It's Super Bowl weekend, which means most Cincinnatians will be tailgating until Sunday. Bengals fever has swept the Queen City, so rest assured, you'll be able to find some place to drink and watch the game.
Here's a sampling of the festivities leading up to when the Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. (Note: This is by no means a comprehensive list.)
THURSDAY 10 (Kick-off bonus event)
Party Like It's 1989 on Fountain Square
Fountain Square is throwing a host of daily tailgate events leading up to the big game watch party on Sunday. Things kick-off with this 1980s-themed event featuring a DJ spinning tunes from the last time the Bengals were in the Super Bowl. Break out the leg warmers and Members Only jackets and crimp your hair. There will be hot and cold drinks, heaters and the ice rink is open (reservations required for the rink). There will also be parties on the square on Friday and Saturday night, with DJs and live music, and a daytime ice skate with Who Dey the mascot on Saturday morning. 4-9:30 p.m. Feb. 10. 520 Vine St., Downtown, myfountainsquare.com.
FRIDAY 11
Cheviot Pub Crawl
Cheviot renamed its streets in honor of this year's Bengals team and now the city is throwing a Super Bowl pub crawl and tailgate. Dress in your best Bengals gear and pick up a passport to take with you as you visit different Cheviot bars. Get stamped at each bar and get a T-shirt (while supplies last). Cheviot has a D.O.R.A. district, so drinking outside within those parameters (and following D.O.R.A. rules) is a-OK. The Cheviot Municipal Lot will also be open for tailgating, and the city says, "Bring your Bengals decorated cars, buses, and cornhole boards. We will have fire pits on site." 5-11 p.m. Feb. 11. Free admission. Downtown Cheviot, facebook.com.
SATURDAY 12
Cincinnati Bengaldog Parade
Dogs can show their Bengal pride at this parade through Over-the-Rhine. Hosted by the OTR Kennel Club, which also produces the OTR Rail Dog holiday parade, this festive occasion invites owners to dress their dogs in "their finest Bengals gear — caps, jerseys, helmets, 'bengal barrels,' etc." The procession will leave from Queen City Radio before heading to Washington Park and around OTR. After, grab German-style bites from the bar's Lübecker restaurant. Free dog treats will be available. 4 p.m. Feb. 12. Free. Queen City Radio, 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com.
Who Deyton Kickoff Party
Dayton, Kentucky — now known as Who Deyton through the Super Bowl — is hosting a neighborhood block part at Monument Park. Who Dey, the Bengals' mascot, will be there to celebrate the team with food, beer, games, DJs, photos and a Bengals "spirit-wear contest." The city has also printed its own vintage-styled "Greetings from Who Deyton, Kentucky" postcards, which will be for sale for $2, Proceeds benefit the Dayton Civic Activities Board. Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 12. Free. Monument Park, 709 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky, facebook.com.
Findlay Market transforms into the Cincy Jungle this weekend. There will be Bengals-themed fun for adults and kids, including an inflatable football toss, a photobooth with a Joe Burrow cut-out, live music, themed food and drinks and lots of orange-and-black merch. “We’re going to kill the kegs and we’re going to chant Who Dey all weekend long,” reads a release. Jane’s at Findlay Market will also have orange Jell-O shots and a special “WhoDey” cocktail on Sunday. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 12; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.
Big Game Brunch at Moerlein Lager House
Lay down a game day base layer during brunch at Moerlein Lager House. The restaurant will be serving up thematic bites, including a Burreaux breakfast burrito with eggs, chorizo, cheese and pico topped with black bean sauce, fire-roasted bell pepper puree and lime crema. Wash that down with a Burreaux Bloody Mary with Chase’r, a bloody mary with Cajun seasoning and a Sriracha shrimp and sausage skewer, plus a sidecar of Lager House light beer. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 12 and 13. Price per item. 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks, moerleinlagerhouse.com.
SUNDAY 13
Game Dey Party on Fountain Square
Pre-gaming starts at 1 p.m. with DJs and live music, plus drink specials and free face painting. The plaza will have heaters and seating, and the ice rink will be open for those who want to skate and watch the game (reservations required for the rink). Watch the Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams on the giant Fifth Third LED board. Fountain Square promises “celebratory music from DJ Etrayn and pyrotechnics throughout the game.” 1-11 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, myfountainsquare.com.
Game Day on the Levee
The Gallery and Bridgeview Box Park on the Levee are hosting a tailgate party before the big game. There will be live music, giant games, themed selfie spots and other photo ops, themed food and drink, balloon artists, face painting and more. Beeline, Brother's, the Wooden Cask, the Buzz and Rotolo will all be screening the game. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. Newport on the Levee, Newport, newportonthelevee.com.
The official Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber party zone, The Banks will be full of fun activities. Fans can enjoy the entire D.O.R.A. district, drinking and wandering while enjoying live music from What She Said and Audio Graffiti before the game. There will be four viewing stations set up at Freedom Way and the Schmidlapp Event Lawn. 2 p.m.-midnight Feb. 13. Free. The Banks, Downtown, facebook.com/TheBanksCincy.
Lunar New Year and Super Bowl Watch Party at OTR StillHouse
It's fitting that the Bengals are charging into the Super Bowl just as the Lunar New Year welcomes the Year of the Tiger. Asianati and OTR StillHouse have joined forces for this Bengals Super Bowl watch party featuring a Yuzu Bengal cocktail, bites from the bar's SQR kitchen and the big game played on the OTR StillHouse's "Big Wall." DJs Anicheng, Doboy, AstroPat and Monet will spin after the game. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Feb. 13. Free admission, but RSVP is available online. OTR StillHouse, 2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com. Super Bowl Party at Jerry's Jug House
Head to Jerry's Jug House for a grill-out and party. There will be smoked kielbasa, mini Skyline Chili dips, baked Italian subs and Bengals cotton candy. Get deals on domestic beers ($3) and cowboy shots ($4). They will also be serving up a special Bengals cotton candy cocktail. Bar opens 2 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 414 E. Seventh St., Newport, instagram.com.
Watch Party at Mecklenburg Gardens
Head to Mecklenburg's German-style bierhall to catch the game on multiple TVs. The bar will also have WhoDey Jell-O shots and Bengal bites and fries. 5-11 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. 302 E. University Ave., Corryville, facebook.com.
Watch Party at Rhinegeist
Rhinegeist will open at noon to get the party started. The game will be screened at the taproom with beer, drink specials, giveaways, "limited-edition Cincy football merch," activities and more. Noon-midnight Feb. 13. Free admission. 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com.
Watch Party at Braxton Brewing Co. Cincinnati and Covington
Head to Braxton's Pendleton or Covington taproom for cheap eats, beer and to watch the game. In Cincinnati, spring for $1 wings from Pendalo, snap a picture in a special Bengals-themed photobooth and enjoy drink specials. Covington will be offering the same thing, just with food from Parlor. The bar says they'll be playing the game on every TV. 3-11 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton, facebook.com.
Super SunDEY at Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge
This ticketed event includes food from Estrada Tales Catering. A $25 ticket includes snacks and a welcome cocktail; seating is first-come, first-served. Level up to a table for five for $250 and get a bottle of champagne. 5 p.m. doors Feb. 13. $25; $250. 1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, nostalgiaotr.com.
Rule the Taproom at MadTree
Watch the Bengals at MadTree. The brewing will be serving the "Rose Colored Glasses" cocktail, which include a free pair of rose-colored glasses (while supplies last). The game will screen on all the TVs and they'll be raffling off some swag. Of course, they'll have beer and pizza and wings from in-house Catch-A-Fire Pizza. 4-11 p.m. Feb. 13. Free admission. 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, facebook.com.
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