From the Birthplace of Aviation to Summer Fun Around Dayton

Trivia Question❓

What famous Dayton-area amusement park operated from 1922 until 2002?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Dayton Events

Dayton Area Events

June 19–26, 2026

Friday, June 19

4:45–9:00 PM

Juneteenth: Commemoration, Celebration, and Concert – Legacy of Freedom III

Levitt Pavilion Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton

The 6th Annual Juneteenth celebration returns with education, remembrance, culture, and community. Enjoy African drumming and dance, poetry, heritage performances, food vendors, giveaways, line dancing, live music, and art experiences downtown.

7:00–9:00 PM

Centerville Cornerstone Music Series: Noah Wotherspoon

Cornerstone Park Pavilion, Centerville

Award-winning blues guitarist and vocalist Noah Wotherspoon performs as part of Centerville’s Cornerstone Music Series. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy an intimate outdoor concert near Cornerstone restaurants and shops.

7:30 PM

Free Concert at North Park: E5C4P3 – Journey Tribute

North Park Amphitheater, Springboro

Sing along to Journey classics performed by E5C4P3. Food trucks will be on-site, beer sales support Wee Panthers Football, and guests are encouraged to bring their own seating.

Saturday, June 20

8:30 AM–12:00 PM

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

20 E. 4th St., Franklin

Shop fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, handmade items, and local vendor goods during the Downtown Franklin Farmers Market’s 13th season.

8:00–11:30 AM

ORRRC Summer Solstice Trail Run

John Bryan State Park Mountain Bike Trail, Yellow Springs

Free for ORRRC members / $10 non-members

Celebrate the summer solstice with a scenic trail race through John Bryan State Park. This volunteer-run event welcomes runners and walkers of all abilities on wooded trails near Yellow Springs.

9:00 AM–1:00 PM

A&W Garden Paddle – Stillwater River

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, Dayton

$40 per person

Enjoy a self-guided 5.5-mile paddle from Aullwood Gardens to Wegerzyn Gardens. Registration includes kayak, paddle, life vest, shuttle service, and safety briefing.

10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Greene County Strawberry Fest

Greene County Fairgrounds, Xenia

$6 adults / Kids 2 and under free

A large family festival featuring fresh strawberries, strawberry shortcake, food vendors, arts and crafts, bounce houses, circus show, face painting, contests, music, and family entertainment.

11:00 AM–4:00 PM

Historic Grafton Hill Home, Garden & Historic Auto Show

Grafton Hill Historic District / Dayton Masonic Center

$25

Tour historic homes, private gardens, and classic automobiles in one of Dayton’s oldest neighborhoods. This one-day event highlights architecture, preservation, and local history.

11:00 AM–10:00 PM

Celtic Fest Ohio

10542 E State Route 73, Waynesville

Celebrate Celtic heritage with live music, clan exhibits, food vendors, cultural demonstrations, and performances from regional Celtic bands throughout the day.

1:00–4:00 PM

Paint-A-Park with Five Rivers MetroParks

Wesleyan MetroPark, Dayton

Free

Create artwork inspired by nature and then explore the park. Supplies are provided and all ages are welcome for this hands-on outdoor art experience.

1:30–3:30 PM, 4:30–6:30 PM, 7:30–9:30 PM

Cirque Italia: Water Circus

The Mall at Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek

Ticketed

Afternoon and evening performances of Cirque Italia’s traveling Water Circus featuring aerialists, acrobatics, juggling, and water-stage special effects.

3:00 PM

Riverside Music Fest

1213 Old Harshman Rd., Riverside

$23.18+

Presented by the Riverside Jaycees with multiple live bands, food vendors, beverages, and a community-focused summer music celebration.

3:00–10:00 PM

Pickle Fest – Just Dill With It

Austin Landing, Miamisburg

$5–10

A pickle-themed festival featuring food vendors, pickle-inspired dishes, live music, contests, shopping, family activities, and specialty foods.

4:00–9:00 PM

Juneteenth Music Festival

Eichelberger Amphitheater at The Heights, Huber Heights

Free

Huber Heights celebrates Juneteenth with live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, spoken word performances, community programming, and music from Soul Pocket.

7:30–10:00 PM

Movie Night in the Park: The Incredibles

Sycamore Trails Park, Miamisburg

Free

Family movie night under the stars featuring The Incredibles. Activities begin before sunset and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Sunday, June 21

11:00 AM

Summer Solstice Ceremony

740 Wellmeier Ave., Dayton

Free

A community celebration of the summer solstice featuring meditation, reflection, spiritual exploration, and seasonal traditions.

11:00 AM–6:00 PM

Dayton Seafood Fest

The Brightside Music & Event Venue, Dayton

Free Admission

Seafood-focused food festival featuring lobster, shrimp, crab, fish, specialty vendors, live entertainment, shopping, and family-friendly activities.

1:30–3:30 PM, 4:30–6:30 PM, 7:30–9:30 PM

Cirque Italia: Water Circus

Afternoon and evening performances of Cirque Italia’s traveling Water Circus featuring aerialists, acrobatics, juggling, and water-stage special effects.

7:00 PM

Centerville Summer Concert Series: McGuffey Lane

Stubbs Park, Centerville

Free

Popular Ohio country-rock band McGuffey Lane headlines Centerville’s Summer Concert Series with food trucks and family activities available on site.

Monday, June 22

9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Kettering Content Creation Crawl

1006 E Dorothy Ln., Kettering

Registration Required

Explore Kettering businesses while creating social media content. Includes guided stops, networking opportunities, lunch, and content creation workshops.

5:30–7:30 PM

Woodland Historic Tour

Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, Dayton

Suggested Donation

Guided walking tour through one of America’s oldest rural cemeteries featuring notable Dayton residents, architecture, and local history.

Tuesday, June 23

5:30–7:00 PM

Remembering Downtown Dayton’s Neighborhoods

Dayton Woman's Club, Dayton

$15 Admission

Local historian Andrew Hershner explores the homes, architecture, and neighborhoods that once surrounded downtown Dayton.

5:30–7:30 PM

A Place For You Park Open House & Picnic

Cox Arboretum MetroPark

Free

Family-friendly picnic featuring nature activities, garden exploration, tram rides, disc golf, and opportunities to learn about MetroParks programs.

Wednesday, June 24

10:00–11:30 AM

The Complete Trust Seminar

West Carrollton Senior Center

Free

Educational seminar covering trusts, estate planning, probate concerns, common misconceptions, and financial planning strategies.

Thursday, June 25

12:00–3:00 PM

VA Farmers Market

Dayton VA Medical Center

Free Admission

Weekly farmers market featuring local produce, honey, jams, syrups, baked goods, and regional vendors throughout the summer season.

Friday, June 26

5:30–8:30 PM

Fourth Friday on Fourth Street

Downtown Franklin

Free

Community gathering featuring live music, food trucks, shopping, local businesses, family activities, and downtown entertainment.

Featured Event

Festival Spotlight

🍓 Greene County Strawberry Festival

Summer festival season is officially underway, and one of Greene County's sweetest events is returning to Xenia. The Greene County Strawberry Festival brings together fresh strawberries, family activities, live entertainment, local vendors, and plenty of delicious treats for a fun-filled weekend at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

Held June 20-21 at the Greene County Fairgrounds, the festival has quickly become a favorite summer tradition for families throughout the Miami Valley. Visitors can spend the day enjoying everything from strawberry shortcake and pie-eating contests to live music and children's activities.

🍰 Strawberry Treats Galore

As you might expect, strawberries are the star of the show. Festival-goers can enjoy strawberry shortcake, strawberry fudge, fresh berries, jams, desserts, and a variety of strawberry-inspired treats from vendors throughout the grounds.

🎶 Entertainment All Weekend

Live music performances, family entertainment, contests, and special attractions keep the festival lively throughout the weekend. Visitors can also browse arts and crafts vendors while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Fun Around Every Corner

• Strawberry shortcake and desserts
• Pie-eating contests
• Bounce houses
• Face painting
• Pony rides
• Petting farm
• Live music
• Arts and crafts vendors

The festival is designed with families in mind, making it a great destination for children, grandparents, and everyone in between.

🏆 Friendly Competition

Feeling competitive? The festival features pie-eating contests, relay races, sack races, hula hoop contests, and other family-friendly competitions that add to the fun.

💡 Pro Tip

Arrive early if you want the best selection of strawberry treats and vendor offerings. Don't forget to bring a cooler if you plan on taking home fresh berries or specialty foods.

Why it's worth attending: The Greene County Strawberry Festival combines everything people love about summer—fresh food, live entertainment, family activities, and community spirit. It's a sweet way to spend a June weekend in the Miami Valley.

This newsletter sponsored by The Renaissance Men

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813-500-9788

Featured Park

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Dayton, Ohio

Featured Attraction

✈️ Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

Few places in America can claim to have changed the world quite like Dayton. The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park preserves the sites where Wilbur and Orville Wright transformed the dream of human flight into reality and celebrates the life of their friend, renowned poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Established in 1992, the park tells the story of innovation, perseverance, and achievement that put Dayton on the map as the birthplace of aviation.

Unlike most national parks, this one is spread across several historic locations throughout the Dayton area. Together, these sites tell the remarkable story of how two bicycle mechanics from Ohio forever changed transportation and connected the world through flight.

🚲 Where the Dream Began

While many people associate the Wright brothers with Kitty Hawk, it was at Huffman Prairie near Dayton where they perfected the world's first practical airplane. In 1904 and 1905, the brothers conducted hundreds of flights here, proving that controlled, sustained flight was possible. Today, visitors can walk the same grounds where aviation history was made.

📚 Honoring Paul Laurence Dunbar

The park also preserves the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of America's most influential African American writers. A close friend of the Wright brothers, Dunbar achieved national acclaim through his poetry, novels, and essays, leaving a lasting impact on American literature.

🏛️ More Than One Historic Site

The park includes several significant locations, including the Wright Cycle Company Complex, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, Hawthorn Hill (Orville Wright's home), the Paul Laurence Dunbar House, and the Wright Flyer III at Carillon Historical Park. Together, these sites provide a fascinating look at Dayton's role in shaping both aviation and American history.

👨‍👩‍👧 Perfect For

• Aviation enthusiasts
• History buffs
• Families
• Students
• Dayton residents
• Visitors exploring Ohio's heritage

💡 Pro Tip

Start your visit at the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center downtown. It provides an excellent overview of the park and helps visitors plan which historic sites they would like to explore next.

Why it's worth visiting: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park isn't just about airplanes—it's about imagination, determination, and the people who changed the world. For anyone who has ever looked up at an airplane and wondered how it all began, there's no better place to visit than the city where the age of flight truly took wing.

Recipe of the Week

Father's Day Recipe

🥩 Grilled Steak with Garlic Herb Butter

Father's Day is the perfect excuse to fire up the grill and treat Dad to something special. This Grilled Steak with Garlic Herb Butter is simple, flavorful, and guaranteed to make any backyard dinner feel like a celebration.

The rich garlic herb butter melts over the hot steak, creating a restaurant-quality meal that's surprisingly easy to prepare at home.

🛒 Ingredients

• 4 ribeye or New York strip steaks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 4 tbsp butter, softened
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp fresh chives, chopped

👨‍🍳 Directions

1. Remove steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.
2. Rub with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Preheat grill to high heat.
4. Grill steaks 4–5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or longer to desired doneness.
5. While steaks cook, combine butter, garlic, parsley, and chives in a small bowl.
6. Top each steak with a spoonful of garlic herb butter immediately after removing from the grill.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

🍽️ Serve With

• Grilled corn on the cob
• Baked potatoes
• Caesar salad
• Roasted asparagus
• Fresh strawberry shortcake

💡 Dad's Bonus Tip

Use an instant-read thermometer for perfect results: 130–135°F for medium-rare and 140–145°F for medium.

Why Dad will love it: Few meals say Father's Day quite like a perfectly grilled steak. Add garlic herb butter and a few classic sides, and you've got a memorable meal worthy of the occasion.

Home Tips

🦟 5 Simple Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Backyard

Summer evenings are meant for relaxing on the patio, grilling with friends, and enjoying time outdoors—not swatting mosquitoes. Fortunately, a few simple steps can dramatically reduce mosquito activity around your home.

The best approach is to make your yard less inviting to mosquitoes before they become a problem.

💧 1. Eliminate Standing Water

Mosquitoes can breed in surprisingly small amounts of water. Check birdbaths, flower pots, gutters, buckets, and children's toys regularly and empty any standing water.

✂️ 2. Keep Grass and Shrubs Trimmed

Mosquitoes love cool, shady hiding places during the day. Regular mowing and trimming can reduce areas where they rest.

🌿 3. Plant Mosquito-Repelling Plants

Citronella, lavender, basil, rosemary, and marigolds are popular plants that may help discourage mosquitoes while adding beauty to your yard and garden.

🌀 4. Use Outdoor Fans

Mosquitoes are weak fliers. A simple outdoor fan on your patio or deck can make it much harder for them to reach you while also helping keep you cool.

🔥 5. Consider a Fire Pit

While not a complete solution, smoke from a fire pit can help deter mosquitoes and create a comfortable gathering place for summer evenings.

💡 Pro Tip

Mosquitoes are most active around dawn and dusk. If you're planning outdoor activities, a fan plus insect repellent can make a huge difference during peak mosquito hours.

Why it matters: A mosquito-free backyard means more time enjoying summer cookouts, family gatherings, and peaceful evenings outdoors.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park was a beloved regional amusement park located between Dayton and Cincinnati that entertained generations of families from 1922 to 2002. Known for its classic rides, roller coasters, picnic grounds, and affordable family fun, the park became a summertime tradition for many Miami Valley residents before closing its gates after eight decades of operation. 🎢🎠🌞