Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Summerfair Announces New Home After Coney Island Closure, But It's Not Moving Far

Summerfair will be held at Riverbend from Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 2.

Jan 22, 2024 at 12:33 pm

Summerfair Photo: Provided by Summerfair

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Beloved Cincinnati art show Summerfair is staying put after its location was in question following the closure of Coney Island.

In December, Coney Island announced it had sold its historic amusement park to Music & Event Management Inc. (MEMI), a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra that also operates the park’s neighbor Riverbend Music Center. MEMI said it would be demolishing the park to make way for a state-of-the-art music venue, which raised questions about Summerfair, which had been held at Coney Island for the majority of its nearly 60-year history. It was not immediately announced what would happen to the art show, and Summerfair wrote on social media that it would be seeking a new home.

MEMI Responds to Backlash Over Coney Island Closure: "We understand that any time change is intertwined with someone’s childhood and memories of growing up that it is sometimes not met with open arms."

However, it was announced Monday that Summerfair will be staying in the same area. Jayne Utter, the managing director of Summerfair, released the following statement:

“Summerfair Cincinnati and MEMI have reached an agreement to keep the largest annual art fair in Greater Cincinnati at Riverbend Park.”

Summerfair will take place Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 2 and is currently accepting artist applications in 10 categories: photography, painting, drawing/printmaking, wood, metal/sculpture, glass, ceramics, leather/fiber, jewelry and 2D/3D mixed media. Artists can submit applications here until Friday, Feb. 9.

Tickets to 2024’s show are already on sale, with single-day tickets at $10 or a weekend pass for $15. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Summerfair 2023 featured work from more than 325 juried artists, as well as regional performers and unique, gourmet food and drinks.

Consistently ranking in the top 25 U.S. fine art and design shows, Summerfair supports artists and small arts organizations through scholarships, awards and exhibitions. Considered as one of the top five best Midwest art fairs by ArtFairCalendar.com, the art show has given more than $2 million to the regional arts community in its nearly six-decade history.

Riverbend, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. More info on Summerfair: summerfair.org.

Slideshow

32 Greater Cincinnati Activities to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

Put on Your Dancing Shoes for Salsa on the Square520 Vine St., DowntownBust out your best moves or learn how to salsa every Thursday night at Fountain Square during the summer. Salsa on the Square is free and features live local and regional Latin bands that specialize in salsa, merengue, cumbia and Latin jazz. There are also two large dance classes to help you get the moves down, and Mazunte is there to serve up tacos, tostados and guacamole. For a refreshing drink after all the dancing, grab a margarita at Fountain Square’s full-service bar.

Meet Fritz and the Other Babies at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden3400 Vine St., AvondaleA stroll through the zoo grounds may be the perfect thing to do this summer in Cincinnati. Kids, teens and adults alike can enjoy viewing all the many animals and botanicals throughout the facility. You can see some of the newest additions to the zoo, like Fiona’s baby brother Fritz, Larkin the penguin chick and a pair of adorable bat-eared fox kits. Plus, see if you can spot the baby bumps on Lightning the sloth and Stevie the bongo.

Hit a Beach Within Driving Distance of CincinnatiOhio may not be on a coast, but don't let that fool you — we have plenty of breezy beach options for when the water is calling your name. Yes, they may be on a lake or riverfront, but they check most of our boxes when we're in need of a little sand between our toes, sunshine on our skin and a cool, refreshing dip in the water. Follow the link to find some beachy inspiration.

Catch a Reds Game and Chow Down on the New Eats100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The BanksGreat American Ball Park debuted a slate of new snacks for the 2023 season, including a Cheeseburger Frybox (hamburger topped with nacho cheese, iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing served on French fries) and the vegetarian-friendly Curve Ball (veggie burger topped with iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing served on a brioche bun). And that’s only some of the many new menu items you’ll find throughout the ball park. Eat up because if the Reds are losing, you’ll at least leave the ball park with a full stomach.

Take a Journey Downriver in a Kayak or CanoeThe Queen City boasts many canoeing and kayaking spots, plus some road trip-worthy locations within a few hour's drive – all perfect for floating a weekend away. Check with each business about reservations, specific rental fees and what you can and can’t bring with you. (We’re looking at you, ca-brewers). If you’re searching for a little more of an aquatic adventure, the 22nd annual Paddlefest on the Ohio River is happening Aug. 5. Paddlefest is open to kayaks, canoes and standup paddleboards, as well as participants of all paddling experience levels. Motorized boat traffic will be prohibited on the river during this time, making for smooth paddling, and you can choose between the full 9-mile route or a 4.5-mile route.

Dine and Drink Al Fresco at a Bar or RestaurantSweet, sweet summertime is upon us, which means it's time to figure out which local rooftop bars and restaurant patios you should plan to visit for all your breezy sunshine and noshing needs. And this year, we're taking the guesswork out of the equation. Visit the link above to see some of the best places to dine and drink al fresco in the Cincinnati area.

Watch a Dazzling Display of Fireworks on the Fourth of July or Camp Out for the WEBN / Western & Southern’s FireworksIt wouldn’t be summer if you didn’t take the time to watch at least one fireworks show. Cincinnati’s skies will be decked out in all kinds of colors as Fourth of July celebrations take place. Some of the most popular include Red, White & Blue Ash (also featuring concert headliner Collective Soul); Coney Island’s Balloon Glow; Fourth of July at Kings Island; Red, White and BOOM with Cincinnati Pops at Riverbend and numerous community events. And if you just can’t get enough fireworks, don’t forget about Cincinnati’s big end-of-summer bash Riverfest and the WEBN / Western & Southern Fireworks. Just make sure you grab your spot early and respect the blanket-claiming process.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...