Festival season is upon us! From foodie favorites to community festivals, holiday celebrations to summer fairs, Dayton comes alive during the summer. With rides, games, prizes and funnel cake, summer festivals are guaranteed fun for the entire family. From May through August, each weekend brings another opportunity for festival fun — and we hope you make it a very festive summer!
Our guide to the best 2018 summer festivals in Dayton features can’t-miss fests and events for your family!
Wright Patterson AFB Family Fun Fest Carnival
May 4-11 at Springfield St., 1/2 Mile Northeast of the Air Force Museum (across from Gate 1-B),
They have a variety of fun and interactive rides for every age group to make every child’s visit to our carnival a memorable one, plus plenty of fun and fair, family-oriented games – and of course, lots of food concessions. Free.
Owen’s Place Family Fun Day
May 6 at Rotary Park
Fun for the whole family! Games, Food Trucks, arts/crafts, Universally Accessible Play Area, Live music and more! Free.
Farm Babies Fest
May 12 at Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm
Enjoy hands-on demonstrations and exhibits, homespun farm crafts, 50/50 raffle, delicious food and baby farm animals!
A World A’Fair Dayton International Festival
May 18-20 at Dayton Convention Center
A World A’Fair is a celebration of diversity that showcases the food, dancing, music, costumes, and cultural exhibits representing the ethnic backgrounds and cultures of Dayton and the greater Miami Valley. We showcase booths from 31 countries and ethnic groups, and run two full-time stages with performances from both the local groups as well as regional, national and international performing groups.
Miamisburg Spring Fling Festival
May 19-20 at Library Park
Arts and Crafts, Business and Community Booths, Free entertainment and music, Children’s games, Food Concessions
Carnival and More!
St. Brigid Parish Festival
May 18-20 at St. Brigid Parish
Come and enjoy good food and family fun at our annual three-day community festival. Festival food, rides, kids games, adult games, bingo, live music Friday and Saturday night. Beer is served in a designated area.
Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival
May 24-27 at Yoctangee Park
Entertainment, Kid’s Fun Run, Senior Citizens Day & Bingo, Memorial Day Parade, & Anything That Floats But A Boat Race, and much more! Free.
Feast of the Flowering Moon
Patriot Freedom Festival
May 26-27 at Dayton VA Medical Center
Live entertainment; historical reenactments; children’s activities; vendors include food, crafts, petting zoo, FREE Barrel Train rides for the kids. Free.
Dayton Heritage Festival at Carillon Park
May 27 at Carillon Park
Explore exhibits and buildings and celebrate Dayton’s unparalleled history through special activities, costumed interpreters, and more. Draped in patriotic decorations, the Park welcomes thousands of guests each year to this family-friendly event!
The Lights Fest
June 2 at Ohio Renaissance Fair Grounds
The Lights Fest is an experience where thousands of friends and families gather to listen to live music, fill up on food trucks and light up life by sharing personal wishes, dreams and goals.
Troy Strawberry Festival
June 2-3 at Downtown Troy
Troy Strawberry Festival Parade, 10k Classic Run, Arts & Craft Vendors, Food, Live Entertainment, Kid’s Activities, Strawberry Pagents, Pie Eating Contests and more! The Festival is more than just a weekend of fun. Free.
Farmstead Cheese Festival at Youngs
June 4-14 at Young’s Jersey Dairy
We offer unlimited Young’s Family Fun Wristbands all week to help celebrate our 9th year of making Young’s Farmstead Cheese! Good for unlimited family fun all over the farm – unlimited miniature golf, batting cages, driving range, Cowvin’s Fast Slide, Moovers & Shakers & Cowvin’s Kiddie Corral.
Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum Festival
June 2 at Bradford Railroad Museum
A celebration of Bradford’s railroad history with children’s train rides, games, boxcar building and more!
Banana Split Festival
June 8-9 in Wilminton, OH
The annual Banana Split Festival in Wilmington, Ohio celebrates the birthplace of the banana split with a wonderful weekend festival the second weekend of June.
St Christopher Parish Summer Festival 2018
June 8-10 at St Christopher Parish
Church festival with carnival rides, great beer tent, and good prices in the food tent. Cotton, Common Thread, and Flashback performing. A good time for all. Free.
St. Helen Spring Festival
June 8-10 at St. Helen Parish
Family fun all weekend with rides for the kids, food, flea market, beer garden and more!
St. Helen Spring Festival
Yellow Springs Street Fair
June 9 in Yellow Springs, OH
Over 200 booths selling fine arts & crafts, clothing, jewelry, fair trade items, unique gifts, massages and much more, join the international selection of cuisine from Vietnamese shish-kabob to Mexican empanadas to Thai wraps to hot dogs.
Lebanon Country Music Festival
June 9 in Downtown Lebanon
Stompin’ on the Street – FREE Community event offering shopping, Artisan Crafts, food and Country Music held in downtown Lebanon.
Caesar Ford Summer Fest
June 9 at Caesar Ford Park
There will be something for everyone in the family. Admission is free with food, craft and informational vendors, bounce house and a car show beginning at noon. Free.
Jewish Cultural Festival
June 10 at Temple Isreal
The entire community, both Jewish and non-Jewish, is invited to share traditions and learn about the Jewish faith. We will be expanding our offerings to include additional entertainment for your listening and viewing pleasure, an Israeli-themed petting zoo, more education sessions in new areas of interest, and the Fourth Annual “Oy Vey 5k Run/Walk.” Free.
Kettering Block Party at The Fraze
June 11 at Fraze Pavilion
Learn more about City of Kettering departments and services, enjoy free entertainment on the Fraze stage and meet your friends and neighbors in Lincoln Park and find out why “Kettering Is Home.” Free.
Summer Arts Festival
June 14- July 21 at Veterans Park
Springfield Arts Council presents the annual admission-free Summer Arts Festival each June and July in Veterans Park, downtown Springfield. Free.
Celtic Fest Ohio
June 15-17 at Ohio Renaissance Festival
Enjoy a wide variety of food items from traditional Scottish, Irish, and English to American Fare. Browse over 100 arts and crafts shops featuring the most unique items all made with a Celtic flare! Stay tuned as we get closer to announcing the full line-up!
Summer Solstice Lavender Festival
June 16-17 at Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm
Experience the overwhelming beauty of acres of certified organic lavender in full bloom. Lavender food, u-pick, children’s activities, music and much more. Free.
Sliders, Sides & Suds Festival
June 16 at Fraze Pavilion
Offering plenty of mouth-watering flavors this Summer. The gratifyingly delicious food festival. Free.
Festival On The Hill
June 22-23 at Dayton Masonic Center
his location offers easy access and ample parking for summer fun, food and music! Festival-goers will enjoy open seating on the expansive front lawn, where every seat provides outstanding views of the large main stage and the downtown Dayton skyline.
Dayton Air Show
June 23-24 at Dayton International Airport
This is your chance to get up close and personal with the aircraft and pilots! Get your tickets early to see the world-renowned United States Navy Blue Angels along with an amazing lineup of performers and aircraft displays and so much more.
Rail Festival at Carillon Park
June 23-24 at Carillon Park
Join them for live steam engines, model train displays, historical exhibits, free miniature train rides, food and merchandise vendors. Fun for all ages!
Rail Festival at Carillon Park
Centerville Americana Festival and Fireworks
July 4 at Centerville, OH
Featuring 300 craft and food booths, artists, musical entertainment and a children’s game and activity area, the Street Fair also showcases staged and strolling performers.
Red, White & Brew at Fairfield Commons
July 7 at The Mall at Fairfield Commons
Join them for food trucks, music, kids entertainment, beer garden and an amazing fireworks display! Beer will be sold to raise money for Fisher-Nightingale Houses, Inc.
Logan County Fair
July 8-13 at Logan County Fairgrounds
Carnival Rides and Games, Harness Racing, Pony Racing, Bull Riding, Tractor Pull, Motorcycle Races and more.
The Montgomery County Fair
July 9-14 at Montgomery County Fairgrounds
They will feature all the fair favorites: demolition derby, 4H, junior fair, livestock, petting zoo, dog show, circus, flower show, games, rides, awesome fair eats & treats, harness racing, rodeo, free entertainment with paid admission, plus much more!
The Montgomery County Fair
Warren County Fair
July 16- 21 at Warren County Fairgrounds
Fun, food, games, rides, demo derby, tractor pulls, live harness racing, livestock shows and sales, barn yard display, jungle island zoo animals, pony rides, musical groups, corn hole tournament, talent show, karaoke, and parade with hot air balloons. Plus we are introducing a new event this year: Tug-a-Truck!
Summer Moon Festival
July 21-22 at Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Enjoy inflatable activities, science demonstrations, face painting, aeronautics activities, mini golf, a kids trivia competition, the Lima Area Concert Band, animals from the Toledo Zoo, and the Run to the Moon races. Free.
Dayton Celtic Festival
July 27-29 at Riverscape MetroPark
An anticipated 80,000 people will head to RiverScape this weekend for Celtic Fest, and as always, there will be plenty of Irish food, beer, music, culture and live entertainment.
