Ready for another action-packed week? Gather your team together and prepare your flying contraption in time for Red Bull Flugtag. Or, if you’re not as daring, hang out on the sidelines to see if the homemade aircraft will sink or fly as they are launched over the Ohio River. If you’re a sports enthusiast, make sure to catch a game or two at the Cincinnati Open where some of the best tennis players will be battling for the highly sought-after title.
Want to know what’s going on in the Queen City this week? You’ve found the right place. Here are the biggest, best things to do if you’re looking for some summer fun before it’s back-to-school time.
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, Aug. 4Don’t miss the largest Christian music festival
See more than 100 artists at the 40 Days of Christian Music Festival with a concert every day. In addition to music and talks, explore exhibits, ride the new carousel, see exotic animals at Ararat Ridge Zoo, zoom down thrilling zip lines and even ride a camel. This event runs July 29-Sept. 6.
Ark Encounter: 4 p.m. daily, 1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown.
Creation Museum: 1 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday weekly, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg.
Noah’s Village (Inside Ark Encounter): noon Monday-Saturday weekly, 1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown. 40daysofchristianmusic.com.
Hang with the butterflies at Krohn (last chance!)
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. Make sure to check out this event while it’s still happening.
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 Al West Jr. Quartet.
Details: 6-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. washingtonpark.org.
Tuesday, Aug. 5Watch the world’s best tennis players compete in the Cincinnati Open
In addition to witnessing either one or two weeks’ worth of tennis games, enjoy onsite entertainment and amenities. Explore local restaurants, try craft cocktails and beers, and have some family-friendly fun.
Details: daily; tournament times vary. Lindner Family Tennis Center, 5460 Courseview Drive, Mason. Runs Aug. 5-18. cincinnatiopen.com.
Watch ‘Freaky Friday’ at Washington Park
Grab your lawn chairs, movie snacks and baseball bats for a fun night on Washington Park’s Civic Lawn. This week’s flick is “Freaky Friday.”
Details: 9-11 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. washingtonpark.org.
Get some good grub at Strauss Troy Market on The Square
Every Tuesday, enjoy an alfresco lunch hour featuring live music and fan-favorite, local food trucks. Food trucks will rotate every week, so make it out each week to explore new food options.
Details: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Food available for purchase. Runs weekly until Aug. 26. myfountainsquare.com.
Bring your furry friend to Dogs & Donuts
You and your doggo can enjoy donuts and a special activity or presentation. This week’s theme is Natural Nibbles & Holistic Health.
Details: 10 a.m.-noon, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Included with park admission. pyramidhill.org.
Shoot some hoops at the Queen City Slam
Get a team together to compete in this thrilling 3-on-3 basketball tournament, providing a positive place for teens to hang out to combat teen violence in the area.
Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., E Freedom Way, between Marian Spencer Way & Race Street, Downtown. $100 all adult teams, $75 youth teams not from Cincinnati zip code, free for youth teams with Cincinnati zip code. Register: hoopitup.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 6Watch viral cat videos on the big screen (and for a good cause)
International CatVideoFest 2025 is here in Cincinnati. Bring the entire family to this event where you can watch a 75-minute compilation of the most adorable and hilarious cat videos from across the internet. A portion of proceeds benefit The Scratching Post, a no-kill cat shelter in Silverton.
These three theaters are participating in this event. Find a show near you.
Kenwood Theatre: 7 p.m. Wednesday, 5901 East Galbraith Road, Kenwood. $12. kenwoodtheatre.com.
Esquire Theatre: 7 p.m. Thursday, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. $12. esquiretheatre.com.
Mariemont Theatre: 2 p.m. Sunday, 6906 Wooster Pike, Mariemont. $12. mariemonttheatre.com.
Hit the dance floor at Summermusik 2025
Mingle with friends, enjoy a complimentary drink and learn some fun moves with dance instructor Jeaunita Château Olówè. The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra will provide the tunes you need to dance the night away.
Details: 7:30 p.m., Grand Ballroom, 6 E 5th St., Covington. $45 adults, $25 young professionals, $12 students and children. summermusik.org.
See a free performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Step into Shakespeare’s world of fairies, young love and magic, brought to life by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Find a performance near you at the following shows this week.
Norwood: 7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Factory 52, 4590 Beech St.
Madeira: 7 p.m. Thursday, McDonald Commons Park, 7502-7110 Dawson Road.
Chilo: 7 p.m. Friday, Clermont Park District, 521 County Park Road.
Columbia Tusculum: 1 p.m. Sunday, The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, 3738 Eastern Ave. cincyshakes.com.
Thursday, Aug. 7See ‘Piano Men: Generations’ at the Aronoff
Celebrate music icons Billy Joel and Elton John through this musical journey. Witness the progression of their music careers, and stomp your feet to their timeless hits such as “Only the Good Die Young,” “Bennie and the Jets” and “Piano Man.”
Details: 7:30 p.m., Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $50-80. cincinnatiarts.evenue.net.
Bring the kiddos to Smale Family Fun Day
Enjoy food trucks, live music, bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, games and more attractions sure to bring a smile to your child’s face!
Details: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Schmidlapp Event Lawn, 124 E Mehring Way, Downtown. cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.
Spend a day as a pioneer at Little Village in the Big Woods
Have you read or watched “Little House on the Prairie”? Feel like you’ve stepped back through time at this event, perfect for history buffs or fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s world. See what a school day was like at Myers Schoolhouse, play a hunting and tracking game with Pa, learn frontier cooking with Ma, churn butter and more.
Details: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Heritage Village Museum, 3647 Carmelle Woods Drive, Mason. $8, 3-under free. heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
Break out your cowboy boots for Voices of America Country Music Festival
This four-day festival features over 35 artists, including headliners Carrie Underwood, HARDY, Darius Rucker and Bailey Zimmerman. Other well-known artists in attendance include Shaboozey, Mitchell Tenpenny, Carly Pearce, Billy Currington, Nate Smith, Parmalee and more. In addition to great live music, sink your teeth into food from local vendors.
Details: 5 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Voices of America Park, 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester Township. voacountrymusicfest.frontgatetickets.com.
Friday, Aug. 8Ready your player for Arcade Music Fest
Explore the transformed Pike Street Arcade Tunnel, coming alive with BLINK-grade lights and genre-inclusive performances from over 50 artists. Browse over 40 local vendors and stay for two exciting after parties.
Details: 6-11 p.m., 23 West Pike St., Covington. $25 day, $45 two-day. eventbrite.com.
Enjoy church festival fun at Sacred Heart Festival
Bring your family to Sacred Heart for a weekend of fun and great food. Don’t miss performances by NKG, The Whammies and Crown Watts. Enjoy a variety of food including a fish fry on Friday, Chick-fil-a on Saturday, Hammann’s on Sunday and Cincinnati favorite LaRosa’s Pizzeria all weekend long.
Details: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 5 p.m.-midnight Saturday, 3-9 p.m. Sunday, 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield. Free admission. sacredheart-fairfield.org.
Listen to spirits with Theresa Caputo
The “Long Island Medium” Theresa Caputo is coming to Turfway Park. Do you have a deceased loved one you’d like to get in contact with? Alleged spiritual medium Caputo might be able to help. Either way, grab your tickets to see the reality star in action, and you can judge for yourself.
Details: 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Turfway Park, 7500 Turfway Road, Florence. turfway.com.
Celebrate the final days of summer at Crossroads West Side
Bring the family to this end of summer event, featuring a live DJ, beer garden, inflatables, face painting, temporary tattoos and a videogame zone. See a vibrant fireworks show once the sun goes down.
Details: 6 p.m., Crossroads West Side, 8575 Bridgetown Road, Cleves. Free. eventvesta.com.
See Andrew Dice Clay live
Comedian Andrew Dice Clay is bringing his comedy routine to the MegaCorp Pavilion stage. Get your tickets to see this one-of-a-kind performer in concert.
Details: 7 p.m.-11 p.m., MegaCorp Pavilion, 101 W. 4th St., Newport. promowestlive.com.
Catch a vibe at Friday Flow
Pull up your lawn chair and listen to live R&B by this week’s performer Monifah.
Details: 6-10 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. washingtonpark.org.
Watch a piano duel
At Queen City Keyed Up, talented performers go head-to-head in this fun, interactive dueling piano show.
Details: 7-10 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Runs May 9-Aug. 29. myfountainsquare.com.
Saturday, Aug. 9Build your flying machine for Red Bull Flugtag
Does Red Bull really give you wings? Find out at Red Bull Flugtag, where teams of engineers and pilots take Red Bull’s slogan to the literal extreme by steering their homemade aircraft off a 22-foot-high ramp above the Ohio River.
Details: noon, Sawyer Point Park & Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E Pete Rose Way, Downtown. redbull.com.
Run/walk in the 2025 FCC3
Pig Works has partnered with FC Cincinnati Foundation to host the FCC3, a 3-mile run/walk celebrating the 10th anniversary of beloved soccer team FC Cincinnati. Participants will receive a race shirt and medal. Post-race, stay for a party with refreshments and food vendors.
Details: 8-11 a.m., TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway, West End. tqlstadium.com.
Watch the Bengals gear up for the 2025-26 season
See the Bengals players get ready for the season at one of their public practices. While witnessing them in action on the field, enjoy a bite from the concession stand, shop Bengals merchandise and have the opportunity to get a signed autograph from the players.
These last two Bengals practices are only open for Season Ticket holders and Club Members respectively.
Details: 2:15-4:15 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Kettering Health Practice Fields, 1 West Mehring Way, Downtown. bengals.com.
Taste how many ways potatoes can be prepared at Dayton Potato Festival
Feast on a variety of potato dishes, shop craft vendors, and listen to live entertainment by featured band Top Secret and DJ Spyder.
Details: noon-8 p.m., Oak & Ivy Park, 803 Anderson Goodrich Court, Dayton. Free admission. daytonlocal.com.
Spend a ‘Day at the Parkl in New Lebanon
What better way to celebrate back to school than by spending time outside? The day will start off with a 5K, followed by a kids’ biz fair, food, vendors, rides, bounce houses and more. Adults can have their fun at the car & bike show, beer garden, cornhole tournament and volleyball tournament. End the night by kissing a pig while fireworks light up the night sky.
Details: Events starting between 8:30 a.m.-9:15 p.m., Fuls Park (Don Rusk Park), 209 S Fuls Road, New Lebanon. newlebanonoh.org.
Interact with your favorite Gen X influencers at Hard Rock Casino
Ready for a night of nostalgia and laughter? Attend the Gen X Takeover Comedy Tour and meet The Real Slim Sherri, The Dadbod Veteran, Kelly Manno, Professor Nick Harrison and Justin Rupple. Musical guest Jojo Malagar will also be joining in on the fun.
Details: 8 p.m., Hard Rock Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton. genxtakeover.com.
Hear powerful stories at Ear Hustle Live!
Award-winning podcasters Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods are bringing their live show to Taft Theatre. Tune in for stories about life in and out of prison, music, visuals and other surprises.
Details: 8 p.m., Taft Theatre, 436 Sycamore St., Downtown. tafttheatre.org.
Get ready for back-to-school at the End of Summer Bash
The Morrow Arts Center is giving away school supplies, hosting fun activities and offering back-to-school shopping specials.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Morrow Arts Center, 10 Miranda St., Morrow. Free admission. morrowartscenter.com.
Shop for goods at ArtisanFest513
Browse through the works of local artisans, makers and small businesses selling handcrafted goods. Take this chance to connect with the community while exploring unique finds.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org.
Explore beer lagering tunnels
This tour explores the stunning 19th and early 20th century brewery architecture and Cincinnati’s rich heritage in its brewing operations. Learn about the evolution of the brewing industry by walking through the lagering tunnels. The tour ends with a stop at a neighborhood taproom, where you can enjoy a pint of local beer (or a soft drink), included with your ticket.
Details: 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Brewing Heritage Trail, 101 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine. $39. brewingheritagetrail.org.
Sunday, Aug. 10Show up to see OTR Performs
Break out your lawn chairs and see local talent shine.
Details: 6-8 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org.
Bring the kids to see ‘Disney Descendants/Zombies Worlds Collide Tour’
Fans of Disney’s hit franchises “Descendants” and “Zombies” can witness the ultimate mashup in this interactive concert experience, featuring Kylie Cantrall, Freya Skye, Malia Baker, Malachi Barton, Dara Reneé, Joshua Colley and Mekonnen Knife. Fans of all ages can dance and sing along to chart-toppers such as “Rotten to the Core” and “Fired Up.”
Details: 5:30 p.m., Heritage Bank Center, 647 Monmouth St., Newport. heritagebankcenter.com.
Throwback to the early 2000s with Nelly
Nelly, known for club bops “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma,” is bringing his “Where the Party at Tour” to Cincinnati. Joining him are special guests Ja Rule, Eve, St. Lunatics and Chingy.
Details: 7:30 p.m., Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. riverbend.org.
Lace up your shoes for a 5K Run & Walk for a Great Cause
Support amazing causes like Women Walking West, The LiveLike Maya Foundation and IACC by participating in this race. All types of runners are welcome, whether you’re wanting to beat your PR or enjoy the outdoors.
Details: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 6249 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason. $35. runsignup.com.
Experience the Taft Museum of Art’s sensory explorations
This program is designed for visitors with low or no vision and allows you to use your touch and hearing senses to discover the museum’s collection and exhibition gallery spaces. With the guidance of specially trained educators, you’ll interact with 3D printed reproductions, fabric samples and soundscapes.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 316 Pike St., Downtown. $15 for adults; $12 for seniors; free for Taft members, military and under 17. Sundays and Mondays are free. Taftmuseum.org.