It’s no secret Dayton is quite a little hub for the arts.
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
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
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
Credit: Contributed by Georgia Brown
Credit: Contributed by Georgia Brown
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
Credit: MediaMoments.com / Peter Wine
Credit: MediaMoments.com / Peter Wine
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
Credit: Jim Noelker
Credit: Jim Noelker
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
Credit: TOM GILLIAM
Credit: TOM GILLIAM
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
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
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
Credit: NCR Country Club
Credit: NCR Country Club
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
Credit: Tiffany Clark
Credit: Tiffany Clark
WINNER: Tiffany Clark
SECOND PLACE: Erica Blackstock
THIRD PLACE: Michelle Carr
Best Local Band/ Musician
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
WINNER: Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
SECOND PLACE: Until Rust
THIRD PLACE: Full Frontal
Best Local Theater Group
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
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
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
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
Credit: waymarking.com
Credit: waymarking.com
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
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
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
>> Bars, Beer & Nightlife winners
>> Arts, Music & Entertainment winners
>> Shopping & Services winners
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