Best of Dayton 2018: Arts & Entertainment winners

It’s hard to put into words, but our city has a funky, artistic personality that inspires creativity and fun at every corner.

Our entertainment options are no different. Any night of the week, there is sure to be a can’t-miss show, festival or just a fun event that gets friends together and out of the house. It’s not often people say “there’s nothing to do” in Dayton.

So we’d like to think that our Best of Dayton 2018: Arts & Entertainment winners will serve as an excellent guide the rest of this year when you’re blanking on all the action that’s going on in the area.

We present to you, your 2018 Best of Dayton winners in the following categories:

Best Arcade/ Gaming 

WINNER: Scene75

6196 Poe Ave., Dayton | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE: Canal Street Arcade & Deli

308 E. 1st St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: DK Effect

1600 East Third St., Dayton | Website | Facebook

Best Art Gallery

WINNER: Dayton Art Institute

456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE: Front Street Studio Gallery

1001 E. 2nd St. Bldg 100, Dayton |  Facebook

THIRD PLACE: Rosewood Arts Centre

2655 Olson Drive, Kettering | Facebook

Best Bowling Alley

WINNER: Beaver-Vu Bowl

1238 N Fairfield Road, Beavercreek | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Poelking Lanes South

8871 Kingsridge Drive, Centerville | Website | Facebook

THIRD PLACE: Woodman Lanes

3200 Woodman Drive, Kettering | Website | Facebook 

Best Comedy Club 

WINNER: Dayton Funny Bone

88 Plum St., Beavercreek | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE:  Wiley's Comedy Club

101 Pine St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: The Black Box Improv Theater

518 E. 3rd St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best County Fair

WINNER: The Great Darke County Fair

800 Sweitzer St., Greenville | Website

SECOND PLACE: Montgomery County Fair

645 Infirmary Road, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Greene County Fair

120 Fairground Road, Xenia | Website | Facebook

Best Dance Group

WINNER: Celtic Academy of Irish Dance

85 Woodman Drive, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Dayton Ballet

126 N. Main St., Suite 210, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

840 Germantown St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best Festival

WINNER: Dayton Art Institute Oktoberfest

456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Dayton Celtic Festival

237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Yellow Springs Street Fair

Downtown Yellow Springs | Website | Facebook

Best Gala

WINNER: Dayton Art Institute Art Ball 

456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton | Website

SECOND PLACE: Masquerage

THIRD PLACE: Humane Society's Pet Afflaire

Humane Society address: 1661 Nicholas Road, Dayton | Website

Best Golf Course 

WINNER: NCR Country Club

4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering | Website

SECOND PLACE: Golf Club at Yankee Trace

10000 Yankee St., Centerville | Website 

THIRD PLACE: Sugar Valley Country Club

1250 Mead Road, Bellbrook | Website 

Best Haunted Attraction 

WINNER: Land of Illusion

8762 Thomas Road, Middletown | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE: Kings Island Hauntfest

6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Mill | Website

THIRD PLACE: Lewisburg Haunted Cave

4392 Swishers Mill Road, Lewisburg | Website | Facebook 

Best Holiday Tradition

WINNER: The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

75 Water St., Clifton | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE: A Carillon Christmas

1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Dayton Ballet's Nutcracker

Best Indoor Music Venue

WINNER: Yellow Cab Tavern

700 E. 4th St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Little York Tavern

4120 Little York Road, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Blind Bob's

430 E 5th St., Dayton | Website | Facebook

Best Local Artist

WINNER: Tiffany Clark

SECOND PLACE: Erica Blackstock

THIRD PLACE: Michelle Carr

Best Local Band/ Musician 

WINNER: Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

SECOND PLACE: Until Rust

THIRD PLACE: Full Frontal

Best Local Theater Group

WINNER: The Human Race Theatre Company

126 N. Main St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Black Box Improv Theater 

513 E. 3rd St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Dayton Playhouse

1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best Movie Theater

WINNER: The Neon

130 E. 5th St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Rave Cinemas Huber Heights 16

7737 Waynetowne Blvd., Huber Heights | Website

THIRD PLACE: Cinépolis Dayton

10251 Penny Lane, Miamisburg | Website 

Best Mural

WINNER: Historic "Ohio's Star City" mural in historic downtown Miamisburg (Central Avenue and First Street)

SECOND PLACE: Suicide Awareness mural at Third and Keowee streets

THIRD PLACE: Wright Dunbar Walk of Fame Mural

Best Museum

WINNER: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | Website | Facebook

SECOND PLACE: Dayton Art Institute

456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

2600 DeWeese Pkwy., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best Outdoor Music Venue 

WINNER: Fraze Pavilion

695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Rose Music Center at The Heights

6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights | Website | Facebook

THIRD PLACE: Levitt Pavilion Dayton

134 S. Main St., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best Place for a Birthday Party

WINNER: Scene 75

6196 Poe Ave., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

2600 DeWeese Pkwy., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: Magic Castle

4990 Wilmington Pike, Dayton | Website | Facebook 

Best Place to Take the Kids 

WINNER: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

2600 DeWeese Pkwy., Dayton | Website | Facebook 

SECOND PLACE: Young's Jersey Dairy

6880 Springfield Xenia Road, Yellow Springs | Website | Facebook 

THIRD PLACE: National Museum of the United States Air Force

1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | Website | Facebook

🏆 COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEST OF DAYTON 2018 WINNERS

>> Food & Dining winners

>> Bars, Beer & Nightlife winners

>> Arts, Music & Entertainment winners

>> Shopping & Services winners

>> Fitness, Outdoors & Recreation winners

>> People & Places winners