November is here, which means the start of winter fun. This weekend, the Queen City promises ice skating, toy trains, giant dinosaurs and the return of the Cincinnati Ballet to the Music Hall stage.
Here are 10 things to do.
Friday, Nov. 5
Cincinnati Ballet presents King Arthur’s Camelot
The classic tale of King Arthur comes to the stage at Music Hall. As the first full-scale Cincinnati Ballet production since the start of the pandemic, King Arthur’s Camelot features lush costuming, an original score and choreography by ballet Artistic Director Victoria Morgan. “There are very few ballets based on the Arthurian legend. It has all the elements of a great story — a hero’s quest, forbidden love, epic battles — and the sword flighting and jousting are exciting as well,” says Morgan in a release. “It was a joy to create this work, and I am thrilled we are sharing it with Cincinnati again.” Originally produced in 2013, it’s back for the ballet’s 25th anniversary season. 8 p.m. Nov. 5; 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 6; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Tickets start at $29. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cballet.org.
Germania Society Christkindlmarkt
A bit of Bavaria is coming to Colerain this weekend when the Germania Society hosts its annual Christkindlmarkt Christmas market. The self-described “oldest and most authentic German Christmas market” in the region — it started in 1998 — is modeled after European holiday markets, with cups of glühwein (aka hot, mulled wine) and plenty of vendors set up in tents and booths, including those selling imported German goods. If you get hungry, there will be cabbage rolls, mock turtle soups and some “sinful pastries and candies,” says the Germania Society. Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, St. Nikolaus or the Christkind (a baby Jesus-type character with wings) — or avoid the evil Krampus. 5-10 p.m. Nov. 5; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 6; noon-5 p.m. Nov. 7. $5; free for those 12 and under or for retired/active military. 3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain, germaniasociety.com/christkindlmarkt.
Halloween is over, which means we’re immediately launching into the holiday season. And the Fountain Square Ice Rink understood the assignment. The rink opened Nov. 1. In addition to skate rental, Fountain Square has brought back last year’s super-popular bumper cars, which will share the rink with traditional ice skating. Patrons can choose from two types of sessions — either a split rink, where one half is devoted to ice skating while the other half is taken up by bumper cars, or skating only. Concessions will be available and a rink-side warming tent will feature snacks and drinks, including boozy beverages. Masks are required inside the tent when not eating or drinking. Through Feb. 22, 2022. $15 for the split session and $10 for ice skating only. 520 Vine St., Downtown, myfountainsquare.com.
Saturday, Nov. 6
Trains and Traditions, a Cincinnati Holiday at Krohn Conservatory
Krohn Conservatory is upping the whimsy factor this winter with floral show Trains and Traditions, a Cincinnati Holiday. The exhibit will feature “a tapestry of colorful poinsettias, charming garden railways and beautiful replicas of Cincinnati landmarks created out of ‘botanical architecture’ by local artisans Applied Imagination,” according to a release. The 2020 show featured mini renderings of structures including the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Taft Museum of Art, Union Terminal and the Krohn itself (Check out photos from last year’s A Very Merry Garden Holiday.). This year, Krohn says it will be revealing a “new iconic Cincinnati landmark.” Through Jan. 9, 2022. $10 for adults, $7 for those ages 5-17 and free for kids 4 and under. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park, cincinnatiparks.com.
Attention vinyl fans and crate-diggers: The Northside Record fair is back on Nov. 6 after taking a hiatus last year due to COVID-19. But if you want to hunt through “over 40 tables of Jazz, Punk, Psych, Blues, Classic Rock, World Music, Classical, Garage Rock, Hip Hop, Experimental, Folk, Industrial, Country, Electronic, Prog (and) Soul,” per a release, you’ll need to be vaccinated. The record fair will require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from the previous 48 hours, and host site North Church will require everyone to wear a mask inside. Masks will be available at the entrance. Sponsored by Cincinnati’s Torn Light Records and Shake It Records, the fair will feature vendors from across the Midwest. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 6. $5; $10 for early entry at 10 a.m. 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsiderecordfair.com.
Cincinnati Cyclones vs. the Heartlanders
The Cincinnati Cyclones take on the Iowa Heartlanders at Heritage Bank Center. The Cyclones have an array of promotions scheduled this year, including about a dozen $1 beer nights and several $1 concession games. Tonight is fundraising night, but dollar beers return Nov. 9. The team hit home ice on Oct. 30 for the first time in about a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the end of the 2019-2020 season and the Cyclones opted out of the 2020-2021 season. The ‘Clones lost the home opener 0-6 to the Indy Fuel. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. Tickets start at $19. 100 Broadway, Downtown, cycloneshockey.com.
Dino & Dragon Stroll at the Duke Energy Convention Center
Giant lizards of yore descend on the Duke Energy Convention Center this weekend. This walk-thru event features life-size animatronic dragons and dinosaurs with special sound tech to bring them to life. “During Dino & Dragon Stroll, you will be transformed into the Mesozoic Era with prehistoric dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, and surrounded by some fantastical dragons throughout! Our creatures feature moving heads, necks, tails, wings, eyes blinking, mouths that open and close, breathing movements, synchronized sounds, roars, and other amazing details that make them look real and alive,” reads the event description. There will be baby dinosaurs, a giant T-Rex, velociraptor and stegosaurus, plus scaly, winged and fire-breathing dragons. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 6; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 7. $24.99. 525 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, dinostroll.com.
University of Cincinnati Homecoming Game
ESPN’s College GameDay is stopping by the Queen City for the first time at the University of Cincinnati’s homecoming game this Saturday. UC announced on their Instagram that the popular pre-game show is set to be broadcast live from its campus in the lead-up to the game against Tulsa. UC will be playing Tulsa at 3:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium in Clifton. ESPN reports that the UC Bearcats are favored by 23 points against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. College GameDay airs every Saturday during the college football season until game kick-off. The show typically travels to the biggest game of the week, so it might be a good day to get your red and black on. gobearcats.com.
Sunday, Nov. 7
The Science Behind Pixar at the Cincinnati Museum Center
The exhibit is an interactive experience that showcases the uses of STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics), imagination and curiosity, the museum says in a release. Guests can come face-to-face with Pixar characters like Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode and WALL•E. Through eight interactive areas, CMC says The Science Behind Pixar empowers guests to imagine the STEM concepts behind Pixar’s films. With over 50 interactive elements, visitors will get to see the eight steps of the filmmaking process — modeling, rigging, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting and rendering. Through April 24, 2022. $19.50 adults; $15.50 children and seniors. 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
Simply Brilliant at the Cincinnati Art Museum
Unique and beautiful jewelry from the 1960s and ’70s is now on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum in exhibit Simply Brilliant. “The space race, Rock & Roll, the Beatles, the Vietnam War, the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights movement, Pop Art, the Women’s Movement, the widespread use of drugs, the Pill, and the concept of free love were all facets of cultural change associated with these two decades. These social deviations set the stage for what jewelers had to offer, expressing individuality, nonconformity, and the aesthetic, political and intellectual values of those who wore it,” reads a description from the museum. The roughly 120 pieces on exhibit are seen as art first, versus adornment, and play on themes of nature with yellow gold, organic and abstract shapes and gems as well as coral, shells, geodes and moldavite. Through Feb. 6, 2022. Free admission. 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
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This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 9, 2021.