The 36th annual Taste of Cincinnati takes over six blocks downtown this weekend. The annual food festival includes more than 100 dishes from 40-plus restaurants and 70 live music performances Saturday through Monday. Features this year include four music stages; tappings, tastings and a meet-the-brewers with Christian Moerlein Brewing Co., official beer of the Taste; and the Taste Experience. If large crowds and funnel cakes aren’t quite your thing, the Taste Experience features more upscale fare in the intimate setting of the Procter & Gamble gardens. The Reds take on the Cardinals Saturday and Sunday, so it’s sure to be a bustling weekend downtown. For more information about the Taste, check out our feature on the fest.
Memorial Day marks the symbolic start to summer as well as the opening date for many pools and summer attractions. Both The Beach Waterpark and Coney Island open their gates this Saturday. The Beach, under new management since its temporary closing in 2012, is back with all the crazy water rides and slides, the wave pool, real sand and endless entertainment for the whole family. New this year are cabanas for rent and a high-flying zip-line. Find admission details and hours here. Coney Island is another Cincy summertime institution. Enjoy classic rides, water slides and the iconic Sunlite Pool all weekend long. Go here for tickets and more info.
Cincinnati Saints, the city’s semi-professional soccer team, kicks off its first season in the National Premier Soccer League Friday with a game against Pennsylvania’s Erie Admirals. The Saints play home games at Stargel Stadium on the West End. Follow the team as they look to make soccer yet another successful pro sport in Cincinnati — the team will host World Cup watch parties on Fountain Square next month. Read more about the team in this week’s feature.
Ever been curious about the nudist lifestyle? Many locals don’t know a nudist resort is located right outside the city on Cincinnati’s West Side. Paradise Gardens Nudist Resort lies on 35 acres of lush, wooded land and has been around for more than 40 years. Those interested in nudism or just wanting to check it off their bucket list are invited to explore the grounds for an open house noon-6 p.m. Saturday. New nudists and veterans alike can enjoy swimming, hiking, volleyball, sunning and even a pirate-themed dance at night. Relax, be respectful and bring a towel to sit on (that hot summer sun can really warm up seat surfaces!). Future open house dates are June 7, July 5 and Aug. 19. Learn more here.
For more art openings, parties, festivals and other stuff to do this weekend, check out our To Do picks, full calendar and Rick Pender’s Stage Door for weekend theater offerings.
