Published April 21, 2025
Summer starts early with free fitness, festivals and special events at RiverScape this May
Five Rivers MetroParks kicks off festival season in May, along with free fitness opportunities and special events at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave. in downtown Dayton.
Special events during May include MetroParks’ Passport to MetroParks on Friday, May 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. This free, family-friendly festival is an opportunity to preview all the happenings in Five Rivers MetroParks this summer, from cultural festivals to MetroParks’ programs. Fill up your passport for a chance to win prizes. Learn more at metroparks.org/passport.
On Friday, May 16, from 7 to 9 a.m., Five Rivers MetroParks will host its annual National Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast. Participants are encouraged to bike to this free, pancake-flipping breakfast, which features live music, a cycling expo and more. Learn more at metroparks.org/biketowork.
MetroParks adds a new free fitness program to its Fitness in the Park line-up: Sculpt, a low-impact, high-intensity program instructed by Speakeasy Yoga. In addition, MetroParks will continue to host its popular Yoga with Speakeasy, also instructed by Speakeasy Yoga. Fitness in the Park is presented by Kettering Health with additional sponsorship from McGohan Brabender.
In addition to Fitness in the Park programs on select Saturdays, MetroParks also hosts Community Fitness programs during the evenings, Monday through Wednesday.
May’s fitness schedule is:
- Yoga with Speakeasy: Saturday, May 10 and May 31, from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Sculpt with Speakeasy: Saturday, May 17, 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/programs for the full fitness schedule.
Tuesday Nights in the Park entertainment starts May 6. Visitors can enjoy live local musicians or Music Bingo, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Other events in May at RiverScape MetroPark include:
- Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial: Friday, May 2, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Dayton Public Schools All City Arts Festival: Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- YMCA Healthy Kids Day: Saturday, May 10, from noon to 4 p.m.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly also is happening in May, with a portion of downtown Dayton being transformed into “NATO Village.” The NATO Village footprint will include sections of the downtown Great Miami River Trail and all of RiverScape MetroPark, which means access to these amenities and facilities will be restricted to the public for the duration of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (May 20 through May 27). Public programs at RiverScape MetroPark will not be held during this time.
These closures are for the safety and security of NATO attendees as well as the surrounding Dayton community. The latest information on closures will be available closer to the event at metroparks.org/alerts.
Cool treats and water play
The RiverScape Café will open on Thursday, May 1 and will offer appetizers, flatbreads and desserts. Because RiverScape MetroPark is part of the downtown Dayton DORA footprint, visitors can also enjoy a variety of beer, wine, cocktails and hard seltzers. Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 4 to 9 p.m., with Happy Hour specials offered daily from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Fountain Snack Bar will open on Friday, May 30 and offer snacks and cool treats, such as ice cream and cold drinks. Hours of operation are:
- Noon to 6 p.m. – Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Noon to 8 p.m. – Thursdays through Saturdays
The interactive fountains and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights will operate from Memorial Day weekend, May 27, to Labor Day, Sept. 2. The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights operates for 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour:
- Weekdays: 6:55 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.
