After a more than yearlong search for a return to normal, events across the Tristate are popping back up. Here’s a guide for all things fun and what to expect. If you’re ready to get back out there and enjoy everything the region has to offer, we hope this guide helps you do just that.
Community Events
The number of community events is on the rise. Milford’s Frontier Days festival is returning June 3-5, bringing back with it the traditional parade, local music acts and plenty of festival food. Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance, which will take place at Ault Park June 11-13, will feature specialty displays celebrating 100 years of Lincoln, the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type and the 50th anniversary of the Z-car. And the Party on the Purple series, presented by ColdIron Events and the Purple People Bridge, is ready to bring the nights to life with its weekly summer parties. Enjoy live music, food trucks, beer, wine and spirits every Wednesday evening through Aug. 4.
You also have the return of beloved favorites like Celtic Fest Ohio on June 19, the Ohio Challenge in Middletown July 16-17, Coney Island’s Balloon Glow on July 3, Cincy Blues Fest on July 17, Ohio River Paddlefest on Aug. 7 and the Western & Southern Open in Mason Aug. 14-22.
Museum Exhibits
Local museums are also planning on bringing in exhibits for the summer months. The Cincinnati Art Museum (953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati) will host the exhibit “American Painting: The Eighties Revisited,” which features abstract paintings from artists like Sam Gilliam and Elizabeth Murray, through July 11 and will welcome “Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America” July 9. The Cincinnati Museum Center (1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati) is reopening its popular Ice Age exhibit July 1. And the Taft Museum of Art (316 Pike St., Cincinnati), currently undergoing a major renovation, is finding new ways to show its collection. Starting July 3, visitors can explore “In a New Light: Treasures from the Taft,” which displays more than 80 pieces from the Taft through a 21st Century lens.
Food Festivals
You can expect to find a variety of food festivals this summer, too.
In Kentucky, the Rockin Taco Festival, June 25-27, at Covington Plaza is a three-day event with free live music, ice-cold beer and margaritas, as well as creative tacos and taco-inspired food items. The Bacon Bourbon and Brew Festival, July 8-11 at Newport on the Levee’s Festival Park, will mix bacon, bourbon and beer with live music and local crafters once again. The two weekend-long Glier’s Goettafest plans to return to Newport on the Levee’s Festival Park this year, too. Scheduled for July 29-Aug. 1 and Aug. 5-8, the event celebrates the Northern Kentucky favorite with goetta burgers, goetta pizza and goetta fudge. And Aug. 12-15, head to Newport on the Levee’s Festival Park for the Great Inland Seafood Festival.
You’ll find plenty of food events on the other side of the river, too. The Panegyri Greek Festival has opted to go virtual this year, but those who crave Greek cuisine will be able to take part in a drive-thru event June 24-26 where they can pick up favorites like gyros, pastitsio and baklava. Orders must be placed ahead of time online. The Taps Tastes and Tunes Festival, July 2-4 at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, will enable food lovers of all ages to enjoy the flavors of Butler County with local fare and live music. And Asian Food Fest returns Aug. 7-8 to celebrate the cuisine and culture of countries like Cambodia, China, India, Japan and Malaysia.
Art Fairs and Marketplaces
Lovers of arts and crafts also have events to look forward to. The O.F.F. Market, the monthly marketplace that brings together small businesses, artisans, brewers, bakers and farmers in a unique shopping experience to support strong community connections and a healthy local economy, is back this year with a new location at Summit Park. This year’s summer dates are June 12, July 10, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11.
Summerfair, a Cincinnati tradition for more than 50 years, is also returning June 4-6 to Coney Island. In previous years, more than 300 fine artists and craftspeople from across the country have exhibited and sold their works during the festival.
Concerts
With more than 1 in 3 Ohioans fully vaccinated, the region’s music venues have started to announce dates for live, in-person concerts. At Riverbend Music Center (6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati), the schedule currently features Jimmy Buffet on July 13, Luke Bryan on July 22, Chicago on Aug. 1, Alicia Keys on Aug. 20 and Maroon 5 on Aug. 28. The stadium tour of Motley Crue and Def Leppard stops at Great American Ball Park (100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati) on June 21. Up north in Lebanon, the Lebanon Country Music Festival is expected to return June 11-12. And the Heritage Bank Center (100 Broadway St., Cincinnati) is planning to host Michael Buble on Aug. 20.
Outside of events, many of the region’s attractions are also fully open. Kings Island (6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island) is open, along with its new campground, Camp Cedar, giving those who missed out last year the opportunity to ride the park’s newest roller coaster, Orion. Coney Island (6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati) has opened its newest attraction, the Challenge Zone, a massive floating obstacle course in the deep end of the Sunlite Pool. In addition to viewing its many animals, visitors to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (3400 Vine St., Cincinnati) can explore the new Kanga’ Klimb Aerial Adventure Course.
And don’t forget about the local parks! Cincinnati Parks, Great Parks of Hamilton County and MetroParks of Butler County are all open this summer and offering plenty of unique programming.
