Updated August 28th, 2024
MetroParks Monthly: Programs & Events for September
Below you’ll find a list of programs and events for all ages, from children to lifelong 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
- Try Mountain Biking: Sept. 3 – 4 to 7 p.m. at Huffman MetroPark
- Youth Trot English Horseback Riding Lessons: Sept. 4 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Youth Advanced Canter English Horseback Riding Lessons: Sept. 5 – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Fly Fishing 3: Smallmouth Bass: Sept. 7 – 9 a.m. to noon at Eastwood MetroPark
- Backpacking 2: Sept. 7 – overnight at Germantown MetroPark
Youth & Family
- Camping Experience: Sept. 5 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Englewood MetroPark
- Tike Hike: Sept. 6 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Morning Chores: Sept. 7 – 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Backyard Naturalist Training: Sept. 7 – 10 a.m. to noon at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Invertebrate Sampling Investigation: Sept. 7 – 3 to 5 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Seeds: Sept. 10 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Monarch Health: Sept. 13 – 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Butterfly Bonanza: Sept. 14 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Monarch Tagging: Sept. 14 – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Creek Creatures: Sept. 16 – 6 to 7 p.m. at Wesleyan MetroPark
- Tike Hike: Sept. 18 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Fossil Fun: Sept. 21 – 10:30 a.m. to noon at Germantown MetroPark
- Exploring Adaptations: Sept. 21 – 2 to 4 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Spider Search: Sept. 21 – 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hills & Dales MetroPark
- Pondology: Sept. 26 – 10 to 11 a.m. at Taylorsville MetroPark
- Woodpecker Watch: Sept. 28 – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Taylorsville MetroPark
Adult Nature Exploration
- Migrating Bird Walk: Sept. 7 – 9 to 11 a.m. at Germantown MetroPark
- Spider ID and Ecology: Sept. 7 – 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Golden Hour Photography: Sept. 7 – 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Family Caregiver Nature Walk: Sept. 14 – 11 a.m. to noon at Eastwood MetroPark
Earth Friendly Living
- Pick Your Own: Flowers, Produce and Herbs: Sept. 4 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Possum Creek MetroPark
- Landscape Lessons: Fall Color in the Garden: Sept. 14 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark
- Planting Bulbs in Fall: A Complete Guide: Sept. 21 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
For Everyone
- Paint-A-Park: Sept. 1 – 2 to 5 p.m. at Taylorsville MetroPark
- Sweet Sorghum Day: Sept. 21 – 10 a.m. to 3:00pm at Carriage Hill MetroPark
Special Events
Get Out & Explore Your MetroParks
For more than 60 years, Five Rivers MetroParks has been connecting people with nature by providing clean, safe outdoor spaces that support the public’s physical, emotional and mental health. You can learn more about exploring your MetroParks and get involved by:
- Volunteering with Five Rivers MetroParks
- Learning more about your Five Rivers MetroParks on November’s ballot
- Becoming a MetroParks Champion
MetroParks on the Ballot
Five Rivers MetroParks has an issue on the November 5th ballot. It is a 1-mill, 10-year operating levy. By law, Five Rivers MetroParks cannot advocate for this issue. An independent campaign committee, Five Rivers MetroParks Levy Committee, has formed to do this. To contact the campaign committee, you can visit their website at VoteForFiveRivers.org or email them at info@voteforfiverivers.org.
Last Chance for Summer Fun at RiverScape MetroPark
The kids may be headed back to school, but there’s still many ways to get out and enjoy the summer weather at RiverScape MetroPark.
Join us for free fun at Tuesday Nights in the Park through September, including live music, corn hole tournaments and music bingo. Free community fitness classes also continue in September. All classes are free, and no registration is required. Additionally, the interactive fountain and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights operate through Labor Day.
The Fountain Snack Bar remains open and offers snacks and cool treats, such as ice cream and cold drinks. For other food options, visit the RiverScape Café, which offers a variety of appetizers, flatbreads and desserts, in addition to alcohol including beer, hard seltzers, wine and cocktails. The RiverScape Café is open Tuesday-Saturday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Your MetroParks
Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sept. 15 and is an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Americans whose ancestors came from Central and South America, Spain, Mexico and the Caribbean.
The 2nd Street Market will host a Hispanic Heritage Dinner on Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Join Chef Santiago Herrera as he presents tapas, or small bites, from Mexico, including black bean molletes, cucumber guacamole, chicken tinga, cochinita pibil enchilada and tres leches cake for dessert. Chef Herrera will also demonstrate for you how to make his guacamole.
Summer at RiverScape MetroPark culminates with Puerto Rican, American and Caribbean Organization’s Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Festivalgoers can enjoy live Latin music, children’s activities, food, vendors and more.
Your MetroParks and Food Equity
Equitable access to fresh, healthy food is important to the environment and the community’s health. Each year, your Five Rivers MetroParks encourages people to support their local food system by adopting sustainable living habits, gardening, shopping local and partnering with community organizations on the frontline addressing food insecurity.
In late spring, Five Rivers MetroParks worked with The Foobank, Inc. to distribute Garden to Go Kits. This program – sponsored by Dayton Children’s – provides all the necessities to start a small garden to those who need it most, allowing recipients to pad their pantries with fresh produce and herbs.
This September, The Foodbank, Inc. and its partner pantries will be visiting the 2nd Street Market for four food drives during Hunger Action Month. Food drives will be on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring self-stable foods or are welcome to shop from the Market’s vendors with an orange Hunger Action Month tote displayed at their stand. Learn more.
Save the Date: Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience Oct. 5 & 6
With something for everyone to enjoy, the annual Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, at Eastwood MetroPark. The region’s premier outdoor adventure festival will offer hands-on activities, competitions, demos from the pros, live music, food and much more.
Want to be a part of the team behind-the-scenes? Sign up to volunteer.
The Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience is presented by Huffy with additional sponsorship from Great Lakes Brewing Company, Fifty West Brewing Company, Subaru of America, Best Breed, Care Center Vets, City BBQ, Kayak Coffee, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and Perrigo Nutritionals.
Monthly must-do in your MetroParks:
Complete a Trails Challenge trail: Participants have until Oct. 31 to check off MetroParks Trails Challenge trails for their chance to win awesome prizes. Hike, paddle, cycle, mountain bike or horseback ride just one or all 28 trails as you explore your MetroParks on your own time and at your own pace. Registration is free. Learn more and register to participate here.
The MetroParks Trail Challenge is presented by Huffy with additional support from Dayton Children’s Hospital, Wright State University and Miller Valentine Construction.
Find out what’s falling: As fall approaches, you’ll find many things on the ground to identify, from acorns to leaves of all shapes – and perhaps even colors. Check out the digital version of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Trees of Ohio field guide to learn more about what’s falling.
The great outdoors with grandparents: National Grandparents Day is Sept. 8 and a great way to celebrate is by inviting your grandparents to join you for some quality time in the great outdoors. Visit one of MetroParks’ Heart Healthy trails for an easy walk on a flat or paved surface.
Sustainability Tip: Don’t rake your leaves
If you’re looking for an excuse to minimize your yard work – here it is! Fallen leaves create a home for insects and a food source for wildlife. Leaf litter is also rich with nutrients your lawn needs to thrive through winter – including helping with moisture retention, adding nitrogen back into the soil and suppressing weeds that may sprout before you start your spring garden. So instead of throwing your leaves away, leave them where they fall.
September Challenge: Spend a day downtown
Downtown Dayton is home to several MetroParks locations. Enjoy the late summer weather by grabbing a bite to eat or exploring the outdoor farmers market at the 2nd Street Market, then take a walk at RiverScape, Sunrise, Island or Deed’s Point MetroParks.
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.
