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⚾ Step Back in Time & Soak Up the Last Days of Summer!
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⚾ Step Back in Time & Soak Up the Last Days of Summer!
🎉 Dayton events, featured parks, tasty recipes & hot home tips inside—don't miss out!
Alan Vandergrift

Alan Vandergrift

Aug 21, 2026

Trivia Question❓

Who provided the major gift that helped build the Dayton Art Institute’s current home?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Dayton Events

Dayton Area Events

Friday, August 21 – Friday, August 28, 2026 • Dayton & surrounding Miami Valley

 

Friday, August 21

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Cornerstone Music Series: Innovation

Live MusicJazzOutdoors
Cornerstone Park, 5210 Cornerstone North Blvd., Centerville
Free

Innovation brings contemporary jazz and fusion to the Cornerstone Park Pavilion. Guests may bring their own seating for this free outdoor concert.

 
5:00 PM – 11:00 PM

VetFest Ohio 2026 featuring Britches Down

Live MusicCommunity
Milton Athletic Club area, 640 Cosler Dr., Dayton
$10 donation at the door (as advertised)

Country and rock music, food, dancing and community activities supporting veteran causes.

 

Saturday, August 22

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Oakwood Farmers' Market

Farmers MarketShopping
22 Orchard Dr., Oakwood
Free admission

Shop local farmers, food producers and artisans at downtown Oakwood's weekly farmers market.

 
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

2026 Fulton Farms Sweet Corn Festival — Saturday

FestivalFamilyFood
Fulton Farms, 2393 S. State Route 202, Troy
Admission not specified

Sweet-corn celebration featuring a corn roast, live entertainment, children's activities, farm animals, local craft vendors and fresh produce.

 
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Jefferson Township Day

CommunityFamily
Judge Arthur O. Fisher Park, Jefferson Township
Check organizer

A community celebration featuring entertainment, food, local organizations, vendors and family activities.

 
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

History, Mystery, Mayhem and Murder

HistoryWalking Tour
Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton
$5 suggested/ticket price

A walking tour exploring true stories of crimes, mysteries and notable deaths connected with Dayton history.

 
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Reptile Safari

FamilyNature
Spring Lakes Park, 2191 Ferry Rd., Bellbrook
Check organizer

Meet reptile ambassadors, search for reptiles in the wild, play games and make crafts. Walk-ins are welcome.

 
3:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Pickin' in the Park

BluegrassFamilyOutdoors
Trenton Community Park, 440 Dell Dr., Trenton
Free

An afternoon and evening of bluegrass with multiple bands, vendors, food trucks, family activities and local-history programming.

 
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Airshow Tailgate

AirshowFamilyOutdoors
Middletown Regional Airport, Middletown
Free

Family-friendly airport tailgate featuring aerial maneuvers, food vendors and community activities. Gates open at 5 PM.

 
8:00 PM

Def Leggend

Live MusicTribute Band
Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown
$25 reserved / $30 premium / $35 super premium (advertised)

Def Leppard tribute act performing the band's arena-rock favorites at the historic Sorg Opera House.

 
8:00 PM

Dave Chappelle & Friends

Comedy
Wirrig Pavilion, Yellow Springs
Ticketed

An intimate evening of comedy and conversation hosted by Dave Chappelle. Capacity and event rules may be restrictive; verify before attending.

 

Sunday, August 23

12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

2026 Fulton Farms Sweet Corn Festival — Sunday

FestivalFamilyFood
Fulton Farms, 2393 S. State Route 202, Troy
Admission not specified

Day two of Fulton Farms' annual sweet-corn celebration, with live entertainment, children's activities, farm animals, corn, vendors and produce.

 
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Wilmington Rumble

Motorsports
Wilmington Raceway Park, 231 Olinger Cir., Wilmington
Check organizer

Buckeye Outlaw Kart Racing returns to Wilmington for its road-course race, with practice, heats and feature racing.

Monday, August 24

 
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Woodland Historic Tour

HistoryWalking Tour
Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton
$5

Explore one of America's oldest rural cemeteries while hearing stories about prominent and intriguing Daytonians buried at Woodland.

 

Wednesday, August 26

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Fairborn Farmers Night Market

Farmers MarketShopping
Main Street Commons, 103 W. Main St., Fairborn
Free admission

Evening market featuring vegetables, fruit, flowers, herbs, baked goods, meat, poultry, honey, preserves and locally made items.

 
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

History, Mystery, Mayhem and Murder

HistoryWalking Tour
Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton
$5

Woodland's historical crime-themed walking tour recounts true stories connected with victims and perpetrators buried at the cemetery.

 
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Float Show featuring Sam Frampton

Live MusicPaddlingOutdoors
RiverScape MetroPark, Dayton
Check organizer

A floating riverfront music performance presented by Tomfoolery Outdoors and Taiters Kayak. Participants may join the paddle party by kayak, SUP or canoe.

 

Thursday, August 27

 
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Summer Concert Series at The Courtyard

Live MusicCommunity
The Courtyard at Centerville
Free 

Summer evening concert featuring the Kim Kelly Orchestra, with drinks and desserts provided. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

 
8:00 PM

The Rock Orchestra: Arena of Fire

Live MusicRockClassical
Rose Music Center at The Heights, Huber Heights
$48.50–$98.50 plus applicable fees

Classical musicians reinterpret music by Metallica, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, My Chemical Romance and other rock and metal acts.

 

Friday, August 28

3:00 PM – Late

Farm To Bottle Festival 2026 — Friday

Festival
Clinton County Fairgrounds, 958 W. Main St., Wilmington
Check organizer

Opening day of the fourth annual Farm To Bottle Festival at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. This multi-day festival continues August 29.

 
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Fourth Friday on Fourth Street

CommunityLive MusicFood
20 E. Fourth St., Franklin
Free admission

Downtown Franklin gathering with live music, food trucks, local vendors and opportunities to shop and dine at downtown businesses.

 
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Woodland Historic Tour

HistoryWalking Tour
Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum, 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton
$5

A guided historical walk through Woodland Cemetery highlighting notable Daytonians and the cemetery's history.

 
6:00 PM – Evening

33rd Annual Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival — Friday

FestivalFoodFamily
50 Nutt Rd., Dayton/Centerville area
Free admission and parking advertised

Opening night of the Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival, featuring Lebanese culture, food and family activities. The festival continues through August 30.

 
8:00 PM

Brothers Osborne

Live MusicCountry
Rose Music Center at The Heights, Huber Heights
Ticketed

Country duo Brothers Osborne performs at Rose Music Center. Doors are scheduled for 7 PM with the show at 8 PM.

 
8:00 PM

Rockin A Rodeo — Battle of the Beast — Friday

RodeoFamily
Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 645 Infirmary Rd., Dayton
$20 advance / $25 gate; ages 5 & under free (advertised)

First of two rodeo nights featuring professional bull riding and family entertainment. Gates are advertised to open at 5 PM.

Multi-Day Events Continuing Beyond August 28

 

 

Dayton Area Event Guide • August 21–28, 2026
Schedules, prices and availability can change. Follow the linked organizer or venue for final details.

 

Weekend Adventure

⚾ Step Back in Time with the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings
What if you could watch a baseball game the way fans did more than 150 years ago? That's exactly what you'll experience when the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings take the field. This vintage base ball club recreates America's national pastime using the rules, uniforms, equipment and customs of the 1869 season.
The modern vintage team takes its name from one of the most important clubs in sports history. The original Cincinnati Red Stockings became baseball's first openly professional team in 1869 and traveled across the country taking on challengers from coast to coast.

🏆 The Team That Changed Baseball
When baseball's rules changed to allow professional players in 1869, Cincinnati embraced the idea. Led by captain and center fielder Harry Wright, the Red Stockings assembled a salaried team that practiced regularly and quickly became a national sensation.
The results were remarkable. The Red Stockings finished their famous 1869 campaign 57-0, traveling across the country and defeating the best clubs they encountered. Their success helped prove that professional baseball could work and earned Cincinnati an enduring place in baseball history.

🧤 Wait...Where Are the Gloves?
Watching vintage base ball can be surprising if you're accustomed to today's game. One of the first things you'll notice is that the players don't wear modern baseball gloves. Fielders catch the ball barehanded, just as players commonly did during the 1860s.
You'll also hear some unfamiliar language. Players are known as ballists, the umpire may be called the judge, and enthusiastic spectators might offer a hearty "Huzzah!" after a particularly good play.

⚾ It's History You Can Actually Watch
That's what makes vintage base ball so much fun. Instead of seeing baseball history behind glass in a museum, you get to watch it come alive on the field. Players wear period-style uniforms, use historically appropriate equipment and follow rules and customs modeled after the 1869 game.
The atmosphere is also a little different. Sportsmanship and gentlemanly behavior are emphasized, and good plays can earn appreciation regardless of which club made them. The result is part sporting event, part living-history demonstration and a lot of fun.

📜 The Original Red Stockings Were Baseball Superstars
The original team's undefeated season made the Red Stockings famous across America. They traveled east to take on top clubs in cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington before later heading west aboard the newly completed transcontinental railroad.
Their games drew enormous attention, and the team's success demonstrated that spectators would turn out to see professional athletes compete. In many ways, the Red Stockings helped lay the groundwork for the professional sports industry we know today.

📅 Catch Them This Weekend
📅 Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
⚾ Match: 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings vs. Champion City Reapers
📍 Location: Heritage Park
🎩 What to Expect: Vintage uniforms, 1869 rules, barehanded fielding and old-fashioned base ball

💡 Don't Expect a Modern Baseball Game
Part of the fun is spotting all the differences between the 1869 game and today's baseball. Listen to the terminology, watch how the players field without gloves and pay attention to the old-fashioned customs. Kids who enjoy baseball may especially get a kick out of seeing just how much the sport has changed.
Why It's Worth Seeing: You don't have to be a baseball fanatic to enjoy this one. The 1869 Red Stockings combine sports, history and entertainment into an experience that's completely different from a night at a modern ballpark. And considering professional baseball was born right here in southwest Ohio, it's a fascinating opportunity to see what America's pastime looked like when it was just getting started.

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This newsletter sponsored by The Renaissance Men

Veteran-owned Construction Co. focused on rebuilding homes, restoring hope, and reviving community!

The Renaissance Men

813-500-9788

 

Featured Park

 

Featured Nature Escape

🌻 Catch the Late-Summer Bloom at Dane Mutter Prairie
If you've never experienced an Ohio prairie at the height of summer, Dane Mutter Prairie in the Beavercreek area deserves a spot on your late-August adventure list. This restored native prairie offers tall grasses, colorful summer blooms, butterflies, birds and a peaceful walking trail that feels surprisingly removed from the surrounding neighborhoods.
And the timing couldn't be better. According to the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, the prairie reaches its peak bloom during mid- to late summer, making this one of the best times of the year to explore it.

🌾 From Open Field to Native Prairie
The property was purchased and planted with native prairie species beginning in 2011. Today, it provides visitors with an excellent example of prairie restoration and an opportunity to see how dramatically native plants can transform a landscape.
One particularly interesting feature is the contrast between the restored native prairie and neighboring unrestored fields. Seeing them side by side helps demonstrate just how diverse a healthy prairie ecosystem can become.

🥾 Take the 1.1-Mile Prairie Loop
A 1.1-mile loop trail takes visitors directly through the prairie. Unlike a walk through a shady woodland, this trail puts you right among the tall grasses and flowering plants, creating an immersive prairie experience.
The paths are natural-surface trails, so comfortable walking shoes are a good idea. The prairie is also exposed to the sun, making water, sunscreen and a hat especially useful on warm August afternoons.

🦋 Look for Butterflies & Pollinators
Don't rush your walk. Late-summer prairie flowers attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators, while the tall grasses and surrounding natural areas provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Bring binoculars or a camera and spend a few minutes watching individual flowers. You may be surprised by just how much activity is happening around you.

🔭 Don't Miss the Observation Deck
One of the highlights is the observation deck, which rises above the tall prairie vegetation and provides sweeping views across the landscape. Educational panels at the deck help explain what you're seeing and why restored prairie habitat is important.

🌿 Make It a Longer Adventure
Dane Mutter Prairie is part of the larger Beaver Creek Wetlands conservation corridor. The neighboring Dave Nolin Wetland Reserve connects with the prairie and offers another 1.25 miles of trail, including nearly 5,000 feet of accessible boardwalk through wet woods, wet prairie, savanna and meadow habitats.
That means you can keep your visit short with the prairie loop or extend your outing into the wetlands for a completely different landscape.

👤 Who Was Dane Mutter?
The prairie honors longtime Miami Valley naturalist and conservationist Dane Mutter. He worked for the organization that became Five Rivers MetroParks and later served as executive director of the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association. His decades of conservation work helped protect and promote the natural areas we enjoy throughout the region today.

📍 Plan Your Visit
Location: Beavercreek area, Greene County
Access: Public walkways through the Hunter's Pointe subdivision
Trail: 1.1-mile natural-surface loop
Highlights: Native prairie, summer wildflowers, butterflies, wildlife and observation deck
Accessibility: The prairie trail is not designated handicap accessible

💡 Best Time to Go
Right now! Mid- to late summer is prime blooming season at Dane Mutter Prairie. Try visiting earlier in the morning or later in the day when temperatures are cooler, and give yourself time to stop at the observation deck and enjoy the view.
Why It's Worth Visiting: We've featured plenty of wooded parks, waterfalls and river trails, but Dane Mutter Prairie offers something different. Walking among tall native grasses and late-summer wildflowers while butterflies move from bloom to bloom gives you a glimpse of a landscape that was once much more common in Ohio. And because we're visiting during peak prairie season, this is one hidden gem that's especially worth discovering right now.

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Recipe of the Week

This Week's Recipe

🌽 Honey Garlic Chicken with Roasted Corn & Potatoes
Late August is prime time for fresh sweet corn, and this easy sheet-pan dinner puts it to good use. Juicy chicken, tender baby potatoes and sweet corn roast together in a sticky honey-garlic glaze for a meal that's big on flavor but easy on cleanup. Best of all, everything cooks on one pan!

🛒 Ingredients
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1½ pounds baby potatoes, halved
• 3 ears fresh sweet corn, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
• ⅓ cup honey
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

👩‍🍳 Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet or line it with foil.

2. Toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Spread them on the baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes to give them a head start.

3. Meanwhile, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, melted butter, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes.

4. Remove the pan from the oven. Add the chicken thighs and corn. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the corn and lightly season with salt and pepper.

5. Brush about two-thirds of the honey garlic sauce generously over the chicken.

6. Return the pan to the oven and roast for another 25–30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

7. During the final 5 minutes, brush the chicken with the remaining sauce. For a slightly caramelized finish, place the pan under the broiler briefly while watching it carefully.

8. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.

🥗 Make It a Complete Meal
You really don't need much else—the chicken, potatoes and corn make this a complete dinner. For something fresh on the side, add sliced garden tomatoes, cucumber salad or a simple green salad.

🌽 Fresh Corn Tip
When choosing sweet corn, look for bright green husks that fit snugly around the ear and silks that are slightly sticky and golden to light brown. There's no need to peel back the husk at the store—a plump, firm ear is usually a good sign.

💡 Kitchen Tip
Make cleanup even easier: Line your sheet pan with heavy-duty foil before cooking. Honey-based sauces can become sticky as they caramelize, and the foil will save you from having to scrub the pan afterward.

Home Tips

Home Tips

🧽 7 Things Around the House You Probably Haven't Cleaned All Summer
By late August, most of us have spent plenty of time mowing lawns, tending gardens and keeping up with everyday cleaning. But there are a few places around the house that are easy to forget. Before summer winds down, give these often-overlooked spots a little attention—you may be surprised by what you find!

❄️ 1. Refrigerator Coils
Dust and pet hair can collect around accessible refrigerator condenser coils and vents, making it harder for some refrigerators to release heat efficiently. Check your owner's manual first to locate them and see whether cleaning is recommended. If accessible, unplug the refrigerator and carefully vacuum away loose dust with a soft brush attachment.

🌀 2. Ceiling Fan Blades
Your ceiling fans have probably been working overtime this summer. Turn them off and take a look at the tops of the blades—you may discover a surprising layer of dust. An old pillowcase works well for cleaning them: slip it over each blade and gently pull it back so the dust stays inside instead of falling onto the furniture.

🚿 3. Showerheads
Mineral deposits can gradually clog the tiny openings in a showerhead and affect the spray pattern. Remove the showerhead if the manufacturer allows it and clean it according to its care instructions. A soft toothbrush can help clear buildup around the nozzles.

🧺 4. The Dryer Vent
You probably clean the lint screen after every load, but don't forget the dryer exhaust system. Check the vent opening outside for lint or debris, and periodically have the entire duct inspected and cleaned as needed. A restricted dryer vent can make clothes take longer to dry and can create a fire hazard.

🗑️ 5. Trash & Recycling Bins
Summer heat can make outdoor trash cans unpleasant in a hurry. After collection day, rinse empty bins, scrub them with warm soapy water if needed, rinse thoroughly and leave them open to dry completely in the sun before putting the lids back on.

🌬️ 6. Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Dust can accumulate on the cover of a bathroom exhaust fan and reduce airflow. Turn the fan off, remove the cover if your model permits it, and clean the cover with a vacuum or according to the manufacturer's directions. Keeping the fan working properly helps remove moisture from the bathroom.

🪟 7. Window Screens & Tracks
Before those beautiful early-fall days arrive, clean the dust, pollen and debris from your window screens and tracks. Vacuum loose debris first, then wipe the tracks clean. You'll be ready to open the windows when cooler weather finally gives the air conditioner a break.

⏱️ The 10-Minute Trick
Don't try to tackle everything at once. Pick one forgotten area and spend just 10 minutes on it each day. By the end of the week, you'll have knocked out several of those little cleaning jobs that always seem to get pushed to "someday."

💡 Quick Tip
Start high and work down. When cleaning a room, tackle ceiling fans, light fixtures and high shelves first. Dust naturally falls as you work, so save vacuuming and mopping for last and you won't have to clean the same area twice.
💡 Answer to Trivia Question:
Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell's $2 million gift made possible the museum’s landmark Italian Renaissance-inspired building, designed by Edward B. Green.
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