Dayton937

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

Active Living

Butler County Offers FREE pedal boat rental

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In honor of National Parks and Rec Month, MetroParks of Butler County is offering FREE pedal boat rentals and park programs to encourage everyone to get outside in July!

“We have so much to offer at MetroParks, from our programming to our waterways to over 70 miles of trails,” says Executive Director Jackie O’Connell, “National Parks and Rec month is a great time to check them out.”

The month kicks off with free pedal boat rentals at Voice of America MetroPark on July 6 from 12-2 p.m. Free programming includes:

Secret Stamps
Uncover the world of Letterboxing as you follow clues to collect cached stamps in the parks.

  • July 6- Sebald MetroPark, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • July 20- Rentschler Forest MetroPark, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Nature Explorers
Join us on Fridays and discover a new park and nature topic each week. Meet our animal ambassadors, creek with our MetroParks naturalists and more!

  • July 12- Mill Race Preserve Area of Four Mile Creek MetroPark, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
  • July 19- Meadow Ridge MetroPark, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
  • July 26- Timberman Ridge Area of Forest Run MetroPark, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Tuesday Hound Hikes
Make some new friends on an easy hike with your canine companion.

  • July 30- Rentschler Forest MetroPark, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

MetroParks will post FREE additional programs and giveaways throughout the month on its Facebook page. National Parks and Recreation Month is a unified effort to promote strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks.

MetroParks of Butler County parks are free for everyone to visit, and no motor vehicle permits are required.

Kayak Rentals at RiverScape

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Paddle under the fountains with Taiters Kayak Solutions all summer long at RiverScape MetroPark! Regular walk-up rental hours will take place Tuesdays from 2-6pm and Thursdays from 4-8pm, June-October. Launch from under the Riverside Bridge along the Great Miami Recreational Trail. The cost to participate is $12 per person per hour.

Taiters Kayak Solutions staff will provide visitors with brief instructions prior to entering the water, which will include a safety tutorial, and help visitors get into their vessels. All visitors will be required to wear a properly fitted life jacket. Swimming is prohibited in the Great Miami River, but visitors should come prepared to get wet. Those renting will not be permitted to go through the RiverScape River Run whitewater feature.

No lifeguards are on duty, and paddling is at all visitors’ own risk. All visitors must sign a waiver to participate. Visit Facebook.com/TaitersKayakSolutions for more information.

FREE Beginners-only Open House

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Come to a FREE Beginners-only Open House at Kettering BMX to try the fresh alternative to traditional sports. Tour our facility and test-out our track, with no obligation. Please be sure to reserve your spot here – https://usabmx.redpodium.com/kettering-sn12024
Skip the tryouts, grab a bicycle & pedal with BMX Racing League®, a NEW field-of-play where kids, ages 4-15 (and parents), have the chance to shine! Use our loaner bikes & helmets at no cost. Watch to learn more – https://youtu.be/_3fjshINs2w

Free Yoga at Herbert C. Huber Community Park

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Join the YMCA at the Heights at Herbert C. Huber Community Park for a relaxing day of yoga in the park! We will offer a combination of stretching and strengthening while connecting the mind, body, and spirit.

Sunday, June 23rd
2pm

This event is FREE for all and open to all ages!

You can register here: bit.ly/HBYogaJune24
Or you can just show up!

Address:
5401 Chambersburg Rd, Huber Heights, OH 45424

Have questions? Contact Kari Witmer, our Health & Wellness Director, at [email protected]

Free Wednesdays in June at the YMCA!

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Wanna see what the Y is all about? Come by any of our 12 Dayton area locations for FREE any Wednesday in June! Use our fitness center, pool, gym, group fitness classes and more! If you join that day, we’ll waive your join fee too! ($25 value) It’s a great time to join and take priority of your wellness.

YMCA Memberships offer state of the art fitness centers, free child watch, free group fitness classes, reduced rates on Child Care and Day Camps, and so much more! Learn more about our membership perks at jointheytoday.com

Our 12 locations are: Coffman YMCA (Springboro), Downtown YMCA, Fairborn YMCA, Grand Lake Health/Premier Health North YMCA (Celina), Grand Lake Health/Premier Health South YMCA (Minster), YMCA at the Heights (Huber Heights), Kleptz YMCA (Englewood), Preble YMCA (Eaton), Premier Health YMCA (Northwest Dayton), South YMCA (Kettering), West Carrollton YMCA, and Xenia YMCA.

Sweet, ‘Superior Donuts’ are ready at the GUILD!

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The Dayton Theatre Guild wraps us its season with Tracy Letts‘ ‘Superior Donuts.’ The show focuses on a Polish loner who keeps his tight grip on what is referred to as the last donut shop in the Northern Part of Chicago. The show opens with a trashed donut shop that will set the stage for reckonings of all kinds, with all kinds!

Arthur P (played marvelously by KL Storer) knows the world around his shop is changing but can’t be nudged to do the same. Enter Franco Wicks (you will feel the energy change when Andre Tomlinson appears on stage in the role, wow!) who tries to put a shot in the arm of the shop as well as the grumpy Mr. P. It is these 2 and their interaction that really keeps you engaged with this production. Their vulnerability is believable, and more-so when they are on the stage alone-together!

As they ‘come to terms’ with their pasts, and we see their future hopes unwind, we are moved from moments of high drama to almost sitcom like scenes. (Yes, the play was a movie and a pilot for just that!) Along the ride of these 2 characters we meet some gems. Mike Beerbower‘s Russian ‘enterpreneur’ has hilarious moments….the sweatsuit alone is laughable. One-liners delivered by Percy Vera (Officer Bailey) and Heather Martin (Officer Osteen) are initially shocking, and then keep the humor alive, in moments of otherwise deep thought. Martin’s first few lines give you a sense of ‘where we are’ in Chi-Town.

Throughout the show, we are thrust into some reminiscing that Letts felt necessary, but to be honest, it’s the present that makes us buy-in to these characters. Lady Boyle (played by Jennifer Lockwood) keeps us grounded in the fact that no one wants to see the shop close, but her expressions prepare us for what seems inevitable. Also wrapped into the story is Franco’s ‘bad decision’ to borrow money from the wrong guys….Maximillian Santucci‘s Luther Flynn is SPOT-ON!

Jared Mola, who directed ‘Donuts’, does a magnificent job of pacing the show! It’s one of those ‘quick’ and impactful 2 hour plays! Red Newman (Scenic Design) and Marjorie Strader (Lighting Design) delivered the goods as well. For my friend Amy and Me, the fight scene (nice work Kayla Graham) was well done…especially having the audience right on top of the action.

If you are a Letts fan, know this is not as extreme as some of his shows can go….it’s really about characters…with real, heartfelt issues to resolve. The Dayton Theatre Guild once again proves they are stellar in their desire to bring plays, worthy of seeing, to life in our town!

For information on ‘Superior Donuts’ and the GUILD, click here:

https://daytontheatreguild.org/production/superior-donuts/

 

 

Young’s Cheddar Challenge 5K

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The Great Miami River Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge

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The GREAT Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge is a catch-and-release tournament where anglers will utilize the I-Angler app to register and send in their catches.

The tournament is open to all ages and runs from June 15 – July 21 Registration is $30.

Prizes include gift cards, reels, rods, and more! 

Random Drawings for each Slot for 1st ($100), 2nd ($75) and 3rd ($50)*

“Recent records show that the largest smallmouth bass caught in the Great Miami River measured 24.3 inches,” said Barry Puskas, a Montgomery County resident and an avid fly fisherman. Donnie Knight, a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, states that “Smallmouth bass are plentiful in the Great Miami River from June through August, so it’s a great time to encourage anglers to get out on the water.”

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), we are able to offer FREE IGFA Digital Memberships* ($20 value per membership) for all registrants!

*Exclusive “Members Only” online access to: IGFA World Record database, Exclusive How-To & Historical Videos, World Record Game Fishes archives
*The monthly International Angler digital publication
*Members Only discounts on tackle, trips, charters and more from IGFA partners

 

BootyMix Fitness

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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. You’ll leave class with a better sense of self worth and honor your body for what it can do. Your mind will be refreshed so you can walk out into the world with a new perspective and confidence to chase those big dreams

2024 Museum Mile

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The 2nd Annual Museum Mile is going to be fun for the whole family! 

Beginning at Memorial Park just outside the National Museum of the United States Air Force, this family-friendly one mile course winds throughout the grounds of the museum before finishing under the wing tips of historic aircraft at the Air Park.

Packet Pick Up | 6:30 – 7:45 AM
Open Race | 8 AM
Women’s/Men’s Elite Race |8:35 AM

* Elite athletes will be notified if they meet elite running time standard

 

RiverScape Cornhole Tournament

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If you have a competitive spirit, enjoy being outdoors and winning prizes, you won’t want to miss our monthly cornhole tournament! Grab your friends or co-workers and join us under the RiverScape pavilion on the first Tuesday of the month from June through October for some friendly cornhole competition! While our tournament is family-friendly, we recommend participants be 14 and older.

Registration will begin on-site at 6:30 PM, with the tournament beginning at 7 PM. Spots are first come, first serve. Additional giant lawn games will also be available to play. Admission is free!

The RiverScape Cafe will be open and now offers an expanded food and dessert menu. For those 21 and over, cocktails, wine and other beverages will also be available for purchase as part of the Downtown Dayton DORA. Weather dependent.

Dayton Beer 5k

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The Beer 5K & 1/4 mile Walk / Tasting is an event that celebrates everything local. Local running, local drinking, and local charities. This event will bring together area microbreweries and the running community to enjoy a fun, athletic event with a relaxing beer tasting after party. The event will be open to the public with options for athletes of all abilities and beer enthusiasts.​

It’s Time Again…No Need to Hide Your PRIDE!!

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LGBTQ+ PRIDE kicks off in the month of June as a way of saying, ‘We’re Here, We’re Queer….‘ you know the rest! The month-long celebration, which commemorates the Stonewall Riots, got its unofficial start on June 28th, 1969. On that day, protests began in New York City at the Stonewall Bar. The protests followed police raids in the night club, which subsequently kicked-off the gay-rights liberation movement.   From then until now, and from NYC to everywhere you can imagine, PRIDE has become a way of showing society the impact LBGTQ+ persons have had in the history of the world.

PRIDE has grown exponentially, and Dayton is seeing that growth in its celebration as well. The event, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday, ending with the annual Running with Pride 5K, looks to be the biggest ever. As of this writing there are anticipated to be over 100 vendors! Friday’s kick-off features ‘Affair on St. Clair‘ as the event has moved from Courthouse Square to St. Clair between 1st and 2nd Streets. This also gives people a chance to see the new LGBT Center!

Among the many changes that are being ushered in will be the Todd Crawford Beer Garden, which pays tribute to one of Dayton’s most beloved advocates and volunteers. Friday night will have all kinds of live entertainment, and back by popular demand, the philanthropic ladies themselves, The RubiGirls will close out the day with their newest show at 9pm.

Saturday will play host to the annual Pride Parade with its new route running from 2nd Street passing the Schuster and Victoria and then down 1st Street. The parade will end at the main stage on St. Clair. The parade ends where the party begins….which includes food, beer, vendors, singers, drag, dancers, and just about anything else you can think of!!

Bring the family and enjoy some time with Dayton’s Pride Festival. So much to see and do! And if you’ve been before, you know PRIDE in DAYTON is just another reason to be PROUD OF DAYTON!

For all the area PRIDE events and details for each, it’s as easy as clicking on

https://dayton937.com/events/list?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=12230

 

2024 FAST LAPS #2

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2024 FAST LAPS #2 (so popular that we are doubling the price, 2 x $0 = $0, still free!) weather and course conditions permitting, 6:30pm Wednesday, 29 May 2024 at Troy Mountain Bike Area in Duke Park (Troy, Ohio).
Our dedicated TMBA crew has recommended we move to the 29th date due to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources invasive species mitigation (mostly invasive Honey Suckle and Pear, but we hope they get the poison ivy and thorns too!). The TMBA tread appears to be surviving but we will need to do some work between now and FAST LAPS #2 to have a viable course, stay tuned for TMBA maintanence opportunities. No rain date for FL #2 since we move to John Bryan in June for the 6hr course preview!
5:30pm check-in, number plate, and activity waiver verification at the TMBA picnic shelter.
6:30pm start.
New & Improved registration with fully digital Activity Waiver, www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=351876
You must List the date the activity is taking place (29 May 2024 or 5/29/2024 or however you write the date) to verify acceptance of the waiver. Complete waiver information and legible signature required to complete check in. Pre-register (it’s free and you get assigned a MVMBA number plate, and we won’t post DNS if you don’t show) to save time and relieve our check-in volunteers.
Note new & improved categories as well (we do listen to suggestions!), including Recreational (no podiums, no pressure!), and Prologue only (~1 mile or less, all beginner trail) for kids just figuring out how to ride a bike. Depending upon turnout, we may have Alpha (fastest overall) and Omega (enjoyed the longest ride time!) recognition.
See Facebook MVMBA page for updates.
Volunteers desperately needed for timing/number plate spotting/course marshalling – A great way to spectate and follow the riders progress! This series will not be continued without volunteers.
Also need help for check-in and setup/course sweeper/awards/cleanup (all can ride).
Volunteer signup (must open in browser, doesn’t seem to work within Facebook app), https://tinyurl.com/MVMBA-FL-2volunteers
Please post reply or contact [email protected] for further information or suggestions 🙂.
Registering multiple riders from the same webscorer account? If you wish to register another participant or edit a registration from your account:
1) Stay Signed in
2) Select the “Event Registration Page” button 2nd from the top on the right on the webscorer event page
or go to /www.webscorer.com/register?pid=1&raceid=351874
3) Select Start new registration or edit registration as appropriate…
Many of the blanks will autofill when you start typing (email, emergency contact, …)
Email [email protected] for suggested improvements or to volunteer.
Interested in more of these kinds of activities? Join MVMBA at www.mvmba.bike and get involved!
Interested in being a FAST LAPS series, venue, or MVMBA sponsor? Contact [email protected]

Zumba in the Park (and it’s FREE)

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Enjoy fun, effective and FREE outdoor workouts under the pavilion! Come out for a fast-paced Zumba workout with instructor Meghan Millat using dance moves to upbeat music. Remember to bring your own water bottle and towels.