| *** šAround Town: Things to do in Dayton this weekend Water Street District will present its festive Party at the Plaza June 6 at Day Air Ballpark. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Water Street Districtās Party at the Plaza, Fairbornās Family Fun Festival, a downtown Dayton book fair and a rooftop salute to the Beatles are among top events this weekend. Click here. š³ļøāšAround Town: Pride events in Dayton this weekend The Greater Dayton LGBT Center will host the Dayton Pride Parade and Festival in downtown Dayton to celebrate the kickoff of Pride Month on Saturday, June 7, 2025. TOM GILLIAM/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam June is Pride Month, a celebration of the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Many events are scheduled this weekend and throughout the coming weeks. Click here. šAround Town: Troy Strawberry Festival this weekend The 49th annual Troy Strawberry Festival will take place June 7-8 in downtown Troy and the Great Miami River levee. Featured festivities included strawberry themed foods, vendors, live music and more. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam Attention strawberry fans! The 49th annual Troy Strawberry Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday with the theme āBerried in Books.ā Expect live entertainment, a car show, 5K/10K run and numerous strawberry-centric food options. Read more about this yearās event here. š¶Music: 30 concerts to check out this summer: Hozier, Stevie Nicks, Luke Bryan, Phish and more Concert goers attend the first day of the Voices of America Country Music Fest on the grounds of the National Voice of American Museum of Broadcasting Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in West Chester Township. KASEY TURMAN/STAFF Credit: Kasey Turman Some of the biggest names in country, rock, pop and hip hop are heading to our region this summer. Check out our list of notable concerts here. šThis week in Dayton arts: 4 key things to know Marin Alsop conducting "Concert for Peace." RON VALLE PHOTOGRAPHY Credit: ron valle The rousing success of the marvelous āConcert for Peace,ā a collaboration between the Sarajevo Philharmonic and Dayton Philharmonic, is notable within the local arts scene this week along with La Comedia Dinner Theatre, Dayton Theatre Guild and Yellow Springs Film Festival. Click here. š¶Music: Michael Cavanaugh and DPO salute Paul Simon, James Taylor, Neil Diamond at Schuster Center Tony Award-nominated pianist/vocalist Michael Cavanaugh. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Michael Cavanaugh, a gifted pianist and engaging vocalist, received Tony and Grammy nominations for singing Billy Joelās repertoire but heās back in Dayton Saturday honoring the music of Paul Simon, James Taylor and Neil Diamond. He also considers the ā70s a āGolden Age of songwriting.ā Click here. š¬Film: Miamisburg nativeās debut feature film to premiere at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Corinthian Campbell. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED 21-year-old Corinthian Campbell of Miamisburgās debut feature film āPastimeā premieres June 14 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The film, shot in Miamisburg, Dayton and Indian Lake among other Southwest Ohio locales, explores themes of friendship, romance and memory. Click here. š¶Music: Blues legend Buddy Guy brings farewell tour to the Rose Eight-time Grammy Award-winning blues legend Buddy Guy is giving fans another chance to experience his electrifying live show with the newly announced Damn Right Encore Tour. The performance is June 14 at the Rose. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO: Buddy Guy Buddy Guy received a pop culture boost this spring with an appearance in Ryan Cooglerās blockbuster āSinners.ā The 88-year-old is bringing his farewell tour to Huber Heights June 14. Read more about his artistry and his reminder that timing is still everything in the music business. Click here. šLiterati: DIY indie authors to give reading at Blind Rage Records Authors Raechel Anne Jolie and Adam Gnade will be doing a reading of their works June 7 at Blind Rage Records. CONTRIBUTED Raechel Anne Jolie and Adam Gnade, known in the DIY and indie publishing worlds, will join forces for a reading Saturday at Blind Rage Records. Expect an evening thatās āradical, reflective and rooted in resistance.ā Read more about their careers here. šWorth the Drive: What to know about Kings Islandās Food and Wine Festival Kings Island's annual Food and Wine Festival. Contributed Kings Islandās annual Food and Wine Festival highlights cuisine from cultures across the world including France and Argentina through June 22. Read more about this yearās festivities here. š¶Music: A sound immersionist will bring a unique show to Waynesville Classically-trained guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Michelle Qureshi brings her solo, sound immersion show to Waynesville Music on Saturday, June 7. LAYLA QURESHI / CONTRIBUTED Looking for a quiet, soothing musical experience this weekend? Indianapolis-based classically trained guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Michelle Qureshi is planning an intimate, meditative set Saturday at Waynesville Music. Click here. š Timeless Dayton: Craftsman has been working on historical homes in Dayton for more than 40 years Jeff Wysong helped with the Dublin Pub's church addition. CONTRIBUTED For more than 40 years Jeff Wysong has enjoyed the art of restoration. Read more about his craftsman background and the numerous projects heās worked on in Dayton through the decades. Click here. šTheater: Intergenerational theater troupe delights on local stages for 25 years Becky Howard, Kerry Simpson and Pam McGinnis rehearse for "The Wild Women of Winedale."Submitted photo. The Young at Heart Players are celebrating 25 years with the comedy āThe Wild Women of Winedaleā June 13-22 at the Dayton Theatre Guild. Read more about this talented senior theater troupe here. šAround Town: Meet the Original Rosies this weekend at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Rosie the Riveters" Lucille "Cille" MacDonald, left, and Delphine Kaput, hold hands during a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in honor of the World War II factory workers, on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 10, 2024. Rosie the Riveter, is a catchall referencing the women who flooded factories and shipyards during World War II to build planes, ships, and bombs. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Credit: AP The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will host a special meet and greet with the American Rosie The Riveter Association on June 7. This event offers a rare opportunity to engage with the women who played a vital role in supporting the war effort on the home front. Click here. šWorth the Drive: Midwest Black Family Reunion in Cincinnati will have Bernice King, daughter of MLK Jr. as speaker FILE - King Center CEO Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during a news conference at the King Center in Atlanta, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kate Brumback, File) Credit: AP Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., will give the keynote address at the 37th Midwest Black Family Reunion Aug. 14 in Cincinnati. The reunion runs through Aug. 17 with the theme āEverlasting Endurance.ā Read more about this yearās festivities here. āCommunity 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. āAround Town: Dayton Region Walk of Fame inductees include Rob Lowe, The Levin Family and more Rob Lowe arrives at the 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Actor Rob Lowe, funk legends The Original Lakeside and businesswoman Jenell Ross are among this yearās Dayton Region Walk of Fame inductees. The induction ceremony will take place this fall. Click here. šŖ“Gardening: Gardening with kids is a time to grow more than just vegetables Jasmine Chandler waters a herb garden. CONTRIBUTED Patience, curiosity and the joy of discovery are important when seeking quality gardening time with kids. Local experts share their perspectives on making gardening with kids fun and productive here. š·Photos: Brit Floyd āWish You Were Hereā live at Rose Music Center, Top Area Students 2025 and Obi Toppin in 2025 NBA Playoffs Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin holds his daughter, Remi Toppin, after the Pacers won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Credit: AP Brit Floyd played a sold-out concert at The Rose Music Center at The Heights May 24. Itās time to salute the Class of 2025. Here are top students from across the Dayton area. Obi Toppin will be the first former University of Dayton Flyer to appear in an NBA Finals game in nearly 50 years. Take a look at some of his moments during the NBA playoffs. š¬ICYMI: āSinnersā movie showcases Centerville HS grad Hannah Beachlerās stunning production design Academy Award winner and Wright State graduate Hannah Beachler. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNAH BEACHLER) Credit: CONTRIBUTED Buddy Guy is certainly an appealing part of āSinnersā but the filmās 1930s essence, particularly its reverence for the blues, was also key for Academy Award-winning production designer Hannah Beachler. Read more about the Centerville High School graduateās vision for the film 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. | 