Things to Do in July

THURS 01 Pop Up Program Crafts, music, stories, STEM experiments - you never know what will POP UP outside your Library, weatherpermitting (and following all health and safety guidelines). If you attend, it counts in the Summer Challenge! • Location: Trotwood Branch Library, Time: 10-10:30 am, daytonmetrolibrary.org FREE

THURS 01-MON 05 Independence

Day Family Value Weeks @ Young’s Jersey Dairy Take advantage of a special wristband good for all day, unlimited family fun at Young’s Jersey Dairy. • Location: Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm, youngsdairy.com

FRI 02 Picnic & Playdate Get outside for some wiggly, silly fun! This program is for families with young children to come together and enjoy outdoor play. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy following the program. Pre-registration required. • Location: Ron Kehl Park, Time: 11 am-Noon, bellbrooksugar

Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo & Juliet Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents Shakespeare's romantic tragedy about star-crossed lovers. • Location: Eden Park, Time: 7 pm,

SAT 03 Shiloh Farmers Market Bring the whole family out to enjoy vendors, food and more! • Location: 5300 Philadelphia Dr, Dayton, Time: 10 am-2 pm, facebook.com/ShilohFarmersMarket LaRosa's Balloon Glow Get up close with more than a dozen, dazzling hot-air balloons lighting up against the night sky followed by a spectacular fireworks grand finale. Enjoy all of Coney Island’s favorites like Sunlite Pool, Cannonball Cove, and Twister. PLUS, challenge yourself on the brand new inflatable obstacle course, the Challenge Zone! • Location: Coney Island, Time: 6:00pm, coneyislandpark.

SUN 04 Americana Festival Featuring a 5K family run, street fair, arts & crafts, parade, classic car show, food vendors and live entertainment all day, including a children’s area with pony rides, a petting zoo and games. The day culminates with a spectacular fireworks display. • Location: 27 North Main St., Centerville,

Red, White and Blue Ash Celebrate the Fourth of July with one of the biggest fireworks displays in the region. • Location: Summit Park, Time: 10 pm, blueashevents.com

Sunday Funday with the Sunburners! Enjoy Sunday Funday with the tropical sounds of The Sunburners, Cincinnati's #1 Island Party Band poolside at Sunlite Water Adventure! • Location: Coney Island, Time: 2-5 pm, coneyislandpark.com *ONGOING

4th Of July Celebration Enjoy a parade, live entertainment, food trucks and a spectacular firework show. Parade kickoff is at 6 p.m., and the excitement will continue at Rotary Park with activities, food trucks, live entertainment and a firework show at 10 p.m. • Location: Rotary Park in Beavercreek, Time: 6-10:30 pm, fb.me/e/VXV6GGEm

Red, White and BOOM with the Cincinnati POPS Come together and celebrate America's birthday from sea to shining sea. Join JMR and the Pops for a showcase of American favorites inspired by the beauty of this land and its peoples. This is America the Beautiful for all—with music to lift your spirit and set your heart aglow. Stick around for the post-concert fireworks! • Location: Riverbend Music Center, Time: 8:00pm,

MON 05 Rockin’ Tots A dedicated time when parents can have fun with their younger children while socializing with friends in a comfortable, low-key, air conditioned environment. Recommended for kids 6 and under. • Location: Rockin’ Jump, Time: 8-10 am, rockinjump.com

TUES 06 Preschool Storytime in the Nature Playscape Join us for a unique, outdoor storytime in the Nature PlayScape. Our story expert will lead finger plays, songs and read nature-themed books. Ages 2-5. • Location: Nature Playscape, Time: 10-10:30 am, cincynature.org

Snake Handling and Feeding Join the front desk staff for a fun and informative miniprogram on our resident non-venomous snakes. • Location: Rowe Woods Visitor Center, Time: 11-11:20 am,

TUES 06-SUN 18 Young’s 152nd Birthday Celebration Help them celebrate their birthday with specials all over the farm. • Location: Young’s Jersey Diary, Time: 9 am- 11 pm,

WED 07-SAT 10 Hamilton

County 4-H Community Fair A family-centered fair with rides, animals, food, great entertainment and so much more! • Location: Stricker’s Grove, Time: 9 am-6 pm, hccfair.com

THURS 08 Summer Play Day There's nothing better than being outdoors and having space to run! Come to the farm to enjoy the outdoors. • Location: Niederman Family Farm, Time: 10 am-1 pm, niedermanfamilyfarm.com

FRI 09 Open Aircraft at the Air Force Museum Get an up-close look inside a different aircraft each month during Open Aircraft Days. • Location: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Time: 11 am-3 pm, nationalmuseum.af.mil

Family Fun Fridays - The World Beneath Your Feet It's time for Family Fun Fridays! This week's theme is The World Beneath Your Feet. Learn all about soil and life underground through fun crafts and activities! • Location: Rentschler Forest MetroPark, Time: 10- 11:30 am, yourmetroparks.net FREE

SAT 10 Train Rides @ Carillon Park Railroad Enjoy a family train ride on an 1/8th scale railroad! Rides are $1 per person. • Location: Carillon Historical Park, Time: 1-4 pm,

Pop 2000 Tour Get ready for a boost of nostalgia as you rock out to the sounds of your teen years! • Location: Caesar Ford Park, Time: 5:30-10 pm,

The City Flea The Flea is a place to keep your dollars local, support small business and experience YOUR city in a unique and engaging way. Our vendors range from vintage dealers to artisan pizza makers to plant studios. We have something for everyone. • Location: Washington Park, Time: 10:00am-4:00pm, thecityflea.com FREE

Dino Encounters Show with Rocky the T-Rex Travel back in time, 65 million years to the Cretaceous period and discover the world of dinosaurs that lived right here in North America. Audiences will learn about the prehistoric environment, fossil formation, species adaptation and meet five dinosaurs that were all found right here in North America. • Location: Memorial Hall, Times: 12pm & 2pm, memorialhallotr.com/cincinnati-

Red, White and Brew The event will include a beer garden, live music, family-friendly activities, a Kids Zone, food trucks, and an amazing fireworks display promptly at 10 p.m.! • Location: The Mall at Fairfield Commons, Time: 6-10 pm,

SUN 11 Make an Instrument Head over to the Nature Playscape to create your own instrument out of recycled and natural materials. For families with children 5+. • Location: Rowe Woods Time: 1-2 pm, cincynature.org

Sensory Sunday The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery's Sensory Sunday program offers extended hours for local families with a member who has a sensory disorder, such as being on the autism spectrum. • Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Time: 10 am- Noon, boonshoftmuseum.org *SN

Fitton on The Hill- Pops Concert The Butler Philharmonic presents an afternoon of favorite film scores, Viennese waltzes and a selection of traditional American songs and patriotic music! The concert will feature a 50 piece orchestra, choir and vocal soloist Jonathan Tucker. • Location: Pyramid Hill, Time 2-4 pm, pyramidhill.org/fitton-on-the-

SUN 11-SAT 17 Montgomery County Fair Featuring all the fair favorites, like demolition derby, 4-H, junior fair, livestock, petting zoo, dog show, circus, flower show, games, rides, fair eats & treats, harness racing, rodeo and much more! • Location: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Time: 8 am-10 pm, montcofair.com

MON 12 Nature Discovery Day Get outdoors with Girl Scouts at Nature Discovery Day! See how many things you can find on the family scavenger hunt, and enjoy other activities led by Girl Scout staff and volunteers. • Location: Charleston Falls Preserve, Time: 10:30-11:30 am, miamicountyparks.

TUES 13 Virtual Storytime: Library Babies Fun for you and your baby with songs, rhymes, stories and movement. From birth-18 months. • Location: Virtual, Time: 10:30-11 am, cincinnatilibrary.org FREE

WED 14 Family Night Out: Game Night Bring the family out for a night of games and challenges. Will your crew come out on top? A campfire and free s’mores will be available while supplies last. • Location: Russ Nature Reserve, Time: 6-8 pm, gcparkstrails.com FREE

THURS 15 Wiggle Worms: Bubble Play Bubbles, bubbles everywhere! Join our staff as we fire up our new bubble machine with a bubble pile sky high for your wiggle worms to explore. • Location: Fairgrounds Recreation Center, Time: 10-11 am, gcparkstrails.com FREE SUN, JULY 04

RED, WHITE AND BLUE ASH AT SUMMIT PARK

Family Campfires Families with children 12 & under. Bring the whole family to the J for an evening out of the house. Enjoy a night around the campfire singing songs, making s’mores, and playing games! • Location: Mayerson JCC Baseball Fields, Times: 7-8:30pm,

FRI 16 Summer Storytime in the Park Children of all ages and their caregivers can enjoy books read aloud and a fun mix of ageappropriate early literacy activities. Storytime will be canceled in the event of bad weather. • Location: Fort Liberty Playland, Time: 10-11 am, midpointelibrary.org

FRI 16-SAT 17 The Ohio

Challenge: Hot Air Balloon Festival Amazing food vendors, kids rides, balloon glows, skydivers and so much more! • Location: 2301 Wedekind Dr., Middletown, Time: 6-10:30 pm,

SAT 17 Grand Carnivale This larger-than-life festival celebrates the traditions of Spain, Italy, France, India, Germany and a bit of New Orleans topped off with an extravagant parade and parties with international music and merrymaking. Plus, enjoy authentic food and drink from the countries represented, games, crafts and more for adults and kids of all ages. • Location: Kings Island, Time; 5-10 pm, visitkingsisland.com/events/ grand-carnivale *ONGOING

The Great Bug Hunt in the Nature PlayScape Celebrate pollinators and creepy-crawlies in the Nature PlayScape! You will search for interesting creatures and then use the field guides to look up what you found. Preregistration required.. • Location: Cincinnati Nature Center, Time: 10-11:30 am, cincynature.org/things-to-do/ for-kids-and-teens FREE

Fiona’s Sundae Fundae Get ready to party like a hippo princess! This sweet fundraiser offers a double-dip of Fiona and delicious Graeter’s ice cream. Wander around the Zoo for an ice cream sampling where you will be able to see some of your favorite animals enjoying their outdoor habitats after hours. • Location: Cincinnati Zoo, Time: 6-9:00pm,

SUN 18 Swim Under the Stars Experience the pool at night with friends and family! Swimming under the stars nights are a great way to spend time together and cool off this summer. • Location: Sycamore Trails Aquatic Center, Time: 7-10 pm,

Scavenger Hunt Join us for a hilariously fun evening as we break up into teams and go on a photo scavenger hunt. We will wrap up the evening with snacks and sharing stories. Suitable for ages 6+. • Location: 1179 Broadleaf Ct, Maineville, Time: 6:45-9 pm, wakingtheheart.org FREE

MON 19 Cincinnati Reds vs. Mets Spend an evening at the ballpark with friends and family! Be sure to take the kids over to the new TriHealth Family Zone. And check their website for special events, promotions and giveaways. • Location: Great American Ball Park, Time: 7:10 pm, mlb.com/reds

TUES 20 Lilypad Yoga for Kids Yoga encourages children to build awareness and mindfulness, learn to manage their emotions in a healthy way, develop stronger concentration skills, and express themselves creatively. Kids should come in clothing that doesn't restrict movement. We will provide mats. Ages 2.5-6. • Location: Lilypad Play Cincinnati, Time: 10:30-11 am, lilypadplay.com

Storytime at King Arthur's Court Join us for exciting stories of adventure, tales of spacemen and babysitters from another world, flights of fantasy, or just a simple tale of keeping a pigeon from driving the bus. • Location: King Arthur’s Court Toys, Time: 11 am, kingarthurstoys.com

WED 21 Wednesday in the Woods Join CCAC for free concerts every Wednesday. They will have free hands-on art making for kids, local food trucks and vendors on site. • Location: Burnet Woods Bandstand, Time: 7-9 pm,

THURS 22 Art Play: Natural Wonders This nature-themed activity is filled with artmaking inspired by the great outdoors. Use natural materials to create a clay fairyland and decorate a magic forest wand. Stick around for yoga following each session. • Location: Contemporary Arts Center, Time: 10:30-11:30 am, contemporaryarts

THURS 22-SAT 24 Quilted

Treasures Quilts from our collection and on loan from the Butler County Historical Society and Warren County Historical Society will be on display throughout the Village. There will also be quilting and textile demonstrations and hands-on activities. Admission is $10 per adult, $5 per child ages 5-11, and free for members and children ages 4 and under. • Location: Heritage Village Museum, Times: Thurs & Fri 12-8 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, heritagevillagecincinnati.org FRI 23 Family Fun Fridays - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle This week's theme is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Engage through games, crafts, and a live worm bin! You won't want to miss it! • Location: Rentschler Forest MetroPark, Time: 10- 11:30 am, yourmetroparks.net FREE

SAT 24 Water Fun Day Through fun, hands-on exploration and games, learn about the water cycle and how essential it is to keep our water sources clean. • Location: Village Green Park, Time: 2-3:30 pm, yourmetroparks.net FREE

Dragons 5K Join Heater, Gem and thousands of other runners and walkers for the Annual Dragons 5K. Participants will have the option of in-person or virtual. • Location: Day Air Ballpark, Time: 7 am, milb.

SAT 24-SUN 25 Gem City Comic Con This family-friendly event promotes reading and collecting! • Location: Dayton Convention Center, Time: 10 am-5 pm, gemcitycomiccon.com

SUN 25 Community Yoga Relax with the community in this all-levels, beginnerfriendly, peace-filled class. • Location: Burnet Woods, Time: 4 pm, cincinnatiparksfoundation.org FREE

Hot Fudge Sundae Fun-Day It’s National Hot Fudge Sundae Day! Join us for crafts, family games and of course for delicious sundaes. • Location: Kettering Recreation Center, Time: 3-4:30 pm,

SUN, JULY 25

HOT FUDGE SUNDAE FUN-DAY AT KETTERING RECREATION CENTER MON 26 Mad Artists Workshop You’ve heard of a mad scientist, but a mad artist? Channel your inner scientist to create art with a bang! Chemistry, zoology, geology and more inspire our creations this week for art discoveries unlike any other. • Location: Dabble Creative Studio, Time: 12:30-2 pm, dabble-art.com

TUES 27 Outdoor Storytime: Preschool Enjoy books, songs, activities and more, while building early literacy skills. Ages 3-6. Registration required. • Location: Symmes Township Branch Library, Time: 3-3:30 pm, cincinnatilibrary.org

WED 28 Blue Ash Farmers Market Treat yourself to the freshest seasonal fruits and veggies, aromatic baked breads, spices, gourmet treats, crafty creations, and so much more! • Location: Summit Park in Blue Ash, Time: 3:30-7 pm,

FRI 30 Family Sunset Safari: Goodnight Zoo Join us as we say goodnight to some daytime animals and hello to others starting the night shift. You and your family will encounter animals in their habitats, in private encounters and roaming the Zoo! For families with children 5+. • Location: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Time: 6-9 pm, cincinnatizoo.org

Summer Storytime in the Park Children of all ages and their caregivers can enjoy books read aloud and a fun mix of age-appropriate early literacy activities. Storytime will be canceled in the event of bad weather. • Location: Keehner Park, Time: 10-11 am, midpointelibrary.org FREE

Butterfly Show: Family Nights Gaze in wonder as thousands of butterflies flutter through a tribute to the Indonesian island of Bali. Timed ticketing admission required. • Location: Krohn Conservatory, Time: 10 am-8 pm cincinnatiparks.com

SAT 31 The EnterTrainment Junction Extravaganza! Join them for a one of a kind Train Show featuring Thomas the Train and Friends. The Show will be located in our Expo Center. Admission to the show is only $5! • Location: EnterTrainment Junction, Time: 10 am- 4 pm,

Family Fishing This experience is designed for someone who wants to fish but doesn't own equipment. It is ideal for a caregiver and child who wish to make memories casting a line together. • Location: Eastwood Metropark, Time: 10- 11:30 am,

Movie Under the Stars at Delco Park Grab a blanket and chair and meet us at Delco Park for a family movie in the great outdoors! Fun and active games will be led by our youth leaders for the whole family to enjoy from 8 to 9 p.m. before the movie begins at dark (approximately 9 p.m.) • Location: Delco Park- Kettering, Time: 8 pm,

The Little Mermaid June 17-Aug. 15. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the classic Disney animated film, The Little Mermaid is a musical favorite for audiences of all ages. • Location: LaComedia Dinner Theater, lacomedia.com

Butterflies of Bali Through Sept. 6. Each spring, thousands of free-flying butterflies flutter among visitors and throughout the tropical landscape inside Krohn Conservatory. This year marks the 25th anniversary and features Butterflies of Bali. Visitors will also encounter a bit of Bali, referred to as “the island of 1000 Temples," with a mountainous interior full of lush forests, iconic rice paddies, clear lakes and gorgeous beaches surrounding the island. • Location: Krohn Conservatory, Time: timed ticket entrie,

Christmas In July June 26-July 31. Think some Christmas cheer might help get you through the summer heat? Cool off at the Junction with a visit to the North Pole to get your mid-year check up with Santa, as well as stop by all of our great attractions. • Location: EnterTRAINment Junction,

Saturdays Through September. Whether you’re a fan of rock, the blues, reggae or anything in between, get outside to enjoy a lineup of popular local bands. Catch these free summer concerts at four of your favorite Great Parks, featuring talented bands from across Greater Cincinnati! • Location: Various Locations, greatparks.org/calendar/special-events/

SPACE: A Journey to Our Future Through September 6. This highly interactive exhibition will ignite the desire for space exploration and discovery, spark imaginations and inspire new generations of explorers to dream of the possibilities that lie ahead. Highlights include touching actual rocks from the lunar surface and the red planet, exploring a Mars Base Camp while walking through a full-size habitat and work pod, taking a spin on a centrifuge, and looking far into the future of our exploration of the universe. • Location: National Air Force Museum, nationalmuseum.af.mil

Great Bear Rainforest Thursdays

through Sundays, 10am-4pm. Travel to the land of grizzlies, coastal wolves, sea otters, humpback whales and the fabled white Spirit Bear – one of the rarest animals on Earth. Set in one of the planet’s most exquisite and secluded wildernesses on Canada’s rugged Pacific coast, Great Bear Rainforest is a story of wilderness and balance, belief and preservation. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds. • Location: Cincinnati Museum Center, cincymuseum.org/great-bear-

& Tales Through July 31. Summer Reading Program 2021 will feature MidPointe’s Tails & Tales activity map (available in-library and online) and patrons of all ages are challenged to create their own adventure by completing suggested activities. • midpointelibrary.org/

Summer Music on the Levee

Thursdays weekly through September 2nd. On Thursday evenings, groove to the sounds of summer as your favorite local bands perform on the Central Plaza. • Location: Newport on the Levee, Time; 7-10:00 pm,

Dayton Metro Library Summer Reading Challenge Through August 1. This summer, DML adapts again, with in-person, outdoor “Pop-Up” programs, Take and Make Kits, and more flexible options for earning prizes. While some of the details may change, the goal of Summer Challenge remains the same: to keep children engaged in learning and creative experiences while they’re out of school for the summer. • daytonmetrolibrary.org/summer

PLEASE NOTE WE WORK HARD TO ENSURE OUR CALENDAR AND GUIDE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. OCCASIONALLY, EVENT SPECIFICS CHANGE AFTER WE GO TO PRESS. THEREFORE, WE ENCOURAGE OUR READERS TO CALL LOCATIONS OR VISIT THEM ON THE WEB TO VERIFY INFORMATION.