Ault Park’s longtime summer concert series brings an evening of live music, food and family activities to the park Aug. 20 

Summer nights at Ault Park are not over yet. 

The Ault Park Summer Music Festival returns Thursday, Aug. 20, bringing live music, food and family activities to the park’s historic pavilion. The free event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Circle. 

The August event is part of a summer concert tradition that has been held at Ault Park for more than 30 years. Organized by the Ault Park Advisory Council, the festival gives visitors a chance to spend an evening outside while supporting one of Cincinnati’s largest parks. 

Along with live music, local food and drinks will be available for purchase. Families can also expect inflatables, games and children’s crafts and activities during the earlier portion of the evening. 

The festival takes place around the Ault Park Pavilion, one of the most recognizable features of the roughlt 228-acre park. Built on one of the park’s highest points, the pavilion sits above gardens, walking paths and open green space that make Ault Park a popular gathering place throughout the year. 

That setting has made the park a natural home for outdoor summer events. Visitors can spread out around the pavilion and lawn while listening to music, grabbing food or walking through the surrounding gardens. The festival offers a more casual alternative to a traditional indoor concert, with attendees able to come and go throughout the evening. 

The Ault Park Advisory Council works with Cincinnati Parks to support and improve the park. The volunteer organization helps organize community events while also supporting projects meant to preserve the grounds and keep the park active for visitors. 

The August concert is one of several events keeping Ault Park busy as summer winds down. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will bring an outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing to the park Aug. 14, less than a week before the music festival. Another Summer Music Festival is scheduled for Sept. 17. 

For those looking to make the most of the final weeks of summer, the August festival offers another reason to spend an evening outside before the season begins to change.