On Wednesday, May 3, the Miami Township Board of Zoning Appeals, or BZA, gave the green light to another series of outdoor shows hosted by local resident and comedian Dave Chappelle at the Wirrig family pavilion.
In a vote of 4–0, the board approved a temporary conditional use request by pavilion owner Steve Wirrig to hold 15 ticketed performances at his rural property on weekends over the coming summer.
BZA Chair Richard Silliman cited the performances’ economic benefits to Miami Township and Yellow Springs in his motion to approve Wirrig’s application. Along with Silliman, board members David Neuhardt, Geoffrey Garrison and Barbara Krabec voted affirmatively, with Amy Achor recusing herself from the decision.
Owing to the Wirrig Pavilion’s agricultural zoning status within the township, any commercial activity on the land must be approved by the BZA. Wednesday’s meeting was Wirrig’s fifth time in three years approaching the board to authorize a series of Chappelle shows.
Located between U.S. 68 North and Meredith Road, the pavilion has been the site of dozens of star-studded performances hosted by Chappelle in the summers since 2020. Past shows have been headlined by such celebrities as John Stewart, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, David Letterman and others.
This year’s temporary use permit extends between June 1 and Oct. 8, but as Wirrig told the News following the meeting, no firm schedule for the shows has been set.
“That’s entirely up to Dave and the production team,” he said. “It’s possible that the first one would be in July.”
