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Spring is near, which means Bockfest is here. This weekend is full of season-changing hope and events. The 32nd annual Servatii Bockfest is bringing fun to Over-the-Rhine, independent ice cream shops are celebrating opening days and the Frogman Festival is back for its second year in a row. Scroll down for more of our weekend picks.
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.
32nd Annual Servatii Bockfest
When: March 1-3
Where: Over-the-Rhine’s Brewery District
What: A Cincinnati tradition that celebrates spring, local brewery heritage and Bock beer.
Who: Bockfest and tons of participating venues and businesses
Why: There are events for all Bock beer enthusiasts, including the famous Bockfest parade, a run, live music and food. Photo: Provided by Steven Hampton of the OTR Brewery DistrictCincinnati Off-Road Alliance Bike and Trail Expo
When: March 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: MadTree Brewing, Oakley
What: A gathering of outdoor and cycling enthusiasts showcase Cincinnati’s trail infrastructure and information about the outdoor recreation community.
Who: Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance
Why: Check out CityBeat’s preview of the event here. Photo: instagram.com/coramtbFrogman Festival
When: March 2 from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Oasis Conference Center, Loveland
What: A celebration of the Loveland Frogman, the 4-foot-tall cryptid who lives in the Little Miami River.
Who: Frogman Festival and participating vendors.
Why: There will also be a screening of the movie Frogman the night before the festival and immediately following the event. Check out CityBeat’s preview of the event here. Photo: Katie GriffithPhoto: Kellie ColemanThe Tillers Live Recording
When: March 2 at 8 p.m. & March 3 at 5 p.m.
Where: Southgate House Revival, Newport
What: The Tillers record live in front of an audience.
Who: The Tillers
Why: The Tillers are Cincinnati’s folk icons. Photo: facebook.com/thetillersHike with a shelter dog
When: March 3 from 9-11 a.m.
Where: League for Animal Welfare, Batavia
What: A chance to walk and entertain a shelter dog.
Who:League for Animal Welfare
Why: Give a shelter dog a walk, a sense of companionship and a fun morning outside. Photo: Taylor McLaganSlow Wine + Tapas
When: March 3 from 2-4 p.m.
Where: Taste on Elm, Ludlow, Ky.
What: Wine and tapas tasting.
Who: Slow Food Cincinnati
Why: The perfect slow Sunday activity with Slow Food Cincinnati. Photo: facebook.com/tasteonelmSee Some Costumes from Jane Austin Adaptations at the Newly-Restored Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike St., Downtown
The Taft Museum of Art is celebrating its 200th anniversary with a full-scale restoration project. They closed for a few months in the spring of 2022 and are reopening in June with an amazing new exhibit. From June 11-Sept. 4, the museum will present Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility, a special exhibition that features costumes worn by Hollywood celebrities in film and television adaptations of Austen’s novels. The costumes are journeying across the Atlantic from Cosprop LTD, an award-winning British costume house based in London, to the Taft to be displayed in North America for the first time. Photo: Kevin J. WatkinsThe Lil Goodie Shoppe
7120 Eagle Creek Road, Colerain Township
Open in 1983, The Lil Goodie Shoppe has been run by three generations of women from the Anderson family. Their turtle sundae is a dream come true, and they have an extensive list of ingredients you can add to your flurry, including classic candies like M&Ms, Reese’s Cups and Butterfingers, as well as real fruit. Among their specialty items, you’ll find an adorable clown cup – soft serve topped with rainbow sprinkles, candy eyes and ears and a cone hat on top – as well as a strawberry shortcake, banana split and a classic parfait. Photo: facebook.com/lilgoodieshoppeZip Dip
4050 Drew Ave., Westwood
Zip Dip literally shines like a beacon of light through the dark — the iconic neon lightning bolt adorning the roof is unmistakable. It was added to the building in 1951 and has been guiding customers through summer heat waves to ice cream salvation ever since.
What to order: Everyone loves a classic. The top-seller here is a basic small cone with a twist, but scrap the whole chocolate and vanilla idea. Zip Dip serves an orange and vanilla twist that will make you forget you ever wanted anything else. If you’re looking for more, Zip Dip has a whole heap of ice cream selections from chipwiches to sugar-free yogurt to banana boat parfaits. Those who prefer to drink their ice cream should skip the shakes and opt for a malt instead.
Photo: Jesse Fox Photo: Jesse FoxEverything for Kids Sale
When: March 2 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Notre Dame Academy, Fort Mitchell, Ky.
What: Sale of gently used baby and children clothing, accessories and toys.
Who: Northern Kentucky Mothers of Multiples
Why: New clothes and toys are necessary for when the seasons change, so create less waste by buying goods that are gently used and save money. Photo: facebook.com/EverytingKidsSaleAvant-Garde Art & Craft Show
When: March 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: RSVP Event Center, Loveland
What: Arts and crafts show.
Who: Avant Garde Art & Craft Show
Why: A portion of proceeds benefit local nonprofit Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank. Photo: Meg Wagener, Unsplash
Katie Griffith is CityBeat’s arts and culture reporter. She proudly hails from the West Side of Cincinnati and studied journalism at the University of Cincinnati. After freelancing for CityBeat for many...
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