It’s almost the weekend, Cincinnati. Hang in there. There’s plenty to look forward to, like Gorman Heritage Farm’s Sunflower Festival. As always, Cincinnati has several art shows around town this weekend, including Essex Studio’s Artwalk. Check out Newport Aquarium after hours or a monarch butterfly event at the Cincinnati Zoo. Roebling Point Books and Coffee has a special Banned Books Week event and there are a few film festivals back in circuit. Scroll down to check out a full list of recommendations.

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.

Essex Studios’ Fall Artwalk When: Oct. 6 & 7 from 6-10 p.m. Where: Essex Studios, Walnut Hills What: Art show featuring resident artists and new, local artists. Who: Members of the studio and participating artists. Why: Artists open their studios for guests to walk through. See the process and meet the people behind the art. The studios represent all kinds of artists like screen printers, jewelers, sculptors, painters, actors and so much more. Photo: Facebook: Essex Studio
Wyoming’s 150th Celebration When: May 31 from 6-9 p.m. Where: Wyoming’s Village Green, Wyoming What: Wyoming celebrates its 150th anniversary with live music, food, horse-drawn carriage rides and more. Who: Wyoming, Ohio Why: Celebrate Wyoming’s unique heritage. Photo: provided by Emily Dengler
Photo: Casey Roberts
ArtLocal Art Show When: Oct. 6 from 7-10 p.m. & Oct. 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: The Grove Event Center, Winton Woods What: A two-day celebration of the arts. Who: ArtsConnect and participating artists. Why: For the art show, the event center is adopting a theme described as a modern spin on the Jazz Age. Photo: Facebook: Arts Connect
Archaeological Research Institute & Oxbow Adventure Trek When: Oct. 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Dearborn County Fairgrounds, Lawrenceburg What: A 5K race that benefits local nonprofits. Who: Archaeological Research Institute & Oxbow Why: Usually, events like this are on a paved road in the middle of a city, but this one is an off-road trek. The terrain is described as “flat,” but you’ll get the chance to roam around in nature for a good cause. Photo: Miguel A. Amutio via Unsplash
Gorman Heritage Farm’s Sunflower Festival When: Oct. 7 & 8 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: Gorman Heritage Farm, Blue Ash What: Acres and acres of “cut-your-own sunflowers,” food, drinks, vendors, hay rides and more. Who: Gorman Heritage Farm Why: Check out our article to learn more about the festival. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Mount Airy Forest 5083 Colerain Ave., Westwood “Mount Airy is the heart and soul of hiking for Cincinnati Parks because it has so many trails,” says Explore Nature’s Ruthann Spears. “It’s a historical, man-made forest that can only evoke gravitas.” Red Oak Trail is 1 mile long and is the primary artery cutting through the western woods of the park. Many other trails stem from Red Oak, namely Ponderosa, a 3-mile trail, and Beechwood, a 1.3-mile trail. Runners often compile the Beechwood, Quarry and Red Oak Trails into a 7.5-mile jogging loop. All are considered intermediate. Want a challenge? The Stone Steps is a strenuous 90-stair uphill climb that runners often tackle. For an easier alternative, there’s the 1.75-mile Treehouse Trail, which starts at Everybody’s Treehouse, the park’s wheelchair-accessible hidden gem wooden treehouse. Although Mount Airy Forest’s trails are numerous, all of them delve deep into a forest of woods and wildlife. The sheer size — a whopping 1,500 acres — is breathtaking. Both standing and fallen trees span for miles and miles, accompanied by a bed of shimmering, silver-gold leaves leftover from winter. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 3: Roebling Point Books & Coffee 306 Greenup St., Covington As the name suggests Roebling Point, is both an indie bookstore and community coffee shop. Owner Richard Hunt likes to refer to it as a “third place” — that space that isn’t work or home but feels just as comfortable. Roebling Point has created its niche by providing fair-trade, organic coffee in addition to books and by sharing profound quotes on the chalkboards on the building’s exterior. Multiple rooms house a customer-influenced book inventory. Fiction and non-fiction works rest among local authors, poetry, children’s books and a handful of classics. Photo: Francisco Huerta Photo: Francisco Huerta
Barkaritaville When: Oct. 7 from 1-4 p.m. Where: Fifty West Brewing Co., Mariemont What: A fundraiser with the mission, “no Schnauzer left behind.” Who: Schnauzer Rescue Cincinnati Why: Dogs and alcoholic beverages. Why not? Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall 3715 Madison Road, Oakley Oakley Kitchen Food Hall is a warehouse-style assortment of casual food and drink stands with enough space and variety to accommodate the hungry masses.The first floor of what had been an antique mall houses more than a half-dozen separate eateries and an excellent bar, while the second floor is reserved for seating. In the evenings, enough people come to fill up two or three nearby parking lots. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
A Happening with Pablo at the Cincinnati Art Museum 6-11p.m. June 23 Be one of the first to experience the brand new exhibit Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds. Take in this exciting new piece while enjoying an immersive experience that includes music from the Bluewater Kings Band, cocktails and rare menu items, both inside and outside in the Alice Bimel Courtyard. Proceeds will go to youth and family programs and thousands of free public programs both in the museum and the Greater Cincinnati area. 6-11p.m. June 23. 953 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills. cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photo: facebook.com/cincinnatiartmuseum
Eclipse enthusiasts say “no photograph can capture the stunning beauty of a total solar eclipse, you must see it for yourself.” Photo: Drew Rae, Pexels
Cincinnati Walk to End Alzheimer’s When: Oct. 7, Gates open at 8:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m. Where: Sawyer Point Park, Downtown What: A fundraising and awareness walk. Who: Cincinnati Walk to End Alzheimer’s Why: The walk supports the association’s free educational programs and support groups, Alzheimer’s care services and advancements in treatment and research, according to a press release. Photo: provided by Cincinnati Walk to End Alzheimer's
Fireworks Party + Drag Brunch Sept. 2 & 3 Newport’s 16 Lots is hosting Newport on the Levee’s first-ever Pride event in conjunction with Riverfest activities this weekend. The brewery’s Labor Day weekend party kicks off Saturday with a drag brunch at 10 a.m. with 16 Lot’s brunch fare, mimosas and Bloody Mary bar. The fun continues Sunday at 4 p.m., with a Riverfest fireworks watch party on the brewery’s deck. Tickets for the watch party include all-you-can-eat food, discounted parking and live music. Sept. 2 and 3. 16 Lots Southern Outpost, 1 Levee Way, Newport, 16lots.com. Photo: facebook.com/16 Lots Southern Outpost
Season 10 and Blood Chill Double Album Release Party When: Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Where: The Woodward Theater, Over-the-Rhine What: Album release party. Who: Local bands Black Surfboards, Bershy, Season Ten and Blood Chill Why: Awesome music with great vibes. MOTR Pub (across the street) is also offering $2 off of any sandwich with proof of event ticket purchase. Photo: Facebook: Season 10
Final Weekend of Monsters of The American Cinema When: Showings Friday, Saturday & Sunday Where: The Know Theatre, Over-the-Rhine What: A play that explores magical realism, classic monster movies, queerness and loss. Who: Written by Christian St. Croix. Cast: Andrew Ian Adams as Remy & Grant Zentmeyer as Pup Why: “Fathers and sons. Race and queerness. And the monsters inside us all.” Photo: facebook.com/knowtheatre
Yellow Springs Film Festival When: Oct. 6,7 & 8 Where: Yellow Springs What: “A 3 day, walkable experience,” in the heart of Yellow Springs that features film screenings and debuts and opportunities to interact with creators and actors. Who: Yellow Springs Film Festival Why: It will be Yellow Springs’ inaugural film fest. Photo: Denise Jans via Unsplash
“Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” Standup Tour When: Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. Where: Taft Theatre, Downtown What: NPR’s news quiz and comedy show panelists do standup. Who: Hosted by Alonzo Bodden and featuring Adam Burke, Josh Gondelman and Maeve Higgins Why: Get to know the panelists of one of the funniest news roundup/quiz shows on air. Photo: Facebook: Taft Theatre
Monarch Festival When: Oct. 7 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden What: An educational event about monarch butterflies and the Zoo’s Pollen Nation program, which deals with the topic of pollinator conservation. Who: Presented by Simple Truth Why: Butterfly costumes are encouraged. Photo: Kenneth Dwain Harrelson
Cincinnati World Cinema Screening of Black Barbie When: Oct 6. at 7 p.m. & Oct. 7 & 8 at 4 p.m. Where: Garfield Theatre, Downtown What: Documentary screening Who: Directed by Lagueria Davis Why: This film documents the debut of Mattel’s Black Barbie in 1980, which occurred 21 years after Barbie’s introduction. Photo: Facebook: Garfield Theatre
Contemporary Arts Center’s Annual Gala When: Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. Where: Contemporary Arts Center, Downtown What: CAC’s annual gala featuring entertainment, a benefit auction and exhibition viewing. Who: Contemporary Arts Center Why: The most entertaining (and fun!) way to raise money for the CAC. Photo: Scott Beseler

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...