32 Greater Cincinnati Activities to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, May 12, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Things are about to get hot, Cincinnati, because summer here is never boring. Ready to ditch the cabin fever? From cooling off in the pool to diving into the arts and getting out in nature, here's your can't-miss guide to summer in Cincy.

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Photo: Mark Byron

Catch a Concert at Riverbend

6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township
With the addition of the festival stage at downtown’s Andrew J Brady Music Center and Newport’s indoor/outdoor PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION to the existing Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati is now a prime spot to catch a concert under the stars. Some big-name acts heading to Riverbend this summer include Dave Matthews Band (May 27); James Taylor (June 21); Fall Out Boy (July 15); the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson, John Fogerty and Gov’t Mule (Aug 13); and The Offspring with Sum 41 and Simple Plan (Aug 30).

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Photo: facebook.com/CincyParks

Spread Your Wings at the Krohn Conservatory’s Butterfly Show

1501 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills
The Krohn Conservatory’s annual butterfly show “Butterflies of the Meadow” is running daily from now until June 28. Wander leisurely through the Krohn Conservatory’s “meadow” and watch butterflies like monarchs and blue morphos take flight over wildflowers and the showroom’s flowing waterfall. You can also learn more about wild butterflies’ habitats and see what Krohn is doing to protect them.

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Photo: facebook.com/WashingtonParkOTR

Get Fit at Free Outdoor Workout Classes

Looking to change up your workout routine? Want to get a good workout in while enjoying the beautiful weather? Parks across Greater Cincinnati are offering plenty of free weekly pop-up programs, ranging from yoga to Zumba, all led by different studios and instructors. Classes are available all over the city, from Washington Park to Summit Park in Blue Ash.

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Photo: Danielle Schuster

Visit Sharonville’s The Root Beer Stand

11566 Reading Road, Sharonville
Opened as an A&W Root Beer Stand in 1957, the now-family-owned restaurant makes secret recipe root beer (available by the jug) using water from the property’s 280-foot-deep well. But don’t miss out on the food — the secret recipe chili for the eatery’s famous foot-long coney dogs is to die for. Open seasonally.

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Photo: Facebook.com/mobilerollerrink

Show Off Your Moves at Frisch’s Mobile Roller Rink

Court Street Plaza: E. Court Street, Downtown
Roll into summer on Frisch’s Mobile Roller Rink. The nearly 9,000-square-foot rink is returning to Court Street Plaza Wednesday-Sunday, June 14-18 and Wednesday-Sunday, July 19-23 from 6-10 p.m. Bring your own skates or rent a pair for a small fee. Court Street Plaza is also home to a blossoming dining scene, with new restaurants like Onolicious Hawaii and Court Street Kitchen prepping to open their doors.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Traverse the Art Climb

Gilbert Avenue & Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills
Starting near the intersection of Eden Park Drive and Gilbert Avenue, the expansive Art Climb is a flight of 164 steps that ascends from the sidewalk and zig-zags its way up to the Cincinnati Art Museum. At nine stories high, the stairway includes 16 landings and is flanked on either side by greenery and modern light beam structures. If the climb seems daunting, don't fret: not only are benches placed throughout, but visitors can also check out the three outdoor sculptures – two of which are from Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum – along the climb.

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Photo: Watty62/Wikimedia Commons

Visit the Country’s First-Ever LEGO Cafe

1 Levee Way, Newport
The Brickery, the United States’ first-ever LEGO cafe, is planning on opening its doors at Newport on the Levee this summer. The café’s concept will combine dining, shopping and entertainment under one roof and will be a totally immersive space for both kids and adults to engage their imaginations and build with LEGOs. It’ll feature three main parts, including a kids play and discovery area, a café selling light refreshments and a retail space where you can buy new and used LEGOs.

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Photo: facebook.com/Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

Amble Among Art at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum

1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton
Art appreciation and fresh air aren’t mutually exclusive, at least at Hamilton’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum. Since 1997, the 300-acre nonprofit outdoor art park has featured more than 80 gargantuan sculptures displayed among rolling hills, lakes and hiking trails. If the weather’s not to your taste, head indoors to explore the ancient sculpture museum, which houses Greek, Roman, Syrian and Egyptian art, as well as rotating exhibitions of more modern work. The park rents out special Art Carts (a.k.a. golf carts) on a first-come-first-served basis.

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Photo: Provided by Cincinnati Fringe Festival

Get Weird at the Cincy Fringe Festival

The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is produced by the Know Theatre and is heading into its 20th year giving independent artists a place to showcase their work. This weird-in-the-best-way summer theater party features over 30 performances spanning plays, musicals, dance and even a puppet show. The festival will post over 170 performances across six stages from June 2-17 (except on Mondays).

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Photo: facebook.com/Starlite Drive-In (Amelia, Oh)

Travel Back in Time at a Drive-In Movie Theater

Greater Cincinnati has two drive-in theaters — Holiday Auto Theatre in Oxford and Starlite Drive-In in Amelia. Sporting vintage vibes and fully-stocked concession stands, the theaters offer an opportunity to hang in your car while you watch first-run films and classic cinema. Starlite, open since 1947, and Holiday, open for more than 60 years, both offer double features for the price of one (and an option to pay an additional charge to bring in your own food).

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Photo: Provided

Explore a Replica of the Famous Pinta Ship (Past Event)

301 Riverboat Row, Newport
A replica of the 15th-Century ship Pinta, a Portuguese Caravel of the “Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria” history-class fame, will set sail for Northern Kentucky this June. This floating museum will be docked at the Newport Hooters from June 2-13 and be open to the general public for self-guided tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The replica Pinta was built by eighth-generation Portuguese shipwrights who used the same hand tools and methods used to build the original boat in the 1400s.

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Photo: facebook.com/coneyislandpark

Make a Splash at Coney Island (CLOSED)

6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township
At Coney Island, you can take a dip in Sunlite Pool, zip down the numerous waterslides or compete against friends and family in the Challenge Zone – the largest Aquaglide pool obstacle course in the country. There’s also tons of fun to be in Action Alley, which features a giant, inflatable obstacle course, inflatable axe-throwing and arts and crafts. You can also challenge each other on the mini-golf course or take a leisurely glide around Lake Como in the Storybook Paddle Boats.

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