The third-annual Cincinnati Coffee Festival returns to the Queen City this October.
The weekend-long event runs from Oct. 11-13 and has moved from OTR’s Music hall to a larger venue, taking over the Grand Ballroom at downtown’s Duke Energy Convention Center.
The event will kick off with a Trade Day on Friday, which is reserved for coffee shop owners, baristas and enthusiasts interested in learning more about the coffee world. This day will give guests the opportunity to mix and mingle with coffee experts and learn new techniques and tastes.
The rest of the weekend will be open to the public, hosting 60 different vendors including coffee and tea shops, bakeries, pastry shops and chocolatiers.
“With more than 5,000 attendees last year, the Cincinnati Coffee Festival has grown into a can’t-miss event for area coffee and tea lovers,” said Rich Cogen, executive director of Ohio River Foundation (the producer of the event), in a release. “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to an even bigger and better event at Duke Energy Convention Center this year!”
In addition to a larger venue, this year’s event will have a few other new features. The inaugural Coffee Olympics will host a variety of fun competitions where guests can cheer on their favorite coffee shops. There will also be a casual presentation and conversation hub called Campfire Coffee.
The Latte Art Throwndown will return to the festival this year, where baristas can compete for the title of top latte artist, and attendees who want to practice latte art can participate in Latte Art in Action. There will also be coffee-related demonstrations, live music and a larger Art of Coffee gallery, which features various artworks.
All tickets are now on sale.
Trade Day cost $10, general admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday cost $12.50 in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Or opt for the VIP ticket, where you get a swag bag and one-hour early admission for $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event.
If you want the true VIP experience, limited Gold VIP tickets cost $35 in advance and $40 the day of the event. Ticket holders will receive a swag bag, complimentary specialty coffee, admittance to Trade Day, a full weekend pass and one-hour early admission every day of the event.
The festival raises funds for the Ohio River Foundation, a local nonprofit which works to improve the Ohio River’s quality and ecology.
“After all, you can’t have great coffee without great water,” Cogen said.
The Cincinnati Coffee Festival’s hours are 12:30-6 p.m. Friday (Trade Day), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Cincinnati Coffee Festival, 525 Elm St., Downtown.
This article appears in Sep 11-18, 2019.