As COVID cases continue to decline in Ohio, some things are getting back to "normal." Venues are lifting mask and vaccination mandates and now the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber has announced dates for some of the city's favorite festivals.
Asian Food Fest, Taste of Cincinnati, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati and BLINK are all returning in 2022, and now residents of the Queen City can mark their calendars for the dates.
“Our Cincinnati festivals are important community-building events that we all look forward to each and every year,” said Jill Meyer, President & CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, in a release. “After a hiatus, we are thrilled to bring back all of our signature events this year to celebrate our city, its culture, and cuisine while supporting dozens of local businesses.”
The 11th-annual Asian Food Fest will take place May 7 and 8 on Second Street downtown. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and more than 25 restaurants and vendors will be serving up food alongside a slew of live entertainment. The event is free to attend and vendor applications are now open. Learn more at asianfoodfest.org.
Taste of Cincinnati is back after a hiatus from May 28-30 on Fifth Street downtown. The long-running culinary celebration started in 1979, and is "one of nation’s largest free culinary arts festivals," per the chamber. More than 65 food vendors and food trucks will be set up on Fifth Streets between Walnut and Sentinel streets, with live entertainment on multiple stages. The event is free to attend and vendor applications are open. Learn more at tasteofcincinnati.com.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is also returning this year, taking over Second and Third streets downtown from Sept. 16-18. America's largest Oktoberfest, more than 700,000 people attended the party in 2021, per the chamber. Expect your favorite activities including the Running of the Wieners, the Gemütlichkeit Games, the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, the World Brat Eating Championship and the Samuel Adams Stein Hoist Championship. Updates will be posted to oktoberfestzinzinnati.com.
BLINK, everyone's favorite art and light festival, is also back in 2022. From Oct. 13-16, downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine will glow with installations, street art, projection mapping and more. The chamber says the event will encompass 30 blocks and is produced in partnership by AGAR, ArtWorks, Brave Berlin, the Haile Foundation and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. The event is free to attend and the chamber says 2019's event (the most recent BLINK) had a $86.7 million impact. There aren't full details yet, but follow BLINK on social media for updates.
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