Published May 23, 2024
Free live music returns to RiverScape MetroPark this June
Five Rivers MetroParks has expanded its live music offerings this summer at RiverScape MetroPark, 237. E. Monument Ave in downtown Dayton. Starting this June, RiverScape’s Summer Music Series starts on Friday, June 7 with ‘90s Night featuring The Wet Bandits from 6 to 9 p.m. Concerts will be held each week on Thursdays or Fridays.
Additional RiverScape Summer Music Series concerts, sponsored by the Jack W. & Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation and Enterprise Roofing in June are:
- Thursday, June 13, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Big Band Night featuring the Tom Daughtry Orchestra
- Friday, June 21, from 7 to 9 p.m.: R&B Night featuring Authorized Personnel
- Thursday, June 27, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Celtic Folk Rock featuring Father Son and Friends
New this year, RiverScape MetroPark will also host new Tuesday Nights in the Park, which alternate between live music and games on Tuesday evenings:
- Tuesday, June 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.: RiverScape Cornhole Tournament
- Tuesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Live Music from Brenna Geyer
- Tuesday, June 18, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Music Bingo
- Tuesday, June 25, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Live Music from Marianna Kesler
Taiter’s Kayak Solutions will rent kayaks on Tuesdays (2 to 6 p.m.), Thursdays (4 to 8 p.m.) and during special events through October.
Participants launch next to the Riverside Bridge along the Great Miami Recreation Trail with the option to paddle through the Five Rivers Fountain of Lights. Life jackets are provided and required, and a waiver must be signed. Rentals start at $12/person and are suitable for beginner kayakers.
June’s free fitness offerings featuring high impact group workouts, mindfully-focused programs and dance fitness. Free fitness classes include Fitness in the Park’s yoga and Zumba classes, which are presented by Kettering Health with additional sponsorship from McGohan Brabender. June’s fitness schedule is:
- Yoga in the Park with Speakeasy Yoga: Saturday, June 1, from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Zumba in the Park with Meghan Millat: Saturday, June 8 and 29, from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Bootcamp with The Unit: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (located near Festival Plaza)
- BootyMix with Amanda Miller Mondays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Tai Chi & Qigong at the River with Immortal Tree Qigong: Tuesdays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Stay Fit with DCDC with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company: Wednesdays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Participants should remember to bring their own mat to yoga, in addition to a reusable water bottle to all fitness classes. Registration is not required. Check metroparks.org/programs for the entire fitness schedule. Please note: There will be no fitness programs on June 19.
Other happenings in June at RiverScape MetroPark include:
- Dayton Beer 5K: Saturday, June 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Dayton City Market: Sunday, June 2, from noon to 5 p.m.
- For Dayton by Dayton: Saturday, June 8, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Starting June 4, the RiverScape Café is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. The season’s new menu features appetizers, flatbreads, and desserts. Because RiverScape MetroPark is included in the Downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) footprint, people walking in the downtown area are welcome to visit the park with their beverages within the DORA boundary. Learn more about DORA and participating businesses – including RiverScape MetroPark – at www.downtowndayton.org/dora.
In addition to the RiverScape Café, the Fountain Snack Bar offers snacks and cool treats, such as ice cream and cold drinks. Hours of operation are:
- Noon to 6 p.m. – Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Noon to 8 p.m. – Thursdays through Saturdays
The interactive fountains and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights will operate from Memorial Day weekend, May 27, to Labor Day, Sept. 2. The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights operates for 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour during the weekdays from 6:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. and during weekends from 10:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. Splash in the interactive fountains daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. These features are weather dependent and may close due to inclement weather, including high winds. For a complete list of MetroParks’ closures, please visit metroparks.org/alerts.
