When: 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
Why: Country music, beer and, more importantly, BBQ from at least a dozen local restaurants.
This year's musical line up includes Cassadee Pope, Craig Wayne Boyd, Old Dominion and Centerville High School grad Alexis Gomez, a recent "American Idol" contestant.
More importantly, the food lineup includes Company 7 City BBQ of Englewood, Hickory River Smokehouse of Tipp and Ritter's Frozen Custard, Smoothie King, 1776 Grill food truck from Lebanon and Basil's on Market of Troy.
Admission cost: General admission is $5 in advance and $10 at the gate, which opens at noon.
More info: Miami Valley Restaurant Association.
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 7
Where: Downtown Troy and the Great Miami River Levee
Why: The water in the fountain on townsquare turns strawberry, and there is strawberry goodness in everything from strawberry salsa sold by Future Begins Today to the senior center’s homemade strawberry shortcakes to Troy Music Boosters’ famous strawberry donuts.
Admission cost: free
More info: https://gostrawberries.com/
When: Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 15.
Where: grounds of the old Versailles High School, 459 S. Center St., Versailles
Why: The festival celebrates the community history in poultry, so chickens take note. Roughly 24,000 chicken dinners for the grabbing.
Admission cost: free
More info: www.versaillespoultrydays.com
When: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 11
Where: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
Why: About a dozen of the best wing joints around will fight for titles of Best Damn Wing and hottest wing. Its popularity has steadily grown since its launch in 2011.
Admission cost: free
More info: www.fraze.com/kickin-chicken-wing-fest-2014/
Dayton Liederkranz-Turner Germanfest Picnic
When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10.
Where: Carillon Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton
Why: Brats, metts, German potato salad, wurstsalat, cabbage rolls and all that schnitzel in one place can’t be missed.
Admission cost: free. On-site parking is $2.
More info: www.daytongermanclub.org
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15
Where: Riverscape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave.
Why: Go from booth to booth sampling dishes from multiple Hispanic cultures from empanadas to tordas.
Admission cost: free
More info: http://www.pacodayton.org
When: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16
Where: Fraze Pavillon, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
Why: Did someone say bacon? The festival tests the theory that everything tastes better with bacon. Past items have ranged from Brixx Ice Company's peanut butter, banana and bacon sanwiches to Amber Rose's Bacon and cheddar pierogies.
Admission cost: free
More info: www.fraze.com
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug 28; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30
Where: Saint Ignatius Maronite Catholic Church, 5915 Springboro Pike, Miami Twp.
Why: The shawarma alone is reason to go. There is also kibbee, kafta, stuffed grapes, tabouli and salata salads and Lebanese pastries.
Admission cost: free
More info: www.thelebanesefestival.com
When: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23
Where: Fifth Street in Dayton’s Oregon District
Why: A great opportunity to eat your way around the historical district. Most restaurants and taverns participate in this event sponsored by the Miami Valley Restaurant Association and the Oregon District Business Association.
Admission cost: free
More info: http://dineoutdayton.com/
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13
Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park, North
Why: Baklava and 16 other types of pastries for starters. The festival’s long list of savory delights include lamb shank dinners, moussaka (a layered eggplant casserole), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and beef and lamb gyro sandwiches. Yummy.
Admission cost: Free on Friday night. Admission is $2 the rest of the weekend.
More info: www.daytongreekfestival.com/
When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.
Where: Bella Villa Hall, 2625 County Line Road, Kettering
Why: Fall is in the title, but hopefully we will still have a little summer left. You will find an Italian feast — spaghetti and meatballs, sausage onions peppers sandwich, bean soup, Italian deli meats, cheeses and olives, cannoli and zeppole pastries, gelato (Italian ice cream) and stromboli turnovers.
Admission cost: free
More info: www.italianfallfesta.com
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