Dayton’s favorite fall festival concludes on Sunday, September 29 At the midpoint of the Dayton Art Institute’s 48th Oktoberfest celebration, the museum reports it has received record community support for the annual fundraiser. A Dayton tradition since 1972, Oktoberfest is the museum’s largest annual fundraising event, raising nearly $450,000 to support critical operations for the museum.
According to the museum, Friday’s Preview Party set attendance records, and preliminary numbers indicate record revenue for that event. On Saturday, the DAI saw more than 15,000 through the gates for the first day of the two-day festival.
“The community’s support for this event and the museum during our centennial year has been outstanding,” said Dayton Art Institute Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. “It’s been fantastic to welcome so many people to the museum grounds this weekend–we hope to see another record crowd on Sunday as we conclude the festival. The money raised at Oktoberfest helps support museum operations and programs throughout the year.”
Oktoberfest 2019, presented by Miller Lite, continues on Sunday, September 29, from noon to 7 p.m. Oktoberfest includes a fully covered Main Stage area and Food Court, and a “TV Cave” with four big-screen TVs for all the weekend sports action. Live music will be featured in the food tent and on the main stage. Two large tents include more than 60 artisans. The ACCO Brands FamilyFest returns on Sunday, noon–4:30 p.m., with special activities for all ages in the museum and on the grounds near the museum entrance. The museum’s collection galleries, as well as the Museum Store and Leo Bistro, will be open noon–5 p.m. Admission to the museum’s collection galleries and focus exhibitions is included in Oktoberfest admission. General admission for Oktoberfest is $10 adults, $7 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free. Go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest for more information about Oktoberfest.
The DAI’s centennial celebration continues next Sunday, October 6, with Arts, Beats and Eats, a FREE community open house event taking place from noon to 7 p.m. On the museum grounds, a stage will feature live music from local bands Kick-N-Flava, Shakedown and Hey There Morgan throughout the day, alongside costumed superheroes, jugglers, an art car and outdoor games. There will also be a food truck rally, featuring Bella Sorella Pizza, Rolling Indulgence, Crème de la Crème Cakery and other food trucks, as well as a fall beer garden. Inside the museum, the Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium will feature live entertainment, Zoot Theater will have a puppet petting zoo–recreating the famous “Weng’s Zoo” of the 1940s–in the Hale cloister, and the Shaw Gothic Cloister will host art activities, a LEGO mural community art project, and a host of local non-profits set up with information, activities, and giveaways.
Arts, Beats, and Eats is presented with sponsorship support from the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts, Vectren, Iddings Foundation, PNC and Frank M. Tait Foundation.
For more information about the Dayton Art Institute, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and exclusive offers.
