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Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Music Festival

Yellow Springs Street Fair – October 2025

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Get ready to experience the energy and creativity of Yellow Springs 🎨🛍️ as community members & visitors enjoy a full day of shopping, live entertainment, and community fun. Stroll through the village to explore over 200 vendors offering unique finds, handmade goods, and local favorites.
There’s something for everyone, with family-friendly activities 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 and live music 🎶, including the Backyard Beats + Brews Fest 🍻 featuring Yellow Springs Brewery. Plus, you’ll find plenty of delicious food and drinks 🍔🥤 to keep you going all day long.
📅 Mark your calendars
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: Vendors open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Beats + Brews Fest feat. Yellow Springs Brewery runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📍 Location: Yellow Springs, Ohio
🔗 Website: ysstreetfair.com

Hookahville Music Festival moves to Darke County over Labor Day weekend

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Hookahville, the Midwest’s longest-running music festival, will be held at J&M Ranch in Ansonia, Ohio, this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4. It’s a “don’t miss” festival for fans of psychedelic rock’n’roll, and includes day passes to all weekend long camping options.

The 55th installment of the iconic festival features host band ekoostik hookah — scheduled to play two sets apiece on Saturday and Sunday, including a pair of reunion sets on Saturday with former member Ed McGee — along with reggae stalwarts Passafire, Cleveland favorites John Welton and the Awakening, a Dead/Allman Brothers set by hookah side project Trial by Fire featuring Joe Marcinek, and many more.

The festival has traditionally been held around the Columbus area, and is moving to Ansonia this year, which is close to Greenville.

“Bringing Hookahville to this beautiful ranch in Darke County will create an intimate and unique event that our fans have come to expect after nearly 30 years,” said festival director Jim Garibaldi. “Hookahville has been a part of the Ohio music scene since 1994 and we aim to keep the spirit alive this weekend in Ansonia.”

Other acts over the long weekend include Zoo Trippin’, Restless Leg String Band, Heavy Spirits, Chloe & The Steel Strings, Big Blitz, and Kadie Meadows.

Tickets start at just $80 and include free camping and parking. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hookahville.com or email [email protected].

HOW TO GO?

Sept. 2-4, 2022

J&M Ranch located at 6129 Reed Rd, Ansonia, OH 45303

GA Ticket Prices:

  • Tier 1 GA Ticket – $100.00 + fees
  • Tier 2 GA Ticket – $115.00 + fees
  • GA Gate (Friday Arrival) – $140.00
  • GA Gate (Saturday Arrival) – $120.00
  • GA Gate (Sunday Arrival – $80.00

GA Ticket Includes:

  • Entry for three nights from gate open to gate close.
  • Other terms and conditions may apply.

VIP Ticket Prices:

  • Tier 1 VIP Ticket – $220 + fees
  • Tier 2 VIP Ticket – $240 + fees
  • VIP Gate (Fri/Sat/Sun Arrival) – $250

VIP Ticket Includes:

    • Entry from Fri – Mon
    • VIP Camp By Car campsite
    • Hookahville Travel Mug, 11×17 poster, and laminate for each person purchased
    • Access to VIP tent by the main stage stocked with refreshments all weekend
    • Access to real flushing toilets and showers
    • Full-time “V.I.P. Concierge” to ensure you have everything you need
    • Other terms and conditions may apply

Children and Families:

We welcome children and families to the event. We strive to provide a family-friendly atmosphere, and provide family camping areas. Kids 12 and under are free with a legal guardian and do not require a ticket. We will provide a section of “quiet camping” for families.

 

 

Dayton Jam Band fans gather at The Werk Out!

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If you are one of the many avid jam band fans in the Dayton area, no doubt you have heard of The Werk Out. In it’s 9th year, this major music and arts festival is one of the “don’t miss” events of the summer. It takes place on the historic grounds at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, just east of Columbus, where the Grateful Dead, among others, took the stage many times. The venue’s storied past is why Dayton’s homegrown heroes, The Werks, chose to host their yearly musical extravaganza there.

The natural valley serves as an ideal spot for viewing multiple stages and comfortably camping all weekend long. You pull in right off of I-70, get parked, put your tent set up, then wander down the tree lined path, which is peppered with hammocks, vendors, food on your way to the massive stage set up. There you’ll get to see some of the most exciting national jam and rock bands touring today, including: Umphrey’s McGee (2 sets), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (2 sets), Lettuce, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (2 nights), Twiddle, Turkuaz, Spafford, The Marcus King Band, KNOWER (full band), Zach Deputy, Steady Flow, ekoostik hookah, TWERKAPOD: A Tribute to the 90s,, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Octave Cat, Ghost Light featuring Holly Bowling, Tom Hamilton, Steve Lyons, Raina Mullen, Scotty Zwang Music, Mungion, Mom and Dad (featuring Chuck Jones & Neal Evans of Dopapod), Mike Perkins, Electric Orange Peel, and Conscious Pilot. 

When I think of seeing all that great music individually, it would be so expensive. That’s what makes this festival a real value for music fans like me! Plus, it’s not just music that you can take part in, as there are tons of cool classes and “Werkshops” happening as well. From yoga and classes on tarot reading, to ecological leadership classes (yeah!) and kids activities, there is something for everyone. Or just kick it at your camp site with all the new friends you are bound to make!

How to Go?

Legend Valley Music Center and Campground: 7585 Kindle Rd, Thornville, OH 43076

Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 6:00 PM –Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

NOTE: Wednesday “early bird” admission is an extra fee.

Click here for ticketing information.

 

10th Annual Miami Valley Music Fest This Weekend!

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The Dayton music scene has always been exciting and innovative, and it can certainly be difficult to keep up with all the great bands and musicians playing around town. This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to see a large grouping of local talent, at the 10th Annual Miami Valley Music Fest. This two day music festival based in Troy, features over 50 musical acts on four stages, over the course of just two days! The lineup is eclectic and really showcases the best of Dayton’s music scene. What’s more, the proceeds benefit local charities. It’s a win-win for sure, making this the “don’t miss” event of the weekend!

mvmusicfest

Photo by j. Allen Laack, LaackPhotography.com

Your ticket price includes all the fabulous music, and also camping at the beautiful Eagles Campground they have prepared (address below). There are also children’s activities for those bringing the little ones, and a special VIP option, for those who want to step up their game! For the complete schedule, click here.

The Miami Valley Music Festival Association is a 501(c)(3) public charity organized in Miami County, OH with the purpose of hosting music events to raise funds and awareness for local charitable causes. Their “Charity Rocks!” initiative seeks to educate the public on opportunities to give back to the community, and expose younger festival audiences to the public services offered by non-profit organizations. The MVMFA continually develops programming that shows how charitable giving cannot only be easy and accessible, but also fun.

Want to learn even more about this festival? Check out the interview with Gem City Podcast here. It’s a great way to dig in and get the inside info on this awesome festival.

How to go?

When? July 31st & August 1st. Music runs 5pm – 2am on Friday, and 11am – 2am on Saturday. (Did I mention there are FOUR stages?!)

11194445_897470310276410_4111308668780361348_oWhere? Troy Eagles Campground at 2252 Troy-Urbana Rd, Troy, OH 45373

How much? $45 Pre-sale, $60 at Gate. $125 VIP. Additional options available. Click here to purchase or get further information.

Why? Because Charity Rocks!! And Dayton does too!

 

Festival Recap: Food Survivial at Dayton Revival

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“Jerk Chicken Wrap” from Caribbacanas

Did you get a chance to sample some of the “street eats” at The Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival?   The Big Ragu did !  In between our favorite musical acts, he experienced a truly unique Downtown Food Adventure.

It is so great not to have to deal with anyone in weird festival mode anymore, or a “sudden health kick for a night.”  You know the ones, who then they eat biscuits and gravy the next day after hiking in Kentucky.  Just eat the festival food and quit trying to impress your girlfriend.

The bash was hosted around 3 separate concert stages with indie bands, Ohio bands and some national feature acts.  Were you  listening to John Legend and enjoying legendary sandwiches? How about listening to Train while eating plantain?  Whatever the case, good food was available throughout the event in a 3 block area.  Some vendors were local, others were in from as far away as Miami, Florida.  The two day festival gave Daytonians plenty of time to sample vendor food in iconic places such as Cooper Park and in front of Memorial Hall.

 

Fried Pickles from The Dublin Pub

There were food trucks, grill setups and deep fryers a plenty! The aroma of freshly prepared specialties filled the air at the Dayton Revival.  Food vendors included local favorites like  Bessie’s Noodles, The Dublin Pub, Ritter’s Frozen Custard,  and Smokin’ Bar-B-Que.  Other Dayton based vendors we love included Red Wagon Cafe, Brock Masterson’s Catering and Frickers.

The Big Ragu also sampled food from places we were not so familiar with such as Caribbacanas, The Burrito Bus, D-Fish D-Chicken, Bourbon Street Grill and Cafe, Los Tucanes, Ma & Pa’s Kettle Corn, G’s Barbeque and Enrique’s Place Latin Grill.

Pork Sandwich from Bourboun Street Grill and Cafe

Take some time to browse through the incredible photos in the album below to get a taste of what was available for consumption.  From Gyros to fried fish, from beers to jerk chicken wings, we tried almost all of the offerings.  We covered the eats from fried pickles to kettle corn.  On this Food Adventure we learned this: nothing is better than good music, good food, with good friends in a great hometown.  What more could you ask for?

Did you get a chance to sample some of the foodstuffs at the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival ?  If so, what did you think?  Please comment below!

Do you REALLY want to like Food Adventures? Then hit us up on FACEBOOK by clicking here and “liking” our page !

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