| *** 😊Around Town: Things to do in Dayton this weekend Land of Illusion scream park is famous at Halloween. Now it has a new focus for summer. A new water attraction is now open called Aqua Adventures. CONTRIBUTED A tropical theme at Middletown’s Land of Illusion, TheatreLab Dayton’s production of “Chicago” and an early start to Fourth of July festivities in Huber Heights are among top events this weekend. Click here. 🎭 This week in Dayton arts: 5 key things to know Andrew Mitakides (Macbeth), Bess Kaye (Lady Macbeth) and the cast of Gem City Groundlings production of "Macbeth" at curtain call. Photo by Matt Silver Credit: Matt Silver Attention must be paid to the debut of Gem City Groundlings, Dayton’s newest theater company primarily devoted to the works of William Shakespeare. Find out more about the troupe’s impressive production of “Macbeth” along with other noteworthy arts news here. 🎶Music: Jamgrassers Greensky Bluegrass bring the storm back to Huber Heights The five-piece progressive bluegrass band from Kalamazoo, Michigan, is returning on its summer tour to the Rose on July 2. A full light show will be in tow. GREENSKY BLUEGRASS / CONTRIBUTED Carving its own space in the world of bluegrass, Michigan-based band Greensky Bluegrass, performing July 2 at the Rose Music Center, continues to evolve. Read more about their music here. ☀️Around Town: Wright Dunbar Day to feature more than 30 food trucks, 80 retail vendors The sixth annual Wright Dunbar Day Block Party will be celebrated on Sunday, June 29. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam Wright Dunbar Day, a family-friendly block party celebration in honor of Dayton poet Paul Laurence Dunbar’s birthday, takes place Sunday. Food trucks include Cece’s Kitchen, Courtland’s Mobile Grill, De’Lish, Houdini’s Kitchen and Renny’s Henny Wings. For more details click here. 🏊Outdoors: High temps have arrived: Here is your guide to local pools and splash pads Splash Zone Aquatic Center on Eagle City Road was overflowing with swimmers looking for some relief from the 90 degree temperatures Friday, June 2, 2023. BILL LACKEY/STAFF Credit: Bill Lackey What a heatwave we’ve had this week! If you’re still looking to cool down at a local swimming pool or splash pad, check out our list here. 🎭Theater: ‘Shrek,’ ‘Matilda,’ FutureFest among shows to see across Dayton region in July Matthew Fergus (center as King Harold/Big Bad Wolf) and the cast of Epiphany Lutheran Church's production of "Shrek: The Musical" in rehearsal. Contributed photo Credit: CONTRIBUTED Beloved summer theater traditions such as Epiphany Lutheran Church’s annual musical and the Dayton Playhouse’s annual FutureFest of new playsare among shows to keep in mind in July. Click here. 🚗Worth the Drive: Report ranks Ohio 3rd best state for summer road trips View of eastbound U.S.35 lanes at left. FILE According to finance app Wallet Hub, Ohio is the third best state in the U.S. for summer road trips. Read about the judging criteria and which states completed the top three. Click here. 🎤Music: Christian rock band Third Day’s 30th anniversary tour coming to Nutter Center Christian rock band Third Day will perform at the Nutter Center May 7, 2026. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Grammy-winning Christian rock band Third Day will bring their 30th anniversary tour to the Nutter Center in 2026. Tickets for the Thursday, May 7 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27. Click here. 🏠Timeless Dayton: Preservation Dayton president revives historic home with DIY spirit Evan Lavoie owns the home at 1040 Harvard Blvd. CONTRIBUTED Take a look inside the home of Evan Lavoie, president of Preservation Dayton. Lavoie’s renovations including painting the interior and exterior, removing aluminum siding, converting a back porch into a laundry room, installing railings and fixing plaster. Click here. 🎢Outdoors: The retired roller coasters of Kings Island The Son of Beast roller coaster at Kings Island. FILE If you love Kings Island, prepare to feel nostalgic as we examine some of the amusement park’s most famous rides here. ⭐Community 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. 🏠Around Town: Historic spots in Dayton: The Paul Laurence Dunbar House Paul Laurence Dunbar House. Photos: Source: RemarkableOhio.org Paul Laurence Dunbar was born June 27, 1872 in Dayton so this week seems fitting to highlight the Paul Laurence Dunbar House, 219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar St. Read more about the historical marker at the house and other aspects of Dunbar’s influential career here. 📷Photos: Juneteenth 2025 Commemoration and Concert featuring Goapele at Levitt Pavilion, Carillon Park Rail Festival and Gary Sinise at the Vandalia Flight Fest The Dayton Air Show hosted the first Vandalia Flight Fest on the grounds of the Vandalia Recreation Center on Friday, June 20, 2025. Attendees of the free event had meet-and-greet opportunities with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds pilots and crew plus Top Gun Maverick and Iceman impersonators. The Lt. Dan Band, featuring actor Gary Sinise on bass guitar, headlined the festival along with a performance by the Vandalia-Butler High School Marching Aviators. Food trucks, vendors, community partners, a beer truck and kids area were also featured at the event. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam Dayton History hosted the Carillon Park Rail Festival on June 21 and 22 at Carillon Historical Park. The Dayton Air Show hosted the first Vandalia Flight Fest on the grounds of the Vandalia Recreation Center June 20. The Lt. Dan Band, featuring actor Gary Sinise on bass guitar, headlined the festival. Oakland, California-based R&B/Soul singer/songwriter Goapele played a free concert at Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton June 19 to celebrate Juneteenth. 🎬ICYMI: Day Air Ballpark hosts Donatos Movie Night this summer featuring ‘Moana 2′ This image released by Disney shows the characters Moana, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, holding Simea, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, in a scene from "Moana 2." (Disney via AP) Credit: AP Day Air Ballpark will host Donatos Movie Night with a feature presentation of “Moana 2″ Friday, Aug. 1. Families are invited to come before the movie to hang out with Heater and Gem, enjoy kids games and activities, enter a raffle for Dayton Dragons, Donatos and “Moana” prizes. For more details 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. | 