Things to do in Dayton this weekend: Summerfest, Halloween Haunt, EcoFest, Wuffstock and more

The Petty Thieves: A Tribute to Tom Petty. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Cindy Whiteridge

The Petty Thieves: A Tribute to Tom Petty. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Cindy Whiteridge

This weekend, there will be many events taking place across the Dayton area including festivals, film screenings and fall activities.

Here’s a look at what’s happening:

Dayton Summerfest

When: 6 p.m. Sept. 19

Location: Levitt Pavilion, 134 S. Main St., Dayton

Description: The Rotary Club of Dayton presents Dayton Summerfest 2025 with two local bands closing out the summer: crabswithoutlegs plays at 6:30 p.m. and Brass Tracks Band begins at 8 p.m. Food trucks on-site will be The Lumpia Queen and Dirty Chicken.

Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt

When: Sept. 19-21

Location: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Mills

Description: Kings Island’s annual Halloween Haunt event will return this weekend. However, this year guests will have to purchase a Haunted Attractions Pass to enter the scare mazes. The park will also be closed for a private event until 7 p.m. Saturday.

Hairborn 2025

When: 4-10 p.m. Sept. 19

Location: 103 W. Main St., Fairborn

Description: Featuring free performances from Saint Hellion and Crazy Train: The Ultimate Ozzy Tribute, Hairborn 2025 will celebrate the history of rock music Friday night.

Petty Thieves: A Tribute to Tom Petty

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 19

Location: 19 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield

Description: The music of rock icon Tom Petty will be performed Friday night by cover band Petty Thieves. The show will begin at 7 p.m. with opening act John Dubuc, followed by the main event at 8 p.m.

Fall 2025 Moms’ Mart

When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 600 S. Dixie Drive, Vandalia

Description: The semi-annual Moms’ Mart event will take place Saturday morning in Vandalia. Featuring shoes, books, games, toys, nursery items and more, all proceeds from the sale will benefit Dayton Children’s Hospital.

Wuffstock

The Southern Ohio Flying K9s put on a demonstration Saturday during Wuffstock at Snyder Park.  BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

icon to expand image

Credit: Bill Lackey

When: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 1900 Park Road, Springfield

Description: Advertised as a “celebration of all things canine,” Wuffstock will feature a variety of pet-friendly food and item vendors, face painting, mascot meet-and-greets, live music and more. Additionally, there will be shows from The Performance Dogs of Ohio at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

EcoFest

When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 675 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering

Description: Guests will learn about wetland and animal conservation, beekeeping, renewable energy, electric cars and more at this Saturday’s EcoFest event. Visitors will also be able to take part in a variety of interactive activities and try food from various food trucks.

Dayton Art Institute Comedy Tour with Teddy

The Dayton Art Institute.  MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF

icon to expand image

When: 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton

Description: A part of the Dayton Art Institute’s “Special Interest Tours,” this event will see guests being taken through the museum by local stand up performer Teddy the Comedian, who will be educating visitors as well as entertaining. After the tour, there will be an art-making experience featuring a complimentary glass of wine.

Caesar Ford Ranger Classic

When: 4-8 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 520 S. Stringtown Road, Xenia

Description: The Caesar Ford Ranger Classic is a free event featuring a car show, live music, food trucks and more. Registration for the car show begins at 4 p.m., with judging set for 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.

‘Ghostbusters’ screening a the Englewood Cinema

When: 7-10 p.m. Sept. 20

Location: 320 National Road, unit 21

Description: To kick off the Halloween season, the Englewood Cinema will host a screening of the 1984 horror-themed comedy “Ghostbusters.” Members of the Huber Heights Ghostbusters fan group will attend the event.

About the Author