Upcoming Events
Wright at Home
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Price: $40 | Limited Availability | Reservations Required
Held each April, Wright at Home is an open house of the Wright Family mansion, Hawthorn Hill. Step back in time and enjoy a guided walking tour of the surrounding Oakwood neighborhood. During this special event, visitors walk in the footsteps of legendary guests such as Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison — each of whom once visited Hawthorn Hill. Presented in partnership with the Oakwood Historical Society, Dayton History invites you to experience Wright at Home at Hawthorn Hill — the world’s first pilot’s last home.
Mother’s Day Victorian Afternoon Tea at Patterson Homestead
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Price: Members: $40 • Non-Members: $50
Held throughout the year — often around the holidays — Victorian Teas take place inside the storied Patterson Homestead. Established in 1816, the Homestead was once home to Revolutionary War soldier and Lexington, Ky., founder Col. Robert Patterson and National Cash Register Co. founder John H. Patterson. As guests enjoy a delightful cup of tea and a three-course meal served by costumed interpreters, they learn about the remarkable Patterson family and tour the historic Homestead.
Small-Scale Train Rides
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Patterson Homestead Open House
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Price: Members: Free • Non-Members: $5
Originally the home of Revolutionary War soldier Col. Robert Patterson — the founder of Lexington, Ky. —this Federal-style house museum tells the story of Dayton’s influential Patterson family. Col. Patterson settled on this land in 1804, and upon his death in 1827, his estate, known as Rubicon Farm, spanned 2,038 acres. Built in three stages between 1816 and 1850, the homestead helped raise three generations of Pattersons, including John H. Patterson, founder of the National Cash Register Company (NCR), who established NCR’s headquarters roughly a half-mile northwest of the family home. In 1953, John H. Patterson’s nephew, Jefferson Patterson, donated Patterson Homestead to the City of Dayton. Today, its six period rooms display 18th and 19th-century antiques and Patterson family artifacts. Over time, additional family heirlooms and exhibits have been added — including a gallery highlighting NCR’s pioneering legacy. Forty-five minute tours run every half hour from noon until 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required.
Fleurs de Fête
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Price: In Advance: $80 • At the Door: $85
Enjoy an afternoon of sampling hundreds of wines paired with delicious offerings from local restaurants. The Kim Kelly Orchestra sets the tone as you arrive at the “Party in the Park,” filling the air with live music throughout the event. With a beer garden, live painting by local artist Bley Hack, and unique items up for bid, there’s truly something for everyone at this annual fundraiser supporting Carillon Historical Park. Don’t miss the chance to savor great wine, flavorful bites, and the vibrant spirit of community at Fleurs de Fête.
Heritage Day with the Dayton Philharmonic
Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Price: Regular Admission Fees Apply
Held on Memorial Day weekend, Heritage Day with the Dayton Philharmonic features costumed interpreters, hands-on historical activities, the Carillon Park Concert Band, and concludes with a patriotic performance by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Small-Scale Train Rides
Sunday, May 24, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Jane Austen Victorian Afternoon Tea at Patterson Homestead
Sunday, June 7, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Price: Members: $40 • Non-Members: $50
Held throughout the year — often around the holidays — Victorian Teas take place inside the storied Patterson Homestead. Established in 1816, the Homestead was once home to Revolutionary War soldier and Lexington, Ky., founder Col. Robert Patterson and National Cash Register Co. founder John H. Patterson. As guests enjoy a delightful cup of tea and a three-course meal served by costumed interpreters, they learn about the remarkable Patterson family and tour the historic Homestead.
Patterson Homestead Open House
Sunday, June 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Price: Members: Free • Non-Members: $5
Originally the home of Revolutionary War soldier Col. Robert Patterson — the founder of Lexington, Ky. —this Federal-style house museum tells the story of Dayton’s influential Patterson family. Col. Patterson settled on this land in 1804, and upon his death in 1827, his estate, known as Rubicon Farm, spanned 2,038 acres. Built in three stages between 1816 and 1850, the homestead helped raise three generations of Pattersons, including John H. Patterson, founder of the National Cash Register Company (NCR), who established NCR’s headquarters roughly a half-mile northwest of the family home. In 1953, John H. Patterson’s nephew, Jefferson Patterson, donated Patterson Homestead to the City of Dayton. Today, its six period rooms display 18th and 19th-century antiques and Patterson family artifacts. Over time, additional family heirlooms and exhibits have been added — including a gallery highlighting NCR’s pioneering legacy. Forty-five minute tours run every half hour from noon until 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required.
Carillon Park Rail Festival
Saturday, June 27 -
Sunday, June 28, 2026 | 9:30 AM
Price: Regular Admission Fees Apply
The weekend after Father’s Day, trains roll in for this two-day festival featuring free miniature train rides, $5 rides on the full-size Carillon Park Railroad, live steam engines, model train displays, historical displays, and more. Carillon Historical Park is home to B&O No. 1 John Quincy Adams — the oldest surviving American-built locomotive — a Barney & Smith wooden parlor car, an Interurban, a train station, and more. Presented by the Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society, Rail Festival perfectly complements the Park’s rail-themed artifacts, many of which are housed in the James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center.
Small-Scale Train Rides
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 9:30 AM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Small-Scale Train Rides
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 9:30 AM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Small-Scale Train Rides
Sunday, June 28, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Small-Scale Train Rides
Saturday, July 4, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Price: $1 per rider
Hop aboard small-scale train rides at Carillon Park—family fun on weekends, April–December, just $1 per ride!
Settler Survival Camp
Monday, July 6 -
Friday, July 10, 2026 | 9:00 AM
Price: Members: $200 • Non-Members: $215
Settler Survival Camp is five days of early settlement fun. The Miami Valley comes to life from an early settler’s perspective during this exciting camp. Learn about early travel methods, hearth-cooking, woodworking, textiles, gardening, candle-dipping, and more.