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Celebrate 51 years of art, beers and cheers at Dayton’s favorite fall festival
Dayton’s favorite fall festival, the annual Dayton Art Institute (DAI) Oktoberfest, is set to celebrate 51 years of art, beers and cheers, September 23–25 on the museum grounds.
Presented by Miller Lite, the DAI Oktoberfest will feature all the things the community has come to love about the festival, as well as some new additions for 2022.
“Last year’s 50th anniversary celebration was a fantastic success, and we look forward to welcoming the community back for a bigger and better Oktoberfest weekend in 2022,” said DAI Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger. “First and foremost, we’re excited to welcome the artisans back this year! The RTA shuttle service from downtown Dayton also returns this year, and there will be exciting new additions to our food court. We hope you’ll join us to welcome the fall season and support the DAI.”
The longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in Southwest Ohio, the DAI Oktoberfest is the culmination of many months work by DAI staff and the museum’s Associate Board, a community volunteer board that assists in planning both Oktoberfest and Art Ball. The Associate Board’s efforts are led by 2022 Oktoberfest Chairs Katherine and Jason Cezeaux.
“The Dayton Art Institute was the first place we visited with our children when we moved here 11 years ago, and it remains one of our favorite spots in Dayton,” Katherine and Jason said. “The DAI is the jewel of the Gem City, and we are absolutely thrilled to chair its 51st Oktoberfest.”
Oktoberfest weekend kicks off on Friday, September 23, with the Lederhosen Lunch, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and the Preview Party, 7–11 p.m., followed by two days of Oktoberfest fun on Saturday, September 24, noon–11:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 25, noon–7 p.m.
Highlights of this year’s festival include:
LEDERHOSEN LUNCH: Hosted by the DAI’s Former Associate Board, this community lunch offers the only free admission of the weekend, with bratwurst, mettwurst, schnitzel sandwiches, German salads and homemade noodles available for purchase, as well as live music. The main beer truck will be open and guests may also buy event tickets, as well as Oktoberfest mugs and t-shirts.
PREVIEW PARTY: Presented by Premier Health, this exclusive, ticketed event includes complimentary draft beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as live music by Weekend Effect. Free shuttle service will be offered during the Preview Party. Park at the University of Dayton parking lot on River Park Drive, located between the Marriott and Dayton Daily News building, and take free shuttles directly to and from the Preview Party.
Advance tickets for the Preview Party are $55 members, $75 non-members and may be purchased online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest. All tickets purchased at the gate are $95. Guests must be 21 with a valid ID to attend the Preview Party.
OKTOBERFEST: The main Oktoberfest celebration includes a wide variety of delicious foods, more than 50 different craft and international beers, and a selection of domestic and international wines. Visitors can relax in fully covered main stage and food court areas, as well as a TV tent with four big-screen TVs for all the weekend sports action. Live music will be featured on two stages throughout the weekend. The ACCO Brands FamilyFest takes place Saturday and Sunday afternoon, noon–4:30 p.m. each day, with special activities for all ages.
Advance general admission tickets for Oktoberfest (Saturday/Sunday) are $8 adults, $5 seniors and youth (ages 7–18). Tickets purchased at the gate are $10 adults, $7 seniors and youth. Children 6 and under are free. Advance tickets may be purchased at the following presale locations through the close of business on Friday, September 23: Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Washington Square and Springboro; Arrow Wine on Far Hills and Lyons Road; Ghostlight Coffee on Patterson, Wayne and at the Second Street Market; Coffee Hub in Xenia and Beavercreek. General Admission tickets may also be purchased at the Dayton Art Institute during regular museum hours.
PARKING & SHUTTLES: Getting to and from Oktoberfest is easy, with free shuttle service, including shuttles for the Preview Party. Follow the Oktoberfest signs and park for free at the University of Dayton parking lot behind the Marriott, just off Patterson Boulevard, and take the free shuttles directly to and from both the Preview Party and Oktoberfest.
In addition, Greater Dayton RTA will provide free shuttles from downtown Dayton to the festival during the Lederhosen Lunch on September 23, as well as all day on September 24 & 25. There are no RTA shuttles during Preview Party.
For more information about Oktoberfest, including volunteer opportunities at this year’s festival, go to daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest. The website serves at the go-to location for all things festival related, including ticket information, festival activities and announcements, event schedules and more. Be sure to also connect with the DAI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for more about Oktoberfest. Join the conversation online with the hashtags #OktoberfestDayton and #OKTDAI.
The DAI Oktoberfest wouldn’t be possible with the generous support of many sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Miller Lite; Preview Party Sponsor Premier Health; Craft Beer Sponsor Cavalier Distributing; Vehicle Sponsor White-Allen Family of Dealerships; Family Art Sponsor ACCO Brands; Stage Sponsor altafiber; Lederhosen Lunch Sponsor KeyBank; Mugs & Tees Sponsor Logos@Work; Patron Sponsors Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway and NRG; Supporting Sponsors Bladecutters Inc., Enterprise Roofing & Sheetmetal, Ohio Skin Center, RTA, Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Square One Salon & Spa, and Surdyk Dowd & Turner; Media Partners ABC22 & FOX45, iHeartMedia Dayton and Key-Ads, Inc.; with Additional Support from City Barbecue, HarborLink Network and PNC.
Oktoberfest was established by the DAI Associate Board in 1971, with the first full public festival taking place in 1972. Each year, the Associate Board helps organize Oktoberfest as a fundraiser to support the museum. Over the years, the Associate Board has raised nearly $8 million for the museum through Oktoberfest. Since its inception, more than one million people have attended the DAI Oktoberfest!
ABOUT DAYTON ART INSTITUTE
MISSION: The Dayton Art Institute is committed to enriching the community by creating meaningful experiences with art that are available to all.
INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA) MISSION: The Dayton Art Institute aspires to develop, promote and sustain an organizational culture and reputation in the communities that we serve as an organization that values, nurtures and leverages inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in all that we do.
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is one of the Miami Valley’s premier fine art museums, offering a full range of programming in addition to exhibiting its collection. The museum is currently open Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursdays, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Fridays & Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays, noon–5 p.m. Go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit for the latest museum information and updates. Museum general admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more), $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17), free for children (ages 6 & younger), and free for museum members. Admission includes access to all Special Exhibition, Focus Exhibitions, The Lange Family Experiencenter and the museum’s collection galleries. Some events and programs may carry an additional charge and include museum admission as part of that price. Free parking is available at the museum and the facility is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. The DAI Museum Store and Leo are open during regular museum hours, offering unique shopping, drinks and tasty treats. The Museum Store also offers online shopping at www.daytonartinstitute.org/shop. For more information about the DAI, visit daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). The Ohio Arts Council helps fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The DAI also receives support from Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.
CONTACTS:
Eric Brockman, Marketing and Communications Manager
937-207-1658 (cell) | ebrockman@daytonart.org
Sabrina Pritchett, External Affairs Director
937-512-0143 (office) | spritchett@daytonart.org