Dayton Family Events Calendar
Looking for fun things to do with the kids? Here's a little help finding events the whole family can enjoy, right here in Dayton!
Family-friendly events in Dayton
Harvest and Glow Festival
Saturday, October 17 2026
Parks and Recreation is launching a brand-new Harvest and Glow Festival on October 17th, 2026 from 2pm-9pm! Gather your family and friends and experience a day packed with fall traditions and community spirit!
Run For Your Life Series - Flag Football Style 5K & 10K
Saturday, October 17 2026
Survive a flag football-style zombie apocalypse race! Choose a 5K or 10K, protect your flags from zombies and complete a different mission each week.
The LM&M Pumpkin Express
Saturday, October 17 2026
Join LM&M in celebration of all things autumn as we kick off our return to operations with The Pumpkin Patch Express!
The One with Goats & Little Makers
Saturday, October 17 2026
Little hands, big creativity, and a few four-legged friends đ Join us for a playful, hands-on craft experience where kids create, explore, and enjoy time with our friendly goats at The Grazing Ground.
Truck or Treat
Saturday, October 17 2026
A fall family favorite! Explore a lineup of awesome trucks and community vehicles while collecting treats and giveaways along the way.
Hope Road's Harvest & Harmony Community Fall Festival
Sunday, October 18 2026
Hope Road Organization invites families and neighbors to Harvest & Harmony Community Fall Festival, a free community celebration at the Hope Road Youth Arts & Nature Hub.
Hound Hike
Sunday, October 18 2026
Join us for a self-guided hike through the trails of Bill Yeck Park, complete with sniff-stops along the way.
Small Scale Train Rides at Carillon Park Railroad
Sunday, October 18 2026
Take a ride on the mini-railroad at Carillon Park with the Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society.
The Greene - Trick or Treat & Fall Fest
Sunday, October 18 2026
đ Fall fun is taking over The Greene! đ Dress up the little ones and head to The Greene for Trick or Treat!
Wildlife Filmmaker and Nat Geo Explorer Casey Anderson Speaking in Dayton
Sunday, October 18 2026
Wildlife filmmaker and National Geographic explorer Casey Anderson is speaking at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Ohio, Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Teen DIY: Paper Flowers
Monday, October 19 2026
In honor of DĂa de los Muertos, create paper marigolds to take home or add to our branchâs ofrenda. For Grades 7-12.
Teen DIY: DĂa de los Muertos craft
Tuesday, October 20 2026
Spark your creativity! Learn a little about DĂa de los Muertos! Paint a wooden sugar skull and adorn it with a marigold crown. If you have a specific person/pet to honor, you can write their name on the skull.
Dayton Journalist and Author to Speak at Wright Library
Wednesday, October 21 2026
Meet author and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Kevin Williams, editor of "The Amish Cook" column, which appears weekly in the Dayton Daily News, at his talk and book signing at Wright Memorial Public Library.
Get Outside Book Club: Lessons from Wildlife
Wednesday, October 21 2026
Are animals at all like us?⯠Do they need homes too?âŻ
Pumpkin Glow
Wednesday, October 21 2026
Follow the trails of Caesar Ford Park October 21â24, 2026 and be mesmerized by the hundreds of hand-painted pumpkins in black light-reflective paint! Bring a blacklight flashlight, or borrow one for the walk.
Science of Skulls
Wednesday, October 21 2026
Use clues such as skull size and shape, type and number of teeth and eye placement to identify a variety of mammals from our region using their skulls and a dichotomous key - with Cincinnati Children's Museum.
Teen Cinema: 10 Cloverfield Lane
Wednesday, October 21 2026
Join us for the film 10 Cloverfield Lane (PG-13). 3:30-5:30 PM
Family Storytime: Nature Cat Adventures Edition
Thursday, October 22 2026
Includes stories, songs, clips from Nature Cat, and hands-on activities. Together, we will explore and develop connections with the natural world. 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
MEET THE MAKER: KARU Chocolate (Colombia)
Thursday, October 22 2026
An exciting opportunity to meet makers of KARĂ Chocolate from the beautiful country of Colombia. Join us for a zoom class with some of our favorite chocolate makers doing fun things using hyperlocal ingredients.
Monster Mash City of West Carrollton
Thursday, October 22 2026
Get ready for a frightfully fun evening at West Carrollton's annual Monster Mash on Thursday, October 22nd, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Nature Cat Adventures
Thursday, October 22 2026
In partnership with ThinkTV/PBS, enjoy stories, songs, clips from Nature Cat, and hands-on activities. Together, we will explore and develop connections with the natural world.
Trivia Night at Loose Ends Brewing
Thursday, October 22 2026
Bring your smartestâor funniestâfriends for Thursday trivia at Loose Ends Brewing in Centerville! Enjoy craft beer, great food, and compete for gift cards.
Huber's Happy Haunted Trail
Friday, October 23 2026
Join Huber Heights Parks & Recreation for its Halloween Tradition: Huber's Happy Haunted Trail. Walk the trail at Community Park for a family-friendly experience! Monster tent, themed stops, food & goodies, and much more!
Trick or Treat around Cross Pointe Centre
Friday, October 23 2026
Visit 30+ stores around Cross Pointe Centre for treats, crafts, story time and more. Costumes encouraged. Bring your own treat bag. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Vintage Market DaysÂŽ Dayton-Cincinnati
Friday, October 23 2026
Vintage Market Days returns to the Greene County Fairgrounds for "Collected & Curated" themed Fall Holiday market. The place to find what you're looking for and fabulous gifts. Grab your tickets early!
A Midsummer Nightâs Dream & Force Flux
Saturday, October 24 2026
Dayton Ballet brings Shakespeareâs A Midsummer Nightâs Dream to life in a captivating collaboration with the Philharmonic.
Dayton Fall Harvest Festival 2026
Saturday, October 24 2026
Join a day of family fun at the Fall Harvest Festival, hosted by the City of Dayton Department of Recreationâcombining a traditional fall festival with a trunk-or-treat experience.
Fall Fest & Wild Races
Saturday, October 24 2026
Wild races, fall fun and family-friendly activities! Enjoy camel, ostrich and wiener dog races, a Mini Highland Cow Petting Zoo, Track or Treat, food trucks, live entertainment and more. Saturday, October 24 | 4PMâ8PM.
