14 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Sept. 9-11)

Friday, Sept. 9

HorrorHound Weekend
It is guaranteed to be a weekend of screams as HorrorHound brings a packed slate of stars, film screenings, panels, podcasts, costume contests and more to the Sharonville Convention Center. Movie and TV celebrities scheduled to appear include Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Anthony Michael Hall, Keith David,  Milly Shapiro and more, with entire reunions dedicated to the stars of the original Hocus Pocus and The Thing. You can also expect to see several favorites from the Walking Dead franchise. Photo-op tickets are available online in advance and the line-up is subject to change. 5-10 p.m. Sept. 9; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 10; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 11. $35 door Friday; $45 door Saturday; $40 door Sunday; $80 door weekend-pass. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, horrorhoundweekend.com.

Harvest Home Fair
Nicknamed the "biggest little fair in Ohio," this wholesome West Side festival has roots dating back to 1806. A weekend of rides, games, music, animal exhibits and various displays kicks off with a parade on Thursday.  Hundreds of floats and marching bands will proceed around the streets of Cheviot, ending at Harvest Home Park. Other special events slated for the weekend include a 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings vintage baseball game and artisan craft market. 6-10 p.m. Sept. 8; 5-11 p.m. Sept. 9; noon-11 p.m. Sept. 10; noon-8 p.m. Sept. 11. $5 adults Friday-Sunday; free for children 12 and under, veterans and first responders. Harvest Home Park, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot, harvesthomefair.com.

Covington Oktoberfest
Braxton Brewing Co. is hosting this Oktoberfest bash in Covington. Tapping into MainStrasse's German roots and a local history that dates back to 1979, this event at Goebel Park promises food, beer, live music and art. 5-11 p.m. Sept. 9; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 10; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 11. Free admission. Goebel Park, Covington, facebook.com/braxtonbrewingcompany.

Hamilton at the Aronoff Center
A touring company of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s blockbuster Broadway hit, Hamilton, is in Cincinnati for a second appearance at the Aronoff Center. The show that tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton has created a revolutionary moment in theater. It’s a tale of our nation from more than two centuries ago, but told by America now. A cast of 19 — almost all Black and brown performers — is propelled by a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Hamilton has had a profound affect on culture and politics well beyond most Broadway musicals. Through Oct. 2. Tickets start at $59. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org. Read CityBeat's story about Hamilton's return.

Pride Night at Kings Island
RuPaul's Drag Race stars join Cincinnati favorites for Pride Night at Kings Island. Kameron Michaels, Laganja Estranja and Pangina Heals will headline the evening with a local co-hosts Brooklyn Steele-Tate and Jessica Dimon. Alexander Cameron, Kiara Chimera, Lexi Love and Amaya Sexton will also take the stage. A meet and greet will follow the show at the Festhaus, which starts at 8 p.m. Bring tip money. 6 p.m.-midnight Sept. 9. $43. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, cincinnatipride.org.

Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival
The 23rd Art & Wine Festival at Vinoklet Winery promises a weekend of the titular art and wine, plus food, art and live music. Bands including Second Wind, Vernon McIntyre & Appalachian Grass and Eden will play throughout the weekend. Make reservations in advance to enjoy the on-site restaurant, or snag tickets to grab hot dogs, burgers and more from food booths. There will be more than 40 different art vendors to shop while you sip and stroll. 5:30-11 p.m. Sept. 9; noon-11 p.m. Sept. 10; noon-8 p.m. Sept. 12. Free admission; purchase tickets for food and wine tastings. Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township, vinokletwines.com.

Cincinnati Ballet's Kaplan New Works Series
The ballet kicks off the season with the Kaplan New Works Series, featuring new choreographed pieces from Cincinnati Ballet dancers and others. The production includes premieres from Daniel Baldwin, corps de ballet dancer; Taylor Carrasco, corps de ballet dancer; and Melissa Gelfin De-Poli, principal dancer; all of whom have choreographed for the Cincinnati Ballet before. Local DANCEFIX fitness class founder and New Works favorite choreographer Heather Britt also returns with a new work for the company. The final work on the bill is a Cincinnati premiere from award-winning English choreographer Cathy Marston. Through Sept. 18. Tickets start at $58.80. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cballet.org. Read CityBeat's story about the ballet's new Artistic Director, Jodie Gates.

32nd Annual Vintage Motorcycle Rally
The Classic British Motorcycle Club of Cincinnati is hosting its annual vintage rally at the Boone County Fairgrounds. The weekend-long event will feature a bike show of British, European, American, Japanese and custom builds, with a special area dedicated to what the event calls "new modern classics" and awards for best bikes. There will also be a swap meet, food trucks, live music and plenty of motorcycle-related vendors. Keep an eye out for a raffle and a group ride on Saturday. Proceeds benefit local charities. Noon-6 p.m. Sept. 9; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 10;  7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 11. $7 per day; $10 weekend; free 12 and under. Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, cincybritishbikes.com.

Saturday, Sept. 10

Ohio is for Lovers Festival at Riverbend
Those who spent a formative part of their youth head-banging to emo and pop punk acts at festivals like Warped Tour and Rock on the Range will have a chance to relive their glory days this summer. This weekend, Hawthorne Heights, a Dayton, Ohio-based act considered to be one of the emo rock forefathers, is hosting the Ohio is for Lovers festival. Others slated to appear include Motion City Soundtrack, New Found Glory, Bayside, Senses Fail, Descendents and more. 11 a.m. doors Sept. 10. $83.75. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Road, California, riverbend.org. Read CityBeat's story about Ohio is for Lovers.

Cincinnati Rollergirls vs. Vette City Roller Derby at the Cintas Center
It's been more than two and a half years since Cincinnatians have seen some hard-hitting roller derby action, but the wait is finally over: The Cincinnati Rollergirls (CRG) are ready to return to the rink. After taking a pandemic-related hiatus, the CRG have announced two fall games — one at the Cintas Center at Xavier University on Sept. 10 and one at Sports Plus in Evendale on Oct. 8. This weekend's game sees the girls pitted against Bowling Green, Kentucky's Vette City Roller Derby. Doors open 5 p.m. Sept. 10. $15 advance adults; $20 door; $5 advance ages 3-12; $7 door ages 3-12. Cintas Center, 1624 Musketeer Drive, Xavier University, cincinnatirollergirls.com. Read CityBeat's story about the return of the Cincinnati Rollergirls.

Cincinnati Moon Festival
The Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association is hosting the Cincinnati Moon Festival on Fountain Square. Celebrate this traditional mid-autumn Chinese fest with family-friendly activities, displays and performances to celebrate Chinese culture. There will also be special food and an appearance by Jason Chu.  The GCCCEA says Chu will present a "concert that combines music with storytelling about the Asian American experiences." 3-8 p.m. Sept. 10. Free admission. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, gcccea.org.

Lantern Lighting Ceremony at Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
Honor loved ones and take part in a community-wide celebration of remembrance. The annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony will feature music from the Pete Wagner Orchestra, and an opportunity to personal lanterns to send a "unique message of love, peace and hope into the world and to those we love and have lost," per Spring Grove. The lanterns will be fitted with candles and floated out on Willow Water Lake. The event recommends participants bring their own seating (chairs, blankets, etc.). Food will be available. Please leave your pets at home. 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 10. Free admission. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, springgrove.org.

Sunday, Sept. 11

Second Sunday on Main
This Over-the-Rhine neighborhood block party features a theme of "Sustain on Main" this month. Along with live music, dance performances, a parade and the usual slew of vendors, crafters and a biergarten, the theme will play out with a focus on local green and sustainable businesses. In partnership with Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, attendees can expect a food rescue showdown as local chefs show tasty ways to reduce food waste in a friendly competition. There will also be a "water bark" for dogs, with a wading pool, fire hydrant-style sprayer and a dog-activated water fountain. Noon-5 p.m. Sept. 11. Free admission. Main Street, Over-the-Rhine, secondsundayonmain.org.

Refuge: Needing, Seeking, Creating Shelter at the 21c Museum Hotel
This new exhibit features work from more than 50 global artists, including Nick Cave, JR, Hew Locke, Glenda León, Mohau Modisakeng, Emily Hanako Momohara and more. According to a description, the work combines "realism and fantasy, the mythical and the mundane, in images and objects that highlight humanity’s shared vulnerability," as it relates to the idea of shelter. “In a world increasingly defined by the movement of migrant populations, survival may primarily depend upon human ingenuity and empathy,” says 21c Chief Curator Alice Gray Stites in a release. “As works by Locke, Cave, JR, and others propose, transcending differences and divisions and embracing our common humanity will ensure a better future for all.” Through July 2023. Free admission. 21c Museum Hotel, 609 Walnut St., Downtown, 21cmuseumhotels.com.

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