Sample different styles and brands or splurge for special beer dinner offerings at participating local restaurants and bars during the annual celebration beginning on Friday, Aug. 15. Prices and times vary.
The festivities include the fourth annual Beer Pride Week Parade, which begins at the Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. The procession concludes with the opening ceremonies of the citywide craft brew celebration at Thai 9, 11 Brown St. The Beer Pride Week celebration runs through Saturday, Aug. 23. Visit www.daytonbeerweek.com.
2) SUNWATCH FLUTE & ART FESTIVAL
The Flute & Art Festival has grown considerably since its first year at Sunwatch Indian Village and Archaeological Park, 2301 W. River Road, in Dayton in 2007. The event, which returns Friday through Sunday, Aug. 15 through 17, features live music, an art exhibition and Native American dishes such as bison burgers, Indian tacos and corn. Festival hours are 3 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $8 adults, $5 seniors 60 and older and children 6-16, free ages 5 and younger. Weekend passes are available. Admission is half price for Dayton Society of Natural History members. Call 937-268-8199 or visit www.sunwatch.org.
3) CANOEGRASS
There are plenty of music festivals around the area but none are like Canoegrass. The second annual event, returning to Adventures on the Great Miami, 1995 Ross Road, in Tipp City through Sunday, Aug. 17, puts a unique twist on the format by mixing camping and paddle sports with live bluegrass music. This year's lineup includes Woody Pines, The Repeating Arms, Stillwater River Band and others. Music begins at 3:45 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Cost $60. Visit www.canoegrass.com.
4) BACON FEST
It's no secret folks love bacon but nobody expected the massive turnout for the inaugural Bacon Fest at Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., in Kettering last summer. The demand was so high vendors ran out of food. Participants are hoping to avoid that problem when the second annual festival returns to the Fraze at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. Expect plenty of tasty bacon-themed dishes plus live music from Linden Davis Group, Skeptical Cats, Classic Rock Experience and The Devonshires. Cost: Free. Call 937-296-3300 or visit www.fraze.com.
5) HISPANIC HERITAGE FEST
For more than 20 years, the non-profit Puerto Rican, American and Caribbean Organization has been dedicated to educating the community about the wealth of Latin culture available in the Miami Valley. Some of those aspects are on display each summer during the Hispanic Heritage Festival. PACO presents the 14th annual event at RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., in Dayton from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Cost: Free. Call 937-236-7515 or visit www.pacodayton.org.
6) OLD SALT UNION
Newgrass band Old Salt Union from Belleville, Ill. is proficient enough to earn opening spots for old guard acts like Sam Bush and Del McCoury but eclectic enough to play rock clubs and jam band festivals. The group, which releases its second album, "Bridge," later this month, performs at Peach's Grill, 104 Xenia Ave., in Yellow Springs at 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. The Big Damn Jam also performs. Cost: Free. Call 937-767-4850 or visit www.peachsgrill.com.
7) DARKE COUNTY FAIR
Harness racing, carnival rides, games, live music and food vendors are just some of the attractions on tap for the 158th Darke County Fair. The long-running event returns to the Darke County Fairgrounds, 800 Sweitzer St., in Greenville on Friday, Aug. 15. Gates open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily. Vendors open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Rides run noon to 11 p.m. daily. The fair runs through Saturday, Aug. 23. Cost: $6 single day admission. Free for children 11 and younger accompanied by paying adult. Additional charges for some activities, $20 for nine-day passes. Call 937-548-5044 or visit www.darkecountyfair.com.
8) HORROR DOUBLE BILL
Dayton-based filmmaker Henrique Couto has built up quite a resume over the past few years and it runs the gamut from family films and indie comedies to gory horror flicks. While his works generally get an opening screening at Englewood Cinemas, most of the films are distributed on DVD and Blu-ray where most fans view them in the comfort of their own homes. However, Couto is breaking from tradition with a double feature screening at Canal Public House, 308 E. First St., in Dayton at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. That night fans can catch two of Couto's best loved recent works, "Haunted House on Sorority Row" and "Babysitter Massacre," followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew. Cost: $5. Call 937-461-9343 or visit www.canalpublichouse.com.
9) WHITE RABBIT
Most of the members of White Rabbit have been playing music since the 1960s and they're still going strong playing songs from that era. There are two chances to see the local cover band this weekend. White Rabbit performs at Hank's Pub, 2529 Patterson Road, in Kettering on Friday, Aug. 15. The following night, the group is at Shiloh Grille, 5515 N. Main St., in Dayton. Visit www.whiterabbit.com.
10) FAIRBORN SWEET CORN FEST
It's mid-August again and for many folks in the area that means one thing, it's time for the Sweet Corn Festival. The 33rd annual event returns to Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, in Fairborn on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16 and 17. The festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, features a sweet corn eating contest, children's entertainment, food vendors, specialty dealers and more. Cost: Free. Visit www.fairbornsweetcornfestival.org.
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