Published July 1, 2025
Dayton Celtic Festival, free music, fitness and fun this July at RiverScape MetroPark
One of Dayton’s largest cultural festivals, the Dayton Celtic Festival, will be hosted at RiverScape MetroPark the last weekend of July. The festivities kick off on Friday, July 25, from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m., with three stages of local, regional, multi-national entertainment, food, beverages and more.
The festival continues through July 27 with the United Irish of Dayton Celtic Festival 5K/10K on Saturday and Gaelic Mass on Sunday, in addition to live music and family activities. Admission is free for all ages. Learn more about the festival at daytoncelticfestival.com.
Declare Dayton will also be hosted at RiverScape MetroPark on Saturday, July 19, from 3 to 7 p.m. This event is a celebration of community, faith and unity. Learn more at declare.org.
The RiverScape Summer Music Series continues through the end of August and features themed evenings and cover bands, along with its traditional lineup of big band, folk, rock and bluegrass. Admission is free. Concerts in July are:
- Friday, July 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet with Parrots of the Caribbean
- Thursday, July 17, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Big Band Night with Kim Kelly Orchestra
The RiverScape Summer Music Series is sponsored by the Jack W. & Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation and On Par Entertainment.
Also featuring music-themed entertainment, Tuesday Nights in the Park are each Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and alternate between live music and Music Bingo. Programs in July are:
- July 1: Live Music with Edde Osborne
- July 8: Music Bingo
- July 15: Live Music with Tony Peters
- July 22: Music Bingo
- July 29: Live Music with Ronald Alan Cordy
Taiter’s Kayak Solutions will rent kayaks on Tuesdays, from 2 to 6 p.m.; Thursdays, from 4 to 8 p.m.; through October.
Participants launch from under the Riverside Drive Bridge along the Great Miami Recreational 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 $15/person and are suitable for beginner kayakers. Learn more at metroparks.org/rentals.
RiverScape MetroPark’s fitness programming continues in July, with Fitness with Speakeasy on select Saturdays and community fitness programs scheduled Monday through Wednesday during the evenings.
July’s fitness schedule is:
- Yoga with Speakeasy: Saturday, July 12, from 10 to 11 a.m.
- BootyMix with BootyMix Fitness: Most Mondays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Bootcamp with The Unit: Most Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (located near Festival Plaza)
- Tai Chi & Qigong at the River with Immortal Tree Qigong: Most Tuesdays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Swerk with MVP Dance Fit: Most Wednesdays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Participants should bring their own mat to Yoga and Sculpt programs, and a reusable water bottle to all fitness classes. Registration is not required. Visit metroparks.org/fitness for the full fitness schedule.
Fitness in the Park is presented by Kettering Health with additional sponsorship from McGohan Brabender.
Visit metroparks.org/riverscape to view the entire list of programs at RiverScape MetroPark.
The RiverScape Café is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 4 to 9 p.m., with Happy Hour specials offered daily from 4 to 7 p.m. on select drinks. The menu features flatbreads, sides and desserts.
Because RiverScape MetroPark is part of the downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) footprint, visitors can also enjoy a variety of beer, wine, cocktails and hard seltzers available at the RiverScape Café.
The Fountain Snack Bar offers snacks and cool treats, such as ice cream and cold drinks. The hours of operation are:
- Noon to 6 p.m. – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays
- Noon to 8 p.m. – Thursdays through Saturdays
The Interactive Fountain and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights will operate through Labor Day, Sept. 1. The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights operates for 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour:
- Weekdays: 7:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m.
- Weekends: 10:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m.
The Interactive Fountain operates daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. These water features are weather dependent and may close due to inclement weather, including high winds. For a complete list of MetroParks’ closures, visit metroparks.org/alerts.
