Family-friendly fun planned for Derby Day celebrations
Derby Day in the District returns Saturday, May 7, with activities taking place from 2-7 p.m. throughout Dayton’s Oregon District. “We are so excited to bring this popular event back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” says Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) President Emily Mendenhall. “The Oregon District Business Association has worked hard to support our businesses over the last few years.”
Shops, restaurants and pubs throughout the area along Fifth Street will offer Kentucky Derby-themed specials and merchandise, including a few pop-up vendors. Family-friendly games and activities can be found throughout the street closure area on Fifth Street between Patterson Boulevard and Wayne Avenue.
Derby Day in the District also features its own signature race — “The Running of the Wieners.” The public is invited to watch Dachshunds and other dogs of similar stature compete for treats and pats for the pups, and prizes for their humans.
Prior to the race, a dog parade will promenade through the District starting at 3 p.m., and the races kick off at 4 p.m. Be on the lookout for cocktail specials featuring Titos brand vodka; $1 from the sale of these featured beverages will be donated to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. Visitors can take advantage of the District’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) and grab a cocktail to go while they watch the parade and race.
The DORA is a state-sanctioned liquor license that allows a municipal area to sell alcoholic beverages in specially designated plastic cups. Guests can look for a “DORA sold here” sign on the door of any participating bar or restaurant to purchase a drink “to go.” Patrons cannot take their DORA beverages into an establishment with a liquor license, but they may consume while they shop at businesses without a liquor license displaying the “DORA yes” sign on their door. Not all businesses choose to participate; finish enjoying any DORA beverage before entering a business with a “DORA no” sign on the entrance.
Patrons can sip and stroll with their DORA beverages along Fifth Street from Jefferson Street to Bainbridge Street, and along Wayne Avenue from Fourth Street to Jones Street. The Yellow Cab Tavern on Fourth Street is also included in the DORA’s footprint. Visit the ODBA’s website for more information about the DORA.
Wiener parents can register their pups online. The $20 non refundable registration fee supports the ODBA for future events and the Humane Society. “Events like this are a welcome sign of the return of normal,” says Mendenhall, who owns Lily’s restaurant in the District. “We can’t wait to see the Oregon District filled again with our loyal neighbors, their friends and their dogs for this family-friendly event.”
