Things to do in Dayton with Kids - Southwest Ohio Parent

Dayton

Things to do with Kids in Dayton

Top Attractions

Parks & Playgrounds

tree house at cox arboretum in dayton

50 Fun Activities for $5 or Less

Dayton Parks & Playgrounds

Playgrounds

Stone’s Zone: Boonshoft’s New Toddler Play Area

Guide

Best Indoor Playgrounds in Cincinnati & Dayton

Playgrounds

Gentile Nature Park

Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Dayton Splash Parks {2026}

Fall Fun

10 Epic Playscapes around Cincinnati & Dayton

Guide

14 Southwest Ohio Playgrounds Worth the Drive

MORE PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS

Guides

Fall Fun

2026 Trick or Treat / Beggar’s Night Times for Dayton and Miami Valley

Fall Fun

Corn Mazes to Conquer this Fall {2026 Guide}

Fall Fun

Best Pumpkin Patches in Dayton (2026 Guide)

Fall Fun

50 Things to do this Fall around Cincinnati and Dayton {2026}

Fall Fun

26 Best Pumpkin Patches around Cincinnati and Dayton {2026}

Fall Fun

Best Apple Orchards near Cincinnati & Dayton for Apple Picking {2026}

Dayton Events

Upcoming events

Oct17–25 Waynesville Fall Fest Oct 17–25 · Weekends All day · Waynesville Fall Fest, Waynesville
Oct17 Family Open Studio Oct 17 – Dec 26 · Saturdays 3 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · Dayton Art Institute, Dayton
Oct20 Piqua Center’s Kid’s Bazaar Free Oct 20 – Dec 20 · Monthly on the 20th 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Oct23 Trick or Treat around Cross Pointe Centre Free All day · Cross Pointe Centre, Centerville
Oct24 Spooky Sprint Cincinnati 8 a.m.–11 a.m. · Marcum Park, Hamilton
Oct25 Trick or Treat & Pumpkin Decorating Free 11 a.m.–3 p.m. · 2nd Street Market, Dayton
Oct25 Skinner Pipe Organ Concert: Spooktacular 2 p.m.–3 p.m. · Dayton Art Institute, Dayton
Nov7 Discover Dinosaurs’ Descendants Free 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. · Englewood MetroPark, Vandalia
Nov7 Biscuit Day Free 11 a.m.–3 p.m. · Carriage Hill MetroPark, Dayton
Nov8 Girl Scout Makers Fair 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Nov9 Sensory Sundays at Boonshoft 10 a.m.–2 p.m. · Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton
Nov13 –Jan2 Deck the Diamond Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m. · Day Air Ballpark, Dayton
Nov20–22 Christmas in Historic Springboro Nov 20–22 All day · Downtown Springboro
Nov21 Ringing in the Holidays: A Carillon Christmas Preview Party 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m. · Carillon Historical Park, Dayton Ohio
Nov22 Global Artisan Market 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Nov24 –Dec30 A Carillon Christmas Nov 24 – Dec 30 5 p.m.–10 p.m. · Carillon Historical Park, Dayton Ohio
Nov27 The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill All day · Clifton Mill, Clifton
Nov27 MetroParks Ice Rink Opening Day & Frosty Kickoff 11 a.m.–10 p.m. · RiverScape MetroPark
Dec14 Sensory Sundays at Boonshoft 10 a.m.–2 p.m. · Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton