Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events
As soon as the weather warms up, the people of Greater Cincinnati trek out to one festival or another each weekend. Many residents love festivals, and there are plenty to satisfy them—whether it be church-related or a cultural event or just a reason to come downtown to eat and listen to music.
During the months when it is too cold to go to outside festivals, we love to make our way to the convention center for shows about homes, gardening, and boating. Although many people claim there is never anything to do in this town, we offer this chapter as an argument against those claims.
There is no way we can include all the annual events in this chapter. Besides the many church festivals, many communities have “Taste of” or “Day of” celebrations as well as holiday celebrations. And although we list the once-a-year sporting events, remember that there are numerous sports teams in the city that can provide hours of fun as well.
For a listing of the smaller annual and onetime events, check CityBeat’s “Calendar” section or the Enquirer’s weekend section. Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) publishes a downtown directory that includes events such as special holiday festivities. To get a copy, call DCI at (513) 421-4440.
A note: Be sure to read about Tall Stacks, the world’s largest gathering of steam riverboats, in the River Fun chapter. Staged every three years, this nationally renowned event and its accompanying festivities are a Cincinnati tradition and should not be missed.
1. African Culture Fest
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 287-7000
Description: Part of the museum’s Passport to the World, this festival includes unique African arts and crafts and African cuisine and also features activities for children and adults. It takes place during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Admission is free.
2. The Golf Show
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Separated from the Hunting and Fishing Show, The Golf Show has information on golf equipment and golf destinations in the area and across the country. Admission is $10 and children under age 13 enter for free.
3. The Hunting and Fishing Show
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 281-0022
Description: This show in late January, allows outdoor enthusiasts to get their fill of their summertime hobbies. Admission is $10 a day for adults. Kids are admitted for free.
4. Travel Sports & Boat Show
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 281-0022
Description: This is one of the most popular events held at the convention center each year. While the snow falls outside, the mid-month show gives you a chance to get away—or at least spend a week dreaming about burying your toes in some sandy beach, photographing exotic animals in the wilds of Africa, or zooming across the water in a new boat. Travel agencies give away trips, and you can watch hunting and fishing demonstrations or buy a boat or almost any kind of sports equipment. Admission is $10 for adults, free for children age 13 and younger.
5. BockFest
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 421-2337
Description: Almost 50 restaurants, bars, and shops in Over-the-Rhine take on a Renaissance flair for the annual BockFest, the traditional Queen City celebration of bock beer, bockwurst, and the coming of spring. Admission is free (but, of course, the brewskies aren’t). A parade includes pigs and media celebrities—sometimes one and the same.
6. CFA Championship Allbreed Cat Show
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 241-1152
Description: For nearly five decades the nation’s coolest cats have gathered in this ballroom to compete for top honors as the best of their breed in this prestigious national event. More than 20 breeds compete. Vendors and exhibitors from all over the country create a supermarket of cat-related products designed to make you laugh or make your tabby purr just a little louder. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children age 15 and younger.
7. Cincinnati Auto Expo
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 281-0022
Description: This show includes new cars and prototypes as well as motorcycles. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children age 13 and younger.
8. Fine Arts Funds Sampler
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 230-5000
Description: Enjoy a smorgasbord of cultural samplings at this event, where all the area’s cultural and arts organizations team to show off their wares and kick off their annual fund-raising campaigns. More than 75 events take place in more than 35 locations throughout the area during the two-day, midmonth celebration. The symphony, ballet, May Festival Chorus, opera, and School for the Creative and Performing Arts all perform. The Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, and Contemporary Arts Center open their doors. Guitar-a-thons, short films, plays, hands-on art lessons, and other smaller events fill out the weekend. All activities are free, with most lasting less than an hour. It’s a great way to get an idea of what’s available in terms of culture.
9. Antiques Show and Sale
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 852-1901
Description: More than 75 dealers gather at the high school to show and sell antiques. We’re talking high-quality, top-of-the-line antiques here, not flea market goods. The weekend event is sponsored by the Montgomery Women’s Club. Admission is $7.
10. Cavalcade of Customs
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 352-3750
Description: The finest to the funkiest in automotive creations will show up for this weeklong event: dragsters, classic cars, model cars, street rods, monster trucks—just about anything with four wheels. Television and music personalities make appearances, signing autographs and posing for pictures. Admission is $13, $5 for children age 12 and younger.
11. Celtic Lands Culture Fest
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 287-7000
Address: 1301 Western Avenue
Description: Isn’t this the luck of the Irish? The annual Celtic Lands Culture Fest at Museum Center features folklore, crafts, and the music and dance of the Emerald Isle. Highlights include the local dance troupe, the McGing Irish Dancers, as well as area musicians participating in the Battle of the Celtic Bands. Food and craft vendors fill out the rest of the terminal rotunda. Another one of the museum’s Passport to the World events. Admission is free.
12. Cincinnati Heart Mini-Marathon
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 281-4048
Description: It’s not the Boston Marathon, but the 5K and 15K races draw big crowds. The races begin and end at Fountain Square. The event, which benefits the Heart Foundation, also offers a fitness expo, speakers, and a kid fun run. A 5K and 10K walk are also held. It’s free; pulled muscles cost extra.
13. Good Friday Stair Climb
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 721-6544
Address: 30 Guido Street
Description: For over 135 years, more than 10,000 Catholics have climbed the 200-plus steps from the foot of Mount Adams to Immaculata Church, praying the rosary on each step and receiving communion at the top.
14. Home & Garden Show
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 281-0022
Description: This popular weeklong show runs in early March, just about the time you’re beginning to realize spring isn’t too far away and it’s time to once again begin planting and working in the yard. Collect bulbs, perennials, annuals, seeds, or just ideas. Water gardens, landscaping, decks, shrubs, trees, and anything that has to do with homes and gardens can be found at the show. Admission is $11 for adults and is free for children age 13 and younger.
15. International Wine Festival
City: Cincinnati, OH
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (513) 241-3434
Description: Seminars, luncheons, and, of course, tastings are featured in this three-day event, which is held at the beginning of the month. Hundreds of wines from around the world compete for a gold medal. If you want to learn more about wine, choose from seminars such as “The ABCs of Wine—and More” and “Blending Food and Wine.” The festival benefits the classical music station WGUC and other charities. Admission packages range from $65 to $125 for Grand Tasting events, seminars, and dinners. Individual prices for seminars and tastings also are available.