Local arts organizations are back and lots of in-person events can be experienced outside

It was a cruel summer. Curtains remained drawn. Strings went unplucked. Seats were empty. Across the country, music was relegated to inside cars and showers as the pandemic wreaked particular havoc on the arts. But then—a shot, a glimmer of hope, and now masks are down and the lights are up! Visual and performing artists have returned, bringing with them a piece of our humanity that went missing, along with handshakes and hugs.

Summertime shows in Cincinnati offer the best of both worlds—lively music, dance, theater and other performances staged in the great outdoors. Residents and visitors previously starved of such cultural experiences are invited to feast on the sights and sounds hitting parks and gardens across the area this season.

Kathy DeBrosse, vice president of marketing and engagement of ArtsWave, says the anticipation for in-person events is palpable compared to last summer. “It’s night and day—we can see the way forward, and it’s an exciting and promising direction,” she says. “Live arts are back, and safety has and continues to be paramount throughout the actions the arts have taken.”

Supporting the arts is more important than ever. ArtsWave, a nonprofit that raises funds for more than 100 arts organizations locally, had to fast-track some of its efforts to ensure the pandemic didn’t close the curtains for good. “Through the help of the community and supportive businesses, we worked hard to help keep the lights on for the arts—fast-forwarding funding and coming up with new and different ways to fundraise,” DeBrosse says. “While this won’t cover the $100 million loss that arts organizations have faced locally, it’s been a way to keep organizations open and actively helping the community to get through the trying time.”

Now it’s the public’s turn to make their contribution by attending shows, donating to fundraising campaigns and encouraging others to do the same. Here are a few events to get started:

Free Shakespeare in the Park

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s free Shakespeare in the Park tour is the only professional outdoor theater opportunity in Cincinnati each summer, attracting more than 10,000 patrons to 40 area parks during the summer months. Performances include some of the bard’s most popular productions, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, and are scheduled through early September. Performances do not require tickets and are general admission. For details on concession options, check the hosting park location’s website. Find the complete schedule and the participating parks online at cincyshakes.com.

Summermusik

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble of 32 professional musicians, launched the critically acclaimed summer music festival Summermusik in 2015. Now they’re back and offering three different concert experiences during the month of August to fit just about every musical preference. Tickets and more information about each type of performance can be found at ccocincinnati.org/summermusik. This summer’s performances include:

• Mainstage Full Chamber Orchestra: Hear the chamber orchestra at two Mainstage performances, one Aug. 6 and the other Aug. 20, at Eden Park’s Seasongood Pavilion. Free prelude talks provide educational overviews to each program and introduce the audience to that evening’s soloist and partners, says the organization.

• Chamber Crawl Small Ensemble Evenings: Like a pub crawl for your ears! Chamber Crawl evenings take place at a variety of venues, such as Coney Island, the Cincinnati Zoo and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum. These interactive experiences feature local brewers and mixologists as well as musical talent. Musicians and patrons relax and have fun together with programs curated by CCO musicians, according to the organization’s website.

• (A Little) Afternoon Musik Small Ensemble Sunday Matinees: These Sunday afternoon concerts take place at Coney Island’s Moonlite Pavilion and are intimate gatherings that bring patrons close to the musicians in a casual atmosphere, according to the website. Guests can delve deeper into the music and have a close-up encounter with artists and musicians on Aug. 8 and 15.

Summer Events at Washington Park

3CDC and First Financial Bank present the Summer Series events at Washington Park. Programming includes movies, workouts, music from multiple genres and more, all free and open to the public. Visit washingtonpark.org for updated schedules and more information about programming this summer. Popular attractions include:

• Jazz in the Park: Local and regional jazz acts perform every Monday at the Porch presented by PPG Paints, featuring the finest of Cincinnati’s thriving jazz scene.

• Roots Revival presented by the Johnson Foundation: Enjoy an evening of free Bluegrass, Roots and Americana music at Washington Park’s bandstand. Food will be available from Eli’s BBQ.

• Friday Flow presented by P&G: Washington Park’s free R&B Series, Friday Flow presented by P&G, returns this summer with 12 nights of entertainment. Concerts are 6-9 p.m. at Washington Park’s main stage on the civic lawn.

• DBL Law OTR Performs: Enjoy an evening of free arts programming in the park on select Sundays this summer from 7-9 p.m.

• Summer Cinema: In addition to classic Summer Cinema dates, check out monthly Cultural Family Movies in partnership with Keng Enterprises’ new programming division, Culture and Collabs.

Fountain Square

Find a bevy of programs taking place every day of the week on Fountain Square, including live music from multiple genres, trivia nights, lunchtime events and more. Organizers 3CDC are especially excited for the return of larger concerts to the Fifth Third Bank Center Stage, a state-of-the-art performance stage that was unveiled in 2020. The permanent stage includes new audio equipment, lighting and technology to ensure the best possible event experience for patrons. Large concerts were not held on the square in 2020 due to COVID-19, so summer events will provide a debut for the new stage and all of its capabilities. Find detailed information about programs online at myfountainsquare.com, including:

• Reggae Wednesday: Hump Day is “jammin” with free reggae concerts from 7-10 p.m. every Wednesday.

• Salsa on the Square sponsored by P&G: Enjoy hot salsa bands, skilled dancers and tips from expert instructors who will take to the dance floor Thursday evenings to teach the basic steps.

• Fifth and Vine Live: Friday and Saturday nights sizzle with music from local, regional and national acts on the main stage.

Enjoy the Arts @ Parks

Presented by Arts Wave and Macy’s, this program showcases the diversity and excellence of Greater Cincinnati’s arts at parks across the region through October. From folk music to spoken word to puppet theater to cultural presentations from around the globe, Arts @ Parks brings an assortment of performances right to your backyard. To learn more about this and other Arts Wave programs, visit artswave.org.

Cincinnati Opera

Summit Park in Blue Ash is the scene for a season of song. Summer at Summit is an open-air festival featuring three popular operas presented without intermissions in specially tailored, 90-minute versions that retain their full stories and best-loved music. The lineup includes Carmen, Tosca and The Barber of Seville, and performances will be held July 17-31. This is a great way to get introduced to the lyrical storytelling that’s been a hallmark of theater for centuries. To purchase tickets and find dates for all performances, visit cincinnatiopera.org.