A new festival celebrating Cincinnati’s unique culture, community and creatives is launching this May.
Mind the Midwest, a boutique events production agency, will put on the inaugural Cincy Knows Best x 513 Day Festival across several venues in Walnut Hills from Saturday to Monday, May 11-13. The immersive arts and culture festival aims to honor Cincinnati’s rich history, showcase local talent and embrace the city’s cultural diversity, say organizers.
Cincy Knows Best will showcase talent across five pillars: art, music, history, culture and cuisine, providing a platform for local historians, artists, designers, chefs and creatives alike. Planned programs for Cincy Knows Best include a group art exhibition, fireside chats and live music.
The festival will also drive revenue to local businesses and activate foot traffic in Walnut Hills, as well as provide data for continued development efforts.
“Cincinnati is a special place and Cincy Knows Best Fest x 513 Day is our attempt at making that known to the world. We’re setting out to add to the list of platforms for local talent to shine,'' Antonio Wooten, founder and CEO of Mind The Midwest, said in a press release. “It’s up to us to keep our name in the conversation about metropolitan cities developing, promoting and advancing the careers of local talent.”
Organizers say they are committed to making the festival an inclusive space, aiming to bring in an intergenerational audience and planning accommodations for those with disabilities and limited technology access through their Accessibility Coordinators.
“We are excited to create an inclusive space where everyone can come together to appreciate and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Cincinnati during the festival,” they said in the release.
Mind the Midwest is also working with partners and advisors, like Black Art Speaks, Cincy Nice, MORTAR, Soul Palette and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, and collaborators like Valley Folk Studios. Organizers say they also are remaining accountable to the Walnut Hills community by participating in community council meetings and hosting an information session on the festival Saturday, March 30 at the Walnut Hills branch library (2533 Kemper Lane) at 11 a.m.
For more information on the Cincy Knows Best Festival, visit cincyknowsbest.com.
