Eat an Oktoberfest chicken, swim the Ohio River or "FastForward" to the future at the Contemporary Arts Center's dance party and fundraiser. Or adopt a ton of puppies.
FRIDAY, AUG. 27
Germania Society's BIG Biergarten Experience
Instead of hosting a traditional Oktoberfest weekend, the Germania Society of Cincinnati is making things bigger with a "BIG Biergarten Experience" spread out over two weekends. Enjoy all the typical gemütlichkeit you've come to expect, plus eight German beers on tap, tons of German-style food (including Oktoberfest chicken), live music, carnival rides and German merchandise. Germania's Oktoberfest event is slated to return in 2022. 6-11 p.m. Aug. 27; 2-11 p.m. Aug. 28; noon-7 p.m. Aug. 29. $5; $10 parking. Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain, germaniasociety.com.
Canines & Wine at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
Pyramid Hill's Canines & Wine happy hour returns with another collaboration with Animal Friends Humane Society. The pet-friendly adoption event and Humane Society fundraiser invites guests to bring their pup to enjoy a walk around the 330-acre park, live music by Your Ol' Pal Don Pruett, dog-friendly activities and plenty of vino from the Grand Pavilion bar. The Animal Friends Humane Society's Petmobile will be onsite to offer same-day adoptions to prospective families. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 27. Admission to the event is the ticket fee to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, which costs $8 — or guests can can bring a bag of pet food or two bags of treats and get in for free. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.
Art Academy of Cincinnati's 1212 House Party
The Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) is throwing a house party this weekend to celebrate its expansion into Over-the-Rhine's former BarrelHouse Brewing Co. Now called SITE 1212, the AAC refers to the space as a "new center for community impact" and "an open door for problem-solving in the city, leveraging the college's academic programming and unique place in the thriving arts district." To fête SITE 1212 and its mission, the AAC is hosting an all-day party on Saturday, with a preview event on Final Friday. On Friday, the public can grab a sneak peek of the space as well as exhibitions Never a Day Without Drawing, honoring the work of AAC professor Constance McClure, and House Party: Reunion, featuring the work of AAC alumni. As a special bonus, Wussy Duo — featuring Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker — will be performing, along with Curt Kiser of Carriers. Then on Saturday, BarrelHouse brewmasters will be serving up a BarrelHouse vanilla stout, complemented by illustrations from AAC grad Jim Effler, who designed labels for BarrelHouse's bottled beer. Local Indie Folk favorites Young Heirlooms will headline the music portion of the day, with additional tunes from Cincinnati Music Accelerator and Inhailer Radio. There will also be a burlesque show and a fashion show, along with guided mural tours from ArtWorks. 6-10 p.m. Aug. 27; noon-midnight Aug. 28. Free. 1200 block of Jackson Street and 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, artacademy.edu.
SATURDAY, AUG. 28
Puppypalooza at Cincinnati Animal CARE
Almost 50 puppies and small dogs from Texas will be available for adoption at this Saturday's Puppypalooza at Cincinnati Animal CARE's shelter in Northside. The local animal welfare group took in 46 dogs after the Texas shelter was about to have to start euthanizing animals for space. During Puppypalooza, potential adopters can come visit the dogs from Texas, as well as the more than 200 dogs and cats currently available for adoption at the shelter. All dogs who are over 6 months old and 30 pounds will cost $20, plus a Hamilton County licensing fee. Reduced dog adoption fees will be valid from noon Aug. 27 through 6 p.m. Aug. 29. Cincinnati Animal CARE says this weekend will also be the first time they are opening the shelter's kennels for walkthroughs. Noon-6 p.m. Aug. 28. Free. 3949 Colerain Ave., Northside, cincinnatianimalcare.org.
Maroon 5 at Riverbend Music Center
Maroon 5’s long-awaited concert at Riverbend Music Center will have a few caveats for concertgoers. The band announced that it wants a “Girl Like You” to come with either proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test results.Fans looking to attend the Cincinnati concert will need to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated from COVID-19, meaning that two weeks have elapsed since they received their final dose of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a one-shot vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). The original card that they received at the time of their vaccination or a printed copy and a valid ID can be presented at the door. Fans without vaccination must show proof of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test from within the past 48 hours. Because coronavirus vaccines aren't yet approved for children ages 11 and younger, kids will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test from within the past 48 hours. In addition to vaccines and negative tests, Maroon 5 also is encouraging attendees to remain masked during the show. 7 p.m. Aug. 28. Lawn tickets start at $39.50; tickets purchased for the band's original 2020 show will be honored. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, Ohio, riverbend.org.
The past few years may not be something we necessarily want to look back on, which is why the theme of the Contemporary Arts Center’s annual gala this year might be so fitting. The FastForward Gala encourages guests “to reimagine the present moment and lean into the unknown with vibrance and optimism,” according to the CAC's official announcement. There will be live performances from Siri Imani, Amy Tuttle, DJ OUECHa, Nick Keeling, DJ Sabastooge and Stacey Vest. INTERMEDIO, Ray's Aura Portraits, Undwoodly and Haute Air Balloons will provide the interactive art. And Calliope Sweets, The Eagle, Fausto, Parts & Labor and Red Sesame will be serving up the eats. Attire is semi-formal, and the CAC is encouraging futuristic fashion. Masks are required when not eating or drinking, and extras will be provided to anyone who needs one. An official "New Future Dance Party" takes place after the gala in the CAC Black Box theater from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets are $20 for the after party. 6-10 p.m. Aug. 28. Tickets star at $150. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, showclix.com.
Know Theatre has the first production this fall with its premiere of a new work, Mongrel, by actor Adam Tran. If you caught pre-pandemic productions at Know, you saw Tran in Whisper House (2018) and The Girl in the Red Corner (2019). His one-man show about Genghis Khan, the Mongol conqueror and charismatic leader, had a reading in April 2020 with the intention of producing the work during the 2020-2021 season. Of course COVID-19 prevented Cincinnati’s theaters from staging traditional indoor performances for audiences. Instead, Mongrel will kick off Know’s 2021-2022 season in an outdoor setting at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum. It will also be available as video-on-demand, a medium Know used successfully during the Cincinnati Fringe Festival in June. Know describes Mongrel as a chance for audiences to step into the camp of Genghis Khan and meet a young man who defies the destiny of his birth and builds himself a legend. The theater cautions that the show has adult language and situations, including depictions of violence. Through Sept. 12. $15-$35. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, knowtheatre.com/mongrel.
SPCA Fur Ball
The SPCA Cincinnati is turning the Sharonville Convention Center into a "Disco InFURno" on Saturday. The annual Fur Ball gala and fundraiser goes to support the mission and the animals at the SPCA. Come dressed in your best 1970s Disco wear, boogie on the dance floor and enjoy an open bar, appetizers, a plated dinner, auctions, a trip raffle, rescue stories and even adoptable pets. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28. $250. Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville, spcacincinnati.org/events/fur-ball.
Cincy VegFest returns to the Burnet Woods Bandstand in Clifton this weekend for a day devoted to plant-based living. The event is family-friendly, and will celebrate vegan lifestyle with "world-class" bites and food demos, film screenings, educational speakers, live music and yoga. Food will be available as free samples or by purchase from vendors including ESSEN Kitchen, Harmony Plant Fare, Seedside Bakery, Foodies Vegan, Coconutz Ice Cream and more. Retail vendors include Harm Less Threads, A to Z Candles, Body Eclectic Skin Care and Hummingbird Healing and other items. 10:45 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 28. Free. Burnet Woods, 3521 Brookline Ave., Clifton, cincyvegfest.com.
SUNDAY, AUG. 29
UPDATE: This event has been postponed to Sept. 19 due to river conditions.
This weekend, the Great Ohio River Swim is closing the body of water to motorized traffic and inviting some 200 intrepid water-lovers to hop in. A half-mile swim will take place at 8:15 a.m. Aug. 29, with entry at the Public Landing downtown and a course that goes to the Kentucky side of the Ohio River and back. This year, there's also an option for "double dippers," says a release, where people can swim 2.5 miles along the shoreline before tagging in on the traditional 900-meter bank-to-bank crossing (their launch is before the main swim). Those who want to do the "double dipper" course are asked to raise $500 for Adventure Crew’s Swim Training Program. Day-of registration opens at 7 a.m. Aug. 29 and includes a mandatory open-water safety course at 8 a.m. You can also register online. $25-$40. Public Landing, Downtown, greatohioriverswim.com.
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