events

EventsIn addition to its many cultural and historic landmarks, this destination hosts a number of outstanding festivals and events that may coincide with your trip.

Fun Things to Do in Spring

May is a busy event month. The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon , held the first weekend of the month, draws runners of all abilities, and entertainment and events are offered, too. The Appalachian Festival , held at Coney Island, is said to be the largest craft show in the nation.

During two weekends in May, the city's renowned music community celebrates May Festival , the oldest continuing festival of choral and orchestral music in the United States. The tradition began in 1873; performances consist of a 150-voice chorus accompanied by the Cincinnati Symphony and joined by top-name guest conductors and opera singers.

Restaurateurs show off their talents on Memorial Day weekend during the Taste of Cincinnati , a sidewalk smorgasbord along Fifth Street at Fountain Square.

Summertime Festivals and Fairs

Cincinnati heralds the summer season with its Summerfair in early summer. More than 300 artists gather at Coney Island and display their works, while musicians perform classical, pop, country and jazz music.

Summer also offers music festivals. The 3-day Bunbury Music Festival in June features alternative music acts at Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove. The Cincinnati Music Festival in July offers 2 days of hip hop, R&B, jazz and soul music at Paul Brown Stadium. The summer draws to a close in September with Cincinnati's Riverfest on the Sunday of Labor Day. In honor of their river heritage, more than 500,000 people gather along the riverfront in both Ohio and Kentucky to watch water skiing, sky diving and air shows, and enjoy riverboat cruises. The festival climaxes with a spectacular fireworks display accompanied by a soundtrack broadcast by radio station WEBN (102.7 FM).

Another major end-of-summer event is the Green Township Harvest Home Fair , held the weekend following Labor Day in nearby Cheviot. A parade marks the traditional kickoff for what is dubbed “the biggest little fair in Ohio.” Fairgoers can view horse, artwork and flower shows or attend a 4-H auction, among other fun things to do. Food, drink and stage entertainment are available.

What to Do in Fall

With more than half the city's population of German ancestry, it is little wonder Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is celebrated with almost as much vigor as its counterpart in Munich, Germany. Attracting more than 500,000 people, it is said to be the largest such celebration in the country. During a mid-September weekend, six blocks of downtown around Fountain Square are transformed into a German biergarten, complete with music, dancing, singing and, of course, lots of sauerkraut and beer. Be sure to take part in one of the world's largest chicken dances.

Coney Island celebrates autumn with its Fall-O-Ween Festival , held several weekends in October.

Holiday Activities in Cincinnati

At the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden , more than 2 million lights bedeck the grounds from late November to early January. Visitors and locals alike enjoy ice-skating at the ice rink on Fountain Square from November through February. Another festive winter event is Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains display at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. This is one of the largest portable train models in the world with 1,000 feet of track.

See all the AAA recommended events and things to do for this destination.