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This weekend is all about food, art and community. Enjoy legacy art events like Summerfair and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, top foodie festivals like CincItalia and Taste of Lebanon and community-building celebrations like the Second Annual International Children’s Day Festival. Keep scrolling to see our favorite events taking place throughout Greater Cincinnati this weekend.
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.
Cincinnati Fringe Festival
When: May 30-June 1
Where: Multiple locations
What: The performing arts festival returns with a lineup of groundbreaking shows from local, national and international creatives over the course of two weeks.
Who: Cincinnati Fringe Festival
Why: New to the festival this year is the Conceptual Fringe category with four productions, including an audience-of-one virtual reality contemporary dance film. Photo: Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Fringe FestivalMidWest Friends Fest
When: May 30 and 31
Where: Southgate House Revival, Newport
What: The annual music festival — which features genre-defying artists from the Cincinnati area, across the Midwest and beyond — will return to Newport’s Southgate House Revival on May 30 and 31.
Who: MidWest Friends Fest
Why: This year’s slew of must-see local acts includes shoegaze supergroup Mall Witch and introspective garage rockers Tooth Lures a Fang. Photo: Chuch LofticeCincItalia Festival
When: May 30 from 6 p.m.-midnight, May 31 from 3-11 p.m. and June 1 from 1-9 p.m.
Where: Harvest Home Park, Cheviot
What: Spend the weekend indulging in Italian food, entertainment and family-friendly fun.
Who: St. Catharine of Siena Catholic School
Why: Be sure to enter the Big Italian Raffle for a chance to win cash prizes. Photo: CityBeat ArchivesSummerfair Photo: Provided by SummerfairCircuit-Bent Bazaar at DSGN CLLCTV
When: May 30 from 7-10 p.m.
Where: DSGN CLLCTV, Northside
What: TRANSMISSION, an annual event “dedicated to celebrating the intersection of queer creativity and electronic music,” according to an event description, is back with TRANSMISSION Vol. 5. The first event in the event series is the Circuit-Bent Bazaar, a fundraiser and hands-on exploration of circuit-bending, or a technique where you intentionally modify the circuits of electronic devices.
Who: TRANSMISSION
Why: According to a press release, this year’s TRANSMISSION events series focuses on how the trans community has historically shaped the electronic music genre. Photo: Pixabay, PexelsThe Morrow Market – Morrow’s Largest Artisan Festival
When: June 29 at 10 a.m.
Where: Morrow Arts Center, Morrow
What: Browse over 80 vendors and 36 studios filled with locally-made food, crafts and art.
Who: Morrow Arts Center
Why: Here’s your chance to truly shop local. Photo: Kristina Balic, UnsplashCollege Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation Carnival
When: May 31 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Patrick Wolterman
Memorial Park and throughout the Hamilton Avenue business district in College Hill
What: College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC) celebrates 50 years of community-led investment and revitalization of College Hill with a carnival. In true carnival fashion, attendees can expect carnival games, prizes, a vendor market, live music and local food and drink offerings. You’ll also be able to tour some of the projects spearheaded by CHCURC.
Who: CHCURC
Why: Don’t miss the parade that kicks off at 11 a.m. with College Hill businesses and organizations. Photo: chcurc.comTri-State Antique Market
6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 3
Indiana’s largest antique and vintage market is back for its monthly event. The open-air market features more than 200 vendors selling a variety of vintage, antique and retro goods. The event includes free parking and concessions. Tickets are $5.
6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 3. Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg, lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com. Photo: Provided by Amos PickensSecond Annual International Children’s Day Festival
When: June 1 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Factory 52, Norwood
What: The Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition is hosting the International Children’s Day Festival, a free and family-friendly event celebrating “multiculturalism and childhood joy in the face of injustice, featuring performances, hands-on activities and educational opportunities centered on global solidarity,” according to an event description.
Who: The Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition
Why: This year’s festival is centered around themes of community and resilience as over 14,000 children are currently at risk of starvation in Gaza due to the Israeli-imposed blockade, according to the Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition. Photo: Lydia SchembreTaste of Lebanon
When: June 1 from noon-7 p.m.
Where: St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church, East Walnut Hills
What: Feast on traditional Lebanese cuisine like kibbee, grape leaves, mujadara and more at the annual Taste of Lebanon festival.
Who: St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Catholic Church
Why: If you’d rather scarf down your Lebanese food in the comfort of your own home (though you’ll be missing out on the live entertainment and other family-friendly fun at the festival), you can pre-order your meals here and pick it up at the festival. Photo: facebook.com/stanthonycincinnatiNorthern Kentucky Pride Parade and Festival
When: June 1 from noon-5 p.m.
Where: Mainstrasse Village, Covington
What: Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community during Northern Kentucky Pride in Covington. Northern Kentucky’s Pride celebration includes a parade at noon and festival featuring live entertainment, vendors and family-friendly fun.
Who: Northern Kentucky Pride Center
Why: There will also be a kickoff party at Braxton Brewing Company on Thursday and a pop-up shop at the Northern Kentucky Pride Center on Saturday. Photo: Provided