Summertime is officially on the horizon, so put on your sunblock and get ready for a busy weekend in the Queen City. Make sure to swing by Taste of Cincinnati and sample all the good eats there are to offer.
And it wouldn’t be Memorial Day weekend without taking a splash in the pool, so break out your swimsuits for the season opening of Kings Island’s Soak City and Land of Illusion’s Aqua Adventures. If you’re looking for a classic summer festival, head to RiverDays for amusement rides and a fireworks show.
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.
1. Taste of Cincinnati
If the Mayor of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri, declared Cincinnati “one of the really cool food cities” with “next-level chefs,” then you know you don’t want to miss Taste of Cincinnati. Go in with a plan of attack to seek out all this year’s Best of Taste winners, or just head to Fifth Street and let the wind guide your buds.
Details: 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Fifth Street, Downtown. Free admission with plenty of food and drink available for purchase. tasteofcincinnati.com.
2. Waterpark opening weekends
It’s that time of the year again. Dust off your bikinis and swim trunks and take a trip to the much-anticipated summer season opening days of Soak City and Aqua Adventures.
Soak City: Opens Saturday and continues daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. visitkingsisland.com.
Aqua Adventures: Opens Saturday and continues daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Land of Illusion Adventure Park, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. landofillusion.com.
3. RiverDays Festival
Get ready for big amusement rides, helicopter flights, live music, games, gambling and craft vendors. There will be a parade to start the weekend, and a fireworks show at 10 p.m. on Saturday night. Admission is free, so bring the whole family.
Details: 6-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, New Richmond. Parade at 6 p.m. Thursday. riverdaysfest.org.
4. May Festival finale
Internationally acclaimed artist and May Festival Director Julia Bullock will take the stage with her deeply personal curation of Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess” for the festival finale.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Music Hall Ballroom, 1241 Elm St., Downtown. mayfestival.com.
5. Lego Jurassic World: The Exhibition
At “Jurassic World by Brickman,” venture into a baby brachiosaurus enclosure, and see triceratops, velociraptors, tyrannosaurus rex and more. Create your own hybrid dino in the DNA lab.
Details: Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. cincymuseum.org.
6. FC Cincinnati vs. Orlando
It’s FC Cincinnati versus Orlando this week. At the pre-match, there will be a live DJ, delicious eats from local food trucks, inflatable soccer games, the inflatable FCC slide and more.
Pre-match: 4-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org.
Game: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway, West End. tqlstadium.com.
7. The Kid Laroi
The Kid Laroi is bringing his tour to Cincinnati this week. Joining him are Tommy Richman and WizTheMc.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Andrew J. Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown. bradymusiccenter.com.
8. Mermaids at Newport Aquarium
Your favorite shimmering stars of the sea glide and twirl through the water with their tropical fish friends.
Details: Opens 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, aquarium open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Newport Aquarium, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Included with admission. See mermaids Thursday-Sunday. Runs May 23-June 21. Newportaquarium.com.
9. ArtisanFest 513
Shop from local brands at a curated community marketplace.
Details: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. artisanfest513.org.
10. Fifth & Vine Live
Dance and sing along to anthems you know. Each night features a fan-favorite cover or tribute band from a rotating list of artists.
Details: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Runs every Sunday through Aug. 30. myfountainsquare.com.
Honorable mention: Spark in the Dark
UPDATE: Friday Spark in the Dark is CANCELED due to poor weather conditions.
Illuminate the night by floating on glowing boats as the water glints and gleams. Explore the mysteries of space with the Cincinnati Astronomical Society and enjoy a night hike under the stars. From moths and moons to bats and bugs, there’s so much to explore once the sun sets.
Details: 8-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Miami Whitewater Forest, 9001 Mount Hope Road, Harrison. Pre-registration is not required. Free. Glow boat rentals and refreshments available for purchase. greatparks.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Things to do if you’re in Cincinnati Memorial Day weekend
Reporting by Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
