It’s a huge holiday week with lots of events to celebrate Juneteenth. Also, don’t miss other huge events such as Covington’s Taco & Margarita Festival, Cincinnati’s biggest food truck festival, in Blue Ash, and Jungle Jim’s International Craft Beer Festival in Fairfield. End the week with a bang at the Outlaw Music Festival at Riverbend or the Queen City Triathlon.
Have an event you’d like us to know about? Submit it online at cincinnati.com/events, and we’ll tell the world about it. Head to that same site to peruse our full calendar of events.
Monday, June 16
Hang with the butterflies at Krohn
This year’s Butterfly Show lets you step into a Gothica Botanica-themed butterfly garden, where shadowy foliage and deep-hued blooms set the stage for hundreds of iridescent butterflies.
Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Aug. 10, Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Cincinnati-oh.gov.
Listen to jazz at Washington Park
This week’s performer is Camille Saba Smith.
Details: 6-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Washingtonpark.org.
Tuesday, June 17
More jazz, at Fountain Square
Jazz lovers, gather at Fountain Square to listen to this week’s performer: Jamey Aebersold Quartet.
Details: 5-8 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. Myfountainsquare.com.
Catch ‘Studio Sessions: Soul and Sound’ at the opera
This intimate performance features dueling pianos and artistic tributes to the Harlem Renaissance. Join poet and curator Tifara Brown and pianists Kevin Day and Kevin Miller at this virtuosic event.
Details: 8 p.m., Cincinnati Music Hall, Wilks Studio, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $67, $47 general. Cincinnatiopera.org.
Cheer on the Reds
Your favorite Cincinnati baseball team plays the Minnesota Twins this week. Don’t miss out on the bobblehead giveaway Wednesday.
Details: 7:10 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 12:40 p.m. Thursday, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Reds.com.
Watch ‘Soul’ at Washington Park
Grab your lawn chairs and movie snacks for an outdoor movie on Washington Park’s Civic Lawn. This week’s OTR Cinema movie: “Soul.”
Details: 9-11 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Washingtonpark.org.
Wednesday, June 18
Grab your folding chairs and listen to free music
It’s the season for free summer concerts. Multiple venues are hosting free, outdoor concerts with a new performer each week.
Burnet Woods: 7-9 p.m., 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton. Music by La Formula Big Band. Free. Cliftonculturalarts.org.
Delhi Park Pavilion: 7 p.m., 5125 Foley Road, Delhi Township. Music by Cincinnati Transit Authority. Free. Facebook.com.
Greenhills Commons: 7-9 p.m., 24 Farragut Road, Greenhills. Music by Saffire Express. Free. Facebook.com.
Fountain Blues: 5-8 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Music by MisterMan & the Mojo Band. Free. Myfountainsquare.com.
Reggae Wednesday: 6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Music by Gizzae. Free. Washingtonpark.org.
Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum: 7-9 p.m., 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village. Music by Yesterday Once More. Free. Springgrove.org/events.
Shop for fresh food at Fort Thomas Farmer’s Market
Fort Thomas’s Farmer’s Market, voted the Best of Cincinnati two years in a row, showcases the best from local farms, artisans and small businesses, offering fresh, locally sourced food and handcrafted goods.
Details: 3-7 p.m., 801 Cochran Avenue, Fort Thomas, Ky. Free admission. Fortthomasfarmersmarket.com.
Party at FIFA Pre-Match at the Park
Cheer on your favorite team. At the pre-match, there will be a live DJ, delicious eats from local food trucks and fun lawn games. After, head to the games at TQL Stadium.
Pre-match: 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Washingtonpark.org.
Games: 6 p.m. Wednesday, noon Saturday, TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway, West End. Tqlstadium.com.
Shop at Northside Farmers Market
This bustling, year-round market offers local flavors and artisan goods from over 20 vendors. Find everything from fresh vegetables to soaps and spices.
Details: 4-7 p.m., 4222 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Free; Merchandise available for purchase. Northsidefm.org.
Thursday, June 19
Happy Juneteenth!
Celebrate Juneteenth
Find an event near you to celebrate this national freedom holiday. The following events will be held Thursday-Saturday. Celebrate with music, food and community.
Juneteenth Freedom Fest: noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Washingtonpark.org.
Juneteenth Freedom Day: noon-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Florence Nature Park and Event Center, 7200 Nature Park Drive, Florence, Ky. Facebook.com.
Juneteenth Jubilee: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Free admission. Freedomcenter.org.
Juneteenth Block Party Celebration: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, 3458 Reading Road, Avondale. Ulgso.org/juneteenth.
Juneteenth Celebration: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, The Prestant, 720 York St., Newport. theprestant.com.
Great Parks Community Days Juneteenth: 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday, all Great Parks locations in Hamilton County. Visitors do not need a Motor Vehicle Permit to enter the parks on community days. Free. Greatparks.org.
Young Black Genius Juneteenth Block Party: noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. Facebook.com.
CommUNITY Springboro Juneteenth Celebration: 1-7 p.m. Saturday, historic downtown Springboro, E. North St., Springboro. Springborojuneteenth.com.
More free concerts!
At this point, there’s no excuse not to get out there and jam to some free tunes this summer. And we’ve got a list for you so you can find the closest one.
Groovin’ on the Green: 6 p.m., Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive, Fairfield. Music by Kevin McCoy Band. Free. Fairfield-city.org.
Live After 5: 6-9 p.m., The Square at Liberty Center, 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township. Music by Celebrate Juneteenth with P. Ann Everson-Price All Star Band. Free. Liberty-center.com.
Live on the Levee: 7 p.m., Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Music by Cassette Junkies. Free. Newportonthelevee.com.
Music on the River: 7-9 p.m., Civic Park, 50 Short St., Lawrenceburg. Music by Marshall Charloff & Purple Xperience. Runs June 5-Aug. 28. Free. Downtownlawrenceburg.com.
Rockin’ the Roebling: 6 p.m., Smale Riverfront Park, Schmidlapp Lawn, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Music by Ernie Johnson From Detroit. Runs May 15-Aug. 28. Free. Cincinnati-oh.gov.
Roots Revival: 7-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Music by Megan Bee, Ma Crow & Company. Washingtonpark.org.
Salsa on the Square: 6-10 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Music by Son del Caribe, SalsanNati. Runs May 1-Sept. 25. Free. Myfountainsquare.com.
Summer Concerts: 7-9 p.m., Beech Acres Park, 6910 Salem Road, Anderson Township. Music by Anna and the Deeper Well. Free. Andersonparks.com.
Summer Music Festival: 6-10 p.m., Ault Park Pavilion, 5090 Observatory Circle, Mount Lookout. Kids’ crafts and activities from 6-8 p.m. Live music with The Whammies. Free. Aultparkac.org.
The Takeover: 6-9 p.m., The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Point Drive, West Chester Township. Music by Anywhere Like Heaven: The Music of James Taylor. Free. Westchesteroh.org.
Uptown Music Series: 7 p.m., Uptown Parks, North Main and East High streets, Oxford. Music by Juneteenth celebration with Vu Skeen and Nextfazze. Free. Enjoyoxford.org.
Stop by the June in Olde Williamsburgh Festival
Enjoy a relaxing, cold drink at the beer garden, food trucks, music and craft vendors. There are KidsFest activities, so bring the whole family. Sign up for the Color Run on Saturday.
Details: 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Old High School Grounds, 549 West Main St., Williamsburg. Facebook.com.
Participate in a Pub Run
Lace up your running shoes and hit the ground running at this event. There’s a route for everyone, new and seasoned runners alike. There’s a run each Thursday. Participate each week to win exciting prizes. Unwind with a post-run brew.
Details: 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Little Miami Brewing Company, 208 Mill St., Milford. Free. Tristaterunning.com.
Friday, June 20
Dance to the rhythm of Friday Flow
This event, sponsored by P&G, brings rich rhythms and melodies of R&B music to Washington Park. The musical performer this week is Touch.
Details: 7-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Washingtonpark.org.
New art museum exhibit openings
Show your love and support for the arts by showing up at the opening for these new art museum exhibits.
Clive Moloney: Between Trees: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, closed Mondays, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. practice revolves around utilizing natural materials, including plants, wood, wild clay and animal bones found around his Clifton neighborhood home. Runs June 20-Aug. 24. Cincinnatiarts.org.
Erika NJ Allen: This is Not a Banana Republic – A Manifesto of Empire Domination, the Immigration Experience and Empathy: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, closed Mondays, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Born in Guatemala and teaching at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Allen creates immersive mixed-media installations exploring her personal journey and the broader immigrant experience. Runs June 20-Aug. 24. Free. Cincinnatiarts.org.
Hannah Parrett: (grass crunching): 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, closed Mondays, Weston Art Gallery, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Work explores representations of natural environments that hold a paradox of a spiritual geography and utopian fallacy. Runs June 20-Aug. 24. Cincinnatiarts.org.
Marcus Leslie Singleton: New Steps: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, closed Monday-Wednesday, Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown. First solo museum exhibition for Brooklyn-based painter who creates figurative paintings from notes, sketches, recordings and photos of his surroundings. Runs June 20-Oct. 5. Free. Cincycac.org.
Don’t miss the return of WestFest after a nine-year hiatus
That’s right. The West Side’s favorite street festival is returning this year. Enjoy live music by different performers each night, a pickle eating contest, food vendors and tents full of artisan goods for sale.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Sunday, Downtown Cheviot. Cheviotwestfest.com.
Grab a bite to eat at Taco and Margarita Festival
Enjoy a culinary adventure with talented local vendors. From traditional favorites to creative fusion dishes, there’s something for everyone. Live music and entertainment all weekend.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday, Mainstrasse Village, Goebel Park, 501 Philadelphia St., Covington. Free admission. Thingstodocincinnati.com.
Have a good laugh at ‘Stacked: All Star Comedy Show’
Every scene is unscripted in Improv Cincinnati’s must-see showcase featuring the city’s top comedic talent.
Details: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Clifton Comedy Theatre, 404 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. $14. Improvcincinnati.crowdwork.com.
Come to themed nights at Florence Y’alls games
The Florence Y’alls play the Washington Wild Things this weekend. Each night has a theme. Friday is NKY Night, and Saturday is Margaritaville Night.
Details: 7:03 p.m. Friday, 6:36 p.m. Saturday, 1:07 p.m. Sunday, Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Florenceyalls.com.
Check out Nelsonville Music Festival
This huge musical festival includes acts such as Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, The War and Treaty, Charley Crockett, DEHD, Watchhouse, Bonnie Prince Billy, Taj Mahal, Ocie Elliot, Balthvs, Black Lips and more. Performers will be on Snow Fork Stage, Porch Stage and Creekside Stage.
Details: noon Thursday, 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday, Snow Fork Event Center, 5685 Happy Hollow Road, Nelsonville. Nelsonvillefest.org.
Saturday, June 21
Don’t miss the annual Paloozanoire Juneteenth Block Party
One of the city’s biggest celebrations, come for a stacked lineup of DJs, the Family Zone (featuring Cincinnati Reds mascots, live performers and interactive activities), and the Homecoming Experience. Support the minority-owned food trucks or the bars and restaurants along The Banks by grabbing a bite to eat.
Details: 4-11 p.m., East Freedom Way, The Banks. Free. Register: e.sparxo.com/paloozanoire.
‘Just Dill With It’ at Dayton Pickle Fest
Pickle Fest is back. “Relish” in the excitement, including live music and pickles in every kind and flavor (deep-fried, egg rolls, cotton candy-wrapped, etc.).
Details: 3-10 p.m., Austin Landing, 3700 Rigby Road, Miamisburg. $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Facebook.com.
Celebrate the Tusculum Street Fest’s return
Get some food from a variety of food trucks and listen to live music while browsing various vendors. This event is family friendly and will features a Kid’s Area with arts and crafts, FC Cincinnati, yoga, face painters, a magician and more.
Details: 3-10 p.m., between Tennyston and Carrel streets on Eastern Avenue, Columbia Tusculum. Free admission. Tusculumstreetfest.org.
Try all kinds of delicious bites at Cincinnati’s biggest food truck festival
Make a stop at the Cincinnati Food Truck Association Food Fest. This is the only food truck event put on by the truckers themselves. While you get to enjoy tasty food, local food truck owners who participate in the rally pay a fee that goes right back into resources for them.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash. Cincinnatifoodtruckassociation.org.
Take a food tour of Mainstrasse
This food tour will stop at five locally owned restaurants. Enjoy handcrafted specialty pizza, German pretzels with beer cheese, homemade desserts, various authentic Kentucky dishes and beer samples. Hear the history of the German immigrants who settled in Covington. Tourgoers will visit a 100-foot-tall Glockenspiel in Goebel Park, the town plaza showcasing the Goose Girl Fountain and a tree-lined plaza.
Details: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Cedar, 701 Main St., Covington, Ky. $69. Riversidefoodtours.com.
Sample beer at the International Craft Beer Festival
Sample from hundreds of beers from more than 100 different breweries. There are two sessions to choose from. A beer lover’s dream come true.
Details: 1-5 p.m. and 6:30-10:30 p.m., Jungle Jim’s International Market, Oscar Event Center, 8871 N. Gilmore Road, Fairfield. Junglejims.com/calendar. Tickets: eventbrite.com.
Become a princess at Glenwood Garden’s Fairytale Festival
Walk through beautifully landscaped trails and watch thrilling sword fights and the fantastic Madcap Puppets. Meet Mateo the wizard, and have a tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Nissa the Gnome will create fairy tales based on audience suggestions. The festival will feature live character entertainment from The Fairy Godmother Events, a little knights’ training course and Rapunzel’s Tower Climbing Wall.
Details: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Glenwood Gardens, 10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn. $12. Greatparks.org.
Take a sweet stroll
On this two and a half hour guided walking tour, taste the flavors of Cincinnati. Sample at least six sweet treats from different bakeries and specialty shops. The tour also features a sit-down stop where you can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail.
Details: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. $59. Fareharbor.com.
Sunday, June 22
Show up to see OTR Performs
Returning for its fourth year, Revolution Dance Theatre’s Black and Brown Ballet will be putting on their Summer Festival at Washington Park with the goal of celebrating excellence, representation and joy through dance.
Details: 6-8 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Washingtonpark.org.
Watch (or participate in!) the Queen City Triathlon, Duathlon and Aquabike
Come together with athletes from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and beyond for this exciting short-course triathlon. Leap into the Ohio River for the iconic river swim, bike on Columbia Parkway and run across the world-famous Purple People Bridge.
Details: 7 a.m., Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. Ohiotriathloni71.com.
Put on your cowboy boots and come to Outlaw Music Festival
This huge music festival features Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles and Myron Elkins.
Details: 3:45 p.m., Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Riverbend.org.
Come to the West End Block Party
Spend the day listening to music, creating in hands-on art stations and enjoying time with family and friends. Vendors will be serving a variety of free food, and summer classics like popcorn and cotton candy. Don’t miss the concert by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the evening.
Details: 6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. concert, 500 Ezzard Charles Drive, West End. Free. Cincinnatisymphony.org.
Grab a drink at the Juneteenth Tasting Event
This celebration celebrates food, culture and the Black community. Sample rich, soulful flavors from the Black-owned businesses that make Findlay Market unique.
Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. 8 tickets for $20, 18 for $40. Findlaymarket.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Our picks for the best things to do in Cincinnati, June 16-22
Reporting by Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
