This weekend in Cincinnati, Mardi Gras and Black History Month events continue along with a folk music festival in Ludlow. Additionally, MadTree turns 10 years old, wizards will flock to Ludlow Garage and  FC Cincinnati will have a historic moment. Got the winter weather blues? The Cincinnati Home + Garden Show is back. Get ready for spring there, or check out FC Cincinnati’s new kit at the first-ever Cincinnati home match on the opening weekend of an MLS season. 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.

Wizard Fest at Ludlow Garage 8:30 p.m. Feb. 24 No owls, cats or toads, but wear your finest wizard cloak. Ludlow Garage is throwing an interactive fantasy-themed party Friday — an everything-wizard evening featuring food, drinks, trivia, other games and a costume contest. Wizard merchandise will be available and free with the purchase of a VIP ticket. A broom or a wand will accent that cloak nicely. Sporting a wise, long, gray beard? Even better. The event is all ages. Tickets start at $15. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event begins at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, 342 Ludlow Ave, Clifton, ludlowgaragecincinnati.com. Photo: Artem Maltsev, Unsplash
Cincinnati Art Museum’s Art After Dark: An Evening with Georgia O’Keeffe 5-9 p.m. Feb. 24 Access to galleries after hours with an emphasis on Georgia O’Keeffe and a black and white theme sounds perfectly romantic and classy. The night will be enhanced with music from DJ Arie plus food by Sweets & Meats BBQ and the museum’s Terrace Cafe. Admission is free. 5-9 p.m. Feb. 24, 953 Eden Park Dr., Mt. Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photo: Provided by the Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincy Brass at Bircus’ Ludlow Theatre 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 New Orleans soul meets Cincinnati funk in Ludlow this weekend. The Cincy Brass’ nine-piece band is bringing out its funk, hip-hop, jazz combo just in time for the Mardi Gras season. You could hear an original Cincy Brass tune featuring music from Bootsy Collins or Cincinnati Pops conductor John Morris Russel or a cover of today’s hits by Beyonce or Snoop Dogg. Tickets are $10. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Ludlow Theatre, Bircus Brewing Company, 322 Elm St. Ludlow, bircus.com/ludlow-theatre. Photo: provided
MadTree’s Bonanza Birthday Bash at MadTree Brewing 11 a.m Feb. 25.-1 a.m. Feb. 26 MadTree Brewing is 10 years old. In celebration of its anniversary, the brewery is hosting a day-long party with music, food, live music and entertainment and of course beer. Local and national beers will be featured, including some rare options. Exclusive MadTree merchandise will also be available. Admission is free. 11 a.m. Feb. 25-1 a.m. Feb. 26, MadTree Brewery, 3301 Madison, Rd., Oakley, madtreebrewing.com. Photo: facebook.com/MadTree
FC Cincinnati Home Opener at TQL Stadium 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 For the first time in club history, FC Cincinnati is hosting a home match on the opening weekend of the MLS season. Houston Dynamo FC will visit TQL Stadium on Saturday to face the Orange and Blue. This is the first of 34 regular-season matches, 17 of which will be played at TQL Stadium. Come for FC Cincinnati’s new kit, stay for the win. There are tons of pre-game parties at nearby bars, including Washington Park’s Pre-Match at the Park. Tickets to the game start at $48. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Pkwy., West End. fccincinnati.com Photo: provided by FC Cincinnati
Shirley Chisholm ‘The Chisholm Trail’ at Memorial Hall 12 and 2 p.m. Feb. 25 “If they don’t give you a seat to the table, bring a folding chair” — Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman Democratic presidential candidate. The play was inspired by Chisholm’s impact and journey, challenging audience members to confront pre-judgements and prejudice. Admission is free. 12 and 2 p.m. Feb. 25. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Cabin Fever Music + Arts Festival in Ludlow 2 p.m. Feb. 25 More fun, folky, banjo-strumming, string-plucking bands than you can think of will be invading venues around Ludlow on Saturday. Music starts at 2 p.m., and the day features locals like Maria Carelli, the Harmed Brothers and Mike Oberst and Sean Geil of The Tillers mixed in with visiting artists like Willie Tea Taylor and Frontier Folk Nebraska. Venues include Ludlow Tavern, Bircus Brewery Ludlow Theatre, The Buffalo Bar, 2ND Sight Spirits and the Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home. Tickets are $25. 2 p.m. Feb. 25, Ludlow, ludlow.org. Photo: facebook.com/CabinFeverFestivalKy
Maple Fest at Cincinnati Nature Center 1-5 p.m. Feb. 25 According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the majority of sap flows from maple trees in March and a tree must be around 45 years old before it’s tapped for syrup. And did you know it takes an average of 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup? Luckily, The Cincinnati Nature Center is offering help with most of the heavy lifting. Saturday, the Nature Center will host Maple Fest, where you can collect sap, sample maple beer or participate in games and activities. Not to be sappy, but this would be a pretty sweet date. Tickets are $15 for adult members and $5 for member children; nonmember adults $21 and nonmember children are $11. 1-5p.m. Feb. 25. Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Rd., Milford, cincynature.org. Photo: facebook.com/CincyNature
Werque on Woodburn Drag Brunch Black History Month Celebration Noon Feb. 26 Werque on Woodburn’s special-edition brunch celebrates Black History Month with an all-Black cast. This drag brunch is hosted by Quasi with Mr. Fantastic on the tunes, and Gia Naturi, Alana Reign and Alexander Cameron with the moves. Noon Feb. 26. Woodburn Brewery, 2800 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills, woodburnbrewing.com. Photo: facebook.com/WoodburnBrewing
Cincinnati Home + Garden Show at Duke Energy Convention Center 10 a.m.-9 p.m Feb. 25 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 26 Duke Energy Convention Center is transforming into a garden showcase greenhouse this weekend. Indoor and outdoor inspiration presented by professional designers Sacksteder’s Interiors and Cincinnati’s top landscapers abounds during this special event for even the most hesitant green thumbs. Expect an appearance by Joe Mazza of HGTV’s Home Inspector Joe. Tickets are $15. 10 a.m.-9 p.m Feb. 25 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 26. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, cincinnatihomeandgardenshow.com. Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Home + Garden Show
Lunch & Learn: Black Art Speaks in Cincinnati at Taft Museum of Art Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 24 The Taft Museum of Art is hosting a lunch and learn in collaboration with Adoria Maxberry. The local artist and educator is the founder of Most OutGROWing LLC, an organization that aims to help people grow and develop their purpose through the arts. The educational lunch hour talk will discuss the culture of Black art in Cincinnati. While admission to the event is free, museum admission must be purchased separately. The optional boxed lunch is $10 for Taft Museum members and $15 for non-members. Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 24. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike Street, Downtown, taftmuseum.org. Photo: Kevin J. Watkins
Bockfest Beard and Mustache Competition at MVP Sports Bar & Grille 7 p.m. Feb. 25 Cincinnati’s annual Bockfest, a celebration of springtime, bock beer and goats, is back. In honor of Bockfest, MVP Sports Bar & Grille will be hosting a beard and mustache competition in collaboration with Sonder Brewing. The event will feature a special brew by Sonder, a live band and, most importantly, the competition. Registration will begin at 7 p.m., with the competition following at 8 p.m. The beard and mustache categories will be full beard under six inches, full beard over six inches, partial beard, mustache and creative beard. 7 p.m. Feb. 25. MVP Sports Bar & Grille, 6923 Plainfield Rd, Silverton, mvpbarandgrille.com. Photo: Furkandemir, Pixels