Updated April 22nd, 2024
MetroParks Monthly: Programs & Events for May
Below you’ll find a list of programs and events for all ages, from children to life-long learners, in addition to MetroParks must-dos, sustainability tips and information on what’s growing in the parks this month.
Take a deeper dive into your areas of interest by signing up for MetroParks’ email newsletters and following Five Rivers MetroParks on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
PROGRAMS
Active Outdoors
- Fly Fishing 1: Casting: May 2 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Try Mountain Biking: May 2 – 4 to 7 p.m. at MoMBA
- Mother and Son Fishing Day: May 4 – 9 a.m. to noon at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Bicycle Maintenance 1: May 7 – 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Backcountry Knots: May 9 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Fly Fishing 2: Lake: May 9 – 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Fly Fishing 2: Wading and Reading Water: May 11 – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- Bicycle Maintenance 2: Brakes: May 14 – 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Fly Fishing 3: River: May 18 – 9 a.m. to noon at Eastwood MetroPark
- Bicycle Maintenance 2: Shifters and Derailleurs: May 21 – 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Stand Up Paddleboarding 1: May 22 – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Youth & Family
- Morning Chores: May 4 – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Meet Our Native Trees: May 4 – 3 to 4 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Forest at Night: May 4 – 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Planting for Pollinators: May 4 – 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Tike Hike: May 15 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Owl Prowl: May 17 – 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Hills & Dales MetroPark
- NestWatch Monitoring: May 18 – 3 to 3:30 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Stream Salamander Sampling Investigation: May 18 – 5 to 7 p.m. at Possum Creek Metropark
- Tike Hike: May 20 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Insect Investigation: May 20 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Forest Community Analysis: May 25 – 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Nocturnal Backyard Insects: May 25 – 8 to 10 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
Adult Nature Exploration
- Cox in May: May 8 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Family Caregiver Nature Walk: May 14 – 11 a.m. to noon at Eastwood MetroPark
- Tour Aullwood: May 15 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Aullwood Garden MetroPark
- Photography Outing on the River: May 19 – 1 to 2:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
- EcoTalk: Beasts of the Air: May 23 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Frogs of Ohio: May 24 – 8 to 10 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Spring Migrant Bird Walk: May 25 – 8 to 10 a.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- May Wildflower ID: May 25 – 1 to 3 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Owl Walk: May 25 – 9 to 10:30 p.m. at Germantown MetroPark
Earth Friendly Living
- Getting the Garden Planted: May 11 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Seed Bombs for Pollinators: May 11 – 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Pocket Native Plant Gardens: May 19 – 1 to 2:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
For Everyone
- Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial: May 3 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark
- May the 4th Be With You: May 4 – 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Paint-A-Park: May 5 – 2 to 5 p.m. at Eastwood MetroPark
- How Seeds Move: May 17 – 11 to 11:45 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
SPECIAL EVENTS
Summer starts this May at RiverScape MetroPark
Start the month by getting your body moving with free fitness programs at RiverScape MetroPark. Community Fitness classes are held weekly Mondays through Wednesdays, with Fitness in the Park (yoga and Zumba) select Saturdays. Bring a reusable water bottle, mat, towel and get ready to get fit and make new friends.
Fitness in the Park is presented by Kettering Health and sponsored by McGohan Brabender.
The summer festival season kicks off on May 26 with Passport to MetroParks. From 6 to 9 p.m., visitors can enjoy a free evening of live music, food trucks, music bingo and more than a dozen family-friendly games and activities hosted by MetroParks’ staff. Attendees will also get a preview of some of Dayton’s most-loved festivals with representatives from the Dayton Celtic Festival, Hispanic Heritage Festival and the Dayton African American Cultural Festival. Pick up a passport and fill it up by completing activities for your chance to win fun prizes. Learn more about Passport to MetroParks.
Passport to MetroParks is presented by Huffy and sponsored by CODE Credit Union.
Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast
May is National Bike Month and MetroParks is celebrating all month with programs that can help you Get Out & Ride. The month culminates with everyone’s favorite pancake-flipping cycling celebration of the year: MetroParks’ Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast on Friday, May 17.
From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at RiverScape MetroPark, cyclists of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to ride to RiverScape MetroPark for a free pancake breakfast, live music and community cycling expo. Human-powered transportation is a greener way to get to school, work and beyond, which is certainly something to celebrate. Learn more about this free event.
The Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast is presented by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Rideshare Program, with additional sponsorship from City of Dayton Water, Winans Coffee & Chocolate, Dayton Cycling Club, Leppla Associates and Wagner Subaru.
Get more commuting resources from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Rideshare Program at MiamiValleyRideshare.org or call 937-223-SAVE.
Outdoor Farmers Market Opens at the 2nd Street Market
More vendors means more fresh produce starting on Saturday, May 4, the grand opening of the outdoor farmers market at the 2nd Street Market. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, the outdoor famers market features local growers, artisans and more, and is open through the end of October.
May is also an excellent month for plant-lovers, as there are opportunities to pick up plenty of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and more during the Wegerzyn Garden Foundation’s MayFair Plant Sale on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. The Market’s semi-annual Native Plant Sale is on Sunday, May 12, and offers a variety of native plants, shrubs and trees that flourish in Ohio’s weather and ecosystems.
MONTHLY MUST-DOS IN YOUR METROPARKS
Get Out & Ride: May is National Bike Month, the perfect reason to dust off your bike and explore the region’s 350 miles of paved trails – the nation’s largest paved trail network. Here are some inspiring reasons and amazing resources to help you get in the cycling groove this season.
Make memories with your mom: Mark your calendar – Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12 and the perfect occasion to head outside for some family time. Plan a picnic at one of your favorite MetroParks, find beautiful blooms at Cox Arboretum MetroPark or head out to the 2nd Street Market to enjoy brunch.
Horsing around: Did you know that you don’t need to be taking lessons at the Carriage Hill Riding Center to visit the horses? The Riding Center is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. When you visit, you may see horses out at pasture or in the stables. Riding Center staff and volunteers are also on site to answer any questions. Learn more at the Carriage Hill Riding Center.
SUSTAINABILITY TIP: International Compost Awareness Week is May 7-13, and a great reason to learn more about this green practice. One of the largest contributors to the landfill is food waste. In the U.S., people waste 80 million tons of food per year. You can cut down on your landfill contributions by composting.
Learn how to compost at home by visiting our blog and at-home sustainability section of MetroParks’ website. For those with limited space, check out the new composting program at the 2nd Street Market courtesy of Waste Free Dayton and GoZERO Services. The Foodbank Dayton also offers a composting buckets program.
MAY CHALLENGE: Step up your goals! According to a 2022 study published in Nature Magazine, walking can reduce risk of chronic disease, including conditions such as obesity, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. If you aren’t getting at least 8,200 steps a day, see if you can work your way up by hiking, walking or going for a run. MetroParks Heart Healthy Trails and 2024 Trails Challenge are great ways to help you meet your goals.
Please note: Programs and events with limited capacity may fill quickly; however, in some cases waitlists are available. Please contact 937-275-PARK to inquire about being placed on a waitlist. Additionally, programs may be cancelled due to a variety of reasons – including weather conditions – please check our online calendar to check the status of a program or event before attending.
