Published June 28, 2023
New Happy Hours to accompany free concerts at RiverScape MetroPark
Five Rivers MetroParks will now offer Thursday Happy Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. before its free Summer Music Series concerts at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave. in downtown Dayton. Offerings will include beer, hard seltzers and other beverages. Lawn games such as cornhole will also be available.
Additionally, the downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) footprint has expanded to include RiverScape MetroPark and the 2nd Street Market and the surrounding downtown area. Downtown businesses participating in DORA – including RiverScape MetroPark – will offer designated cups that allow patrons ages 21 and older to carry a single beverage cup within the defined DORA boundary. Beer concessions at RiverScape MetroPark are sponsored by Bonbright Distributors. Find more information and a list of participating downtown businesses at www.downtowndayton.org/dora.
In addition to the Summer Music Series concerts – presented by Enterprise Roofing – RiverScape MetroPark will also host a free Music Bingo program on Saturday, July 15. The program begins at 5 p.m. with food trucks and drinks available starting at 4 p.m. Offerings this July include:
- Thursday, July 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.: The New Old-Fashioned
- Thursday, July 13, from 7 to 9 p.m.: Natural Progression
- Saturday, July 15, from 5 to 7 p.m.: Music Bingo
- Thursday, July 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.: The Dayton Jazz Orchestra
Kayak rentals hosted by Taiter’s Kayak Solutions continue in July and are available on Tuesdays (2 to 6 p.m.), Thursdays (4 to 8 p.m.) and during select special events through September (weather dependent).
Participants launch next to the Riverside Bridge along the Great Miami Recreation 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 $12/person and suitable for beginner kayakers.
Free fitness offerings continue this July, featuring high impact group workouts, mindfully-focused programs and dance fitness. Classes include Fitness in the Park’s yoga and Zumba classes, which are presented by Kettering Health Network with additional support from McGohan Brabender. June’s fitness schedule is:
- 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 the Festival Plaza)
- BootyMix Fitness: Mondays, from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Tai Chi & Qigong at the River with Immortal Tree Qigong: Tuesdays, 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.
Due to the holiday, there will be no classes on July 3 and July 4. Participants should remember to bring their own mat to yoga, in addition to a reusable water bottle to all fitness classes. Registration is not required.
Other free happenings in July at RiverScape MetroPark include:
- Declare Dayton: Friday, July 14, from 5 to 9 p.m.
- The United Irish of Dayton Celtic Festival: Friday, July 28, from 5:30 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, July 29 – 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For a complete list of programs and events at RiverScape MetroPark, visit www.metroparks.org/riverscape.
The Fountain Snack Bar offers snacks and cool treats, such as ice cream and cold drinks. Hours of operation are:
- Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fridays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The RiverScape Café is open, with weekly lunch hours of 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Tuesday through Friday). The Café will also be open Thursday evenings during the Summer Music Series concerts.
The interactive fountain and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights operate through Labor Day, Sept. 4. The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights goes off for 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour during the weekdays from 6:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. and during weekends from 10:55 a.m. to 10:05 p.m. Splash in the interactive fountain daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. These features are weather dependent and may close due to inclement weather, including high winds. For a complete list of MetroParks’ closures, please visit metroparks.org/alerts.
