| *** đ»Around Town: Things to do in Dayton this weekend The lovely Wegerzyn Gardens surround the Dayton Playhouse. Weâre expected to have warmer weather this weekend which should bode well for Wegerzyn Gardensâ Paint-A-Park event Sunday. But thereâs also fun to be had indoors such as HeliStorm at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force featuring more than 150 radio-controlled miniature helicopters and a âWickedâ sing-along at the Sorg Opera House in Middletown. Click here. đČWorth the Drive: Local exhibits take visitors through evolution of bicycles Cycles Thru!" features a variety of amazing bicycles. This bicycle, covered in wicker, is still functional.Photo credit: Phil Armstrong. In celebration of May as National Bike Month, museums around the region are encouraging people to know more about the history and influence of bicycles. There are three bicycle exhibits happening now thatâs worth your attention. Click here. đTheater: High school theaters across Dayton region in spotlight at Schuster Center Emma Anderson (center as Miss Adelaide) and the Hot Box Girls sing "A Bushel and a Peck" in the Miami East High School production of "Guys and Dolls." CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED The annual Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards Showcase will take place June 5 at the Schuster Center featuring performances from 11 shows named Outstanding Musical. There will also be solos by 2025 Kettering Fairmont High School graduate Lynn Dauterman and Oakwood High School rising senior Griffin Greear who will represent Dayton at the Jimmy Awards in New York City. Read more here. đAround Town: Moraine festival to celebrate 60th anniversary with free rides, entertainment The city of Moraine will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a one-day festival at Wax Park, 3800 Main St., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 31. It will feature food and craft vendors, amusement rides, live music and a car cruise-in. CONTRIBUTED The city of Moraine will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a festival Saturday at Wax Park featuring food and craft vendors, amusement rides, live music, a car cruise-in and more. Click here. đŹFilm: Huge lineup of films to show during Dayton Jewish International Film Fest, which turns 25 Fiddler on the Moon" is among the short films that will be presented June 19 at The Neon as part of the 25th annual Dayton Jewish InternatIonal Film Festival. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED The Dayton Jewish International Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with 11 feature-length films and five short films. The lineup ranges from comedies to documentaries and explores themes of injustice, love, war, religion and family relationships. Click here. đïžAround Town: First Friday event happening next month in Daytonâs revitalized North Arcade Heres a January 2025 look at construction progress of the Dayton Arcades North Arcade in downtown Dayton. The North Arcade includes the Third Street and Gibbons Buildings, a second phase of development that will include a marketplace retail environment and a 93-room Hilton Garden Inn, projected to open in the first quarter of this year. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam The Dayton Arcade is joining the First Friday fun with an inaugural event June 6 featuring 15 local vendors in the North Arcadeâs first-floor concourse. Expect handmade crafts, artisanal goods, food, beverages and more. Click here. đTheater: âMJ,â âMacbeth,â âChicagoâ among shows to see across Dayton region in June MJ The Musical" will be presented June 24-29, 2025 at the Schuster Center courtsey of Dayton Live. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED If youâre a Michael Jackson fan, you absolutely must see the Tony Award-winning âMJ: The Musical,â a thrillingly choreographed, hit-filled show having its local premiere June 24-29 at the Schuster Center. There are other noteworthy shows happening across area stages in June as well. Click here. âȘAround Town: New, familiar activities part of Springfield Juneteenth celebrations Springfield celebrated Juneteenth Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the Gammon House and the surrounding area. BILL LACKEY/STAFF Credit: Bill Lackey Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865. Springfield is preparing to usher in this yearâs celebration as the historic Gammon House, a stop on the Underground Railroad, will celebrate its 20th annual Juneteenth and FatherFest on June 14. Click here. đ¶Music: Country artist Maggie Baugh to play free show in Miamisburg on world tour Nashville-based singer-songwriter and country artist Maggie Baugh recently announced a headlining Entertainers Heart world tour, with a stop at Good Time Charlies in Miamisburg. The free performance is Saturday, May 31. Photo credit: Landon Bonneville Nashville-based singer-songwriter and country artist Maggie Baugh is performing Saturday in Miamisburg. Having previously appeared at the Grand Ole Opry and on such TV shows as âTodayâ and âThe Kelly Clarkson Show,â Baugh is a rising star ready to take the world by storm. Click here. đŒïžVisual arts: At The Co in Dayton, these artists prove thereâs more than meets the eye in their works Victorine, By Herself", 2019, Oil on canvas, by Laura Sanders. The painting references Manet's "The Luncheon on the Grass". HANNAH KASPER/CONTRIBUTED Credit: Hannah Kasper Heather Jonesâ inaugural exhibit as the new curator and director of programs and engagement at The Contemporary Dayton spotlights Erin Holscher Almazan, Christine Gaffney and Laura Sanders. âI love that itâs a celebration of artists who are mothers, frankly as a mother-artist myself,â Jones said. âI didnât set out to do that, but Iâm glad that is the case. (It) carries on The Coâs longstanding tradition of showcasing female artists.â Read more about the exhibit here. đ¶Music: Ohio band Smug Brothers retires faithful 4-track with new record Smug Brothers will release its newest record, "Stuck on Beta," is due June 6 via Anyway Records. The band will play May 31 at Blind Bob's. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Hillary Jones Smug Brothers will celebrate the upcoming release of their latest LP, âStuck on Beta,â Saturday at Blind Bobâs with special guests Me Time, Chuck 2 and Motion Club.Read more about their new music here. đïžAround Town: Peace mural in downtown Dayton opens in conjunction with NATO assembly The epigraph of "On Peace Work" at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED The NATO assembly has come and gone but reminders of peace remain. If you havenât seen the new peace mural at Courthouse Square near the International Peace Museum, be sure to stop by for a moment of reflection. Read more about the mural and the poem that inspired it. Click here. đ¶Music: Signs of Life is the Pink Floyd cover band not to miss: Performance in Middletown set for June Signs of Life to highlight Pink Floyds expansive catalog at the Sorg. Credit: Steve Ziegelmeyer Signs of Life: The American Pink Floyd tribute band will perform at the Sorg Opera House June 6. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pink Floydâs âWish You Were Hereâ so expect to hear many tunes from that album in addition to âDark Side of the Moonâ and âThe Wall.â Click here. đ Timeless Dayton: 172-year-old Dayton home taken âdown to the studsâ gets new life Barbara and Joe Diekers live at 22 La Belle St. in St. Anne's Hill Historic District. CONTRIBUTED Take a look inside Barbara and Joe Diekersâ 172-year-old La Belle Street home in the St. Anneâs Hill Historic District. Built in the Greek Revival style in 1853 by Conrad Eickman, a German immigrant who was a carpenter and gunsmith, the home underwent seven years of renovations. Click here. đ»Music: Sarajevo, Dayton philharmonics to perform âConcert for Peaceâ From left: Patrick Nugent, president and CEO of Dayton Performing Arts Alliance; Gabriel van Aalst, president and CEO of Dayton Live, Sue Edwards, president of Wright State University; and Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10). Photo by Russell Florence Jr. Credit: Russell Florence The Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a âConcert for Peaceâ tonight at the Schuster Center. Conceived in conjunction with the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session, the concert will be conducted by world renown director Marin Alsop. Read more about the concert here. âCommunity Gems: Nominate someone who is making a difference Dayton Daily News Community Gems logo The Dayton Daily News Community Gems initiative highlights people who give their time and effort to improve the lives of their neighbors and community. Do you know someone like this in your community? Follow this link to nominate them. đšâđ©âđ§âđŠ Gem City Family: Tips and favorite spots for spending a day at a park Makino Park in Mason has been a host of events on World Inclusion Day, celebrating people of all abilities. CONTRIBUTED If youâre a parent planning to keep your kids busy this summer by taking them to the park, weâre offering tips to help you get the most out of your experience. Click here. đ·Photos: Heritage Day at Carillon Historical Park, Dayton Sideshow 18 at Yellow Cab Tavern and Dayton Contemporary Dance Companyâs âConfigurationsâ Heritage Day took place at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The event featured a performance by the Centerville Community Band, Carillon Park Concert Band, a Clodbuster Base Ball Club game, train rides on the Carillon Park Railroad, miniature train rides with the Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society, historical demonstrations and more. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam Heritage Day took place at Carillon Historical Park May 25. Dayton Sideshow 18 happened at Yellow Cab Tavern May 23. The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company presented âConfigurationsâ at the University of Daytonâs Boll Theatre May 22-23. đICYMI: Human Race Theatre Company announces 40th anniversary season Exterior of the Loft Theatre, home of the Human Race Theatre Company. CONTRIBUTED Credit: HANDOUT The Human Race Theatre Companyâs 40th anniversary, six-show season at the Loft Theatreexplores themes of family â given, chosen, found. Read more about the lineup which includes new comedies, a feminist spin on âDraculaâ and a Pulitzer Prize-winning look at the Black experience. Click here. CONNECT WITH ME Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. I encourage you to keep in touch. Share story tips or feedback about this newsletter by emailing me at [email protected]. | 