Family events in Fairborn, OH

A toddler-focused storytime featuring brief, lively books selected to engage the youngest readers. The session highlights short, fun stories that keep little ones interested and make early reading feel approachable.

This relaxed LEGO building night offers families in the special needs community time to create together in a community room setting. Multiple tables with bulk bricks give kids room to build and talk, supporting social interaction while they craft their own designs. Siblings are welcome and can meet others with similar family experiences. The building is wheelchair accessible. The lights cannot be dimmed or covered. If a creation is going home, the cost is $1 per ounce, otherwise the bricks return to the bins to be sanitized. This event takes place at the Kettering location only. A separate Family Bingo Build Night is also available for all ages.

Hosted by the Trans Am Club of America, Dayton chapter, the Trans Am Nationals celebrates Pontiac Firebirds from 1967 through 2002. Eligible models span the full lineup, including Sprint, H.O., Esprit, Formula, Trans Am, S/E, GTA, Comp T/A, Fire Am and Firehawk. Across the weekend, look for show and shine displays, concours judging, a tech inspection line, a swap meet and vendor area, seminars, a Tipp City cruise-in, karaoke and Mini-Nats activities. Awards are presented in every class along with Best of Show and other special honors, with categories that range from driver and work in progress builds to concours entries. A 50/50 drawing plus live and silent auctions are planned, with proceeds benefiting A Special Wish Foundation, Inc. Dash plaques are set aside for the first 450 registered vehicles, and spectators can attend at no charge. Vehicle owners are asked to park within their assigned classes throughout the event. Pre-entry options are available at $67 or $69 and include a T-shirt and hat pin depending on shirt size, while on-site registration is offered for $67 without a shirt. Vendor and swap spaces are available for $75 each and are approximately 17 feet by 27 feet. An unofficial Test and Tune at Kil-Kare Speedway is also listed in the lead-up. The previous edition welcomed 548 participants.

This celebration honors newly matched service dog teams and the partnerships they have built. Families will share personal stories, and guests can learn more about the mission of 4 Paws. There is no cost to attend, and registration is helpful for planning but not required. A behind-the-scenes tour will be offered after the program.

Xenia Food Truck Rallies brings a variety of delicious food trucks and vendors to Xenia Station. Bring family, friends, a picnic blanket, or a chair and relax while you explore the offerings. This week features Cates Food Truck, McNastys, and Mama G’s Cool Treatz. The lineup is subject to change.

Enjoy a relaxing paddle beneath the fountains at RiverScape MetroPark as Taiters Kayak sets up along the water between the bike trail and the river. Walk-up rentals are first come, first served, and small groups may arrange a reserved spot. Rental choices include half-hour, one-hour, or four-hour sessions priced at $15, $25, and $60. On arrival, scan the QR code to choose a rental length, complete payment, and sign a waiver; cash and tap-to-pay are also accepted. Participants must be at least 10 years old, minors need an accompanying adult and a signed waiver, and the weight limit is 300 pounds. Restrooms are available in the park near the Canteen. Assistance is provided for getting in and out of the water, and beginners receive basic instruction before launching. The fleet includes 18 single sit-in kayaks and 2 double sit-on kayaks. Downtown parking is available.

No registration is required and walk-ins are welcome. Experience the wonder of a night hike as the full moon lights the way, with chances to notice eyes shining in the dark and to hear an owl's call. Full Moon Hikes now feature fun themes and are self-guided, and this edition offers a sturgeon-themed route beneath the Sturgeon moon. Bring a standard flashlight to help navigate. Bringing water is encouraged. Well behaved dogs may attend with their owners. Participants must begin their hike by the required cutoff.

Summertime Storytime with Dayton Metro Library brings family-friendly reading fun to Vandalia Art Park. The session features stories, crafts, and playful activities that make reading interactive as part of the Kid-Venture Series. Admission is free. For questions, contact Sara at smoyer@vandaliaohio.org.

At Needle, Ink and Thread, a modern sewing studio, kids and teens can dive into machine sewing in a beginner friendly class with no prerequisites. Enrollment is limited to six students to keep instruction personal and focused. Participants learn how to set up, thread, and operate a sewing machine, including cleaning and maintenance, choosing needles, winding and inserting a bobbin, using common feet and accessories, understanding seam allowances, basic sewing terms, and simple troubleshooting. The session also covers what to include in a starter sewing kit. Please bring a notebook, your machine if you have one along with its manual, thread and an empty bobbin, scissors, and a basic kit with pins and extra needles. Scrap fabric for practice, a 101 handout, and practice sheets are provided, and a machine can be borrowed when requested during registration. Remember to print any provided downloads and bring them to class. Private lessons are available if one on one instruction is preferred.

Storytime will feature a read-aloud of 'Dog Breath' by Dave Pilkey.

Learn the foundations of archery in a structured five week training series. Sessions run one hour per week, with all necessary gear provided and personal equipment not permitted. The introductory component is now bundled with the package. Participants must be at least 8 years old and able to take part safely. Attendance during the first week is required, and registration will be cancelled if that session is missed. Refunds are not offered if you cannot make your scheduled appointments, so please plan ahead. Coaches will try to accommodate schedule changes, but a spot on a different day is not guaranteed. After enrollment, you will receive an email within a week of your scheduled start with instructions and a request for additional information.

At Young’s Jersey Dairy, Cowvin, the youngest of the Cow Family, has created a family maze carved into more than three and a half acres of corn with over a mile of pathways. Navigate winding passages, surprising turns, and the occasional dead end, then finish at a playland filled with activities for kids. Admission is $10 for ages 5 and up, and children 4 and under are free. Guests 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The price includes a wagon ride to and from the maze. Tickets are available at the Young’s Farmstead Cheese Marketplace inside The Dairy Store. Activities are weather dependent.

Try mountain biking for free at the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA). Borrow a bike to ride a loop or two on the trails, with loans handled in the order people arrive. Helmets are mandatory, and one is provided with each bike. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Plans may change depending on the weather.

In the years after the Civil War, Dayton shifted from a center of manufacturing to a hub of innovation, and by the turn of the century it led the nation in patents per person. This guided walk through Woodland Cemetery explores that history by visiting the gravesites of inventors who are buried there. The group meets at Eichelberger Plaza by the main gates of the cemetery. Parking is available both inside and outside the gates. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle if needed. Tours run in all weather except when thunder or lightning is present. Reservations are required, and a $5 donation is suggested. Contributions support the Woodland Arboretum Foundation and its restoration, preservation, horticultural and educational work that helps keep Woodland a cultural resource for Dayton and Ohio.

Children age 3 and over will need their own ticket to attend. Public ticket sales open at the stated onsale time.