Friday, July 22
Cincy Soul: The Black Taste at Fountain Square
The Cincy Soul: The Black Taste festival will bring over 75 Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers and vendors to Fountain Square. The festival offers “an opportunity to learn and experience diverse African-American cultures, heritage and traditions through visual performance arts, cultural displays and demonstrations,” according to the event’s website. There will also be live performances from Raekwon, Dave Hollister and Speed Walton. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. July 22; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. July 23; noon-10 p.m. July 24. Free admission. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, cincysoulblacktaste.com. (Lindsay Wielonski)
Cincinnati Music Festival at Paul Brown Stadium
The Cincinnati Music Festival, headlined by Janet Jackson and Charlie Wilson, will return after being postponed multiple times due to COVID-19. An opening night performance by Ari Lennox will take place at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on July 21. The rest of the events will occur at Paul Brown Stadium. July 21-23. Times vary. Tickets start at $60 for Friday and Saturday. 1 Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown, cincymusicfestival.com. Read CityBeat’s preview of the festival. (LW)
Festival513 on Freedom Way
The 16th-annual Festival513 will return this weekend as part of the Cincinnati Music Festival. The event will include nearly 100 food and merchandise vendors, intended for visitors of the Cincinnati Music Festival to enjoy. The festival will be stationed on Freedom Way at Elm Street, directly in front of the Cincinnati Music Festival at Paul Brown Stadium. July 22-23. Times vary. Free. Freedom Way, Downtown, festival513.com. (Lauren Serge)
The Band’s Visit at the Aronoff Center for the Arts
Based on the Israeli film of the same name, the touring company of Broadway hit The Band’s Visit has made its way to Cincinnati. The popular musical has impressed audiences since its debut, winning a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2019 and 10 Tony Awards in 2018. 8 p.m. July 22; 2 and 8 p.m. July 23; 1 and 6:30 p.m. July 24. Tickets start at $34. 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Read CityBeat’s story about the show. (LW)
Price Hill Will Creative Community Festival at ARCO
The seventh Price Hill Will Creative Community Festival will bring a celebration of art to the Cincinnati community. The block party — sponsored by the nonprofit Price Hill Will neighborhood group — will feature music from students of MyCincinnati’s Youth Orchestra, providing a score for a silent film about Price Hill, plus African drummers and dancers and other local musicians. Food trucks and family-friendly activities will also be on-site. 5-9 p.m. July 22 and July 23. Free admission. ARCO, 3301 Price Ave., Price Hill, pricehillwill.org. (LS)
Sunset Skate at Sawyer Point
Roller rinks seem to be the new trend in Cincinnati, with a pop-up happening multiple times this summer at Court Street Plaza. But the new 21-and-up Sunset Skate at Sawyer Point series is a more permanent fixture located at the park’s outdoor rink, which opened in 1988 during Cincinnati’s Bicentennial Celebration. According to the park, it is “one of the largest waterfront skating rinks in the United States with four times the skatable surface of a regulation rink.” The rink operated until 2005 and is reopening this summer, complete with ice cream, beer, DJs and live music. The first skate party takes place this weekend and features DJ Sneaks. More adult skate events take place throughout the summer. There is no skate rental, so bring your own gear. 6-9 p.m. July 22. Free admission. Outdoor Skating Rink behind the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, 925 Riverside Drive, Downtown, cincinnatiparksfoundation.org. (Staff)
Frisch’s Pop-Up Roller Rink at the Andrew J Brady Music Center
Frisch’s mobile pop-up roller rink will be celebrating the dedication of the Black Music Walk of Fame with a weekend-long roller skating party, held outside the Andrew J Brady Music Center. Rent a pair of skates for $5 or bring you own. Reservations are not required. Frisch’s mobile roller rink is popping up around downtown all summer to celebrate the local chain’s 75th anniversary. 4-8 p.m. July 22; noon-6 p.m. July 23. $2 admission. Andrew J Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown, facebook.com/mobilerollerrink. (Staff)
Saturday, July 23
Findlay Market’s 170th Birthday Bash
In honor of Findlay Market’s 170th birthday, the market will host a day full of celebratory activities. Live music, fundraisers, a free-but-ticketed history panel, a night-market and a cake-cutting ceremony with Mayor Pureval will be among the celebrations. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. July 23. Free admission to the market. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org. Read CityBeat’s story about the event. (LW)
Black Music Walk of Fame Induction at the Andrew J Brady Music Center
The Black Music Walk of Fame will make its debut, recognizing the musical works of Black artists in the Hamilton County and Southeastern Ohio area. The grand opening will feature an induction and dedication ceremony with live performances, honoring the first eight inductees with their respective stars. The walk will be located outside the Andrew J Brady Music Center. All inductees for 2022 will be present at the ceremony, except for the late jazz guitarist Wilbert Longmire. The debut event will kickstart the Walk of Fame location as a spot to honor Black musicians and their impact on various musical genres as well as their connection to the Cincinnati area. Noon-3 p.m. July 23. Andrew J Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown, cincyblackmusicwalkoffame.org. Read CityBeat’s coverage of the Black Music Walk of Fame’s debut. (LS)
CMF Outdoor Museum at Washington Park
Held in conjunction with this weekend’s Cincinnati Music Festival, ArtsWave is putting together a special outdoor museum to display “works from 15 local artists of color, all focused on the theme of ‘Feels like CMF,’” reads a release. The artists will be creating responsive works in real time, with five attending festivities at Paul Brown Stadium and capturing what they see and 10 painting en plein air at Washington Park. The public can watch artists at work on Saturday at the park and paint their own rocks. Artwork will remain on view through August at Washington Park. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 23. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artswave.org/outdoormuseum. (Staff)
Taproom Record Fair at Rhinegeist
Rhinegeist and Colemine Records are collaborating to host a record fair at Rhinegist’s Taproom. Over 10 vinyl vendors will set up shop at the fair, selling their special vinyl collections. While browsing the records, guests can also eat tacos from Mazunte and drink local craft beer. Noon-5 p.m. July 23. Free admission. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com. Read CityBeat’s story about the record fair. (LS)
Reds vs. Cardinals at Great American Ball Park
The Cincinnati Reds will play the St. Louis Cardinals in a home game as part of this weekend’s series that begins on Friday. Vintage 1960s-style Reds bobbleheads will be given out first-come, first-served to ticketed patrons while supplies last, courtesy of the Reds’ “Super Saturday” giveaways. St. Vincent de Paul will also be on hand to collect canned goods as part of the nonprofit’s Strike Out Hunger initiative. Bring three non-perishable food items to donate and get a ticket to a future Reds game. 6:40 p.m. July 23. Tickets start at $16. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, reds.com. (LW)
Sunday, July 24
Cincinnati Night Live at Clifton Comedy Theatre
The weekly late-night comedy show, Cincinnati Night Live, returns to feature new guest hosts, musical guests, news segments and sketch comedy, localizing the popular Saturday Night Live show to Cincinnati tastes. This week’s host and musical guest is Tatiana Godfrey. 10-11 p.m. July 24. Continues weekly through July 30. $10. Clifton Comedy Theater, 404 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, improvcincinnati.com. (LS)
Maine Lobster Bake at Wyoming Meat Market
The Wyoming Meat Market is hosting its first annual Maine Lobster Bake, featuring a traditional Maine lobster meal. Attendees can feast on a whole lobster, petite wagyu filet, steamed mussels, corn, potatoes and blueberry pie at the meat market’s outdoor seating. 6-8 p.m. July 24. Tickets $79 per person. Wyoming Meat Market, 513 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, facebook.com. (LS)
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