There will be music, culture and soooo much delicious food.
Below are some of our favorite upcoming ethnic festivals to help you prepare your tum-tum for culinary adventures right here at home.
>> MORE: 7 AMAZING festivals we just cannot wait for
1) Germanfest Picnic
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Dayton’s Liederkranz-Turner club has all the bier, schnitzel and Oompa-pa bands one can take.
>> RELATED: Germanfest Picnic return to downtown Dayton
Why go: Entertainment includes Triad of Comedy, The Band 5, Nothing But Treble, Last Call Trio, Full Throttle, Ludlow and Hey There Morgan.
There will be a kids zone with games and rides, craft vendors, a genealogy area, a raffle for a trip to Germany for two, a Bavarian fashion show, a race/walk and cultural displays.
The RTA will offer free shuttles to parking areas.
The polka mass takes place at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 12.
Where: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12
Cost: Free admission
Connect: Website | 937-429-9251| Facebook
2) Dayton African American Cultural Festival
Credit: Barbara J. Perenic
Credit: Barbara J. Perenic
Why go: The celebration of African and African American culture includes food, African drumming, dance and gospel, jazz, blues, hip-hop and R&B music on Saturday, Aug. 18, at Island MetroPark.
There will be performances by Lenny Williams; Chay Buddah; Mississippi Red; 565 Nation; Rachel Shaw and Renee Pate.
The festival’s gospel explosion will be held Sunday, Aug. 19, at Courthouse Square.
Locations: Island MetroPark, 101 E. Helena St., Dayton (Saturday) and Courthouse Square near the corner of Third and Main Streets in downtown Dayton (Sunday)
When: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19
Cost: Free admission
3) Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival
Credit: Jim witmer
Credit: Jim witmer
Why go: Dive into kibbee, kafta, baklawa, shawarma and other handmade Lebanese foods at this beloved festival. There will be dance, cultural displays and amusement park rides.
There will be a Catholic Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26.
>> The amazing dishes you have to try at Dayton Lebanese Festival
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25; 11 to 6 p.m. Sunday Aug. 26
Where: St. Ignatius Maronite Catholic Church, 5915 Springboro Pike, West Carrollton
Cost: Free admission
4) Dayton Greek Festival
Why go: You will find opa for days at the 60th annual festival.
Meal options include pastitsio, moussaka, Greek pizza, tsoureki, dolmades, gyro sandwiches and so many delicious desserts.
Saganaki, flamed Greek cheese, will be served for a second year and there will be tours of the church’s Byzantine-style sanctuary, as well as shopping in the Grecian Boutique, music and dance.
>> OPA! Guess how much incredible food is served at the Dayton Greek Festival?
Free parking shuttle bus will take festival-goers to and from the Grandview employee lot on Shaw Avenue.
Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park N., Dayton
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept 8; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9.
Cost: Free admission from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. Admission for the remainder of the festival is $2 per adult for the entire weekend. Entry is free for children 12 and younger.
Connect: Website | (937) 224-0601| Facebook
5) Italian Fall Festa
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Gelato, spaghetti and all the meatballs, muffaletta sandwiches and homemade calzones are among the delicious treats that will be found at the 41st annual festival.
In 2014, the festival required about 600 gallons of sauce, 20,000 meatballs and 9,400 sausages and about 900 volunteers to put on.
There will be a Meatball Madness 5K, children’s games, bocce, live music, a spaghetti eating contest, beer, wine, Italian drinks, dancing and daily featured dinners at the event sponsored by the John Pirelli Lodge #1633.
A pre-Festa lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, by calling 937-258-3600
Where: Bella Villa Hall, 2625 County Line Road, Kettering
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9.
Cost: Free admission and parking
Connect: 937-258-3600 | Website | Facebook
6) Hispanic Heritage Festival
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Why go: The vibrant festival starts with a parade at noon.
>> PHOTOS: Hispanic Heritage Festival 2017
Entertainment includes URBachata; Rika Swing; Al Son Del lya, Rondalla Puerto Rico, Hot Enchiladas; The Amador Sisters; Orgullo Mexicana; dance lessons by Salsannati and Que Lindo Es Panama.
Organized by Puerto Rican, American and Caribbean Organization (PACO) Latino, the celebration partners with URS Rubber Duck Regetta and includes a children area, food vendors, a Latin karaoke competition, zumba and games.
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15
Where: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton
Cost: Free admission
>> Centerville woman and family unite with sister they always knew was out there somewhere
7) Oktoberfest at Dayton Art Institute
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Why go: Art, beer, bands, brats and Bavarian roasted nuts. There is a reason so many people collect Oktoberfest beer steins and T-shirts each year. So many great memories are created at Oktoberfest, a fundraiser for the DAI that has attracted 875,000 and has raised more than $5 million since its inception in 1972.
Where: The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton
When: Oktoberfest Lederhosen Lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Oktoberfest Preview Party, 7-11 p.m., Friday, Sept. 21.
Oktoberfest hours: noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23.
How much will it cost you? Admission to the lunch is free. Advance tickets to the preview party are $55 for members and $75 for non-members. Gate admission is $95. Ticket sales begin later this month.
Advance Oktoberfest general admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors ages 60 and older and youth ages 7 to 18. Gate admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and youth.
Children 6 and younger admitted free of charge.
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