Date & Time: Saturday, August 17th, 12pm-8pm, Sunday, August 18th, 12pm-6pm
Location: Riverscape Metropark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton.
Details: Now in its 18th year, this annual festival will feature an African village, art exhibits, live R&B, gospel and jazz music from R&B legend Cherrele and more. Merchandise and food vendors will also be on-site.
Price: Free
More information: daacf.com
2. Pepper Fest
Date and Time: Saturday, August 17th, 4pm – 10pm
Location: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
Details: Presented by the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, this inaugural festival will feature spicy food from more than 14 vendors and music from Nashville recording artist and Cincinnati native Michelle Robinson and the Hot Red Chili Peppers.
Price: Free
More info: 937-296-3302 or fraze.com
3. Dayton Porchfest
Date and time: August 17th (Sat) 12:45-6:45
Location: St. Ann’s Hill Historic District, Dayton
Details: Musicians and bands will play funk, blues, indie rock, jazz, classical, country, bluegrass and more on various neighborhood porches.
Price: Free
More info: daytonporchfest.org
4. Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival
Date and Time: Saturday, August 17th, 11:00am-7:00pm, Sunday, August 18th, 11:00am-6:00pm
Location: Fairborn Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road.
Details: Enjoy popular menu items like steamed sweet corn, pork chop sandwiches and fresh watermelon. Shop for candles, woodwork, jewelry, watercolors and oil paintings.
Price: Free
More info: fairbornsweetcornfestival.org
5. “Baritone Hugh: Spoken Word Poetry Special”
Date and Time: Saturday, August 17th, 7:30pm
Location: PNC Arts Annex, 46 West Second St., Dayton
Details: Directed by Dana Graham, author/poet Leroy D. Bean will present a solo show exploring his experiences in Paris following in the footsteps of James Baldwin. The performance will discuss themes of faith, self-worth and the beauty of black culture.
Cost: $20
More info: daytonlive.org
6. Come Together: Rooftop Beatles Tribute Festival
When: Friday and Saturday, August 16th and 17th at 7pm
Location: Yellow Cab Barn, 700 E. Fourth St., Dayton
Details: This sixth annual event celebrates The Beatles’ final concert with a family-friendly performance from the roof of a Yellow Cab to an audience seated in the parking lot below. Food trucks, a beer garden, an after-party and more are also included.
Cost: Advanced general admission $22. Same-day admission $27. Weekend pass $30.
More info: cometogetherband.net
7. Didi
Show Times: August 16-22 Screenings: Friday-Sunday 12:45pm, 3pm, 5:15pm, 7:30pm; Monday-Thursday 3pm, 5:15pm, 7:30pm
Location: The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton
Details: A smash hit at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, this coming-of-age story is set in 2008 and follows an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese-American boy as he navigates the ups and downs of adolescence during his last summer before starting high school.
Price: $6.50 – $10.50
More info: neonmovies.com
8. Great American Beer Tasting
Date and Time: Saturday, August 17th, 2pm-6pm
Location: Day Air Ballpark, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton
Details: More than 100 varieties of beer, cider and seltzer will be available to sample at this event.
Pricing: $45 regular admission includes 20 four-ounce samples, a 2024 pint glass, and two raffle tickets. $55 VIP admission includes everything in the regular admission ticket plus one hour early entry and a $5 voucher for participating food trucks. $5 designated driver admission includes five four-ounce non-alcoholic samples, a free soda voucher, a 2024 pint glass, and a raffle ticket.
More info: milb.com
9. Funk Amplified Series
Date and Time: Saturday, August 17th, 5:30pm
Location: Levitt Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton
Details: Slapbak, DJ SKNO, Freakquency and MojoFlo bring you the funk. Led by Jara Harris since the ’90s, Slapbak infuses high-energy funk with hip-hop and rock influences. Freakquency, winners of the 2024 Dayton Battle of the Bands, is a funk fusion band led by frontman Sayyid Jones. MojoFlo, led by powerhouse vocalist Amber Knicole, is a neo-funk band known for their infectious rhythms, soulful vocals and captivating stage performances.
Price: Free
More information: LevittDayton.org
10. Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket
Date and Time: Sunday, August 18th, 6:30pm
Location: Rose Music Center at the Heights, 6800 Executive Boulevard, Huber Heights
Details: Multiplatinum alternative rock bands Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket will co-headline a summer tour featuring special guest Vertical Horizon, the multiplatinum alternative rock band known for hits such as “Everything You Want.”
Price: $33.50- $73.50
More info: rosemusiccenter.com