Updated Thursday, November 5. 12 things to do with kids around Dayton in the next four weeks, and 24 places to go any time. Family events, kids’ programs and places with children’s exhibits, play areas or kids’ programs.
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Sat, Nov 7 · 4:30 p.m.
Art-Off 2026
K12 Gallery & TEJAS, Dayton
A fundraising painting competition where Dayton artists paint live, with proceeds supporting scholarships for K12 Gallery’s youth art program.
Arts & Theater
Sat, Nov 7 · 6 p.m.
Weekly Rodeo
Fox Hollow Rodeo, Waynesville
A weekly Saturday-night rodeo with semi-pro and amateur bull riding, plus calf riding and sheep riding for kids. Intermission includes line dancing, and concessions are on site.
$5-$15Sports
Wed, Nov 11 · 6:30 p.m.
Wild Kratts LIVE 2.0 – Activate Creature Power!
The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton
A live stage show based on the Wild Kratts TV series, with the Kratt brothers performing alongside animated segments. The new show focuses on creature powers and animal facts.
Family
Fri, Nov 13 · 10 a.m.
Kind Kids Storytimes
Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, Dayton
Library storytime sessions on November 13 and 27 where picture-book stories show young children (ages 3–7) how to act kindly.
Family
Fri, Nov 13 · 5:30 p.m.
Deck the Diamond
Day Air Ballpark, Dayton
A holiday light walk-through at Day Air Ballpark with more than 1.5 million lights, plus crafts, treats, a train ride, and photos with Santa.
Family
Sat, Nov 14 · 7 p.m.
YSCCC Concludes Centennial Celebration
John Bryan Community Center, Yellow Springs
The final event of a centennial celebration for a Yellow Springs youth center, held at the John Bryan Community Center. It honors a century of work with local kids and looks ahead.
Community
Tue, Nov 17 · 10 a.m.
Black Boy Brilliance
Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, Dayton
A library program for preschool and kindergarten children featuring books with Black boy main characters and books by Black male authors.
Family
Tue, Nov 17 · 4 p.m.
Robot Thanksgiving Parade
Dayton Metro Library, West Carrollton Branch, West Carrollton
Kids decorate library robots as parade floats and characters. They then use simple coding commands to steer the robots along a Thanksgiving parade route through the library.
Family
Wed, Nov 18 · 6 p.m.
Deck the Diamond
Day Air Ballpark, Dayton
A holiday light walk-through at Day Air Ballpark with more than 1.5 million lights, plus crafts, treats, a train ride, and photos with Santa.
Family
Thu, Nov 19 · 4 p.m.
STEAM for Teens – Salt Dough Ornaments
Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, Dayton
A registered STEAM workshop for teens ages 13 to 18 where they make salt dough ornaments while learning about the materials.
Family
Sat, Nov 21 · 10 a.m.
Photos with Santa
Figment, Dayton
Paid 10-minute photo sessions with Santa on November 21 at Figment, with a few edited digital photos included. Hot cocoa and cookies are served afterward.
FamilyEast Third Street Historic District
Tue, Nov 24 · 4 p.m.
Armstrong & Flight
Dayton Metro Library/ Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Kettering
A program for grades 1–5 at the Wilmington-Stroop branch about Neil Armstrong and airplanes, with simple flight experiments and making a balsa wood glider to take home.
Family
Times and prices come from each host; check with them before you go. Hosting something? Submit your event; it’s free. Want it at the top of the page? Feature it for $25, labeled Featured.
Places to go any time
Eastwood MetroPark
Park · DaytonA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and paddling.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKEnglewood MetroPark
Park · VandaliaA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and paddling.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKHills & Dales MetroPark
Park · KetteringA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and gardens.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKIsland MetroPark
Park · DaytonA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and paddling.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKPossum Creek MetroPark
Park · DaytonA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and paddling.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKSugarcreek MetroPark
Park · BellbrookA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails and picnic areas.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKWesleyan MetroPark
Park · DaytonA Five Rivers MetroPark with a nature playground, trails, fishing and picnic areas.FreeKidsLeashed dogs OKWright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Wright Cycle Company
Historic site · DaytonNational park visitor center with exhibits on the Wright brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar, next to the Wrights’ 1890s cycle shop.FreeIndoorsKidsHuffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center
Historic site · FairbornNational park visitor center with a film and exhibits on the Wrights’ flying work, next to the Wright Brothers Memorial on Wright Brothers Hill.FreeIndoorsKidsPaul Laurence Dunbar House
Historic site · DaytonThe poet’s 1880s brick home, shown on guided tours, with a visitor center film on his life and work.FreeIndoorsKidsDayton Art Institute
Museum · DaytonArt museum with collection galleries, rotating exhibitions and the hands-on Lange Family Experiencenter.IndoorsKidsBoonshoft Museum of Discovery
Museum · DaytonScience and natural history museum with exhibits, a planetarium, a science theater and the Discovery Zoo with live animals.IndoorsKidsAmerica’s Packard Museum
Museum · DaytonPackard automobile collection shown in a 1917 Dayton dealership showroom, with an activity area for young visitors.IndoorsKidsAullwood Audubon Center and Farm
Nature center · DaytonNational Audubon nature center and working farm on a 200-acre sanctuary linked by about eight miles of trails.KidsStillwater Prairie Reserve
Park · Covington309 acres with about 5.7 miles of trails through mixed habitats, picnic shelters and a natural play area.KidsLeashed dogs OKLost Creek Reserve
Park · Troy457-acre reserve with about 5.75 miles of trails, the historic Knoop farmhouse and barns, and a natural play area.KidsLeashed dogs OKTwin Arch Reserve
Park · Troy35 acres on the Great Miami River with a short trail, river access and an 1837 Miami-Erie Canal stone culvert.KidsLeashed dogs OKHisey Park
Park · Corwin158 acres in the Little Miami valley with a restored farmstead, trails, an overlook, a dog park, a playground and an observatory.KidsLeashed dogs OKArmco Park
Park · Lebanon311 acres with a 110-acre lake, boat rentals, fishing, a golf course, disc golf, trails, playgrounds and a nature playscape.KidsLeashed dogs OKLanden Deerfield Park
Park · Maineville95 acres with sports fields, courts, a playground and sprayground, plus about two miles of hiking and bike trails on Simpson Creek.KidsLeashed dogs OKCarmody Park / Lower Twin Creek Nature Preserve
Park · FranklinSports fields and a playground near the road, and a wooded preserve with hiking trails and access to Twin Creek.KidsLeashed dogs OKGreene County Public Library – Xenia Community Library
Library · XeniaXenia location of the Greene County Public Library at 76 E. Market St., offering storytimes and teen programs.IndoorsKidsWashington-Centerville Public Library – Centerville Library
Library · CentervilleMain location of the Washington-Centerville Public Library, which also runs the Woodbourne Library; offers storytimes and kids’ events.IndoorsKidsWright Memorial Public Library
Library · OakwoodOakwood’s public library, with youth storytimes and children’s services.IndoorsKidsFrom each place’s own website. Hours, fees and rules change; check before you go.
Ice cream in our directory
- Dixie Dairy Dream · Kettering
- Super Scoops Ice Cream · Centerville
- Whit’s Frozen Custard · Centerville
More things to do
Events come from each host’s own listing; check times and prices with them before you go. Hosting something? Submit it free on the events page. More events: Things to Do in Dayton.