Special Events
The museum hosts four Signature Events each year: Curated,
Art Ball, Oktoberfest and Bourbon & Bubbles. Among the most popular social events in Dayton, they also serve as important museum fundraisers.
Follow the links below to learn more about plans for each of these events in 2025!
Curated
April 3, 2025
The newest DAI signature event offers guests the chance to sip on a variety of handcrafted cocktails created by the region’s best bartenders while socializing and enjoying delicious bites in the museum’s Shaw Gothic Cloister. With a mission-based focus, this event raises funds for conservation and art protection.
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Art Ball
June 14, 2025
Art Ball has been the Miami Valley’s premier social event for more than 60 years. This annual black-tie function raises critical funds for the museum’s mission of bringing art to all.
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Oktoberfest
SEPTEMBER 26-28, 2025
A Dayton tradition established in 1971, Oktoberfest is the museum’s largest annual fundraiser and vital to everything we do at the Dayton Art Institute. The three-day fall festival takes place the fourth full weekend of September.
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Bourbon & Bubbles
November 7, 2025
Celebrate with an artsy cocktail party in the beautiful setting of the museum’s Shaw Gothic Cloister and Great Hall. Bourbon & Bubbles features a selection of exclusive, handcrafted bourbons and refreshing bubbly from around the world, plus gourmet bites, tasty treats and fun entertainment. Tickets for the event include up to eight tastings of bourbons and/or Champagnes.
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