The local Martin Luther King Celebration begins with the annual MLK Memorial March on Monday, Jan. 16. Walkers meet at 1323 W. Third St., Dayton, at 10 a.m., followed by a rally at Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, at 11 a.m. Cost: Free.
Dayton Convention Center is also the site of the MLK Celebration Banquet. “Still Standing” is the theme of the 6 p.m. dinner, which features speaker the Rev. Joan Brown-Campbell. Cost: $75 per person, $600 per table. Visit www.mlkdayton.org.
2) DIERKS BENTLEY
Country singer Dierks Bentley is calling his new outing the What the Hell World Tour. It takes its name from his song, “What the Hell Did I Say,” but the Arizona native also says it’s what he’ll most likely be thinking each morning after performing and hanging out the previous night with the tour’s special guests — his good friends Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi. Bentley and company launch the new tour at the Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Cost: $34.75 and $54.75. Call 937-775-4789 or visit www.nuttercenter.com.
3) FLYIN’ TO THE HOOP
Each year, area basketball fans get to see the cream of the current high school crop during the Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational. Current NBA stars like Anthony Davis, Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins all showcased their teen talent during the annual event. The 15th annual high school basketball tournament, which returns to Trent Arena, 3301 Shroyer Road, Kettering, Friday through Monday, Jan. 13 through 16, features 37 teams with more than 75 projected Division I recruits. Games begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. Saturday through Monday. Cost: $10-$90. Call 937-704-9670, ext. 130 or visit http://flyintothehoop.com.
4) ‘25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’
Dare 2 Defy Productions saw such demand for its current presentation of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” it booked two different venues. The Tony Award-winning musical comedy was presented in the Schuster Center’s Mathile Theatre on January 6 and 7. This weekend Dare 2 Defy presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Renaissance Auditorium, Dayton, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13 and 14. Cost: $15, $23, $30. Visit www.d2defy.com.
5) STANTON WARRIORS
It has been 15 years since Mark Yardley and Dominic Butler released the award-winning electronic music compilation, “The Stanton Sessions.” Since then the British DJ team known as the Stanton Warriors has released dozens of remixes, LPs, EPs and singles and rocked dance floors from Manchester to Burning Man. Stanton Warriors, supporting the latest single, “The One,” performs at Club Masque, 34 N. Jefferson St., Dayton, at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. The bill also features California-based DJ Worthy and guests G.U.A.B. Crew, Infected Angel and John Chapel. Cost: $19 general admission, $47.60 V.I.P. Call 937-228-2582 or visit www.clubmasque.com.
6) JEFF DYE
To many viewers, actor-comedian Jeff Dye was the odd man out in 2016 when appeared alongside stars Henry Winkler, George Foreman, William Shatner and Terry Bradshaw on season one of NBC’s adventure series, “Better Late Than Never.” While he wasn’t as well-known as his co-stars, he was no stranger to television. Dye — performing at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, 88 Plum St., The Greene, Beavercreek, through Sunday, Jan. 15 — has hosted two programs on MTV, finished third on season six of “Last Comic Standing” and appeared on shows like “Girl Code” and “Hollywood Game Night.” Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost: $15-$45, Thursday and Sunday, $17-$47 Friday and Saturday. Call 937-429-LAFF (5233) or visit www.daytonfunnybone.com.
7) WORKS ON PAPER
Elizabeth Carney, assistant curator at the Akron Art Museum, was the professional charged with selecting the pieces for this year’s “Works on Paper” at Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering. The 27th annual juried exhibition features two- and three-dimensional works from artists living within a 40-mile radius of Dayton. Rosewood will host an opening reception for the exhibition from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Cost: Free. “Works on Paper” is on display through February 24. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Call 937-296-0294 or visit www.playkettering.org/rosewood.
8) MACHINAE SUPREMACY
Swedish band Machinae Supremacy traffics in a brand of fast, melodic metal that is not unlike many of its European contemporaries. However, one aspect that sets the group apart from other acts is its heavy use of the very distinctive SidStation synthesizer module. Machinae Supremacy, currently on its first tour of the United States in support of the album, “Into the Night World,” performs at Rockstar Pro Arena, 1106 E. Third St., Dayton, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. Cost: $13. The tour features special guests Urizen, Danimal Cannon and Knight of the Round. Local groups Others By No One and Siegelord will also perform. Visit www.rockstarproarena.net.
9) ‘STEEL MAGNOLIAS’
Robert Harling set out to write a serious drama when he turned the story of his sister’s death into the 1987 Off-Broadway play “Steel Magnolias.” However, anyone who has seen the stage version or Harling’s 1989 big screen adaptation knows this tale of humor and female solidarity in small-town Louisiana has plenty of comedy to balance the tragedy. “Steel Magnolias” opens at La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro, on Thursday, Jan. 19. This production runs through February 26. Show times are 12:30 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Cost: $61-$75 adults, $30 children 11 and younger. Call 937-746-4554 or visit www.lacomedia.com.
10) BARREL AGED BEER BASH
Jungle Jim’s International Market, 5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield, is not only a retailer of spirits but also the host venue of a variety of public tasting events. More than 80 specialty brews will be featured when Jungle Jim’s presents the Barrel Aged Beer Bash from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. Cost: $42.60 general admission, $15.98 non-drinker ticket. Call 513-674-6000 or visit www.junglejims.com.
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