Get ready for another action-packed weekend in the Queen City. Festival season kicks off with plenty to savor, from piling your plate high at Asian Food Fest (no judgment here) to stepping back in time to the Regency era at the Jane Austen Festival. It’s also the perfect weekend to dine out and cash in on Restaurant Week deals across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
And don’t forget to find a way to celebrate Mother Earth’s big day of celebration, too. Check out our list of the 10 best events happening this weekend.
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. Asian Food Fest
Celebrate Asian culture with cuisine and live entertainment. The food lineup features over 60 restaurants and food trucks. Comedy, cultural activities and karaoke highlight the entertainment lineup.
Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Court Street Plaza, East Court Street, Downtown. asianfoodfest.org.
2. Jane Austen Festival
At the Jane Austen Festival, feel like you’re a character in “Pride and Prejudice.” Visit Meryton Shoppes, enjoy costume promenades, lectures, workshops and teas. A ball will be held Saturday evening at private club in Clifton from 7-10 p.m. and includes food, desserts, wine and beer, a game parlor, raffle, music and dancing.
Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Heritage Village, 11500 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. $50 both days, $25 single day. $250 VIP admission includes 2-day admission and tickets to the ball, $135 ball only. heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
3. Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
Dozens of top-tier restaurants in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas are offering specially priced, three-course lunch and dinner menus for $26, $36, $46 or $56. $1 of every meal goes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Details: Various venues across greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Runs April 20-26. greatercincinnatirestaurantweek.com.
4. Earth Day Celebrations
Find a way to celebrate Mother Earth this weekend.
Art & Earth Day: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Art & Earth Day event Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. regular park hours, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Free admission. pyramidhill.org.
Oxford Earth Fest: 9 a.m.-noon Oxford Farmer’s Market Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Earth Fest Saturday, Oxford Memorial Park, 2 E. High St., Oxford. enjoyoxford.org.
5. Cincinnati Slingers vs. Arizona Juggernauts
The Cincinnati Slingers play the Arizona Juggernauts this week. Prepare for eight-on-eight football, played on grass inside of a hockey rink and at a much faster pace than outdoor football, with more scoring and fan interaction.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Heritage Bank Center, 100 Broadway, Downtown. heritagebankcenter.com.
6. ‘Water for Elephants’
After a personal tragedy, a young man named Jacob Jankowski jumps onto a train and finds a new home with a traveling circus.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Runs April 21-May 3. cincinnatiarts.org.
7. Grant Days 2026
Celebrate the 27th annual U.S. Grant Days, an almost weeklong celebration to honor Ohio-born former President Ulysses S. Grant.
Thursday: 7:30 p.m., United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 217 S. Main St., Georgetown. “The Life and Legacy of Ulysses S. Grant” by Chris Burns.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-noon, Gaslight Theater, 301 S. Main St., Georgetown. More of Grant’s “Seldom Told Stories.”
Saturday: 1-5 p.m., Boyhood Home, 219 E. Grant Ave. Georgetown. Free tours of Grant murals, home, statue and school.
Sunday: 1 p.m., Grant Memorial Church, 1600 Back St., Point Pleasant. Birthday at the Grant Birthplace: “Grant’s Faith.” thelandofusgrant.org.
8. FC Cincinnati vs. Red Bull New York
It’s FC Cincinnati versus Red Bull New York 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.
9. Hollow Earth Fest
Enjoy interactive experiments, STEM activities for kids, circus performers, a subterranean petting zoo and more.
Details: noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Symmes Park, 401 S. Third St., Hamilton. Free. hollowearthfest.com.
10. DaBaby
Hip-hop artist DaBaby is bringing his Be More Grateful Tour to Bogart’s this week.
Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. bogarts.com.
Bonus: Final Friday
Browse and buy art directly from the artists on Final Friday. There are more than 250 studios over four buildings, and shops will host artists. Artist of the month is Suzzanna Frank in studio 606.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St., Pendleton. Valet parking is $10. Free admission. pendletonartcenter.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do this weekend, festival season kickoff edition
Reporting by Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
