Experience Summer Along The Downtown Riverfront
RiverScape MetroPark comes to life for summer this Friday.
Experience Summer Along The Downtown Riverfront
RiverScape MetroPark, the region’s premier downtown destination for community gatherings and events, comes to life for summer with this year’s first installment of Pickin’ in the Park from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 6.
On Saturday, May 7, Saturday e-Scape begins with Fitness in the Park workouts, Grass Roots Enrichment programs and Music @ Lunch. Then, on Memorial Day weekend, RiverScape Rentals opens for the season. RiverScape MetroPark is located at 237 E. Monument Ave.
Pickin’ in the Park is a free, all-ages event that features live, progressive bluegrass music and food trucks from 6 to 10 p.m. on select Friday nights. This year’s lineup is:
- May 6: Urban Pioneers and Hackensaw Boys
- June 3: Bigfoot Yancey and Al Scorch and the Country Soul Ensemble
- Aug. 5: Sawgrass and Old Salt Union
Fitness in the Park: These free exercise sessions are held most Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Participants should bring their own water bottles and towels or mats. Classes vary between Zumba and Yoga.
Grass Roots Enrichment programs: Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center facilitates fun and engaging activities for kids ages 3 to 12 under the pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. View the class schedule and register in advance at metroparks.org/RiverScape.
Music @ Lunch: Grab food from a rotating selection of food trucks, enjoy live music and free WiFi, and read books from the Dayton Metro Library cart. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday from May 9 through Sept. 30, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. most Saturdays from May 7 through Aug. 27.
R&B Hot Summer Music: These free concerts are held on select Fridays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and presented by Buckeye Health Plan.
- June 10: KICK-N-FLAVA
- July 8: LYD
- Aug. 12: Premium Blend Music
Big Band Nights: These free concerts are held select Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- June 9: Bob Gray Orchestra
- June 23: Tom Daugherty Orchestra
- July 7: The Dayton Jazz Orchestra
- July 21: Barry Campbell and his Big Band with vocalist Elaina McCormick
- Aug. 11: The Kim Kelly Orchestra
Festivals: Returning to RiverScape MetroPark are such popular community festivals as:
- Saturday, May 21 (4 to 9 p.m.): Big Brews and Blues; benefits Diabetes Dayton
(4 to 9 p.m. VIP ticket: $50; 5 to 9 p.m. regular admission: $20) - Sunday, July 3 (1 to 10 p.m.): City of Dayton’s Lights in Flight Fireworks Show and Festival
- Friday-Sunday, July 29-31: United Irish of Dayton Celtic Festival
- Saturday, Aug. 20 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.): Hispanic Heritage Festival
- Sunday, Sept. 11 (3 to 6 p.m.): WYSO Community Concert
RiverScape Rentals helps riders explore the Dayton region’s more than 300 miles of bikeways — the nation’s largest paved trail network — with cruisers, road bikes, tandems and child attachments available to rent. New this year, RiverScape Rentals will offer push bikes to help toddlers learn to ride. RiverScape Rentals is open weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Fountain Snack Bar (111 E. Monument Avenue) offers ice cream and snacks from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours during Big Band concerts.
The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights and interactive fountain also will open Memorial Day weekend and remain open through Labor Day.
Five Rivers MetroParks.
