June Dayton Dozen: Local Family Friendly Events

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June is my favorite month of the whole year! School is out, the sun is out and it’s time to get the kids out too! Here are some fun local events, hand-picked to be short on cost but full of fun!



1.  Friday Night Cruise-In– Beavercreek

***DMB Tip – Make and take a Bingo game and see which of your car lovers can call Bingo first! Try a website such as: My Free Bingo Cards to generate a free card with your words.

  • June 2, 5pm-9pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • All ages
  • Casual Cruise-In with the Greene County Antique and Classic Car Club. Antique, classic, muscle, and hot rod automobiles and more.

2. Touch a Truck– Kettering

***DMB Tip- Bring swimsuits and enjoy the Adventure Reef Waterpark also. Word is that waterpark discounts will be offered for those attending.

  • June 3, 9am-11am
  • Cost: FREE
  • Kids get up close and personal their favorite fire trucks, big rigs and more. 

3.  Young’s Farmstead Cheese 8th Anniversary Week– Yellow Springs

***DMB Tip – Tour the Cheese Production Facility (tours available Saturday – 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5:30pm and Sunday – 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm). 

  • June 5-11, 10am-8pm
  • Prices Vary
  • All ages
  • Purchase a wristband for unlimited miniature golf, farm activities, driving range etc, plus taste the deep fried cheese curds in multiple flavors- heavenly!

4. Chalk About It Chalk Art Festival– Beavercreek

***DMB Tip- This can be a whole day sort of thing, with so many great shopping and dining options right where the art is happening! Everything you need, The Greene has you covered. 

  • June 10, 10am-10pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • All ages
  • Using only pastel chalks, artists will transform the streets and sidewalks into amazing art. Lots of options for the kids as well, which include a Scavenger Hunt and kids’ chalk area too!

5. Family Day: Play Ball– Wright Patterson AFB

***DMB Tip- Don’t forget to plan time to visit the Air Force Museum, a Dayton area treasure!

  • June 17, 9am-3pm
  • Cost; FREE
  • All ages
  • Kids and adults alike can learn about the physics of various sports with demonstrations and hands-on activities.

6. Juneteenth at the Gammon House– Springfield

***DMB Tip-  The Gammon House has very rich history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. By visiting and donating, you can help preserve our Ohio History!

  • June 17, 11am-7pm
  • Cost: Free
  • All ages
  • From Gammon House website: We are inviting you to come and share in the rich contributions of our forefathers, compelling stories of strength and survival, and accomplishments of preceding generations in our community. Additionally, tour the historical Gammon House, and experience a variety of vendors, great food and entertainment, local history displays, games and rides for the children: and take advantage of our health screening.

7. Breeding Birds of Glen Helen Hike– Yellow Springs

***DMB Tip- Be sure to stop by and visit the outdoor ambassador raptor cages located at 1075 SR 343, Yellow Springs, Ohio as well!

  • June 18, 8am-10am
  • Cost: $5
  • All ages
  • In Honor of Father’s Day, join a hike to search for signs of birds nesting. 

8. Carillon Park Rail Festival– Dayton

***DMB Tip- Much of the park will be shaded by trees or tents, but remember your sunscreen just in case.

  • June 24, 9:30am-5pm & June 25, 11am-4pm
  • Cost: $5-8
  • All ages
  • Train lovers young and old will enjoy this 2-day festival! Carillon will offer free miniature train rides, live steam engines, model train displays, historical displays, train merchandise, rail vendors, and much more. 

9. CWPD Rocks– Centerville

***DMB Tip- Be sure to check out the Facebook page associated with this project to find clues about where rocks might be hidden!

  • June (really much longer, I’m sure)
  • Cost: FREE (+ a little paint)
  • All ages
  • Go treasure hunting! You can make this a complete experience: take a hike to find good plain rocks to paint, wash them, paint them and then decide where to hide them before searching for painted rocks hidden by others! Centerville-Washington Twsp. Park District parks are the place to hide and look!

10. Bark in the Burg– Miamisburg

***DMB Tip- The Community Park offers picnic tables and park benches, as well as plenty of lawn space for a picnic, so pack lunch for a fun day out.

  • June 24, 9am-1pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • All ages
  • Called “A Festival for Dogs and the People They Own”, this is sure to be a great time for the 2- and 4-legged kids in your home! Dog handlers must be 13 years or older, but kids of all ages will enjoy outdoor time surrounded by dogs.

11. International Mud Day Celebration– Vandalia

***DMB Tip- Remember a towel and extra clothes for the ride home!

  • June 29, 10am-2pm
  • Cost: $15-18
  • Ages 6-11
  • Ready for some sloppy fun in the sun? Kids will play wet and messy games, do crafts, and more…all with mud! Bring a sack lunch with a drink. Register by June 23.

12. Cincinnati Zoo at Great American Ball Park– Cincinnati

***DMB Tip- Get your tickets early, this one is sure to fill up fast! Buy them here.

  • June 29, 30 7:10pm (game time) 
  • Cost: $5 and up, depending on seats
  • All ages 
  • I promise you that this is worth the drive! Not only can you watch “our own” Reds play ball, but you can visit the Fan Zone before the game to see some of the Zoo residents. Also, Sam, the Zoo’s 18 year old bald eagle will fly overhead and there will be an animal parade on the field!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 

Kid Whisperer University – August 2-4
 
***DMB Tip: Save $75 and register on or before May 25!
 
If you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver, and if you would like to improve your child behavior management skills, you should make plans to attend the Kid Whisperer University Summer Conference! You will learn to calmly set limits with the children in your care while strengthening your relationships with those children!

8am-3:45pm at Cox Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio
$250 through May 25th; $325 through August 2nd



I hope you are able to enjoy some (or all) of these events. Did I miss your favorite June gig? Please tell me about it in the comment section!

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Audrey M.
Hey Ya'll! I’m Audrey, a middle of nowhere, East Tennessee transplant. My husband (and forever crush) Andy and I were born and raised in Ohio State Buckeye territory, where we met in junior high school and married halfway through college. We have 2 tweens here on Earth: Lucas-the sweetest jokester boy you will ever meet, and Alaina-a charismatic and responsible redhead. We were hoping for a bigger family, but it wasn’t in the cards for us. For years we vacationed here in and around Knoxville, and so when the opportunity came to move here, we took it! Prior to moving here, I was first and foremost a Wife and Mother, but filled my days at a special needs preschool, title company, and as a FT volunteer-a-holic. In my spare time, I love diy, crafting, reading and writing. And I will always be a barefoot farm girl at heart. We raise/grow our own food- and I occasionally even make dinner out of our homegrown goodness- but I hate cooking! I can’t wait to immerse myself in this sweet, southern community!