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Archives for May 2025

Levitt Pavilion Dayton Announces Season of Free Concerts

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Levitt Pavilion Dayton  announced the 2025 Eichelberger Concert Season, featuring a lineup of free concerts highlighting a diverse array of genres and artists. The season will officially kick off on May 31 with Funk Fest, headlined by Rick James’ Stone City Band, part of the Amplified Series powered by the City of Dayton,

This year marks the second year of the Amplified Series, which will bring back the Funk, Blues and Reggae Fests and includes the return of Jazz Fest and the premiere of Gospel Fest. The Amplified Series concerts will be held on Saturdays, with no concerts scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays of those weeks. Instead, these evenings may showcase the new PNC Community Series, supporting local organizations’ utilization of the space. Highlights include Shakespeare in the Park produced by Gem City Groundlings.

Notable dates on the 2025 Eichelberger Concert Season demonstrate how the Levitt Pavilion Dayton continues to deepen its community partnerships:

  • Pride Afterparty on June 7
  • For Dayton By Dayton music festival celebrating local talent on June 14
  • The 5th Annual Juneteenth Commemoration and Celebration on June 19
  • Honoring Our Veterans on July 4
  • Celebrating Native American Communities with the band Indigenous on August 9
  • Porchfest Afterparty on August 16
  • Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month early with Grupo Fuego on September 6

“We continue to be committed to serving our entire community,” said Lisa Wagner, executive director, “ensuring that everyone has a seat on the lawn. Partnering with other community organizations furthers that initiative.”

All concerts in the 2025 Eichelberger Concert Season begin at 7 p.m. (with the exception of select dates) and are free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of the community. Levitt Dayton is located in Dave Hall Plaza in downtown Dayton and features lawn seating. Audience members can bring in their own lawn chairs and food and beverage – including alcohol, although glass is prohibited. Beverages can be purchased on site and lawn chair rental is available for a $5 donation.

Join us for a season of unforgettable performances and community engagement at Levitt Pavilion Dayton. For more information, visit LevittDayton.org.

Contact: Levitt Pavilion Dayton Phone: (937) 281-2144 Email: [email protected]

2025 Eichelberger Concert Season Lineup:

  • Funk Fest | Thumpdaddy, Freekbass, Rick James’ Stone City Band | Amplified Series | Saturday, May 31
  • Lanita Smith | R&B/Pop | Thursday, June 5 | Opener: Feyth M.
  • REO Classics Band ft Terry Luttrell | Classic Rock | Friday, June 6 | Opener: Eleyet McConnell
  • Pride Afterparty | Molly Grace | Pop | Saturday, June 7 | 5pm start
  • Joe Waters and the Back Porch Band | Blues | Thursday, June 12 | Opener: Rachel Litteral
  • Kyle Elderidge and the Kentucky Cowhands | Country & Western/Rockabilly | Friday, June 13 | Opener: David Payne & the Midwest Business Machines
  • For Dayton By Dayton Music Fest | Various Genres | Saturday, June 14 | 5pm start
  • Juneteenth Commemoration and Celebration ft. Goapele | R&B/Neo-Soul | Thursday, June 19 | 6pm start
  • Robbie Fulks | Bluegrass | Friday, June 20 | Opener: The Brockman Brothers
  • Say She She | Disco/Soul | Saturday, June 21 | Opener: REN1
  • Blues Fest | Shaun Booker and the Dammit Band, Doug Hart, Anthony Gomes | Amplified Series | Saturday, June 28 | 5:30 p.m. start
  • Coral Moons | Indie Pop | Thursday, July 3 | Pitts & the Vipers
  • Honoring Our Veterans | The Scotty Bratcher Band | Southern Rock | Friday, July 4
  • Sinkane | Indie/Rock/Soul | Saturday, July 5 | Opener: Solistic
  • John Papa Gros | New Orleans R&B/Funk | Thursday, July 10
  • Yam Yam | Neo-Funk/Modern | Friday, July 11 | Opener: Empire Pool
  • Davina and the Vagabonds | Jazz/Blues | Saturday, July 12 | Opener: Keigo Hirakawa Trio
  • Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes | Alt-Country/Rock | Thursday, July 17
  • Carlene Carter | Country | Friday, July 18
  • DuPont Brass | New Orleans Jazz | Saturday, July 19 | Opener: Signature Levitt Summer Camp Student Showcase
  • Gospel Fest | Ashling Cole, Johnetta Moore, James Hall Worship & Praise | Amplified Series | Saturday, July 26 | 5:30 p.m. start
  • Ace Monroe | Rock & Roll | Thursday, July 31 | Opener: Oh Condor
  • Blueprint | Hip Hop | Friday, August 1 | Opener: Safe Money
  • Art in the City | Chambers DesLauriers | Blues/Soul/Rock | Saturday, August 2 | Opener: Heather Redman & the Reputation
  • Rubén Albarrán (lead singer of Café Tacuba) | Latin Alternative/Rock en Español | Thursday, August 7
  • Ashes & Arrows | Country/Rock | Friday, August 8 | Opener: M Ross Perkins
  • Celebrating our Native American Communities | Indigenous | Rock/Blues | Saturday, August 9
  • MojoFlo | Neo-Funk | Thursday, August 14
  • Incendio | Jazz/World Guitar | Friday, August 15
  • Porchfest Afterparty | Eilen Jewel | Contemporary Folk | Saturday, August 16 | Basura
  • System Ali | Jewish-Palestinian Hip-Hop | Thursday, August 21
  • Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band | Blues | Friday, August 22
  • TBA | Saturday, August 23
  • Reggae Fest | Luv Locz, Roots Society, Etana | Amplified Series | Saturday, August 30 | 5:30 p.m. start
  • Jesse “JT Jazz” Thompson | Smooth Jazz | Thursday, September 4
  • Miller and the Other Sinners w/ special guest Nikki D | Blues | Friday, September 5 | Opener: The Eric Henry Blues Band
  • Grupo Fuego | Latin Pop | Saturday, September 6 | Dayton Salsa Project
  • Jazz Fest | Jazz Stompers, Ric Sexton, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies | Amplified/Jazz | Saturday, September 13 | 5:30 p.m. start

The venue provides access to high quality cultural and educational experiences for the entire community. Levitt Pavilion Dayton presents free family-friendly concerts with a reach annually to over 70,000 individuals of all ages and backgrounds in the Dayton region. They provide access to all, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic status.  www.levittdayton.org

Levitt Pavilion Dayton is part of a national ne

Levitt Pavilion Dayton is part of a national network of changemakers and nonprofits across the country that are strengthening the social fabric of communities through free, live music. Presenting a broad array of music genres and cultural programming, Levitt concerts are welcoming and inclusive destinations where people of all ages and backgrounds come together. Learn more: www.levitt.org

Preservation Dayton Walking Tours

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Preservation Dayton will begin hosting weekly tours of downtown Dayton this week. The nonprofit focuses on educating and advocating for local history and architecture.

Tours will be held every Friday at 5:30 p.m., held weekly through October. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds going to Preservation Dayton’s mission.

The tours will provide a leisurely walk through historic Dayton neighborhoods, like the Oregon District, the Wright Dunbar Village and more.

Preservation Dayton also offers  self-guided walking tours of the 10 historically-zoned district areas located in Dayton, Ohio.

These walking tours will highlight a few of the architectural and historical features of each area.

These walking tours are intended to provide a leisurely walk through Dayton’s historic neighborhoods, allowing ample time to pause and appreciate the architecture, the streetscape, and the amenities of the area. We ask that you walk carefully, as streets and sidewalks can be uneven, and it’s important to observe the terrain while you appreciate the historical and architectural features of the area.

Click on the links below or in the navigation on the menu bar to get to each areas tour.

You can support Preservation Dayton by becoming a member for as little as $15/year.  Help  preserve and restore our irreplaceable architectural heritage in  Dayton’s unique National Register neighborhoods. By making a tax-deductible donation, you join in the effort to preserve Dayton’s history.

Originally founded in 1983 as the Dayton Area Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods, innumerable members and leaders have been champions and advocates for the Dayton region’s historic communities and built environment. Volunteer today to support your neighbors and community. You’ll have fun and meeting truly interesting preservationists when you volunteer for one of PDI’s committees. Indicate your volunteer interests on your annual membership form or email [email protected]