1. Riverfest and WEBN fireworks
Celebrate the last days of summer with an all-day party that culminates with one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest. The family-friendly festival takes place on both sides of the Ohio River and includes food, live music and entertainment. Fireworks from Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks will be set off from barges in the middle of the river at 9:05 p.m. while the music soundtrack will be broadcast simultaneously on radio station WEBN 102.7 FM.
Details: Noon-10 p.m., Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown; and Festival Park, 100 Riverboat Row, Newport and Covington Plaza, 144 Madison Ave., Covington. cincinnati-oh.gov; newportonthelevee.com.
2nd Ohio Renaissance Festival
This immersive festival takes you back in time to a recreated 16th century English village where you’ll meet over 150 costumed characters and be entertained by dueling swordsmen, daring fire jugglers and even a knights’ jousting in full armor. There are also numerous unique shops throughout the sprawling village, master artisans demonstrating timeless arts like glassblowing, leathercrafting and weaving, fun games of skill, muscle-powered rides for the little ones and dozens of food and drink options.
Details: Friday through Monday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Renaissance Park, 10542 State Route 73, Harveysburg. Runs weekends August 31 to October 27. $32-$38, $10-$12, ages 5-12. Renfestival.com.
3rd Day of the 1940s
Another immersive time travel event this weekend highlights the decade of vintage cars, big band music, swing dancing and a war that changed the world. Inside and outside Union Terminal, you can enjoy live reenactments of radio programs and historically inspired cooking demonstrations, participate in the costume contest and hear firsthand stories of hope, resilience and survival. The Omnimax Theater will screen “D-Day: Normandy 1944” throughout the day, you can take tours of historic Union Terminal and travel back in time with Kinetic Vision’s virtual reality experience in the concourse.
Details: Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Included with museum admission: $22.50, $15.50 for seniors and children. Cincymuseum.org/1940sday.
4th Aviation Days at Lunken Airport
This free, family-friendly festival gives you the chance to see a variety of historic aircraft, as well as a vintage car show behind the terminal. There are also military vehicles, big band music all day, reenactments, exhibitor booths, food trucks and the opportunity to take a flight in the historic World War II aircraft B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey” and B-25 “Maid in the Shade.” Helicopter rides are also available. To book a flight in the B-17 or B-25, visit azcaf.org or call 480-462-2992.
Details: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lunken Airport, 262 Wilmer Ave., East End. Admission and parking are free. Warbird flights start at $375. Ground tours with the Warbirds are $30 for a family of four, or $15 per person. Warbirds.clubexpress.com.
5. Mama is the word
Enjoy fall blooms and a variety of chrysanthemums in fiery orange, deep purple, delicate pink and creamy white at the Krohn Conservatory’s fall display.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Runs August 31-October 13. cincinnati-oh.gov.
6. Bluey’s big play: The stage show
When Dad wants some Sunday afternoon relaxation, Bluey and Bingo have other ideas. This theatrical adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children’s television series is brought to life with puppetry, live actors and iconic sets, and is based on a new original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm.
Details: Friday, 6:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, noon and 4 p.m., Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Starting at $48.75. Cincinnatiarts.org.
7. The Liberty Home Oktoberfest
Enjoy live music and dancing, authentic German food and desserts, a beer garden with German beer – including Paulaner, Ayinger, Kostritzer, Andechs and others – dachshund races, bouncy castles and games for children, and a car show on Sunday.
Details: Friday, 6-11 p.m., Saturday, 1-11 p.m., Sunday, 1-8 p.m., German Home Association, 2361 Hamilton-Cleves Road, Hamilton. Runs August 30-September 1. Free parking. Facebook.com/libertyhomeassociation.
8. Art after dark: Finesse
Get an exclusive sneak peek of BlaCk OWned Outerwear’s fall collection, enjoy music from DJ Prymetime, immersive experiences and complimentary admission to the museum’s latest special exhibition, “The Culture: Hop Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century.” There will also be a bar and food available for purchase.
Details: Friday, 5-9 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Free admission. Cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
9. KSO Summer Park Series: Pops, Inc.
Bring the whole family to an old-fashioned “pops” concert on the lawn as the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra celebrates the treasure trove of classics by composers Leroy Anderson, Richard Hayman and Henry Mancini. Saturday’s performance will be at Devou Park, 1201 Park Drive, Covington, and Sunday’s performance will be at Tower Park, 950 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. On Monday, the orchestra will perform at Woodside Arboretum (1401 Woodside Blvd., Middletown). For the Covington performance, shuttle service ($1 each way) is available from the parking lot of Covington Catholic High School, 1600 Dixie Highway, Park Hills.
Details: Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Monday, 7 p.m. Free admission. kyso.org.
10. Tri-State Antiques Market
This market is a great resource for collectors, renovators, decorators and anyone with an eye for the chic and unique to find vintage furniture, decorative arts, jewelry, historical artifacts, architectural/industrial remnants and pop culture memorabilia. Early risers are welcome as booths start setting up at 6am.
Details: Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg. Admission: $5. lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.
Honorable Mention: Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
Spend a spooky evening of the macabre at this interactive show and cocktail experience where historians of Edgar Allan Poe – the American writer and pioneer of the mystery and horror genres – retell four of his most infamous literary works. Ages 21 and up.
Details: 6pm-midnight Thursday-Friday, noon-midnight Saturday, 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley. $55-$62. Edgarallanpoebar.com.
