It’s the most wonderful time of the year! This time of year there’s plenty of festive, fun and family-friendly activities to go around. And while you’ll likely be shopping up a storm for the upcoming holidays, there are plenty of free activities for your family to enjoy.
Here are 15 free things to do in Dayton this November:
Pop Over to the Park
Location: Iron Horse Park
Date: November 2, 4:30- 6:00 pm
Celebrate the grand opening of the NEW playground and Little Free Library at Iron Horse Park! Join us for storytime, free popcorn and PLAY!
Discovering Fossils with The Fossil Guy
Location: Dayton Metro Libary
Date: November 4, 2:00- 3:00 pm
Jim Carr, the Fossil Guy, will talk about fossils commonly found in the Ohio area as well as around the United States. He will talk about what kind of organisms left these records and when they appeared in Earth’s history. He will also bring actual fossils to pass around to the audience.
Playdate Pals: Lots of Leaves
Location: Bill Yeck Park, Smith House, 2230 E. Centerville Station Road Centerville, OH 45459
Date: November 8, 10:00- 11:00 am & 3:30- 4:30 pm
Designed to build sensory and motor skills and encourage interaction with other children through monthly nature-themed programs that include singing, dancing, crafts, learning stations and more. (ages 18 – 42 months with adult companion)
Winter Market & Tree Lighting Ceremony at Austin Landing
Location: Austin Landing
Date: November 11, 11:00 am- 8:00 pm
Join them at 6:00 pm where the fun will begin for our Kettering Physician Network Christmas Tree Lighting and holiday activities! Enjoy a special dance performance from Jeanie Moreland Dancers! Stop by to get your face painted, hop in the photo booth, say hello to Ranger Vic, and warm up with some hot cocoa from the Hilton Garden Inn! Enjoy the KPN holiday photo booth and cookies at the KPN tents – where you will also find health info and games, and free blood pressure checks, even meet local KPN physicians and care managers.There’s something for the whole family to enjoy during our tree lighting event. Santa will arrive at 6:00 pm with all of his friends, and witness the spectacular Kettering Physician Network Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at 6:30pm!
Beavercreek Veterans Day Ceremony
Location: Veterans Memorial Park
Date: November 11, 2:00 pm
Join them to honor our Veterans. This program is held at Veterans Memorial Park and open to the public.
Kettering Holidays Arts & Crafts Show
Location: Kettering Recreation Complex
Date: November 11, 9:00 am
This popular annual event showcases over 75 vendors throughout Kettering Recreation Complex and Charles I Lathrem Senior Center. Vendors will display their festive holiday decorations and handmade gift items for you to get a start on your shopping. Admission is free to this one-day show!
Science Saturdays with Mister C
Location: Engineer’s Club
Date: November 11, 9:30 am
Science Saturdays Mister C is mind-blowing fun for everyone! Come see our live science show the second Saturday of each month at the Engineers Club of Dayton.
Play and Learn
Location: Dayton Metro Library, Story Corner
Date: November 14, 11:00 – 11:30 am
Children ages 0-3 and caregivers can enjoy unstructured playtime with a variety of fun, developmentally appropriate toys that encourage literacy and learning. This program provides a great opportunity for socializing your child as well as making connections with other parents.
Family Day: Destination Space
Location: National Museum of the US Air Force
Date: November 18, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm
Learn about the International Space Station and spaceflight, plus build your own space station from recycling materials. FREE admission!
2017 Dayton Regional Science Festival: Super Science Saturday
Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Date: November 18, 10:00-4:00 pm
The Boonshoft Museum invites families to explore hands-on STEM activities, interact with partners and Museum professionals, and more at a FREE day of science and fun. In addition to the complete Museum experience, guests can also explore the STEMM Expo (closes at 3:00 p.m.) in the Main Exhibit Hall! Museum educators and representatives from 20+ community partners will offer a day of fun, STEM immersion, family interaction, and one-of-a-kind Museum programming.
The Turkey is a Funny Bird!
Location:Westwood Branch Library
Date: November 18, 4:00- 5:00 pm
Come for some fun as we learn all about these big, spectacular birds: their color patterns, mating habits and where in the wild you might find them. You’ll get to examine turkey plumage and even listen to noisy turkey calls. Warm cider and popcorn for all the turkeys in the crowd!
Holidays at Glen
Location: Glen Helen Nature Preserve
Date: November 25, Noon- 4:00 pm
Celebrate the season by making a pine cone bird feeder, creating a bookmark to identify mammal tracks, and helping count birds at our feeders for Cornell University’s Project FeederWatch. Take home tips for helping birds survive winter. Cookies and hot cider will be served. (Peanut Allergy Warning). Donations appreciated. Trailside.
Hometown HoliDazzle Illuminated Parade & Festival
Location: City of Wilmington
Date: November 25, 7:00- 9:00 pm
Downtown Wilmington will close its streets for everyone to see the annual illuminated parade. Parade starts at 7pm and other activities begin at 10am. Shop Small Saturday will be filled with coupons and great deals from your favorite local businesses. There will be entertainment, food and children activities starting at 4pm.
At the Manger World Nativity Traditions Exhibit
Location: Roesch Library at University of Dayton
Date: November 27- January 5, 2018, 8:30- 4:30 (closed 12/25-1/1)
Annual free exhibit for the community. Offering a wide range of cultural and religious experiences, the 2017 displays showcase manger scenes from Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. They will commemorate 200 years of Marianist life and give visitors a glimpse of how Nativity sets are created, preserved and curated.
Carillon Tree of Light Illumination
Location: Carillon Park
Date: November 29,- December 30, 5:00- 9:00 pm
Towering 200-feet in the air, and circling around the historical bell tower, the Carillon Tree of Light will brighten the Dayton skyline once again with the first lighting of the season on November 29th. Believed to be Ohio’s largest tree of light, and made possible through the generosity of Carillon Park members Connie and John Taylor, each year, “Connie Taylor’s Tree” will shine through New Year’s Day. The lighting will kick-off a month of seasonal programming as Carillon Historical Park is turned into a winter wonderland of lights, music, food, and family fun for “A Carillon Christmas”!
