| *** đŒAround Town: Things to do in Dayton this weekend Gem City Rollergirls, Demented Damsel, Hostile Hellion, Painbow Dash and Princess Troublegum, during a match. Credit: Contributed/ DAVID SUTER A roller derby, a classic murder mystery, comic books, plants, a food truck festival and a celebration that will certainly appeal to âStar Warsâ devotees are among top events this weekend. Click here. đAround Town: A World AâFair returns with food, drinks from more than 25 countries The 52nd A World AFair will take place May 2-4 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam The 52nd A World AâFair takes place this weekend in Xenia celebrating various cultures around the globe. There will be food, drink and entertainment representing more than 25 countries. Click here. đDayton arts and culture news: âHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,â Dayton Ballet spring concert among shows to see across Dayton region in May Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Expelliarmus! In addition to catching âHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsâ at the Schuster Center on a giant screen with a live orchestra, noteworthy shows in May include Dayton Balletâs spring concert and Dayton Theatre Guildâs local premiere of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Click here. đ¶Music: Singer with ties to Dayton region makes âAmerican Idolâ Top 12 This image released by Disney shows contestant Slater Nalley during auditions for the singing competition series "American Idol" in Nashville, Tenn. (Eric McCandless/Disney via AP) Credit: AP Country singer Slater Nalley, an Atlanta native with roots in Troy, has now advanced to the Top 10 on Season 23 of âAmerican Idol.â Honestly, I wouldnât be surprised if he lands in the Top 3. âIdolâ continues to prove that country is king although gospel has certainly changed the game this season. Click here. đDayton arts and culture news: Human Race Theatre season, Kettering childrenâs choir and UD theater Left to right: Connor Veal (Percy Argall) attempts to impress guest judges Governor Bob Taft, Russell Florence Jr. and Dr. Minnita Daniel-Cox in the University of Dayton's production of "Fledermaus Unmasked." Photo by Knack Video + Photo Credit: Knack Video + Photo Read more about the Human Race Theatre Companyâs 40th anniversary season centered on the theme of family and the University of Daytonâs spring opera production featuring yours truly. Click here. đ¶Music: Two-day punk festival has more than 20 bands on two stages at Yellow Cab Hammered Hulls, which will be performing at the fifth annual Blind Rage Weekend at Yellow Cab Tavern. The punk festival is May 9-10. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Dischord Records Blind Rage Records is gearing up for its fifth annual punk festival at Yellow Cab Tavern. More than 20 bands will be featured at this yearâs Blind Rage Weekend. Click here. âïžAround Town: Dayton summer festivals guide: May to September 2025 Passport to MetroParks happened at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton on Friday, May 24, 2024. Experiences included animal encounters, live music by The Luv Locz Experiment, food trucks, craft beer and family-friendly games and activities. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam The calendar says spring but itâs time to start thinking about those popular summer festivals thatâll be coming around the bend soon with live music, a variety of food, vendors and more. Click here. đČOutdoors: Popular columnist Bill Felker reflects on nature, aging and love of writing as he retires Bill Felker. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Nature columnist Bill Felker of Yellow Springs has written for regional and national publications. He is best known in the Dayton region for writing and recording âPoor Willâs Almanack.â Read more about his career and the joy that comes from seeing beauty in the world around him. Click here. đšAround Town: Appreciating street art and its creators is goal of downtown Dayton festival this weekend The Brick City Mural Festival returns May 2-3 in downtown Dayton. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED The fourth annual Brick City Mural and Arts Festival returns this weekend featuring more than 80 artists, live music, multiple vendors, interactive art, nighttime lighted art installations and more. Click here. đ¶Music: Primetime Blues Band and Westside Players serve up blues for free at Oregon Express The Primetime Blues Band, along with the Westside Players featuring Gary Guitar Williams, will soon be lighting up Oregon Express with a mix of original blues, R&B, rock, and jazz. The free performance is May 3. Photo credit: Jordan Lynn Freshour Credit: Jordan Lynn Freshour The Primetime Blues Band, along with the Westside Players featuring Gary âGuitarâ Williams, will perform a free concert Saturday at Oregon Express with a mix of original blues, R&B, rock and jazz. Click here. âCommunity Gems: Nominate someone who is making a difference Dayton Daily News Community Gems logo The Dayton Daily News Community Gems initiative highlights people who give their time and effort to improve the lives of their neighbors and community. Do you know someone like this in your community? Follow this link to nominate them. đïžVisual Arts: Peace Museum to host WWII anniversary event featuring British codebreakerâs nephew Partnering for Peace: World War II and Beyond" will feature a guest panel including Sir Dermot Turing, nephew of famed British codebreaker Alan Turing. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Sir Dermot Turing, nephew of legendary British mathematician and World War II codebreaker Alan Turing, will speak at the Dayton International Peace Museum May 8 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking the end of World War II in Europe. Click here. đAround Town: Personal journeys of mental health, adventure will be shared with Dayton Live audiences Explorer Albert Lin will discuss "In Search Of Lost Cities" Nov. 2 at the Victoria Theatre as part of Dayton Live's 2025-26 Perspective Speaker Series. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Three speakers with backgrounds ranging from conservation to science are heading to the Victoria Theatre next season to discuss their careers including overcoming adversity and battling mental health. Click here. đŒïžVisual arts: Bold, contemplative exhibit at Ketteringâs Rosewood Arts Center implores you to look closely Ghislaine and Lando Fremaux-Valdez, Detail of "Constrictor", 2025, 4.25 ft. x 15 ft., pastel and gouache on paper Credit: Contributed âWhispers in the Breeze,â photographs by Cleveland-based artist Yiyun Chen, and âIn the Farthest Reaches,â large scale pastels by Texas artists Ghislaine and Lando Fremaux-Valdez are on display through May 24 at Ketteringâs Rosewood Arts Center. Click here. đžAround Town: UFO festival organizers want Fairborn to become âmidwest Roswellâ The Fairborn UFO Conference and Festival is organized by New Carlisle-based group UFO 101, which chose Fairborn as a prime spot to have it due to its connection with UFO history. ISTOCK PHOTO Credit: Getty Images UFO experts and speakers will gather June 6-8 in Fairborn. Thereâs also going to be a free costume contest at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs. Click here. đąWorth the Drive: Cedar Point opens this weekend: Newest coaster not yet ready, but one that was closed is opening For more than 150 years, Cedar Point has been the place for summer fun - Shores & Islands Ohio Sandusky amusement park Cedar Point will open for the 2025 season this weekend. Take a look at whatâs in store, including a few changes and updates. Click here. đ·Photos: The 45th annual Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival, Look inside Hawthorn Hill, the famous home of the Wright family and Halfway to Halloween Fest at Yellow Cab Tavern The 45th annual Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival happened from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2025. Here are some highlights from Saturdays festivities including Strangers '80s rock party set. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam The 45th annual Bellbrook Sugar Maple Festival took place April 25-27. Dayton History and the Oakwood Historical Society hosted Wright at Home at Hawthorn Hill in Oakwood April 26. HorrorShock Records hosted the first Halfway to Halloween Fest at Yellow Cab Tavern in downtown Dayton April 26. đŒïžICYMI: Dayton Art Institute reveals 2025 Art Ball details The Dayton Art Institute's Art Ball will celebrate its 65th anniversary June 11. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED The Dayton Art Instituteâs black-tie Art Ball fundraising gala will take place June 14 with interactive performances, cocktails, specialty martinis, gourmet hors dâoeuvres, dinner and more. Click here. CONNECT WITH ME Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. I encourage you to keep in touch. Share story tips or feedback about this newsletter by emailing me at Russell.Florence@coxinc.com. | 