Early September 2026: New Restaurants,
Grand Openings and Events Across
the Dayton Area.

September is here, and the Dayton area is starting the month with a full calendar and fresh openings. From new restaurants in Kettering and Beavercreek to the 30th Air Force Marathon and the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival, there is plenty happening across the greater Dayton area and its suburbs.

In this edition: Get the Pho Out in Kettering, Tokyo Grill & Sushi Buffet in Beavercreek, a new Dunkin' on North Fairfield Road, and Zaxby's first push into Ohio. On the events front: Uptown First Friday in Centerville, Alter Fest in Kettering, the Cotton Candy Festival in Fairborn, the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival, the 30th Air Force Marathon, Lantern Fest near Centerville, Old Timers Days in Xenia, and more.

Here is everything fresh I have not covered before.

New Restaurants and Grand Openings

Get the Pho Out Opens in Kettering

A welcome new addition to Kettering is Get the Pho Out at 10 W. Stroop Road in the Castle Hills Shopping Center. This locally owned spot serves pho and banh mi alongside a menu that pulls from Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese influences, at lunch and dinner prices that fit a regular rotation. It opened this year and has been building a steady following in the Kettering corridor. If you live in southern Dayton County, it is worth a stop.

Tokyo Grill & Sushi Buffet in Beavercreek

Tokyo Grill & Sushi Buffet is open in Beavercreek at 2731 Fairfield Commons Boulevard, in the former Bravo! space right at the main entrance of The Mall at Fairfield Commons. As the name suggests, it is an all-you-can-eat sushi bar and hibachi grill, with stations loaded for big appetites. For Beavercreek families or anyone shopping at Fairfield Commons, it is a strong new option for a group dinner.

New Dunkin' on North Fairfield Road in Beavercreek

A new Dunkin' has opened along the North Fairfield Road corridor in Beavercreek near I-675, giving commuters another fast coffee and breakfast stop on the way to The Mall at Fairfield Commons and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Small, but it adds to the steady growth in one of the busiest corridors in the eastern suburbs.

Zaxby's Is Coming to Ohio

Zaxby's, the Georgia-based chicken chain known for its signature sauces and fried pickles, is pushing into Ohio with a multi-location expansion. The company has announced a broader build-out across Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, and Dayton-area sites are in development. As soon as a location is confirmed here, I will be first to write it up. If you have tried Zaxby's on a road trip, you know why people are excited.

From Get the Pho Out in Kettering to Tokyo Grill at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, new places are opening across the eastern suburbs to start the month.

Events on the Calendar This Month

Beavercreek Popcorn Festival: September 12-13

One of the biggest events in the entire region, the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival runs September 12-13 along Dayton-Xenia Road. Over 200 booths, popcorn in every flavor you can imagine, live entertainment, and a family atmosphere. Saturday morning kicks off with the 5K Popcorn Run, and Sunday features a car show. Admission is free. If you have never been, this is the year.

30th Air Force Marathon: September 19

The Air Force Marathon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year on Saturday, September 19 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The course finishes at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, and there is a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a 1K kids run. Race weekend includes an expo and a festival starting Friday. It is a bucket-list race for many and a huge weekend for our military community.

Alter Fest: September 4-6 in Kettering

Alter Fest returns to Archbishop Alter High School over Labor Day weekend, September 4 through 6 at 940 E. David Road in Kettering. Carnival rides, games, food, and live music fill the weekend, with the Alter 5K on Saturday morning, September 5. It is a dependable family-friendly way to spend the holiday weekend right in Kettering.

Lantern Fest: September 11 Near Centerville

Lantern Fest takes place Friday, September 11 at Countryside Park, 895 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Washington Township, just outside Centerville. Visitors launch paper lanterns out over the pond at dusk, with food trucks, games, live music, and lantern packs sold on site. It is a peaceful, picture-worthy way to ease into the fall season.

Old Timers Days: September 25-27 in Xenia

Old Timers Days returns to the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, September 25-27. Living-history demonstrations anchor the weekend, including a working sawmill with a lumber auction, a parade around the grandstand track, and the Ohio Veteran BBQ Battle. It is a classic, hands-on celebration of local history you do not see every day.

More Around the Suburbs

There is plenty more spread across the month. Uptown First Friday in Centerville on September 4 brings extended shopping, live music, and food. Ohio Is For Lovers Festival hits The Rose on September 5 with Hawthorne Heights and Silverstein. Fairborn celebrates the Cotton Candy Festival on September 5 as part of its Hunger Days food truck rallies. The Free Zion Community Festival in Kettering and the Great American Sports Memorabilia Show in Xenia both land on September 12.

From the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival and the 30th Air Force Marathon to Alter Fest in Kettering and Old Timers Days in Xenia, the September calendar is full.

Why I Track All of This

I have been doing this for over 20 years, and the communities I serve keep evolving in front of me. A new pho spot in Kettering. An all-you-can-eat sushi buffet at Fairfield Commons. A marquee race at Wright-Patterson. Festivals that have drawn families for decades.

Every opening and every event is a sign of confidence in a community. Restaurants hire local staff and fill downtown streets. Races and festivals bring neighbors out and put a town on the map. When I look at the suburbs and see this much momentum, it tells me these are places people are choosing to live, invest, and raise families.

For buyers, that context matters. For sellers, it means your home sits in a market that is actively growing. And for anyone considering a move to the Dayton area, this is one of the clearest signals that the region is headed the right way.

Whether you are buying, selling, or just curious about what your home might be worth, I am here to help with straight answers and a strategy that fits your situation.