• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit An Event
  • About Us
    • Our Contributors
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Where to Pick up Dayton937
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Art Exhibits
    • Comedy
    • On Screen Dayton
    • On Screen Dayton Reviews
    • Road Trippin’
      • Cincinnati
      • Columbus
      • Indianapolis
    • Spectator Sports
    • Street-Level Art
    • Visual Arts
  • Dayton Dining
    • Happy Hours Around Town
    • Local Restaurants Open On Monday
    • Patio Dining in the Miami Valley
    • 937’s Boozy Brunch Guide
    • Dog Friendly Patio’s in the Miami Valley
    • Restaurants with Private Dining Rooms
    • Dayton Food Trucks
    • Quest
    • Ten Questions
  • Dayton Music
    • Music Calendar
  • Active Living
    • Canoeing/Kayaking
    • Cycling
    • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Runners

Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

“So A Dyslexic Walks Into A Bra…”

June 5, 2010 By J.T. Ryder 2 Comments

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Pocket
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

…and Other Tales From the Fringe of Dayton’s Comedy Scene.

The only sound cutting through the sea of silence is a slight feedback whine as the flop sweat pours from your forehead, reflecting chromatic prisms from the glaring, white-hot spotlight. You clench the microphone with sweat-slicked hands, as your mind becomes an echoing chamber of panic. You can’t even make out the faces in the crowd, the piercing light obliterates their features, changing the warmth of humanity into an amorphous blob of judgment. How could this have happened? Your mom told you that you were funny. The clerk at UDF always laughed at your jokes. Your shadow, nailed against the faux brick wall by the merciless spotlight, seems to shrink as your confidence bids you a fond adieu, leaving you for climes that are more hospitable. You either recover quickly, raining down a torrent of bon mots to cover your previous gaffe, or you walk the longest walk ever made under the glaring reproach of the unamused.
Stand up comedy is one of the least understood and surely one of the most minimally regarded of the performing arts, yet it is one of the most difficult crafts to hone, execute and endure. The constant pressure to produce and perform is unrelenting. Development of a single joke’s precision, synthesis and rhythm is always evolving. The eternal search for material, the sharpening of lines, the shaping of words and the final development of delivery is exhaustive. Ironically, just as perfection is almost within reach, the material is usually scrapped because it is no longer topical or has become tired and mawkish and now, all new material must be captured and crafted.
In an attempt to check out the local comedy scene with an eye for how they all got started, I interviewed several local comics. Some of them are fairly new to the landscape, appearing at open mic nights for very little or no compensation, while others are national road veterans, having amassed quite an impressive resume’. The first question that arises would have to be why anyone would want to pursue a career in comedy in the first place.
A seasoned comedian, Mark Fradl, started his career in 1992 and ran hard until 1999, before abruptly leaving the stage completely for various reasons, including being burnt out on the road and its day to day hustle. He returned to stand up several years ago because the desire for performing live was re-ignited within him. When I asked him recently why anyone would get into comedy, he said, “I think you’ll find most comics have the same story: people told them they were funny. They somehow got up the courage to go up that first time at an open mic night (still the hardest thing I’ve ever done) and they just kept doing it. The dream starts huge – Tonight Show, Letterman, sitcom – but quickly narrows down to more immediate goals – get a strong five minutes, get a strong fifteen minutes, get ANY work, get good work, and then the Holy Grail of goals: quit the day job. I think that’s what keeps people in it, there’s always another little rung to climb. Step-by-step you’re deeper into the life.”
Ryan Singer, who used to be a schoolteacher for Dayton Public Schools and is now on national tours stated candidly, “I just had to. It is that simple. As a kid I remember seeing standup comedians on television and thinking to myself, ‘that is the best job ever!'”
A recent college graduate as well as a fairly current addition to the local comedy scene, Mat Thornburg took a slightly different route to the stage. “I was really involved in theater in high school” he wrote me, “and I always ended up getting cast as the comic relief. People kept telling me that I should try standup comedy, but I had no idea how to get started. Then when I was in college they had a comedy contest to win tickets to see Dane Cook. So I guess you could say the reason I got on stage the first time was because I wanted to see Dane Cook, but really it was something that I was going to do sooner or later and the contest was just an easy way to make that first step.”
Jeff Bang, nicknamed, quite unimaginatively ‘Banger’, is a butcher by day and does stand up locally as well as working at Wiley’s comedy club as a…well…I’m not really sure what Banger does, keeping me company while I stand outside and smoke, I guess. Anyway, when I asked him why he kept doing stand up, he answered my question with a question.
“Why do I keep doing it? Do you know what it’s like to get a good high? A big rush?” To which I replied that not only had I never imbibed in any illicit drugs in the past, I would eschew all illegal substances in the future if in fact any illegal substances were presented to me. He did not believe me, informing me that I was full of bovine fecal matter and continued onto his point. “There is no bigger rush than standing on a stage and making people laugh. There is no bigger rush. You get up there and do it and you have however many people are there, a hundred, a thousand, however many, and they’re in the palm of your hand and they are just hanging on every word. There is no bigger rush than that.”
Mark Fradl echoed Banger’s reasoning with, “…the good shows are great enough to get you through the bad ones. There’s still the insane rush of coming up with an idea and doing it on stage that night and honing it show after show. And there’s still a thrill in seeing how you’re bringing some pure laughter into someone’s life.”
“You’ve got to have that burning desire like 24/7 that makes you want to go out… just want to go out. You’re scared and nervous, but you want to go out there.” remarks James Earl Tompkins from Springfield. Originally from the East Side of Chicago, he landed at Wilberforce and Central State in his mid-twenties. His inspiration actually came from a speech class where he learned how to debate and discuss topics. He saw that he could apply those concepts to comedy and began trying to hone the mechanics at open mic events. His first forays did not always go as planned. “I felt so small on a lot of those days. I just wanted to hide. Hide out for weeks.” He sought solace in books that showed him the pitfalls of failure and how to strike back and overcome over adversity.
Egyptian born Sherif Hedeyat, who lives in a three-bedroom sleeper cell in Centerville and is one of the members of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, started in much the same way. While attending Wright State University, he tried out an open mic night at the now defunct Joker’s Comedy Café.
“I remember I was in the lounge at Wright State,” Sherif recalls, “and I remember somebody saying, ‘Hey, you’re pretty funny. You should try doing comedy at Joker’s.’ I went in there one night and just ate it bad. Literally it was like a year between my first and second time on stage because I was sitting there going, ‘Man! That was a painful experience!’ Then the second time on stage…well, it’s kind of like a drug. You start once, then you go back a while later and then you start to want it and you get better and you want it more, and it progressed.”
With ego crushing moments, little or no pay and the constant reworking of material, why would some partially sane person keep subjecting themselves to this potentially abusive mistress? The rush and the possibility of fame and fortune are motivating forces, but definitely not one that ranks the highest in most of the comedians’ minds that I interviewed.
“I keep doing it because there’s nothing else that provides the same thrill or satisfaction.” says Mat Thornburg. “Standup is great because you know instantly how you’re doing. That can be bad when you’re not doing well, but when you are doing well it’s great to hear it in the audience’s laughter. I think another reason I keep doing it is that there’s always room for improvement. There’s always something I can get better at or something I can make funnier and every performance is an opportunity to learn something new about standup and what works for you as a performer.”
I wondered if the national headliners looked down upon the aspiring comedian with disdain. Having already slogged up the mountain, did they view the local comics as untalented plebes or would they remember the arduous journey that they themselves had made and offer some assistance. I asked Banger this question, because he has a unique perspective, hanging out at Wiley’s, doing whatever it is he does there.
“A good headliner will look at an open mic guy that’s ‘got it’, especially the ones who’ve ‘got it’, and encourage them and they’ll give them little tips here and there.” Jeff said, “The ones (headliners) who are stuck on themselves, and they’re not usually the best headliner in the world, those are the ones that look down on the open mic guys.”
Ryan Singer had a slightly differing view, stating, “I think headliners don’t spend much time thinking about the local comedians one way or the other. I think headliners have their own careers to worry about and especially in the business nowadays, it can be brutal because there are so many comedians out there trying to work the same rooms. It is a tough business and when you do find a headliner that wants to help you, it is truly a random act of kindness. There are those that enjoy seeing the local comedians and offer good advice about building a career. Most young comedians don’t want to hear the advice because is all about patience and hard work. It takes a long time to become an overnight success in comedy.”
The Dayton and surrounding area has nurtured many nationally known humorists and comedians. Jonathan Winters, Erma Bombeck, Dave Chappelle, Drew Hastings, Dave Zage, Kenny Smith, Jesse Joyce, Gary Owen, Rob Haney…the list goes on and on. Is the Dayton comedy scene still a vibrant and living player on the national stage?
“Actually, I see a lot of good, up and coming comedians.” said Sherif. “There was a time for several years when we (local comedians) weren’t working ‘together’. I mean, when I came up, Cincinnati had Josh Sneed, Greg Warren and those guys, they were all hanging out together, they were writing together, they were in the clubs hanging out, they were creating that scene. In Dayton, it was almost like everyone was just doing their own thing or they were going to Cincinnati or Columbus to hang out. It seems like ever since the Funnybone opened (in Beavercreek) we got a whole new clientele and audience and we’ve got a whole new crop of comedians.”
To stand at a microphone alone, captured by the spotlight in front of a group of strangers with the intent of making them laugh is a daunting task unto itself. A classically trained actor performing a one man show does not have to carefully gauge the spectators and change up lines in midstream or alter the dialogue to please his audience. If an audience came to see Hamlet, then Hamlet they shall see. Yet how do you please a group that just shows up with the expectation of being made to laugh? Everyone’s sensibilities and sense of humor are truly not the same. The ability to have a rural farmer sitting next to a office worker who is seated near a college student and having them all succumbing to the least understood of all human reactions, that of laughter…well, one is truly encountering art at its most refined.
You can check out some of the best that the area has to offer almost any given Sunday at Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub (check website for details). This coming month, from July 1st through the 4th, Wiley’s will be holding a comedy contest, which I would like to think of as a Comedic Thunderdome-esque Cage Match of Epic Proportions, but Rob Haney just tells me to shut up when I say things like that. Anyway, you can come down and watch the best of the best compete for comedic glory or, since there is enough time, stand in front of a mirror, your dog and your family for a month, spitting the best anecdotes and one liners you can think of, honing your skills for the Big Time! The winner will receive $1,000 in American currency and forever secure their place in the Dayton’s Hall of Humor…well, if we had one of those here in Dayton, I’m sure that you would be secured there. Check out the open mic nights, and especially come out and support the local talent for the Wiley’s Comedy Contest on Thursday, July 1st at 8:30 pm, Friday, July 2nd at 9:00 pm, Saturday July 3rd at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm and Sunday, July 4th at 8:30 pm. Tickets are a mere $2. To enter the contest yourself, contact via e-mail Jack Wilson funnymayor@aol.com.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Pocket
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Comedy, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Banger, comedian, Comedy, comic, Jeff Bang, Mark Fradl, Mat Thornburg, open mic, Rob Haney, Ryan Singer, Sherif Hedeyat, Wiley's Comedy Niteclub

About J.T. Ryder

"There is nothing that can be said about me that hasn't already been said about Britney Spears' mommy parts: I'm bald, scarred and crave an inordinate amount of attention. I have no clue what to say about myself. There are times when I would write something humorous, wherein you would have little or no idea about my motives or personality, and yet there are other times when I would write something so personal that you may turn away. I really have no illusions, personally, as to the type of person I am, but no one person who has ever met me has seen more than a few facets at any one given time, therefore, opinions differ greatly as to who I actually am."

Reader Interactions


[fbcomments width="700" count="on" num="15" countmsg="Comments"]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Submit An Event to Dayton937

- Featured Events -

Loading view.
  • Previous week
  • Next week

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

What The Taco?!

10:30 am
solvita

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

1:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Huber Heights Branch

Sunflower Park U Pick

5:00 pm
Sunflower Park

Help Shape an Age-Friendly Dayton

5:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Main Library

$3 Burger Night

5:00 pm
Bullwinkle's Top Hat Bistro

Sand Art Air Plant Terrarium Workshop

6:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Kettering-Moraine Branch

Sip and Create: Intro to Basket Weaving with the Heritage Basketry Guild

6:00 pm
Blue Sky Coffee

FIVE-COURSE GERMAN-STYLE BEER DINNER

6:30 pm
BJ's Brewhouse Austin Landing

Bingo!

7:00 pm
Old Dayton Pizza at Riverside Hideaway

Justin’s LOTD Scotch Doubles Pool Tournament

7:30 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

Monday Night Laughs!

8:00 pm
Oregon Express
+ 4 More

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

Colorful Creatures To Love with Wild Hearts African Farm

10:30 am
Electra C Doren at Community Room

Senior Farmers Nutrition Program Informational Session

11:00 am
Dayton Metro Library West Branch

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

12:00 pm
O Reilly Auto Parts

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

2:30 pm
The Neon

Try Mountain Biking

4:00 pm
MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA)

Cloud Park Food Truck Rally

4:00 pm
Thomas Cloud Park

The Lumpia Queen

4:00 pm
Thomas Cloud Park

Home Cooked Vibes

4:00 pm
Thomas Cloud Park

TEA PARTY

5:00 pm
Lily's Dayton

Chef Talks Champagne-Ardenne

6:00 pm
Manna Uptown

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

6:00 pm
RiverScape MetroPark

Kamayan-Style Feast with Chef Gideon General

6:30 pm
Mazu
+ 7 More

The Beanhive Coffee Company

8:00 am
Winsupply

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

Fairborn Farmers Market

10:00 am
Fairborn Farmers Market

$1 Pretzel Dogs

10:00 am
Philly Pretzel Factory

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

11:00 am
Motoman Robotics

Community Day at Central State University-Dayton

11:00 am
Central State University-Dayton Campus

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

3:00 pm
Old Salem Mall

Miamisburg Farmers Market

3:00 pm
Miamisburg Christian Church

Color Your World: Teen Craft and Chat

4:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Main Library

Assertive Communication with Clothes That Work

4:30 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Southeast

Live Music from Danny Voris at Whisperz Speakeasy

6:00 pm
Whisperz Speakeasy

Cinn- Wagon

6:00 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar

California Wine Dinner

6:30 pm
Carrabba's Italian Grill

Trivia Night at Alematic

7:00 pm
Alematic Artisan Ales

Live Trivia

7:00 pm
Star City Brewing Company
+ 7 More

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

8:00 am
Old SICSA Bldg

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

The Lumpia Queen

11:00 am
Dayton Va Farmer's Market

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival

12:00 pm
greene county fairgrounds

Lebanon Farmers Market

4:00 pm
Bicentennial Park

Christmas in July Sip & Shop

4:00 pm
Cross Pointe Center

Claybourne GRILLE

4:00 pm
Hobson Freedom Park

Sunset at the Market

5:00 pm
2nd Street Market

Rolling Easy

5:00 pm
D20: A Bar with Characters

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Cincinnati Magazine’s Exquisite Posh Picnic

6:00 pm
The Historic Peterloon Estate

4-Course Cocktail Pairing Dinner!

6:30 pm
Bonefish Grill

Growing Herbs

6:30 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Vandalia Branch

Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes

7:00 pm
Levitt Pavilion

Fun Trivia! Prizes!

7:00 pm
Bock Family Brewing

Shrek The Musical

7:00 pm
Epiphany Lutheran Church

Gentle Yoga Flow as the Sun Sets

7:30 pm
Deeds Point
+ 9 More

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

8:00 am
Smith Park

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

8:00 am
Old SICSA Bldg

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

Keyhole Pizza On Wheels

10:00 am
Minster Bank Vandalia

Gourmet Grub Shack

11:00 am
Xenia BMW

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

11:00 am
Win Supply

Digging for Dinosaurs with Cincinnati Museum Center, presented by Junior League of Dayton

1:00 pm
Dayton Metro Library - Huber Heights Branch

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival

1:00 pm
greene county fairgrounds

What the Taco?!

3:00 pm
Voss Used Vehicles

ShowDogs HotDogs

4:00 pm
Voss Used Vehicles

Hamburger Wagon

4:00 pm
Goldie’s Soft Serve

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

4:00 pm
Rip Rap Roadhouse

Matilda: The Musical

6:00 pm
La Comedia

Wire-Wrapped Succulents: a Two-Part Workshop with Jenn & Shanon Queen

6:00 pm
Blue Sky Coffee

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

6:00 pm
Miami Valley Sports Bar
+ 14 More
Ongoing

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

10:00 am
Miami County Fairgrounds

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

8:00 am
John Bryan Community Center

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

8:00 am
Smith Park

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

8:00 am
Old SICSA Bldg

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

8:30 am
Franklin Farmers Market

Oakwood Farmers Market

9:00 am
Oakwood Farmers Market

Greene County Farmers Market

9:00 am
Beavercreek Farmers Market

Shiloh Farmers Market

9:00 am
Shiloh Church

Warren County Fair

9:00 am
Warren County Fairgrounds

Hot Weather Gardening

10:00 am
Cox Arboretum

Farmers Market at The Heights

10:00 am
Eichelberger Amphitheater

New Carlisle Farmer’s Market

10:00 am
Downtown New Carlisle

6888 Summer Marketplace

10:00 am
6888 Kitchen Incubator

Chair Yoga

11:00 am
The Contemporary Dayton

Sterling Community Clinic and Pharmaсу Grand Opening

11:00 am
Sterling Community Clinic and Pharmaсу

Smoked Tri-Tip Sandwich Cookout!

11:00 am
Dorothy Lane Market

The Gothic Market

12:00 pm
Dayton Convention Center

The View Juried Landscape Exhibition Gallery Reception

1:00 pm
Rosewood Arts Centre

Glizzies + Fizzies Beer Fest

1:00 pm
Loose Ends Brewing

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival

1:00 pm
greene county fairgrounds

Exhibition Tour

3:00 pm
The Contemporary Dayton
+ 24 More
Ongoing

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

10:00 am
Miami County Fairgrounds

Butler County Fair

7:00 am
Butler County Fairgrounds

Summer Restaurant Week

8:00 am

Clark County Fair

8:00 am
clark county fairgrounds

Shelby County Fair

8:00 am
Shelby County Fairgrounds

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

9:00 am
Downtown Troy

9th Anniversary 9 Course Meal

12:00 pm
Sky Asian Cusine

The Gothic Market

12:00 pm
Dayton Convention Center

“Escape to Murderville”

2:00 pm
Bock Family Brewing

Shrek The Musical

2:00 pm
Epiphany Lutheran Church

Over The Barrel

3:00 pm
The Century Bar

House Barrel Tasting

3:00 pm
The Century Bar

X-Mas in July “Sunset Tease”

5:30 pm
Oregon District
+ 11 More

Week of Events

Mon 14

Tue 15

Wed 16

Thu 17

Fri 18

Sat 19

Sun 20

July 19 @ 10:00 am - July 20 @ 3:30 pm

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

July 19 @ 10:00 am - July 20 @ 3:30 pm

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

July 19-20th. Sportscard Spectacular 2 day show. Miamicounty fairgrounds, Troy oh. 10am-3:30pm. Free admission, cash prizes, and great dealers. Miami...

Free
July 19 @ 10:00 am - July 20 @ 3:30 pm

Sports card Spectacular Show Troy oh Miamicounty Fairgrounds.

9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

July 14 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

Experience the Warren County Fair, an annual week-long event in July for the whole family!  Join us for fun, food, games,...

10:30 am - 1:30 pm

What The Taco?!

July 14 @ 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

What The Taco?!

Chipotle Chicken Taco GRILLED CHICKEN, SHREDDED LETTUCE, PICO DE GALLO, CILANTRO SOUR CREAM & MONTEREY JACK $10.00 Ground Beef Taco...

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

July 14 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

Each session of this freeform art class will focus on a different children's book illustrators' works and provide children an...

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Sunflower Park U Pick

July 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Sunflower Park U Pick

Take a little bit of the beautiful Sunflower Park sunflower field home with you to give your space a happy...

$5
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Help Shape an Age-Friendly Dayton

July 14 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Help Shape an Age-Friendly Dayton

Join us for a Town Hall Meeting focused on making Dayton more inclusive for people of all ages- especially older adults. As...

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

July 14 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

$3 Burger Night

From 5-10pm you can choose from the following: for $3 - it's a plain burger on a bun, $4 -...

$3
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Sand Art Air Plant Terrarium Workshop

July 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Sand Art Air Plant Terrarium Workshop

Get creative and bring nature into your space with our Sand Art Air Plant Terrarium workshop! In this hands-on session,...

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Sip and Create: Intro to Basket Weaving with the Heritage Basketry Guild

July 14 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Sip and Create: Intro to Basket Weaving with the Heritage Basketry Guild

Discover the timeless craft of basketweaving in this hands-on introductory class led by members of the Heritage Basketry Guild. Whether...

$20
+ 4 More
9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

July 15 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

Experience the Warren County Fair, an annual week-long event in July for the whole family!  Join us for fun, food, games,...

10:30 am - 11:30 am

Colorful Creatures To Love with Wild Hearts African Farm

July 15 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Colorful Creatures To Love with Wild Hearts African Farm

Colorful Creatures to Love is a 45–60-minute program for your library’s summer reading challenge, aligning with the theme “Color Our World”  Summer Reading...

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Senior Farmers Nutrition Program Informational Session

July 15 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Senior Farmers Nutrition Program Informational Session

Join us at the library for an informational session about the Ohio Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)—a wonderful opportunity...

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

July 15 @ 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Schmidt’s Sausage Truck

2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

July 15 @ 2:30 pm - 9:30 pm Recurring

Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

Tuesday at the Neon in Downtown Dayton movies are just $6.50

$6.50
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Try Mountain Biking

July 15 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Try Mountain Biking

Want to try mountain biking? Come out to the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) and borrow one of our bikes...

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Cloud Park Food Truck Rally

July 15 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Cloud Park Food Truck Rally

Get ready for a delicious summer in Huber Heights! Join us every other Tuesday starting May 6th through September 9th...

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Lumpia Queen

July 15 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Lumpia Queen

1 Lumpia Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Perfectly hand rolled and served with Sweet Chili Sauce. Choice of ... $2.50 3...

+ 7 More
8:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Beanhive Coffee Company

July 16 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Beanhive Coffee Company

Our trailer features premium espresso based drinks, and Lotus energy drinks. We take pride in using only the finest ingredients...

9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

July 16 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

Experience the Warren County Fair, an annual week-long event in July for the whole family!  Join us for fun, food, games,...

10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

July 16 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

The Fairborn Farmers Market was established with the intent to provide the Fairborn community access to fresh and wholesome products...

Free
10:00 am - 7:00 pm

$1 Pretzel Dogs

July 16 @ 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

$1 Pretzel Dogs

Celebrate National Hot Dog Day with us!$1 all-beef pretzel dogs1 FREE pretzel dog with app

$1
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

July 16 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Community Day at Central State University-Dayton

July 16 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Community Day at Central State University-Dayton

Central State University-Dayton invites the community to join in celebrating Community Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July...

Free
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

July 16 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

A celebration of locally sourced foods and products from small businesses in Trotwood and the surrounding communities! Stop by and...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

July 16 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

Miamisburg Farmers MarketAt Miamisburg Christian Church parking lot.1146 E. Central Ave in Miamisburg.Fresh Produce, sweet treats, food trucks and more..

+ 7 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

July 17 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

Join Friends of SICSA for their Annual Garage Sale! Shop an array of new and gently used items while supporting...

9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

July 17 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

Experience the Warren County Fair, an annual week-long event in July for the whole family!  Join us for fun, food, games,...

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Lumpia Queen

July 17 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Lumpia Queen

1 Lumpia Crispy Filipino Spring Rolls Perfectly hand rolled and served with Sweet Chili Sauce. Choice of ... $2.50 3...

12:00 pm - 11:30 pm

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival

July 17 @ 12:00 pm - 11:30 pm

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival

The Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Festival is a three-day music celebration, highlighting the best of bluegrass, folk, and Americana. Hosted at Clifton Opera House in...

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

July 17 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

The Lebanon Farmers Market is open 4 pm to 7 pm every Thursday mid-May through mid-October.  We are located in...

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Christmas in July Sip & Shop

July 17 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Christmas in July Sip & Shop

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Claybourne GRILLE

July 17 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Claybourne GRILLE

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Sunset at the Market

July 17 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Sunset at the Market

From May through October, Sunset at the Market series returns the third Thursday of each month, from 5 to 8...

+ 9 More
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

July 18 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Ohio Challenge is a thrilling hot air balloon festival, featuring balloon races, night glows, skydiving performances, carnival rides, and fireworks. Hosted at Smith Park...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

July 18 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

Join Friends of SICSA for their Annual Garage Sale! Shop an array of new and gently used items while supporting...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Clark County Fair

July 18 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

July 18 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm Recurring

Warren County Fair

Experience the Warren County Fair, an annual week-long event in July for the whole family!  Join us for fun, food, games,...

10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Keyhole Pizza On Wheels

July 18 @ 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Keyhole Pizza On Wheels

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Gourmet Grub Shack

July 18 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Gourmet Grub Shack

Gourmet Grub Shack creates traditional and non traditional Quesadillas, Soft Tacos, Rice bowl, Nachos. a BBQ Mexican-American Fusion

11:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

July 18 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Freakin Ricans Food Truck

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Digging for Dinosaurs with Cincinnati Museum Center, presented by Junior League of Dayton

July 18 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Digging for Dinosaurs with Cincinnati Museum Center, presented by Junior League of Dayton

Stop by anytime between 1:00 and 3:00 pm and test your paleontologist skills! Dig for fossils, touch dinosaur fossil replicas,...

+ 14 More
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

July 19 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

For over 20 years this market has been made up of a hardworking group of men, women and children, dedicated...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

July 19 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Ohio Challenge is a thrilling hot air balloon festival, featuring balloon races, night glows, skydiving performances, carnival rides, and fireworks. Hosted at Smith Park...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

July 19 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Annual Friends of SICSA Garage Sale

Join Friends of SICSA for their Annual Garage Sale! Shop an array of new and gently used items while supporting...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 19 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

July 19 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

Join us every Saturday through Sept 13, 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. for local products including fresh produce, honey/jams, and...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

July 19 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

The 2025 Oakwood Farmers’ Market will be held Saturdays, June 7th thru October 11th, from 9 am until 12pm. The...

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

July 19 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

The outdoor Farmers Market on Indian Ripple Rd. in Beavercreek runs Saturdays, 9-1 even during the winter months. Check out...

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

July 19 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

The farmers’ market is located on the corner of Main St. & Philadelphia Dr, in the parking lot of Shiloh...

+ 24 More
7:00 am - 11:00 pm

Butler County Fair

July 20 @ 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

Butler County Fair

We've got an amazing lineup of local talent playing every night from 5:30 to 9:00 PM — and it's FREE...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Summer Restaurant Week

July 20 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Summer Restaurant Week

Try unique menus at many of Dayton’s classiest places for reduced prices, all while raising money for charity. July 20-27,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

July 20 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Recurring

Clark County Fair

Live Entertainment, Carnival Rides, Antique Show, Livestock Show, Home Brew Contest, Truck Tug-O-War, Truck Pull, Demolition Derby, O.S.T.P.A. Tractor Pull,...

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Shelby County Fair

July 20 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Shelby County Fair

Join us for the 165th Annual Shelby County Fair, located right here in Sidney, Ohio July 20 - 26, 2025.  We...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

July 20 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

Downtown Troy Farmers' Market will run Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm from June 22nd, 2013 through September 21st,...

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

9th Anniversary 9 Course Meal

July 20 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

9th Anniversary 9 Course Meal

Join our exclusive 9-Course Bluefin Tuna Cutting Experience — a one-of-a-kind culinary showcase you don’t want to miss. Fresh. Artful....

$99
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

The Gothic Market

July 20 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Recurring

The Gothic Market

 Entry: In order to attend this event, you must have tickets in advance. Not only is it cheapest to get...

$10 – $13
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

“Escape to Murderville”

July 20 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

“Escape to Murderville”

Get ready for a night of mystery, mayhem, and margaritas at “Escape to Murderville”–the ultimate Jimmy Buffet-themed murder mystery dinner...

$25
+ 11 More
View Calendar

Join the Dayton937 Newsletter!

Trust us with your email address and we'll send you our most important updates!
Email:  
For Email Marketing you can trust
Back to Top

Copyright © 2025 Dayton Most Metro · Terms & Conditions · Log in

%d