The first official summer weekend is here, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it throughout Greater Cincinnati. From swimming the day away at Coney Island or eating your way through essential Cincinnati cuisine at Taste of Cincinnati, there are numerous ways to enjoy your long Memorial Day 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.

Brandee Younger at Caffè Vivace 7-10 p.m. May 25 Gather around to enjoy some contemporary jazz, coffee and atmosphere as harpist Brandee Younger performs at Caffè Vivace. Younger made history in 2022 when she became the first Black female solo artist to be nominated in the Grammy Awards’ Best Instrumental Composition category for her song “Beautiful is Black”. The instrumental harpist includes classical, jazz, soul and funk in her arrangements. Tickets range from $30-$140. Each set is sold separately. 8:30-10:30 p.m. May 27. 975 East McMillan St., Walnut Hills, facebook.com/events. Photo: facebook.com/harpista
Mecklenburg Gardens 302 E. University Ave., Corryville For a taste of Zinzinnati’s German heritage, Mecklenburg Gardens showcases some of the best German cuisine the city has to offer. Their specialty is wienerschnitzel, a tender, pan-fried veal cutlet topped with lemon; it’s served with mashed potatoes and cabbage. They have about a dozen beers on tap, most of which are German, along with some local microbrews. Nationally ranked as one of the best biergartens in the country, it’s also one of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants, having been open since 1865. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Weston Works Art Challenge Exhibition May 26 and 27 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and May 28 noon-5 p.m. Local artists made unique art out of Weston Art Gallery trash and it’s going to be on view through June 4. A call went out last month urging artists to use garbage like past marketing materials from the gallery. Participants inevitably immortalized previous exhibits and recycled while they did it. May 26 and 27 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and May 28 noon-5 p.m. Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org/weston-art-gallery. Photo: Provided by Weston Art Gallery
Punks Care 2 Part II at Southgate House Revival 5:30 p.m. May 27 Last year, the Punks Care 2 inaugural benefit show raised enough money to fund 3,600 meals, according to its website. Almost exactly a year after that show, partners Hüsker Foöd Zine of Cincinnati and The Peterson Compound of Tennessee are back with 13 bands and two stages at the Southgate House Revival. “Fighting food insecurity one show at a time,” is the motto. This year’s family-friendly punk show benefits the Freestore Foodbank. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show. 5:30 p.m. May 27. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Ruizhe Du, Unsplash
FORIS performs at Madison Live! on May 27. Photo: facebook.com/events
Green Light Night at the Sawyer Point Roller Rink 7-10 p.m. May 27 The opening night of the Riverfront Rink at Sawyer Point kicks off its season with a sunset skate on Saturday. In celebration of a partnership between Skate Downtown Cincy, Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Parks Foundation, skaters are encouraged to wear green while helping roll out the outdoor rink. A live DJ and performance from Cincinnati’s Reckless Sk8ters top off the free skating session. Rental skates will be available. 7-10 p.m. May 27. Sawyer Point Roller Rink, 925 Riverside Dr., Downtown. facebook.com/events. Photo: Cincinnati Parks
Dave Matthews Band at Riverbend Music Center 7:30 p.m. May 27 Does Dave Matthews ever stop touring? We aren’t complaining, just saying however they managed to release a 10th studio album (Walk Around the Moon, released May 19) is impressive. Surely those golden era ’90s hits will be thrown in the mix of live music. And you can add a $2 donation with the purchase of a ticket to benefit Dave Matthews’ ongoing partnership with The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign. 7:30 p.m. May 27. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, riverbend.org. Photo: Kevin Lush
Cincinnati Observatory 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout Built in 1873, the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest public observatory in the United States, housing fully-functional 19th century telescopic technology for the public to use. Seated atop Mount Lookout, the original building and the infamous dome added in 1895 are a significant fixture in the city’s history. Known as “The Birthplace of American Astronomy,” the Cincinnati Observatory is a bedrock for astronomical discoveries and advancement. Photo: Brittany Thornton Photo: Brittany Thornton
Roebling Books & Coffee Memorial Day Weekend Block Party 1-8 p.m. May 27 If you like coffee, food and live music, then this event is for you. Come down to Roebling Books & Coffee this Memorial Day for their block party and fundraiser. Come for the coffee and stay for the food from Lil’s Kitchen, art vendors, face painting and live music at their Dayton, Kentucky location. All ages are welcome. While no tickets or payment is necessary, donations are appreciated. All proceeds will go to artist Kotie who will be painting a mural live at the event. 1-8 p.m. May 27. Roebling Books & Coffee, 301 6th St., Dayton, facebook.com/events. Photo: Katie Griffith
Coney Island’s Opening Day 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 27 Coney Island lovers get ready, because the park is planning to add even more activities this summer. The park plans to add an even bigger splash of fun with pickleball, fowling (a combination of football and bowling), disc golf and Sports Alley — a fun-filled arena for the kids. Sports Alley includes soccer pool, a combination of billiards and soccer (players kick the “billiards ball” into the corner pockets of the arena), and street curling, in which players slide heavy stones across a synthetic surface toward a target to win points. Whatever the activity, there’s fun for the whole family. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 27. Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township, coneyislandpark.com. Photo: facebook.com/coneyislandpark
Best Food Festival or Event Winner: Taste of Cincinnati Runners-up: Oktoberfest, Cincinnati Food Truck Association Festival Photo: Facebook.com/TasteofCincinnati