Passport to metro parks
WHERE: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
WHEN: Friday, May 26
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reflexive Analysis
These events not only bring people into the Dayton area, but bring business in as well. In the same way the NPS boosts the restaurant and lodging businesses, so do these sorts of community events. I selected this article to give me insight into what kinds of events take place, when/where they happen, and what kind of/how many people attend.
While the pictured Wright Dunbar Day celebration is involved with the story of the historical park, most of the events are based on local communities. I believe there could be opportunity for the park service to connect people to experiences, to the story and history of the Wright brothers. That could look like a festival that brings people together around the sites, maybe a community concert at the Huffman Prairie. Perhaps an artists fair at Carillon Park or the overlook at the Prairie Interpretive Center. As in the passport activity described above, there could be some form of event that takes people across town to different locations.
Sources
Zoë Hill, N. J. (2023, May 23). Summer Festival Guide: Your look at events happening across the Dayton Area. dayton. https://www.dayton.com/what-to-do/events/summer-festival-guide-your-look-at-events-happening-across-the-dayton-area/6LXJN2KMVFGFJIBX5ELT3M2KYQ/
