With summer now in full swing, Dayton and the Southwest Ohio area abounds in festivals, fairs and fun activities. Ohio’s great outdoors beckons along scenic bicycle paths, in forested parks and campgrounds, down flowing water ways and in the nearby comfort of local communities. As the explosive starting gun of Independence Day celebrations sets the tone for the month’s activity offerings, Saturdays in July provide abundant opportunities to more than make up for previous months’ indoors-only activities.
July 7
Red, White & Brew at Fairfield Commons, from 6 to 10 p.m. at 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, provides food trucks, music, kids’ entertainment, beer garden and an amazing fireworks display! Some purchases help raise money for Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc.
The Springfield Arts Council presents “Phil Dirt and the Dozers” at their on-going Summer Arts Festival the Turner Pavilion in Veterans Park Amphitheater, 250 Cliff Park Rd., in downtown Springfield. Attendees are reminded to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating at the free concert.
The Ohio Jeep Fest is held at the Ross County Fairgrounds, 344 Fairgrounds Rd, Chillicothe, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and includes obstacle courses, mud pits, scavenger hunts and trail rides. Live entertainment is also on tap at the “fun-filled Jeep weekend” and a variety of different ticket options are available online through ohiojeepfest.com
The Cool Films Series at Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main St., Dayton, features “Adam’s Rib” the 1949 romance, comedy film starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Husband and wife attorneys, Tracy and Hepburn, each represent opposing clients in a court case. Admission is $6 per person.
July 14
The Kickin Chicken Wing Fest at the Fraze Pavillion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd, Dayton, from 3 to 10 p.m. is a free festival which features, “bold food, rockin’ music and a hearty party.” An event held in partnership with the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, the association’s executive director, Amy Zahora said, “Whether you like them spicy, sweet, tangy or plain, you’ll get the chance to try some of the area’s best wings.”
Aviation enthusiasts can take a biplane ride at the WACO Historical Society and Air Museum, 1875 South County Road 25A, Troy. Up to two passengers at a time take the 12 minute flight for $100 each. While personal photography is permitted, for an additional $45, passengers also get a DVD recording of the flight as a souvenir. Reservations are first come, first served through www.wacoairmuseum.org
The Major Taylor Cycling Club's 11th Annual Signature Ride benefiting local charities offers a variety of ride lengths, each more challenging, on a mostly flat to rolling hills course through Dayton, Moraine, Jefferson, West Carrollton, Farmersville, Lewisburg, Brookville and then back to Dayton. The $25 per entry event begins at 7 a.m. at Welcome Stadium Parking Lot D, 1601 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, and include a post-ride lunch, rest stop snacks and SAG support. Details are at majortaylordayton.org
The Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, 1251 W Blee Rd, Springfield, is the location for Barnstorming Carnival 2018, an event centered on the heyday of Barnstorming in the 1920's and 1930's. Admission free to the family-friendly outing which runs from 8 to 11 a.m. Activities include a pancake breakfast, aircraft displays, demonstrations, “meet-the-barnstormer” presentations and antique biplane rides.
July 21
Also termed as “Veteran’s Day” this is the official opening day of the Clark County Fair at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 4401 South Charleston Pike, Springfield. Veterans are admitted free, with I.D., general admission cost is $6 and children, age five and under are free. Planned is a full slate of live entertainment, carnival rides, antique show, livestock show, a tractor pull and much more. Fairground gates are open at 8 a.m.
“Mudpocaplyse” a mud volleyball tournament to benefit the Greater Dayton Region Epilepsy Foundation, serves up at 8 a.m. at Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark, 1301 E Siebenthaler Ave # 2, Dayton. Prospective teams that wish to play in the charity event can go to daytonmud.com to register. A $400 entry fee applies and players must be age 16 and older. Spectator passes are available at the gate for $5.
Newton in Space is the theme for family day at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB. The day commemorates the anniversaries of both the Apollo 11 and the Apollo 15 moon landings and attendees learn about rocketry and space flight through fun demonstrations and hands-on activities, including a model rocket build and launch session; weather permitting.
SICSA, the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals, hosts the Chip, Dip & Cheer Summer Festival at 10 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a dog wash available for $25, microchipping is available for $15 and nail trimming and ear cleaning service is $10. Billed as “a fun day of kid-friendly activities, music and special treats for your furry friends” all proceeds benefit SICSA's animals and its mission in the community.
July 28
The Annie Oakley Days Festival, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Darke County Fairgrounds, 800 Sweitzer Street, Greenville, celebrates “the memory and image of Darke County's native daughter.” The free festival will have live entertainment, a melodrama, a parade, historical bus tours, shooting contests, a car show, kiddie tractor pulls, shooting contests, and this year, a Cowboy Mounted Shooting Contest.
The 68th Annual Brookville Community Picnic features rides, games, bounce houses, tethered hot air balloon rides, music, food, fun, prize giveaways and karaoke. Located at 545 Upper Lewisburg Salem Rd, Brookville, a donation is requested at the gate.
With an anticipated 80,000 people attending this year, the Dayton Celtic Festival at Riverscape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Avenue, Dayton will have four stages with continuous live entertainment which includes several Celtic music headliners as well as more than 20 regional Celtic acts. Admission is free and daytoncelticfestival.com has more details.
Hand-led pony rides, for children age two to eight, are offered from 2 to 4 p.m. at Carriage Hill Farm & MetroPark, 7800 E. Shull Road, Huber Heights. The cost is $5 per child.