Summer festivals in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are a great way to experience the region while enjoying our arts, culinary and music scene. So get out your calendar and start planning your visit to these Cincinnati festivals!
Cincy Fringe Festival
Pones Inc. at Cincinnati Fringe Festival (photo: Cincinnati Fringe Festival)
For more than a decade, artists and production companies from around the world have converged downtown for the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, putting on more than 200 live shows at multiple venues throughout Over-the-Rhine for the multi-day event. Performances push the envelope on convention, style and content—whether the medium is theater, music, film, visual art, dance or poetry—and encompass the offbeat, quirky and peculiar: the “fringe” of artistic expression. May 29-June 13, 2020, cincyfringe.com
Summerfair
Summerfair (Photo: Coney Island)
One of the area's largest fine arts and crafts festivals, Summerfair is held at Coney Island each year and features a wide range of work, from paintings and fiber arts to ceramics, metalwork and wood works. Attendees will also enjoy live music, dancing, a children's area and food. May 29-31, 2020, summerfair.org
Bunbury Music Festival
Bunbury Music Festival (Photo: Chris Casella)
2020 EVENT CANCELED
Held along the Ohio riverfront at Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove, Bunbury Music Festival hosts more than 50 alternative and indie acts throughout the three-day fest. Headliners for the 2020 event include Twenty One Pilots, Marshmello, The Avett Brothers with other artists including Kane Brown, Melanie Martinez, The Struts, Neon Trees and more. Forbes and USA Today have both dubbed it one of the best music festivals in the country. In between sets, check out dozens of food trucks and craft beer vendors for a wide sampling of local cuisine.
Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance
Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Gary Kessler)
The Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance is a nationally recognized car show that highlights some of the most spectacular automobiles and motorcycles of all time. Cars are displayed in the formal gardens of historic Ault Park, with a classic pavilion overlooking the show field, hosting an automotive art show and brunch. This year's event features specialty displays of 100th anniversary of Lincoln, 50 years of the Nissan Z-cars, and Microcars. You can cool off with a cold brew from the craft beer garden, or take part in several special weekend events. June 14, 2020, ohioconcours.com
Celtic Fest Ohio
McGing Irish Dancers at the Cincinnati Celtic Festival (photo: @mcgingdancers)
Dance to the tunes of Irish bands and Scottish pipes and drums; enjoy tastings of Guinness, cider and mead; visit historical encampments; and shop pottery, jewelry and kilts all at Celtic Fest Ohio held on the grounds of the Ohio Renaissance Festival. June 19-21, 2020, celticfestohio.com. Make sure to also mark your calendars for the Cincinnati Celtic Festival in downtown Cincinnati on Freedom Way (admission is free!). August 28-30, 2020, cincycelticfest.com.
Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival
Juneteenth Festival (photo: Juneteenth Festival)
Celebrate the end of slavery in America with Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival's diverse, family-friendly activities including traditional story telling, dancing, sack races, live music, flag parade & peace march and folk crafts. Festival goers can also watch living history performances, enjoy food from local vendors, and kids will love the opportunity to ride a horse, meet a goat, have their faces painted and so much more. Admission is free to the event held at Eden Park. June 20-21, 2020, juneteenthcincinnati.org
Cincinnati Pride Parade & Festival
Cincinnati Pride (photo: Noah Kling)
Enjoy a two-hour parade, live music, drag queen performances, beer and spirits at Sawyer Point during the annual Cincinnati Pride Parade & Festival. Admission is free and the event also includes a Family Fun Zone. June 27, 2020, cincinnatipride.org
Cincy Blues Fest
Schmidlapp Event Lawn at Smale Riverfront Park (photo: Cincinnati Park Board)
Local and national blues acts perform at on the Schmidlapp Event Lawn in Smale Riverfront Park during Cincy Blues Fest. Be sure to stick around for the after-party at Moerlein Lager House. July 18, 2020, cincybluesfest.org
Crafted Local Food, Beer & Music Festival
Sawyer Point (photo: CincinnatiUSA.com)
The Crafted Local Food, Beer & Music Festival features music by Hickory Robot and Ben Miller Band accompanying new inspired dishes and farm-to-table fare from local restaurants and more than 50 of Cincinnati's craft beers at Sawyer Point. A portion of festival proceeds will benefit League for Animal Welfare. July 18, 20, 2020, craftedfest.com
Cincinnati Music Festival
Cincinnati Music Festival (photo: Louis Rideout)
Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G is one of the largest R&B events in the country. This year’s lineup includes headliners Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg and more. Don’t miss the pre-party on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium’s East Club Lounge, with a fashion show, performances, DJs and more. Click here to find a buy one, get one ticket deal when you book a hotel at CincinnatiUSA.com. July 23-25, 2020, cincymusicfestival.com
Glier's Goettafest
Glier's Goettafest (photo: @hidekikealoha)
You may or may not be familiar with Cincinnati’s renowned goetta (that’s “get-uh”), but spend a day at Glier’s Goettafest—the largest goetta festival in the world—and you’ll become well acquainted with the concoction, a mixture of sausage, oats and spices. All food vendors are required to incorporate it into their offerings, so expect things like goetta calzones, goetta brownies and bacon-goetta nachos. The Newport on the Levee event also includes carnival games, beer, fireworks, live bands and free admission! July 30-August 2 and August 6-9, 2020, goettafest.com
Ohio River Paddlefest
Paddlefest (photo: Meg Vogel)
One of America's largest paddling events, Ohio River Paddlefest involves 2,000 paddlers traveling nine miles down the Ohio River. Along the course, participants will explore historic Mill Creek, paddle under seven bridges, view the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky skylines, and enjoy the pre-event Paddler's Party on Friday night. Even if you're not paddling, celebrate with those that are at the Finish Line Festival at Gilday Riverside Park with craft beer, food trucks, vendors and exhibits. August 1, 2020, ohioriverpaddlefest.org
The Black Family Reunion
Sawyer Point (photo: Adam Birkan)
The Black Family Reunion is one of Cincinnati's largest family-focused events spanning three days of weekend fun throughout the region at various venues including Sawyer Point. Activities include a city-wide parade; live performances of blues, R&B, jazz, spoken word, gospel and poetry; games; health screenings; annual job fair; and a kids area. August 14-16, 2020, myblackfamilyreunion.org
Cincy Brew Ha-Ha
Cincy Brew Ha-Ha (photo: Cincy Brew Ha-Ha)
Head to Sawyer Point for Cincy Brew Ha-Ha, America's largest beer and comedy festival featuring more than 100 beers and more than 80 comedians on four stages. Admission is free, beer and food available for purchase. 2020 dates TBA, cincybrewhaha.com.
Riverfest
Western & Southern/WEBN Fireworks (Photo: David Long)
The region's biggest end-of-summer celebration kicks off at noon on the Sunday before Labor Day with live music and family-friendly activities along the riverfront at Sawyer Point, including the annual Rubber Duck Regatta – the ceremonial pitching of 100,000-plus rubber ducks off the Purple People Bridge to race downriver – and followed by a military ceremony. The day culminates in the Western & Southern/WEBN Fireworks extravaganza, with rockets shot off barges in the Ohio River and coordinated to music by local radio station WEBN. September 6, 2020, webn.com
Written by: Baihley Grandison with additional reporting by Amber Potter and Emily Lloyd
