PLEASE NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of festivals in the Dayton area. Festival details, times and events are subject to change.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Passport to MetroParks
WHEN: Friday, May 26
WHERE: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
INFO: Passport to MetroParks will kick off the summer season from 6 to 9 p.m. with a sneak peek of upcoming festivals, events and more happening in Dayton. The event will feature live music, live animals, food trucks and family-friendly games and activities. Participants will have a chance to earn a stamp in their event passport for each activity they complete. Those who earn one stamp in each of five categories will be entered to win prizes. For more information, visit the Passport to MetroParks’ event page on Facebook.
Cheese Fest
WHEN: Friday May 26
WHERE: Austin Landing, 10050 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg
INFO: New this year to Austin Landing’s slate of festivals is Cheese Fest, an event all about cheese. Festivalgoers can expect everything from BBQ mac and cheese, grilled cheese, cheeseburgers and cheese sticks to cheesecake ice cream, cheesecake and much more. A beer garden, wine, live music and fireworks are also a part of the festivities. For more information, visit the Cheese Fest event page on Facebook.
Credit: CONTRIBUTED/DAVID A. MOODIE
Credit: CONTRIBUTED/DAVID A. MOODIE
Dayton LGBTQ+ Pride (Affair on the Square, Pride Parade and Pride Festival)
WHEN: Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4
WHERE: Courthouse Square (23 N. Main St.), other events at Cooper Park (E. Second St.) and Eastwood MetroPark (1385 Harshman Road)
INFO: Dayton Pride 2023 kicks off with Affair on the Square Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. The event features live music, entertainment and food trucks. Festivities continue Saturday with a parade from noon to 1 p.m. The lineup begins at 11 a.m. in Cooper Park. The Dayton PRIDE festival is noon to 4 p.m. with live music, entertainment, vendors and food. Sunday will feature a 5K at Eastwood MetroPark starting at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.daytonlgbtcenter.org.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Troy Strawberry Festival
WHEN: Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4
WHERE: Downtown Troy
INFO: The Strawberry Festival kicks off Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival features all things strawberry and much more including over 60 food and drink vendors, more than 100 arts and craft vendors, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. For more information, visit www.troystrawberryfest.com.
St. Christopher Summer Festival
WHEN: Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11
WHERE: St. Christopher Church, 435 E. National Road, Vandalia
INFO: The St. Christopher Summer Festival will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The festival will feature live music, entertainment, rides, bingo and gambling. There will be plenty of food featuring St. Chris’ famous pork tenderloin sandwiches, deep fried pickles and much more. There also will be rotating beer taps featuring craft beer. For more information, visit www.festival.stchristopheronline.com.
Canal Music Fest
WHEN: Saturday, June 11
WHERE: City Park, 1 Wagon Wheel Road, Tipp City
INFO: The free music festival at 6 p.m. will be headlined this year by “Shot Through the Heart— The Bon Jovi Experience” and features local artists “Stranger” and “znels.” Food vendors, face painting and a 50/50 raffle will also be at the festival, beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.canalmusicfest.com.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
St. Helen Spring Festival
WHEN: Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11
WHERE: St. Helen Catholic School, 5086 Burkhardt Road, Dayton
INFO: The 70th annual St. Helen Spring Festival is slated from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. The festival will feature live entertainment, rides, games, raffles and a variety of foods and drinks. There will be a free shuttle to the festival from Carroll High School. For more information, visit www.sthelenfestival.org.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Versailles Poultry Days
WHEN: Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12
WHERE: 459 S. Center St., Versailles
INFO: The 72nd annual Poultry Days festival kicks off the second week of June. The festival, themed “Chilly Willy and the Chicken Factory,” will feature two parades, the Grand Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday and the Antique Car Parade at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. There also will be an ultimate frisbee tournament, rides, kiddie tractor pull and several food vendors. For more information, visit www.versaillespoultrydays.com/.
Wine Fest and the Front Street Art Show
WHEN: Saturday, June 10
WHERE: The Greene, 4452 Buckeye Lane, Beavercreek
INFO: Wine Fest and the Front Street Art Show is back at The Greene from 5 to 10 p.m. Guests can participate in a wine tasting with 10, 2-ounce samples including a souvenir wine glass. A Bud Light Beer Garden is available for those who do not participate in Wine Fest. There also will be live music from Lyndsey Ellen and The Trackhounds and several artists featuring miscellaneous works. For more information, visit https://www.thegreene.com/event/Wine-Fest/2145569885/.
COST: Admission is free, but tickets must be purchased to participate in the tasting. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Jewish Cultural Festival
WHEN: Sunday, June 11
WHERE: Temple Israel, 130 Riverside Drive, Dayton
INFO: Temple Israel’s Jewish Cultural Festival is back from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival involves more than 150 volunteers that serve food, perform, lead tours and answer questions about the Jewish culture. There will be education sessions, live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, raffles and much more. For more information, visit www.tidayton.org/festival.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Celtic Fest Ohio
WHEN: Saturday, June 17
WHERE: Renaissance Park, 10542 E. state Route 73, Waynesville
INFO: Celtic Fest Ohio is back from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The festival will feature music, dance, arts and crafts, food and drink vendors and many activities. Festivalgoers can participate in several different tasting events, workshops and a scavenger hunt. For more information, visit www.celticfestohio.com.
COST: General admission for those 13+ is $15.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Waynesville Street Faire
WHEN: Saturday, June 17
WHERE: Downtown Waynesville
INFO: Street Faire Saturdays are back in downtown Waynesville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Booths featuring art, unusual finds, home décor, antiques and much more will line both sides of the core block. There will also be music and food trucks. Other Street Faire Saturday dates include July 15, Aug. 19 and Sept. 16. For more information, visit www.waynesvilleshops.com.
The Miami Valley Pickle Fest - Just Dill With It!
WHEN: Saturday, June 24
WHERE: Austin Landing, 10400 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg
INFO: Enjoy all things pickles at the Miami Valley Pickle Fest - Just Dill With It! which is slated from 3 to 10 p.m. Over 15 restaurants and vendors will have different kinds of foods — all featuring pickles. There also will be live music featuring Nashville artists Catie Offerman and Thomas Mac. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Austinlandingevents.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Wright Dunbar Day
WHEN: Sunday, June 25
WHERE: Williams and Third Streets, Dayton
INFO: The Wright Dunbar Day Block Party is 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 25. Attendees can expect 30 food trucks, 100 vendors, a live DJ and live performances.
The event will be held on the block of Williams and Third Streets in the Wright Dunbar District.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Americana Festival
WHEN: Monday, July 3 through Tuesday, July 4
WHERE: Activities kick off at Centerville High School Stadium, 500 E. Franklin St., Centerville
INFO: The Centerville-Washington Twp. Americana Festival is celebrating duty, honor and sacrifice from community heroes. The festival will kick off Monday with fireworks and a variety of food vendors at Centerville High School Stadium. The celebration continues on Tuesday with a 5K, parade, craft and food vendors, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. along Franklin St. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be set up along Main Street. For more information, visit www.americanafestival.org.
2023 Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Show and Red, White & Blue Block Party
WHEN: Friday, July 7
WHERE: Shawnee Park, 591 S. Park Drive, Xenia
INFO: The Xenia Rotary will present this event starting with the Red, White & Blue Block Party at 3 p.m. with food trucks, live music, a children’s bike parade and much more in historic downtown Xenia. A fireworks display will kick off just after sunset at the park. For more information, visit the event’s page on Facebook.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest
WHEN: Saturday, July 8
WHERE: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
INFO: The Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest is back by popular demand from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Guests can try many different types of chicken wings. There also will be live music by The Fries at 3 p.m., Lee Gantt Band at 5:30 p.m. and Mojo Party Band at 8 p.m. For more information, visit https://fraze.com/kickin-chicken-wing-fest-2023/.
Honey Harvest
WHEN: Saturday, July 15
WHERE: Glen Helen’s Camp Greene, 3452 Grinnell Road, Yellow Springs
INFO: The Greene County Beekeepers Association will hold its Honey Harvest festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festivities at the camp grounds include a honey extraction demonstration, question sessions with a beekeeper, local vendors, honey samplers, food trucks, activities for the family and more.
Dayton Blues Festival
WHEN: Sunday, July 23
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion, 134 S. Main St., Dayton
INFO: The blues are back! The Dayton Blues Festival will return to Levitt Pavilion this summer. More information will be available at a later date on www.levittdayton.org.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Dayton Celtic Festival
WHEN: Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30
WHERE: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave., Dayton
INFO: The Dayton Celtic Festival will take place from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The festival features sights, sounds and tastes of the Celtic heritage. There will be several different activities including live music. Headliners include Gaelic Storm, Doolin’, The Fitzgeralds, Boxing Banjo, Socks in the Frying Pan, The Drowsy Lads, and Davy Holt. There also will be a parade of kilts. For more information, visit www.daytoncelticfestival.com.
Polish Summer Fest
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6
WHERE: Polish Picnic Grounds, 2690 Needmore Road, Dayton
INFO: Gates open at 2 p.m. for Polish Summer Fest. Music is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. by Duane Malinowski and his polka band. There will be food, beverages and dancing. Coolers are not permitted.
COST: Admission is $5 per carload
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Dayton Potato Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12
WHERE: Oak and Ivy Park, 803 Anderson Goodrich Court, Dayton
INFO: The third annual Potatoes ‘N Such festival will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Alongside all things potato, the festival features a potato dish contest, craft vendors, live music from the band Top Secret and line dancing.
Germanfest Picnic
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 13
WHERE: 1400 E. Fifth St., Dayton
INFO: The 40th annual Dayton Liederkranz-Turner Germanfest Picnic will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The festival will feature authentic German food, a large selection of German Beer, live music, craft vendors, family-friendly activities and much more. There also will be a polka Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday. For more information, visit https://germanfestdayton.com/.
St. Brigid Parish Festival
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 13
WHERE: St. Brigid Parish, 312 Fairground Road, Xenia
INFO: The St. Brigid Parish Festival is an annual three-day family and community event featuring food, rides, adult and kid booths, gambling and much more. More details on the festival will be available at a later date. For more information, visit www.stbrigidxenia.org/parish/.
Credit: David A. Moodie
Credit: David A. Moodie
Dayton Funk Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion, 134 S. Main St., Dayton
INFO: The Dayton Funk Festival will return to Levitt Pavilion this summer. More information will be available at a later date at www.levittdayton.org.
Art on the Commons
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13
WHERE: Lincoln Park Civic Commons, 675 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
INFO: The 35th annual Art on the Commons will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approximately 100 artists from around the country will be featured at the arts and crafts festival alongside live music and other interactive elements. For more information, visit https://www.playkettering.org/art-programs-events/art-on-the-commons/.
Bacon Fest 2023
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19
WHERE: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
INFO: Bacon Fest is back from 3 to 10 p.m. The festival allows guests to sample local restaurants as they showcase all of the many ways you can baconate your meal. There will also be live music. For more information, visit https://fraze.com/bacon-fest-2023/.
Dayton Porchfest
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19
WHERE: St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood in Dayton
INFO: Dayton Porchfest features free mini concerts held on porches throughout St. Anne’s Hill from 12:15 to 6:45 p.m. Guests can explore the neighborhood while supporting local music. For more information, visit www.daytonporchfest.wixsite.com/home.
Dayton African American Cultural Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20
WHERE: Island MetroPark, 101 E Helena St., Dayton
INFO: The 17th annual Dayton African American Cultural Festival returns from noon to 8 p.m. both days with live music, performances, kids activities, food and merchandise vendors, free resources and much more. The festival provides a space for people to gather and celebrate the richness of African American culture. For more information, visit www.daacf.com/index.html.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20
WHERE: Community Park, 691 E Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn
INFO: The Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. This family-friendly event will include 130 handmade arts and crafts booths and food vendors serving steamed cooked sweet corn, BBQ chicken and much more. For more information, visit www.fairbornsweetcornfestival.org/index.html.
ARTFest on Main
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26
WHERE: Downtown Springboro
INFO: The Springboro Arts Council is presenting ARTFest on Main from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature fine art from approximately 100 artists, music, entertainment and food/beer/wine vendors. For more information, visit www.artfestonmain.com/.
Dayton Reggae Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 3
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion, 134 S. Main St., Dayton
INFO: The Dayton Reggae Festival will return to Levitt Pavilion this summer. More information will be available at a later date on www.levittdayton.org.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Hispanic Heritage Festival and Parade
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16
WHERE: RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
INFO: The 22nd annual Hispanic Heritage Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The festival will celebrate Hispanic culture with music, food and much more. The parade will begin at noon on Second Street. For more information, visit www.pacodayton.org/index.html.
Dayton Vegan Food and Drink Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17
WHERE: Courthouse Square, 23 N. Main St., Dayton
INFO: The Dayton Vegan Food and Drink Festival highlights whole foods that are plat-based and celebrates vegan-friendly companies. The fourth annual festival returns Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/DYTveganfestival.
Polish Fall Festival
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17
WHERE: Polish Picnic Grounds, 2690 Needmore Road in Dayton
INFO: Gates open at 1 p.m. for Polish Fall Festival. Music is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. by Randy Krajewski and his polka band. There will be food, beverages and dancing. Coolers are not permitted.
COST: Admission is $5 per carload
Oktoberfest
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 24
WHERE: Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
INFO: Oktoberfest is the Dayton Art Institute’s largest annual fundraiser. The three-day festival, presented by Miller Lite, features a preview party, food and drink vendors, live entertainment and much more. More information will be available at a later date at www.daytonartinstitute.org/
Germantown Pretzel Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24
WHERE: Veterans Memorial Park, 190 W. Warren St., Germantown
INFO: The 43rd annual Germantown Pretzel Festival will return from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The festival features food, crafts, rides, live entertainment and pretzel-themed everything! A pretzel contest will decide the best pretzel-themed dish. More information will be available at a later date at https://germantownpretzelfestival.com/.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Ohio Renaissance Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 29
WHERE: 10542 E. state Route 73, Waynesville
INFO: Transport yourselves to another era at the Ohio Renaissance Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. This 30-acre permanent village has been historically recreated to resemble 16th century England. Every weekend from Labor Day through the end of October, experience entertainment including jousting knights, jugglers, comedians, swordfighters and the Queen herself with more than 100 shows daily. Feast on gigantic turkey legs, sip on hearty ales and flavorful wines. No utensils required. More than 150 world-class artisans will display their wares. For more information, visit www.renfestival.com/.
COST: General admission for those 13+ is $28. Children ages 5 to 12 are $10.
