Published June 29, 2023
Celtic Fest, Happy Hour, Summer Music and More at RiverScape
Dayton Fireworks 2023: What to Expect
Monday, July 3 2023 will be the City of Dayton’s Lights in Flight Fireworks Display at Kettering Field (444 N. Bend Blvd). The fireworks display is planned for 10 PM and admission is free. The location of the fireworks and the viewing area has changed from previous years.
The official viewing area is now Kettering Field. Due to the location of the fireworks, people will likely not be able to view them from RiverScape MetroPark and some areas downtown. Additional details on road closures can be found on the City of Dayton’s website.
Enjoy Happy Hour at Dayton’s Front Porch
In case you have not heard, the new Downtown Dayton DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) boundaries have officially been approved, and RiverScape MetroPark is now one of many participants! Enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Miami River, play some lawn games, and for those 21 and over, enjoy half-priced drinks on select beers and hard seltzers during our Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday during the Summer Music Series. Downtown Dayton Partnership has more information about DORA on their website.
Summer Music Continues
We still have tons of exciting shows in store under the RiverScape pavilion this summer! From Big Band and swing to rock and R&B – there is something for everyone to enjoy. So be sure to pull up those lawn chairs for fun nights of great music, food and drinks all summer long. Special thanks to RiverScape Summer Music Series presenting sponsor, Enterprise Roofing for their support. Check out our line-up this month:
- Thursday, July 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.: The New Old-Fashioned (Rock)
- Thursday, July 13, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Natural Progression (R&B)
- Thursday, July 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.: The Dayton Jazz Orchestra (Big Band/Swing)
Play Music Bingo!
Join us under the RiverScape pavilion on Saturday, July 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. for drinks, delicious tacos, and three rounds of Music Bingo! We all know the classic game – but in this exciting twist, instead of calling out numbers, a live DJ will play some of the biggest hits of all time from an array of genres. Simply mark off your bingo card when you get a match, and if you are one of the first players to reach five in a row and call out Bingo, you can win a neat prize – such as MetroParks merchandise, a season pass to the MetroParks Ice Rink, or some 2nd Street Market bucks. Food from El Buen Taco Food Truck and cold drinks at the rentals office will be available for purchase beginning at 4 p.m. We recommend arriving early as bingo cards are limited!
Free Fitness Offerings
Skip the gym and head outdoors to RiverScape for a variety of free workouts all summer long. Whether you are looking for an intense workout, want to practice some mindfulness, or prefer to dance for your work-out, we offer something for everyone. Classes also include Fitness in the Park’s yoga and Zumba classes, which are presented by Kettering Health Network with additional support from McGohan Brabender. July’s schedule is below:
- Zumba in the Park with Fit N Fruitful Wellness: Saturday, July 8 from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Yoga in the Park with Speakeasy Yoga: Saturday, July 15, and July 22, 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 Fitness: July 10, July 17, and July 24, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Tai Chi & Qigong at the River with Immortal Tree Qigong: July 11 and July 18 from 6 to 7 p.m.
- SWERK with MVP Dance Fit: July 5 and July 19 from 6 to 7 p.m.
- INNERGIZE with Kelly Gibson: July 12, 6 to 7 p.m.
The Dayton Celtic Festival Returns!
Summer is underway, which means the exciting return of some of the community’s favorite events, including the Dayton Celtic Festival! Head down to RiverScape during the last weekend of July and be a part of the epic three-day celebration of Celtic heritage. Enjoy live music across multiple stages from international, regional, and local acts, merchandise and food vendors, drinks, activities and so much more. Admission is free! To learn more about The Dayton Celtic Festival, including performance schedules, how to participate in the Celtic 5K/10K Run/Walk, check out their website. Festival hours are:
- Friday, July 28 from 5.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, July 29 from 11.30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grab Lunch at the RiverScape Café!
Whether you work downtown, or from home, take your lunch break or enjoy an outing with co-workers here at Dayton’s Front Porch. The RiverScape Café offers delicious and affordable lunch and snack options, including veggie and turkey wraps, hot dogs, soft pretzels, plus refreshing slushies and fountain drinks. The RiverScape Café is open Tuesday-Friday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kayak Rentals
Taiters Kayak Solutions will continue to offer kayak rentals on Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. through September! Paddlers will launch from under the Riverside bridge along the Great Miami Recreational Trail and paddle under the Five Rivers Fountain of Lights. Rentals start at $12 per person and a waiver is required. Inclement weather or high-water levels may result in closures or delays. To view alerts for any closures, please visit https://www.metroparks.org/park-alerts/
Upcoming Events:
- Declare Dayton: Friday, July 14
- Music Bingo: Saturday, July 15
- Dayton Celtic Festival: Friday, July 28 through July 30
- Dayton Salsa Project with Salsa Lessons by Chevere LF Dance Studio: Friday, August 4
- Dayton African American Cultural Festival: Saturday, August 19 (Island MetroPark)
- Dayton African American Cultural Festival Gospel Explosion: Sunday, August 20 (Island MetroPark)
- Hispanic Heritage Festival and URS Rubber Duck Regatta: Saturday, September 16
