16 Things to Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Aug. 15-18)

THURSDAY 15

MUSIC: Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden brings Heavy Metal to Riverbend Music Center. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $31.50 lawn seats. Riverbend Music Center, Kellogg Ave., California, riverbend.org.
Photo: John McMurtrie

THURSDAY 15

MUSIC: Madison Violet
Folks/Roots duo Madison Violet heads to the Southgate House Revival. 8 p.m. Thursday. $15. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com.
Photo: Provided

THURSDAY 15

COMEDY: Kenny DeForest
Originally from Springfield, Missouri, comedian Kenny DeForest became part of the Chicago stand-up comedy scene before moving to New York a few years ago. “I’m about to turn 33 and I just started reading,” he tells an audience. “Guess I was just partying. Then I had to stop so my life wouldn’t fall apart, and now I’m like, ‘Let’s see what these words are all about.’” One thing he’s been reading about is toxic masculinity. “The first time I read the phrase ‘toxic masculinity,’ I assumed it was what turned Dwayne Johnson into The Rock. I wish it was that; it’s way lamer.” In 2017, DeForest released an album, B.A.D. Dreams, and has appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers as well as The Late Late Show with James Corden. Through Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
Photo: Yoko Haraoka

FRIDAY 16

EVENT: Cincinnati Celtic Festival
Celebrate your Celtic heritage at this three-day event — or celebrate somebody else’s because traditional fare and live entertainment are open to people of all ancestry. (According to the fest, the Celtic nations are Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.) Think you’ve got knobby knees? Try your hand — er, knees — at the Knobbiest Knees contest, which is just one of nine wacky contests alongside the Tallest Tale and Haggis Toss. Other highlights include a dart tournament, a Scottish and Irish whiskey tasting tent and a Highland Dancing competition. Expect traditional dishes including Scotch eggs, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage, with Irish beer to wash it all down. There will also be Irish and Celtic bands onstage throughout the weekend. 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. The Banks, Downtown, cincycelticfest.com.
Photo: Cincinnati Celtic Festival Facebook

FRIDAY 16

ONSTAGE: Ring of Fire
Mama Mia did ABBA. Beautiful did Carole King. Now, Ring of Fire is doing Johnny Cash. Enjoy 31 songs from the legendary musician’s extensive discography as they are brought to life onstage by talented local actor-musicians who take on multiple roles and play their own instruments. Adapted from the Broadway production, the show features hits including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “I Walk the Line” and the titular “Ring of Fire.” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 p.m. Aug. 23 and 24. $28-$42. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com.
Photo: Mikki Schaffner Photography

FRIDAY 16

FILM: Auntie Mame in Eden Park
Free films screen at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park with a bonus: free live music. This Friday catch the Oscar-nominated Auntie Mame, the 1950s Technicolor comedy about everyone’s favorite wacky Manhattan aunt and her orphaned nephew, who eventually learns to love Mame’s free-spirited ways. Known for quotes like, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!,” this ribald (but all-ages) cinematic experience will include pre-show tunes by Jake Speed & the Freddies as well as on-site concessions from Empanadas Aqui and Happy Hippo Shaved Ice. 7 p.m. Friday. Free. Seasongood Pavilion, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, facebook.com/mtadamscinemainthecity.
Photo: YouTube

FRIDAY 16

EVENT: My Black Family Reunion
This three-day family festival is celebrating its 31st anniversary in 2019. As one of “Cincinnati’s largest family-focused events,” the Black Family Reunion will bring attendees, nonprofits and businesses together to celebrate the strengths and values of the black family. This year’s theme is Embracing Our Excellence and will feature a parade, amateur boxing event, free health screenings, food vendors, live music from acts like Tony Toni Tone, a basketball tournament, a Sunday church service, African-American heritage vendors and more. Main events take place at Sawyer Point (705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown) with satellite events around town, including the parade, which steps off from the Avondale Town Center (3529 Reading Road) at 10 a.m. Saturday. The main Black Family Reunion Celebration takes place noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday at Sawyer Point, with additional events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Get event dates, times and venues at myblackfamilyreunion.org.
Photo: Easley Blessed

FRIDAY 16

EVENT: Cincinnati Leather Weekend
Cincinnati Leather Weekend is a three-day event for the leather and kink community featuring a drag show, classes, a contest, dance party and victory brunch. Originally conceived as Mr. Cincinnati Leather in 2012, the event was renamed Cincinnati Leather in 2018 to be more inclusive. This year’s Cincinnati Leather events kick off Friday with a drag show at the Woodward Theater and a chance to meet the contestants of Saturday’s Cincinnati Leather Contest. Contestants are all 21 and older, live in the Greater Cincinnati area and “work to grow and maintain the community through visibility, fundraising and by creating gathering spaces.” Before the competition at the Woodward on Saturday, Below Zero Lounge will be hosting a free kink and fetish education “Kink U” workshop, which includes live and hands-on demos. There is also a Saturday happy hour at the Mini Microcinema for women and non-binary folx. Sunday, recover from Saturday evening’s festivities with a Victory Brunch at MOTR Pub featuring the contest winner, other contestants and visiting leatherfolk. After brunch, head to the Mount Adams Pavilion for a Sunday Funday Tea Dance from 4-7 p.m., followed by after-parties at The Birdcage and Bar 901 starting at 8 p.m. Basically, it’s a whole lotta leather packed into a little ol’ weekend. Find a full list of details, ticket prices and venues at cincinnatileather.com.
Photo: Cincinnati Leather 2017 provided by Cincinnati Leather

SATURDAY 17

EVENT: City Flea + Kids Market
Though the City Flea occurs monthly in the summertime, August’s rendition is special in that it’s adding a little fun courtesy of kid makers. In addition to regular vendor participants, 33 local kids will also be showcasing their work and getting a taste for small business at this market. All 33 spots, which were given on a first-come, first-served basis, have been filled, but interested kids can sign up to be added to the waitlist. Shop local and support these mini makers. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thecityflea.com.
Photo: Provided by the City Flea

SATURDAY 17

EVENT: Makerspace: Glow, Radiate and Blink!
Get ready for BLINK 2019 with this Makerspace workshop at the CAC. The BLINK art and light festival will span 30 blocks and cross the Ohio River from Oct. 10-13 with large-scale projection mapping, murals, interactive light sculptures and live entertainment. Learn how to make your own work of luminary art and awesome party hats in this class, which will teach attendees how to create paper circuits, color changing light-up balloons and the science behind why things glow in the dark. The Makerspace is a “new kind of workspace that provides the community with the opportunity to work with tools for making, digital design and fabrication and coaches to assist in learning the techniques.” This event is kid-friendly. 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, facebook.com/cincycac.
Photo: BLINK 2017 by Hailey Bollinger