natural surface trails, and dozens of outdoor recreation amenities, Five Rivers MetroParks offers parkgoers opportunities to spend time in nature hiking, backpacking, cycling, camping, mountain biking, playing disc golf and more. MetroParks encourages people to explore the parks and trails by participating in the new MetroParks Trails Challenge. Those who need gear to help them get outside can find additional information at www.outdoordayton.com.
The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience encourages attendees to experience outdoor recreation activities so they can find new ways to connect to the natural world and adopt healthy, active lifestyles. MetroParks’ staff, trained volunteers and local recreation clubs host hands-on activities, such as fly fishing, paddling, mountain biking, cycling, climbing, slacklining and more. These activities often require use of shared equipment that’s not easily sanitized between uses in an event format and instruction that makes social distancing impossible.
“An event of this magnitude takes a year to plan and hundreds of MetroParks staff, volunteers, exhibitors, partners, sponsors and recreation professionals who travel from across the country,” York said. “To be good stewards of taxpayer funds, we have to consider the time and resources it takes to successfully plan and host a large-scale event that may ultimately have to be cancelled per CDC and Ohio Department of Health guidelines.”
MetroParks is one of many national and regional parks agencies that has cancelled large events, in addition to local organizations that have cancelled large annual festivals.
“In addition to connecting people to nature through outdoor recreation experiences, the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is a celebration of all nature can do for your physical and mental well-being,” York said. “Nature is open year-round for everyone to enjoy.”
Five Rivers MetroParks encourages people to spend time in nature, whether it’s their back yard, local greenspace or favorite MetroPark. Activities, resources and ideas that help the public access the outdoors, can be found at metroparks.org/natureisopen and MetroParks’ Facebook page.
“Your MetroParks and trails remain open, and we are encouraged to see households out and about in nature, exploring old favorites and finding new trails,” said Five Rivers MetroParks Executive Director Rebecca Benná.
The public can help keep their outdoor parks and trails open by always following the CDC’s recommendations, particularly for social distancing, and taking preventative actions when in any outdoor space. For the most current information please visit metroparks.org/covid and MetroParks’ social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).
A Weekend of Outdoor Activity Awaits!
Get ready for two full days of active experiences, exhibitors, food, music and more at the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience presented by KIND at Eastwood MetroPark!
- Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 AM to 4 PM
All ages are welcome to try more than 25 experience areas, watch pro demos or join a competition. With delicious food and beer in the Great Lakes Food & Beer Garden, live music on the Dayton.com Music Stage and free camping, you’ll never want to leave! Be sure to check out:
Mad River Mountain Action Sports Zone
The Mad River Mountain Action Sports Zone will be the destination for excitement. Watch as BMX riders, kayakers, mountain bike trials riders, slackliners and DockDogs electrify the crowd with spins, flips, jumps and other jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring maneuvers. You’ll have a chance to get in on the action with the Mad River Mountain snow tubing hill.
Youth Adventure Zone
Children will love the Youth Adventure Zone, where they can enjoy nature play, try climbing and a variety of other fun outdoor activities, games and demonstrations led by community organizations. These activities will introduce your young explorer to the excitement of outdoor adventure!
Osprey Backcountry Zone
The Osprey Backcountry Zone, brought to you by Great Miami Outfitters, has everything you need to get you out on the trail, including a mock campsite, hammock lounge, campfire and more. As a part of the Backpacker Festival Experience, the Backpacker Magazine Outdoor School will host a variety of classes where professional instructors will offer hands-on clinics to hone your outdoor skills.
Miami Valley Fly Fishers Fishing Village
Check out the Miami Valley Fly Fishers Fishing Village complete with casting, fly tying and the ORSANCO Aquarium presented by Fisherman’s Headquarters and Miami Group Sierra Club. If you prefer to fish from a boat, you can compete with other kayak anglers in the Buckeye Kayak Fishing Challenge.
The Bark Zone
Our furry friends will have plenty to do for the weekend! See if your pooch is a big-air jumper in the Subaru Buckeye DockDogs competition or an air frisbee jumper join the UpDog competition with Zoom Disc Dogs, presented by Best Breed, and then let your furry friend have some play time at Subaru Pooch Island Off-Leash Dog Park.