This weekend’s events are all about celebration — from Pride to Juneteenth, there are plenty of ways to celebrate community across the Queen City.

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.

7. Sweets & Meats BBQ 2249 Beechmont Ave., Unit B, Mount Washington Co-owned and operated by MORTAR grads Kristen Bailey and Anton Gaffney, Sweets & Meats BBQ food truck has become well known in the Cincinnati area since its inception in 2014. Over the years, the business has gained recognition for excellent smoked meats, sides and decadent desserts. The eatery opened a brick-and-mortar in 2017 in Mount Washington, and has two food trucks and full catering service. Photo: Facebook.com/SweetsandMeats Photo: Facebook.com/sweetsandmeats
WakeNSkate with DJs Sneaks & Jigg at the Sawyer Point Roller Rink 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 17 Grab your skates and enjoy the riverfront breeze while you skate the day away. Sawyer Point Roller Rink introduces WakeNSkate — a free morning skating session which will go to the fundraising campaign to refurbish the rink’s flooring. Don’t have any skates? No worries. A limited number of rental skates will be available to use at the rink. Music will accompany your morning of fun from DJs Sneaks & Jigg. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 17 Sawyer Point Roller Rink, 925 Riverside Dr., Riverfront, cincinnatiparksfoundation.org. Photo: Cincinnati Parks
New Richmond Pride Festival 11 a.m. June 17 Now in its second year, the New Richmond Pride Festival has decided to pack all of the Pride fun into one day full of festivities. The festival offers local LGBTQ+ vendors, artists, live performances and music, a dog parade, food, educational resources and the comfort of a whole community connecting to celebrate over 50 years of Pride in New Richmond. 11 a.m. June 17. New Richmond Bandstand, 116 Susanna Way, New Richmond, newrichmondpride.org. Photo: facebook.com/newrichmondpride
Inked Release Party at Rhinegeist Noon-8 p.m. Nov. 19 Though it’s a bit cliche to get a tattoo while you’re tipsy, that’s just life and Rhinegeist is the place to live it. The brewery is having a party to celebrate “the release of our indelible Imperial Stout, including special Ink variants available on draft and in bottles, and for the first time ever, Ink in 16-oz. tallboys,” according to the event’s website. While there, you can get pre-selected art tattooed on you by White Whale, Lonesome Town, Black Fern, Decorated Body, Higher Love, Designs by Dana and Got Ink, while Cryptogram Ink will be on-site with a pop-up, along with food from Empanada Box.Noon-8 p.m. Nov. 19. Rhinegeist Brewery, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com/event/inked-2022.
36th Annual Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival Noon-9 p.m. June 17; 2-6 p.m. June 18 Come commemorate the emancipation of Black slaves in the United States at the 36th Annual Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival. The festival begins at noon with a parade of flags that represent the African diaspora, and then continues into the afternoon with activities for all ages. Book reading, crafts, games and horseback rides will be available for kids, while over 25 performances on two stages will reflect shared African heritage that adults can enjoy. R&B, jazz, blues, African dancing, Latin jazz and the Voices of Freedom poetry slam will be performed. Vendors, art and food will also be present. Noon-9 p.m. June 17; 2-6 p.m. June 18. Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Dr., Mt. Adams, juneteenthcincinnati.org. Photo: Shutterstock
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Noon June 17 Got a need for speed? Come and try your luck at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on June 17. Stop by Frisch’s Big Boy on Wooster Pike to satisfy your appetite or simply watch it all go down. Registration is now open. You must be 18 years old or older to participate. Noon June 17. Frisch’s Mainliner, 5760 Wooster Pike, Fairfax, majorleagueeating.com. Photo: Provided by Hunter PR
Halloween Bar Crawl 4-10 p.m. Oct. 29 One of two Halloween-themed bar crawls this weekend. Check in at Bloom OTR between 4 and 6 p.m. for an evening of food and drink specials and a costume contest ($1,000 goes to the first place winner). Stops include Liberty’s Bar & Bottle, The Hub, MOTR Pub, Queen City Exchange and Pins. Tickets get you two free drinks or shots. $25. Bloom OTR, 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine.
White Lotus Secret Party 1 p.m. June 17 Need an escape from reality? This party promises to transport you to the perfect oasis, with fragrant citrus trees, colorful lilies and a manicured garden. This event is sure to be a journey of the senses. Enjoy the sun setting over the horizon and dance under the stars at night. While the location is not disclosed to outside members, once you register the location will be sent directly to your email. Join the party for a magical night just minutes from downtown. Tickets are $10. 1 p.m. June 17. Location TBA, dice.com. Photo: Goran Eidens, Unsplash
Sip, Bite and Stroll at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine At more than 150 years old, Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operated public market. Go for the farmers market, butcher shops, flower stalls, OTR Biergarten and eclectic eats. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Cincinnati Cobra Gets His Statue There’s a new spot where Cincinnati boxing fans can go to reminisce about one of the city’s greats. In October, city officials unveiled a bronze statue of World Heavyweight Champion boxer Ezzard Charles in Ezzard Charles Park – renamed from Laurel Park – in the West End near TQL Stadium. Charles, who grew up in Cincinnati, was known in the boxing world as the “Cincinnati Cobra” and was considered one of the world’s greatest fighters. He finished his career with 95 wins, 25 losses and one draw and was inaugurated into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Charles died in 1975. Read CityBeat’s story about the statue’s reveal. Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Parks