Since Halloween is on a Tuesday this year (boring), you’ll have to check out all the early celebrations around Cincinnati — and there are tons.  Costume contests, trick-or-treat events for humans and dogs, drag shows and more. There’s something happening for everyone, whether it be family fun you’re looking for or a night out on the town. Make this year’s costume count by attending any number of costume contests or see a spooky improv show at a local brewery. Scroll down for some of our recommendations.

If you’re looking for even more to do every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to CityBeat readers.

Halloween Cartooning When: Oct. 28 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Clifton Cultural Arts Center What: Instructional, Halloween-themed cartooning class Who: Lynn Arnsperger Why: Kids can learn traditional cartooning techniques. Photo: Provided by JL Meuthing
Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art After Dark: An Evening with Georgia O’Keeffe 5-9 p.m. Feb. 24 Access to galleries after hours with an emphasis on Georgia O’Keeffe and a black and white theme sounds perfectly romantic and classy. The night will be enhanced with music from DJ Arie plus food by Sweets & Meats BBQ and the museum’s Terrace Cafe. Admission is free. 5-9 p.m. Feb. 24, 953 Eden Park Dr., Mt. Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Art Museum
Ring Without Words When: Oct. 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine What: A CSO concert compilation of Wagner’s four operas. Who: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra & conductor James Gaffigan Why: “Fantasy kingdoms, scandalous love affairs, dwarfs, giants, and powerful music abound.” Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
No. 5 Outdoor/Patio Dining: Dead Low Brewing 5959 Kellogg Ave., California Photo: facebook.com/DeadLowBrewing
The Pink Party at Woodward Theater 8 p.m.-1 a.m. April 7 The Pink Party is the official start to a season of Pride in Cincinnati. Wear pink and celebrate Cincinnati Pride with a night of dancing to the sounds of DJ Soundhouse. Cincinnati Pride members will announce headliners for the 2023 Pride Festival. Other live performances, including drag, flow and go-go shows, are also part of the night’s festivities. Tickets are $10. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. April 7. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
La Pequeña Fiesta Cubana’s GLOW UP Party 5-8 p.m. Aug. 27 The Mockbee is hosting a Cuban dance party with free admission this weekend. La Pequeña Fiesta Cubana invites everyone to enjoy a night of food drink and dance, Glow Up style. Guests are encouraged to wear glow in the dark clothes and body paint. DJ Robertón of Louisville will provide the Cuban dance music and food from ImbuePoppin’ will be available for purchase. La Pequeña Fiesta Cubana’s Glow Up Party, 5-8 p.m. Aug. 27, The Mockbee 2260 Central Pkwy, Brighton Photo: Jesse Fox
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Fifth at Music Hall 11 a.m. March 24 7:30 p.m. March 25 2 p.m. March 26 Russian conductor Anna Rakitina leads works by two composers who have lived with hearing loss: Beethoven, whose hearing struggle began years before the premiere of his Fifth Symphony and British composer Richard Ayres. Cellist Sterling Elliott will lead the CSO in a night of classics. Tickets start at $15. 11 a.m. March 24; 7:30 p.m. March 25 and 2 p.m. March 26. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org. Photo: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Men in Black Party When: Oct. 28 from 12 p.m.-2 a.m. Where: Low Spark Bar, Over-the-Rhine What: Men in Black-themed party. Who: Low Spark Bar Why: Themed mixed drinks like a “Mind Eraser.” Photo: facebook.com/LowSparkOTR
Sanaa Festival When: Oct. 28 from 12-6 p.m. Where: Lincoln Recreation Center, Downtown What: A celebration of African and African American cultures Who: The Robert O’Neal Multicultural Art Center Why: “Sanaa” is Swahili for art, and the event features artist vendors, workshops and live entertainment. Photo: ROMAC Facebook
Fright Film Fest When: Oct. 28 from 12:30-8:30 p.m. Where: St. Xavier High School, Winton Woods What: Short horror film competition. Who: Local filmmakers Why: The audience gets to vote for the Audience Best Choice category. Photo: Jeremy Yap via Unsplash
Glenwood Gardens 10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn Glenwood Gardens has the Garden Loop Trail and the Wetland Loop Trail. The Garden Loop is 1.1 miles of paved trail leading past a gazebo, the Mill Creek and the stone bridge. The Wetland Loop is a nature trail past grassy meadows, woods and wetlands. Photo: provided by Great Parks of Hamilton County
Madtree Brewing Co. Oakley Taproom 3301 Madison Rd., Oakley MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. With over 30 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. Photo: Phil Heiden Reich
Halloween Bar Crawl When: Oct. 28 from 3-11 p.m. Where: Jefferson Social Bar, Fishbowl, AC Upper Deck Bar and Tin Roof Bar at The Banks What: The 8th annual bar crawl event on The Banks. Who: Bar Crawl LIVE! Why: This crawl calls for the scariest, sexiest or silliest costumes you can conjure. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=839978101462241&set=pcb.839978188128899
Funky Fest 9 When: Oct. 28 from 1-9 p.m. Where: Funky Sunshine, Anderson What: Live music, food, local artists and vendors. Who: Funky Sunshine and participating vendors. Why: Help this local business celebrate 9 years of creating unique tie-dye creations. Photo: Katie Griffith
HallZOOween When: Oct. 28 & 29 Where: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Avondale What: A Halloween celebration, zoo-style, featuring trick-or-treat, special animal enrichment, train rides and a magic show. Who: The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Why: The event is free with zoo admission. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=839978101462241&set=pcb.839978188128899
Blood Ball When: Oct. 28 at 9:30 p.m. Where: Good Judy’s, Northside What: A vampiric drag show event. Who: Hosted by Stixen Stones and Kiara Chimera featuring Manuka Honey Stix-Chimera, Vanta Black and Johnny Justice Why: A drag event hot enough to boil your blood. Photo: Katie Griffith
No. 2 Best Overall Bar/Club: Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside Photo: Catie Viox
“When my parents first moved down here a few years ago, my mom spent a good month referring to ‘the OTR.’ That feels like a good start” -AMPduppp Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township Nestled near the edge of the West Side is an idyllic winery surrounded by rows of grapes and rolling hills. VinoKlet is the only working winery in Hamilton County and is home to 12 award-winning wines. Bask in the warmth of a nice day with a glass of vino and enjoy the scenery. And on Fridays and Saturdays, the winery hosts its Grilled to Perfection dinner where you select your entree and grill it yourself while sipping on a half bottle of wine of your choosing. Photo: facebook.com/vinkolet
Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge 1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, which officially opened on Aug. 21, features bottles from women and minority winemakers, as well as eight wines on tap, live music, a limited selection of spirits and beer, and small plates from local businesses. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Trunk or Treat When: Oct. 29 from 5-7 p.m. Where: Land of Illusion Adventure Park, Middletown What: Trick-or-treating. Who: Land of Illusion Adventure Park Why: A free Halloween event for the whole family. Photo: Provided
An Afroman Halloween When: Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Where: Legends Bar and Venue, Cheviot What: A night with Afroman and guests. Who: Afroman Why: The perfect excuse to not go to work or clean your room, misplace the broom … you get the idea. Photo: YouTube screengrab
Haunted Hotel Halloween Party When: Oct. 28 from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Where: 21c Museum and Hotel, Downtown What: A Halloween party at 21c with aerialists, specialty drinks, a costume contest, a DJ and more. Who: 21c Museum and Hotel Why: Professional makeup artists will be on site to help create your Halloween look. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1309579352522235&set=a.632545785552249

Katie Griffith is CityBeat’s arts and culture reporter. She proudly hails from the West Side of Cincinnati and studied journalism at the University of Cincinnati. After freelancing for CityBeat for many...