From barbecues to parades, Memorial Day weekend ushers in summer while remembering our community’s military members who lost their lives while serving our country. We’ve compiled a list of events going on throughout the city to check out this holiday weekend.
Or, if you want to check out the arts & culture scene instead, we’ve still got you covered.
Kings Island —Kings Island is offering free admission to active military, retired military, National Guard and veterans with honorable or medical discharge and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps all weekend long. Qualifying military personnel can also purchase up to six discounted tickets into the park for family members–roller coasters require a buddy system, after all. 10 a.m.- 10 p.m., Friday- Monday, $34 for military family members, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Dr., Mason, OH, visitkingsisland.com
Love Ludlow: Oak St. Block Party— This long weekend, unwind. For starters, head across the river to see what Ludlow, Ky. has to offer. Food. Snackage. Drinks for the adults and kids alike. Corn hole. Face paint. Music. Literally, it’s just summer all wrapped up into one near little neighborhood party. 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Saturday. Free admission. Oak Street, Ludlow, searchable on Facebook.
Coney Island Opening Day— For many, Coney Island was a childhood staple. And come Saturday, it’s officially open for the summer season. Feel the breeze run through your hair on one of their rides, or cool down in the Sunlite Water Adventure park. Either way, get a dose of nostalgia. 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. General admission $13-$22. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave, California, coneyislandpark.com
Taste of Cincinnati— In case you wanted that BBQ, The nation’s longest running culinary festival is right here in our own Queen City. Last year, Taste of Cincinnati attracted 550,000 attendees, and with good reason. They’ve got the grub, you just need the stomach (you may want to skip breakfast for this one). 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday. Free. $29.99 music bash. Fifth Street between Main and Sentinel Streets, downtown, tasteofcincinnati.com
Field of Memories: Remembering Our Fallen — This weekend-long event Arlington Memorial Gardens will honor the over 7,000 lives lost since 9/11 in the War on Terror. An installation of over 800 American flags will be displayed all weekend, but special events on Friday night include a professional parachute performance by Team Fastrax, live music and a fireworks display. 9 a.m.- 7 p.m, Friday- Tuesday. Free. Arlington Memorial Gardens, 2145 Compton Rd., Springfield, amgardens.org
Cincinnati Warbirds WWII Big Band Dance and USO Show — Dance the night away with The Tom Daughtry Orchestra’s Swing Canteen and Cincinnati Lindy Society’s swing dancers. The dance will feature an intermission ceremony honoring local veterans and a competition for the best period dress, as well as a raffle for the chance to win a bomber ride. 6- 11 p.m., Saturday, $15 in advance, $20 at the door, Coney Island Moonlight Pavilion, 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, cincinnatiwarbirds.com
Spring Grove Cemetery Tours — In addition to a Veterans Tribute showing at the Norman Chapel all weekend and ceremonies on Sunday and Monday, Spring Grove Cemetery will offer two guided walking tours, beginning in the Civil War section. Learn about Cincinnati’s patriots and pioneers on Sunday and spruce up on your Civil War history at Spring Grove on Monday. 1 p.m. Sunday; 1:15 p.m. Monday. Free. Spring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Winton Hills, springgrove.org
Park Hills Parade — Serving as Grand Marshals for the parade this year are 100-year-old World War II Pilot John Kletter (First Lieutenant, USAF) and a member of his crew, Arthur “Art” Unruh (Staff Sergeant, USAAC), who both received the Silver Star Award for gallantry in action on July 27, 1944 after surviving an intense attack by Nazi fighter planes. This event marks their first meeting since returning to the United States after the end of WWII. The pair will speak together following the parade and flag raising ceremony. 11:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Monday. Free. Notre Dame Academy, 1699 Hilton Dr., Park Hills, parkhillsky.net
Anderson Township Bell Ringing Ceremony — Speaking at the Remembrance and Bell Ringing Ceremony this year is Captain Tim Waechter, the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and Services Medals, the Army Commendation medal and the National Defense Services Medal. The ceremony will include a reading of names of deceased members of the armed forces and be completed with a three-volley rifle solute and a playing of “Taps.” 11:45 a.m. Monday. Free. Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Rd., Anderson Township, andersontownship.org
66th Annual City of Blue Ash Parade and Ceremony/Memorial Day Concert — Stick around for the ceremony following the parade for a flyover by the Cincinnati Warbirds, a performance by the Ohio Military Band, and to hear from the keynote speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Dominic “Nick” S. Fago, the commander of the 123rd Air Control Squadron, located in Blue Ash. Festivities continue on into the evening, with the The Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Memorial Day Concert starting at 6 p.m. at Towne Square. 10:15 a.m. parade, 11:30 a.m. ceremony, Free, Monday, Blue Ash Towne Square, Towne Square Ave., Blue Ash, blueash.com
Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras Concert — The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform their annual Memorial Day concert at Eden Park in honor of active and retired military. Included in the program are the 1812 Overture, “Armed Forces Salute,” Sousa’s marches, “76 Marches” and “America the Beautiful.” The CSYO will also be collecting items to be sent to active duty troops across the world. 2- 4 p.m, Monday. Free. Seasongood Pavilion, Eden Park, 1600 Art Museum Dr., Mt. Adams, cincinnatisymphony.org
Krohn Conservatory — Support a good cause while viewing thousands of butterflies in this year’s Butterflies of Madagascar exhibit, celebrating the exotic biomes of the unique African island. Proceeds from admission will be donated to the Greater Cincinnati Firefighters Memorial Park, and local firefighters will be at the conservatory all day, fire apparatus displays in tow. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday, $7 adults, $4 youth (five – 17 years), Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Dr., Mt. Adams, butterflyshow.com
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden— Active and retired members of the military get free admission Memorial Day with the opportunity to purchase up to six half-price tickets for their immediate family members so the whole family can enjoy all the zoo has to offer (Hi, Fiona). 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday, $9.50 adult, $6.50 child, Cincinnati Zoo, 3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org
This article appears in May 23-30, 2018.