94 Activities

After two years of social distancing and avoiding crowds, true summer fun has returned to the Miami Valley! You’ll find concerts, festivals, community events and opportunities for family fun all season long. But where to start? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of activities to keep you and your family busy throughout the summer months. Read on to start planning your best summer ever.

Concerts & Shows

Venues across the Miami Valley are hosting performances by local and national musical acts, comedy shows featuring beloved comedians and even touring Broadway productions. Those looking for live entertainment will find something happening almost every night of the week this July and August.

The Brightside Music & Event Center
905 E. Third St., Dayton. 937-410-0450, thebrightsidedayton.com

July 22 – Sonic Springs: A Benefit Concert for WYSO

Fraze Pavilion
695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering. 937-296-3300, fraze.com

July 5 – Jim Gaffigan
July 8 – Zack Attack
July 14 – The Electric Light Orchestra Experience
July 15 – Justin Moore
July 17 – Lynyrd Skynyrd
July 19 – Darci Lynne & Friends
July 22 – McGuffey Lane
July 23 – Whose Live Anyway?
July 26 – for King & Country
July 27 – Air Force Band of Flight
July 30 – Melissa Ethridge
Aug. 3 – Joe Bonamassa
Aug. 5 – Tracy Lawrence & Tracy Byrd
Aug. 6 – I Love the ‘90s Tour
Aug. 10 – Happy Together Tour
Aug. 12 – The Menus
Aug. 17 – Get the Led Out
Aug. 18 – TLC & Shaggy
Aug. 19 – We Will Yacht You
Aug. 20 – Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias
Aug. 25 – Rick Springfield, Men at Work & John Waite
Aug. 26 – Chriss Botti

Levitt Pavilion
134 S. Main St., Dayton. 937-281-2144, levittdayton.org

July 7 – Mike Mains & The Branches
July 8 – The Tillers
July 9 – Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
July 14 – Luke Winslow-King
July 15 – Will Hoge
July 16 – Sarob
July 21 – Puzzle of Light with The Elements
July 22 – Jimmy Leach Jazztet
July 23 – Miller and the Other Sinners
July 28 – Davy Holt
July 29 – Incendio
July 30 – Empire Strikes Brass
Aug. 4 – The Deron Bell Smooth Jazz Band
Aug. 5 – The Foxies
Aug. 6 – Tony Terry & Vibe 5
Aug. 11 – John King
Aug. 23 – Jackie Venson
Aug. 13 – Freekbass & The Bump Assembly
Aug. 18 – Lee Rocker
Aug. 19 – The Nth Power
Aug. 20 – Black Opry Revue
Aug. 25 – Jenny and The Mexicats
Aug. 26 – NexLevel
Aug. 27 – Honey and Blue

Rose Music Center at the Heights
6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights. 937-610-0288, rosemusiccenter.com

July 6 – The Psychedelic Furs
July 8 – Sheryl Crow
July 15 – The Cult
July 16 – Air Supply
July 19 – Barenaked Ladies
July 20 – Bonnie Raitt
July 21 – Boney James & Will Downing
July 22 – Brit Floyd
July 24 – Tedeschi Trucks Band
July 28 – Earth, Wind & Fire
July 31 – Buddy Guy and John Hiatt & The Goners
Aug. 3 – Goo Goo Dolls
Aug. 6 – Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Aug. 11 – Ted Nugent
Aug. 12 – Tower of Power & Lettuce
Aug. 13 – Ziggy Marley: A Live Tribute to His Father
Aug. 14 – Boz Scaggs
Aug. 17 – Lake Street Dive
Aug. 25 – Gov’t Mule and Trombone Shorty
Aug. 26 – Brothers Osbourne
Aug. 27 – The Fab Four

Schuster Center
1 W. Second St., Dayton. 937-228-3630, daytonlive.org

July 12 – Lyle Lovett
Aug. 2-7 – Jesus Christ Superstar
Aug. 18 – John Mulaney: from Scratch
Aug. 23 – Weird Al Yankovic

Victoria Theatre
138 N. Main St., Dayton. 937-228-3630, daytonlive.org

Aug. 17 – Glenn Miller Orchestra

Festivals

Festivals are also back in full force this year, celebrating everything from chicken wings and bacon to country music and the region’s Celtic heritage. County fairs are back, too, giving residents the opportunities to celebrate their communities once again.

July 3-4

Americana Festival
Celebrate the Fourth of July with a 5K, the Americana parade, a street fair with 300-plus vendors and fireworks. Centerville.
americanafestival.org

July 7-9

Country Concert
Country music and camping festival that attracts thousands each year. This year’s headlining acts are Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Morgan Wallen. Fort Laramie. countryconcert.com

July 9

Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest
Free festival for lovers of live music
and chicken wings. Kettering. fraze.com

July 15-16

The Ohio Challenge
Hot air balloon and skydiving festival. Also features a car show and fireworks. Middletown. ohiochallenge.com

July 18-23

Warren County Fair
Shows, 4-H exhibits, rides, music, food and more. Lebanon. warrencountyfairohio.org

July 22-29

Clark County Fair
Live music by Kate Hasting and Blue Leafs, animals shows, amateur wine show, county fair queen competition and more. Springfield. clarkcoag.com

July 29-31

Dayton Celtic Festival
One of Dayton’s top downtown festivals. Will feature performances by Gaelic Storm, whiskey tastings, cultural demonstrations and more. Dayton. daytoncelticfestival.com

July 30-31

Dayton Air Show
Performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Dayton. daytonairshow.com

July 30-Aug. 6

Preble County Fair
Celebrating 172 years of the fair this year. 4-H shows, rides and more. Eaton. preblecountyfair.com

July 31-Aug. 6

Greene County Fair
Rides, grandstand events like the calf scramble and tractor pull, and lots of food. Xenia.
greenecountyfairgrounds.com

Aug. 5-6

Canoegrass
Two-day bluegrass and camping festival on a 2-acre pond. Houston.
canoegrass.com

Aug. 12-14

Germanfest Picnic
Homemade German food, German beer, live music, the Polka Mass and more. Dayton. germanfestdayton.com

Aug. 13

Bacon Fest
Celebrate all things bacon at this festival. Local restaurants will serve bacon in unique and different ways. Kettering. fraze.com

Aug. 14

Art on the Commons
Arts and crafts festival. Presented by the Rosewood Arts Center and the Kettering Arts Council. Kettering. fraze.com

Aug. 19-27

Great Darke County Fair
Performance from country star Riley Green. Fair also features rides, clowns, wood carvers and a cheerleading competition. Greenville. darkecountyfair.com

Aug. 20-21

Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival
Steamed cooked sweet corn, barbecue chicken and pork chop sandwiches. Also features arts and crafts booths and pony rides. Fairborn. fairbornsweetcornfestival.org

Aug. 26-28

Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival
Traditional Lebanese food, ethnic music, rides and more. Washington Township. thelebanesefestival.com

Aug. 31

The Taste
35th annual event showcases the cuisine of Kettering, Moraine and Oakwood. Kettering. fraze.com

Races & Fundraisers

Those who missed the thrill of competition (while raising funds for a good cause) are also in luck. Bike races, 5Ks and more are back on the summer schedule.

July 4

Free the Mind/Anchor the Soul
5K Run/Walk
5K race that raises funds for mental health, suicide prevention and The Bryce Warner Memorial Scholarship Fund. West Milton. freethemindanchorthesoul.com

July 16

Dayton Dragons 5K
Participants receive a T-shirt, medal, a Dragons hat and tickets to a Dragons game. Dayton. daytondragons.com

July 16

Mud Volleyball for Epilepsy
The largest mud volleyball tournament in the world. Raises funds for the Epilepsy Foundation. Dayton. ohiomud.com

Aug. 27

Tour de Donut
Ride bikes while eating doughnuts during this unique race. Troy. thetourdedonut.com