Preview events show what’s coming up at two popular Dayton venues this summer

Summer will return in full swing in Dayton, and residents will get a special sneak peek at what’s in store this season during these events the first weekend in May.

RiverScape MetroPark

Bring the family to RiverScape MetroPark for a free preview of all there is to do in Five Rivers MetroParks parks and facilities this summer during Passport to MetroParks on Friday, May 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. Representatives from the Dayton Celtic Festival, Hispanic Heritage Festival and Dayton African American Cultural Festival will be on site with activities, information about the festivals and more.

Throughout the event, guests can visit more than 16 vendor booths hosting games and activities that feature the upcoming festivals and a variety of the recreation, education, conservation and volunteer programs Five Rivers MetroParks offers. Activities include:

• Meet MetroParks’ rangers and live animal ambassadors.
• Hike a temporary Heart Healthy Trail, visit a climbing wall, create your own floral bookmark, check out insects, learn about fish in our rivers and more.
• Learn more about upcoming programs, events and things to do in each MetroPark and at the 2nd Street Market.
• Ask MetroParks staff and volunteer experts questions about nature, recreation activities, youth programs and more.
• Register for upcoming programs.

Participants will 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, with additional prize entries for earning more stamps. Winners will be announced by May 31.

Two local acts, Reyna and The Repeating Arms, will play live music under the covered pavilion. Food trucks vending that evening include The Wild Banana, Pa’s Pork, DFish DChicken, Showdogs Hot Dogs and Sweet P’s Ice Pops.

Levitt Pavilion

Levitt Pavilion Dayton will announce its 2022 Eichelberger Concert Season of free concerts at 6 p.m. May 5. The season will be announced virtually on Facebook and YouTube with a video premiere. Prior to the season announcement, the nonprofit organization will kick off its fundraising event at 5:30 p.m. at The Brightside. Tickets are $75 and include live music from Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Rich Taste Catering and one drink ticket.

The Levitt Dayton has a few new and exciting things in store for the Dayton community this season. These will include a new genre series structure featuring national headliners; a new “Gem Series” powered by Projects Unlimited featuring local artists opening for national acts; an expansion of the Levitt Connect: Community pop-up concert program; the return of the Signature Levitt Summer Camp; and quite a bit more!

“Entering our fifth season as a community asset we are excited to keep writing this story together for Levitt Dayton,” said Executive Director Lisa Wagner. “Our commitment of providing 50 free concerts for our community is reaching off the lawn this season through our pop-up concert program powered by PNC and our continued educational outreach lifting the voices of our youth through creative expression.”

The 2022 Eichelberger Concert Season will run from June 2 to September 18 with concerts every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.