September Dayton Dozen: Guide to Family Friendly Events

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Festival season is upon us! Check out our guide to all the fun festivals & events going on this month.

PLUS, don’t forget about our very own Teddy Bear Dental Clinic going on September 28th – grab your tickets before they’re gone!!


1. Ohio Renaissance Festival @ Waynesville, Ohio

***DMB Tip*** Buy your tickets online & save some $$$  Also, be sure to bring cash for parking!

  • Weekends August 31st – October 27th
  • 10:30am – 6:00pm
  • August 31st – September 2nd is opening weekend and Adult Tickets are BOGO Free!

Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 14 stages, over 150 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.

      2. Holiday at Home Parade & Festivities @ Around the Kettering Government Center & Fraze Pavillion

***DMB Tip*** Bring lots of water and sunscreen for this fun outdoor event!

  • September 1st & 2nd
  • Various Times – Check the website above!
  • The Parade rolls at 10am on September 2nd
  • Free Event

Join the annual celebration of Holiday At Home in Kettering. So many activities will be on site including a 5k, Craft & Car Shows, a Children’s Activity area, Live Entertainment, a Parade on Monday (September 2nd), and so much more!

      3. Oktoberfest @ Springboro, Ohio

***DMB Tip*** Check out the lineup of entertainment & make plans to stay the whole day!

  • Admission: $3/person, Free for kids 12 and under
  • Free admission for active duty military with ID
  • September 6th 6pm – Midnight
  • September 7th 11am – 11pm

Enjoy Oktober Fest in Springboro on Friday & Saturday at the Springboro United Church of Christ, 5 W. Mill Street, at the corner of Main and Mill in Downtown Springboro. Authentic German food, beer, wine, and entertainment for the whole family. Portions of proceeds benefit local Charities.

      4. Beavercreek Popcorn Festival @ Beavercreek, Ohio

***DMB Tip*** This festival is huge – be sure to bring a stroller for little ones!

  • September 7th 10am – 8pm
  • September 8th 11am – 6pm
  • Free Admission

The Beavercreek Popcorn Festival has over 200 booths with festival foods, delicious treats, special services, creative crafts, and sensational specialties made with Popcorn. 

5. Xenia Community Festival @ Shawnee Park

***DMB Tip*** Bring folding chairs to set up camp and enjoy the festivities!

  • September 13th  4pm – 8pm
  • September 14th 9am – 9pm
  • Free Admission

Join the Xenia Community Festival for live entertainment, a beer garden, parade, food, craft booths, a field day, & more!

      6. Miami Valley Bluegrass and Artisans Festival @ Riverfront Park

***DMB Tip*** Bring folding chairs to set up camp and enjoy the festivities!

  • September 21st 12pm – 10pm
  • Free Admission

The 5th annual Miami Valley Bluegrass and Artisans Festival is happening again at the Riverfront Park, featuring some of Southwest Ohio’s most exceptional string bands, True Artisan craft vendors, cold brews from Heidelberg Distributing, and Dayton Beer Co. Great food trucks, and kids activities.

      7. Preble County Pork Festival @ Preble County Fairgrounds

***DMB Tip*** There are a slew of things to do! Check out their schedule of events to plan your trip!

  • September 21st 6:30am-8pm
  • September 22nd 6:30am-5pm
  • Free Parking and Admission

Head out to Preble County for the 49th Annual Pork Festival. There will be food, crafts, music, and fun for the entire family!

      8. 23rd Annual Wool Gathering @ Youngs Jersey Dairy

  • September 21st 10am-6pm
  • September 22nd 10am-5pm
  • Free Admission

Join us for an awesome festival of fibers at the 24th Wool Gathering at Young’s Dairy. Observe sheep, llamas, alpacas, cashmere goats, Angora rabbits and other wool-bearing animals at the show. There will be shearing demonstrations, wool spinning, weaving and much more to see and learn. There are over 100 vendors from several surrounding states. Admission to this event is free – bring the whole family!

9. 3rd Annual Teddy Bear Dental Clinic @ Centerville Pediatric Dentistry

***DMB Tip*** Grab your tickets early! This event sells out quickly!

  • September 28th 10am – 12pm
  • Tickets $9 (purchased before September 2nd)
  • Tickets $11 (purchased after September 2nd)

This one of a kind event is presented by Dayton Moms Blog in partnership with Centerville Pediatric Dentistry and is designed to let children explore and learn about the dentist in an atmosphere that is fun and less intimidating than a regular appointment can be. Note: Tickets have been assigned an entry time for the purposes of crowd control in the office lobby.

      10. Germantown Pretzel Festival @ Germantown, Ohio

***DMB Tip*** Most parking is on the street only, so give yourself time to find a lot offering parking or drive around this charming little town to find street parking. 

  • September 28th 9am – 9pm
  • September 29th 12pm – 6pm
  • Free Admission

Visit the scenic Germantown community and enjoy our free fall festival held each year since 1980. Festival features handcrafts, good food, and free entertainment with live music and shows. Park is handicapped accessible with sidewalks and contains historic railroad depot, caboose, log cabin and children’s play area. Free parking on nearby streets. Travel West on State Route 725 from I-75 or State Route 4 to Historic Downtown Germantown and follow the signs to the festival.

      11. Stroll in Nature Walk @ Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm

***DMB Tip*** Aullwood walks are weather dependent & are cancelled if weather is inclement.

  • September 29th 2:30pm – 4pm
  • General Admission: Free for Kids 2 & under, $7 for Kids 3 to 11, and $10 for 12 and older

Come enjoy the beauty of Aullwood as we take a leisurely guided stroll along the paved trail. Walk through woodlands listening for birds, peek into the prairie to see what we can find, and dip your fingers into the cool water of Wiles Creek. 

      12. Dayton Vegan Food & Drink Festival @ Courthouse Square

  • September 29th 1pm – 7pm
  • Free Event

This first-ever Dayton Vegan Food & Drink Festival is focused on highlighting whole foods plant-based and vegan food and drink (non-alcoholic) businesses along with vegan-friendly companies around Dayton.