Published May 8, 2025
MetroParks hosts free summer kick off festival at RiverScape MetroPark May 30
Five Rivers MetroParks will host its free annual summer kick-off festival, Passport to MetroParks, on Friday, May 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave.
Live music, food trucks, family activities and more will be part of the event, which also includes a sneak peek of some of Dayton’s largest cultural festivals.
Representatives from the Dayton Celtic Festival, Dayton African American Cultural Festival, and Hispanic Heritage Festival will be on site with activities, festival information and more.
Additionally, MetroParks staff will lead more than a dozen activities and games that highlight the variety of recreation, education, conservation and volunteer opportunities Five Rivers MetroParks offers. Activities include:
- Music Bingo – 6 to 7 p.m.
- Photo booth
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ aquarium tank
- Face painting
- Take-home gardening activities
- Meet MetroParks rangers and check out a cruiser
- MetroParks live wildlife ambassadors and crawling critters
- Climbing wall with MetroParks outdoor recreation team
- Crafts and games
- Kayak basics with Taiter’s Kayak Solutions – rentals also available
Participants can earn a stamp in their event passport for each activity they complete. Those who earn one stamp in each of the five categories can enter to win prizes, including a Huffy bike and scooters, and MetroParks program vouchers. Winners will be selected by June 13.
“Access to your Five Rivers MetroParks is free to the public year-round and many of our programs are free or low cost,” said Rachel Baney RiverScape program coordinator “Whether you are a family on a budget and want to maximize your summer adventures or simply don’t have the time to plan a long vacation, there are plenty of fun experiences to have right here in your MetroParks.”
From 7:30 to 9 p.m., enjoy local funk fusion band Freakquency on the main stage under the RiverScape pavilion. Grab a bite from Christian Bros Meat Company, El Meson, McNasty’s, Sweet P’s Handcrafted Ice Pops and Yummy Gyro.
A conservation agency, Five Rivers MetroParks will have waste stations at Passport to MetroParks to help divert waste from the landfill. Volunteers at these stations can help visitors dispose of waste properly. Additionally, Take Back the Tap will be on site with free water; however, visitors should bring a reusable water bottle.
Learn more about Passport to MetroParks by visiting metroparks.org/passport.
Passport to MetroParks is sponsored by CODE Credit Union, Huffy and Wright State University.
