YOUR
#1
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JUNE 2022
2021
Throw Your Child a Fab Party! THINGS TO DO!
(THE BEST COLLECTION OF EVENTS IN TOWN)
Welcome to
Children’s Medical Center serving families for over 70 years
Your child’s birth month is a perfect time to schedule his or her well child exam. And, it’s easy to remember. We look forward to wishing your child a happy, healthy birthday this year and all the years to come!
Well Child Exams Children’s Medical Center 331 N. Breiel Blvd., Middletown, OH
(513) 424-1856
www.childrenscmc.com
Rebecca A. Dandoy, MD
James M. Komer, MD
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Diana E. Small, MD
NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Jennifer Thornicroft, FNP
PUBLISHER Stewart Day EDITOR IN CHIEF Susan Swindell Day susan@daycommedia.com EDITOR Amanda Hayward amandahayward@ daycommedia.com THINGS TO DO/ ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amanda Ciani amandaciani@ daycommedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGN DayCom Associates PRODUCTION Tim Henard timhenard@ daycommedia.com ACCOUNT MANAGERS Theresa Cicchinelli theresa@daycommedia.com Stewart Day stewart@daycommedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Jonathan McCormack distributioncf@ daycommedia.com
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CINCINNATI FAMILY MAGAZINE is published monthly by DAYCOM MEDIA, INC. Although every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy of published material, DAYCOM MEDIA cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Editorial and business offices are located at 10945 Reed Hartman Hwy., Ste 323, Cincinnati, OH 45242. The phone number is 513-322-5052. CINCINNATI FAMILY MAGAZINE is copyright © 2022 by DayCom Media, Inc., a member of The Family Magazine Syndicate. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
Your next birthday bash will be a great success — it's all in the planning.
IN THIS ISSUE 2 3
5
9
FEATURE
Editor's Note Birthday party dilemmas — solved!
21
"June is busting out all over, all over the meadow and the hill!"
Feedback Win one of two party package from the Florence Y'alls, plus readers report on birthday party issues they've faced.
— Oscar Hammerstein II
19 Summer events galore in our award-winning Things to Do family calendar!
Cincinnati News Take the kids along the next time you're heading out to one of these breweries or local hot spots.
Health What happens when a child with a food allergy shows up at your child's party? Plus: how to help a child with a food allergy learn to advocate for himself.
THINGS TO DO!
12 Birthday Party Troubleshooter! Make your child's day special and tear-free by anticipating what can possibly go wrong when it comes to invites, games, food, favors and more.
cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
INCLUDING: Strawberry Days; To Kill a Mockingbird; Great Parks' Float-in Movies; The Masked Singer National Tour; Italianfest; Jurassic Jungle; MLK Park Family Fun; Bumps and Babies and lots more! june 2022 1
the little things
FRESH PORTRAITS
By Amanda Hayward
schedule yours now!
No creation or sitting fee.
734.748.4233 selvesphotographystudio.squarespace.com
Early Intervention Meet & Play Series Meet other families with children who are visually impaired and explore community resources. CABVI Early Intervention Vision Specialists will be on-site to explore, engage and model positive play in our community! June 17 Shor Park (Milford) August 12 Rentschler Forest MetroPark (Hamilton) September 9 Francis RecreAcres (Sharonville) Events will take place from 9-11 A.M.
RSVP required. Visit cincyblind.org/events for more information and to RSVP.
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Birthday Party Dilemmas, Solved
A
fter a long day of decorating, cooking and overseeing my kids’ birthday party, it’s always delightful to hear, “Wow, Amanda! What a great birthday party, as always! You throw the best parties!” I’m surprised when I hear this because through my eyes, that one thing that went wrong is chugging like a freight train in circles around my brain. That one little thing shifted my focus away from all the good things, including my kids. I think, If only I would have done blah blah blah. I look back, and it wasn’t all that bad. In the end, my kids did have fun, but I also felt like I missed out on some important moments with them. I’ve tried baking the cake and ordering the cake; mailing out invitations and sending evite invitations; organizing games and leaving games out. I bounce back and forth, trying to find the solution to creating that “just right” party, but I can’t make up my mind. Venue or at my house? Should I invite both family and friends or have a separate party for each? No matter which route I take, there always seems to be one tiny thing that goes amiss: the pinata broke too soon; a game went slightly wrong; I didn’t have enough party favors; or a kid started crying. Every party and age will be different, so there isn’t always a “right” way. It will change depending on your kids’ age, how busy life is at the moment, the weather and more. So I’ve learned it's best to plan a party for my family's and birthday star's needs. I made an educated decision to try and simplify things and focus on the most important aspect of the big day — my kids. Once I shifted my mind and “let go” of trying to do too much, do it all, or try and keep everything organized, I focused on my birthday kids more than ever. That is why I relate so much to the “Birthday Party Troubleshooter” article on page 12. Not only do I relate to it, I learned from it through research and talking with other parents who have been in similar situations to me. I was awestruck by some of the feedback I received from our readers about birthday party disasters and birthday party successes. We are all tossing the same ideas around in our heads and trying to make the party just right. These days, there is so much pressure with party etiquette and aspiring to make it all Pinterest perfect. Honestly, the best parties are the ones you don’t overthink. They are the parties held under a park gazebo with the closest friends and families gathered around. They are the parties with less games and more play. The party does not need to be perfect, but you can avoid big disasters and stress on you and the birthday kid. Ask your kid what they want to do. They don’t really care about the fancy cake and hors d'oeuvres. They are just excited for their big day. The best piece of advice I took away from the “Birthday Party Troubleshooter” article was to let the party go naturally. Don’t try and control everything, because you can’t. Also remember to try and put less on your shoulders so you can actually enjoy your kid on their big day.
EDITOR 2 june 2022
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FEEDBACK
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What "party fails" have happened at your kids' birthday parties you have thrown? “Booked a birthday party at an indoor swimming pool for my daughter’s January birthday. One hour before the party started, someone pooped in the pool and it had to be closed for the rest of the day for cleaning."
win!
Y
Merideth Robinson Burton “We threw a hotel birthday party one time and I had booked the wrong date! Another time, another hotel party: the manager said we could have a party, but didn’t inform us people having parties could not use the pool. That was fun."
A Florence Y'alls All-Star Birthday Package — a $343 value!
our birthday star will get to throw a special ceremonial first pitch and keep the autographed baseball; plus this package comes with 12 Family Section tickets; 12 wristbands for unlimited access to the Kids Zon; a Happy Birthday song from the Florence Y'alls baseball fans to your youngster during the 5th inning; Snappy Tomato Beast Pizza and drinks! Learn more by visiting florenceyalls.com/groups/birthdaybashes.
O
Bluegrass Blowout Tickets for a Family of Four — a $400 value!
Brandy Haines Moreland “I made my kid a cake from a mix for his sixth birthday, but failed to mix the eggs fully in. So some bites had baked egg visible in the cake." Jamie Cooley McDougall “Showed up to a birthday and it was for the following weekend. Didn’t understand why we ordered our cake we thought was the wrong day."
ne lucky family will win tickets to five Florence Y'alls' promo games including all-you-can-eat select foods (hot dog, popcorn, pretzels). The first game in the package is June 10. Learn more by visiting shop.florenceyalls.com/ products/bluegrass-blowouts-5-game-package. Enter to win these fun prizes at cincinnatifamilymagazine. com by clicking on the "Contests" tab through Friday, June 17. Winners will be announced the following week on our Facebook page. Let's play ball!
ON THE COVER Cover Kid, Zay, photographed by Sienna Photography. Zay wears apparel from Penn + Nash Co., located in Liberty Center.
Tiffany Norman
“We planned an outdoor party at a farm and that day we had a down pour.'" Glyn Mandy Shockley “I'm usually late to my own parties." Tamara L. Cook “Had a small pool party for my young daughter, three cousins and her best friend in the world at the time. Her best friend up the street came down 20 minutes late (my daughter upset she might not make it). She was towing her three younger siblings with her. Her parents wouldn’t allow her to come unless they were invited, too. Not enough life jackets or too small for flotations, so … to save my daughter’s day, my sister-in-law and I got in and held the smallest two on rafts for two hours. Lesson learned, but her party day was very happy for her!" Brenda Huffman Ashcraft “My husband's family brought extra kids with them and didn't ask to. Didn't have enough goodie bags and prizes, so we didn't do them." Natasha Greber
Is it OK to Bring Siblings to Birthdays?
I
n general, says Lizzie Post, great-great-grandaughter of Emily Post and co-author of Emily Post's Etiquette, 19th Edition (William Morrow; 2017). It’s expected for a parent or caregiver to stick around during parties for infants and toddlers, even through preschool. After that, Post suggests asking the host what they prefer. If you have siblings to deal with, it’s inappropriate to ask if you can bring them along. Try to make other arrangements, or call the hosts and ask if they would be OK with you dropping your child off instead of staying. That also allows them to say, “Why don’t you bring the whole family?” Even if you’d only be bringing a newborn in a baby sling, Post says it’s still proper to call the host ahead of time to give her a heads up.
cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
june 2022 3
more delight
Escape your day-to-day with a getaway to Gaylord Opryland, where the possibilities are endless. Zip down eleven towering waterslides, float on a lazy river, and surf the waves with a SoundWaves Experience Package. Enjoy a stroll through the breathtaking atrium, savor a delicious meal, and find endless adventures during your summer of more.
GaylordOpryland.com
more wonder
more thrills
CINCINNATI NEWS By Amanda Ciani
8 Family-Friendly Breweries & Hot Spots
C
elebrating a grownup's birthday or just looking for a familyfriendly venue?
We rounded up eight breweries and hot-spots around town that welcome families.
HOFBRAUHAUS 200 East Third St., Newport, KY hofbrauhausnewport.com 859-491-7200 Indoor and outdoor dining available. FIFTY WEST BREWING COMPANY 7668 Wooster Pike Cincinnati, OH | 513-834-8789 fiftywestbrew.com Kids can play in the sand and enjoy playing cornhole, too.
FOWLING WAREHOUSE 2940 Highland Ave., Cincinnati, OH fowlingwarehouse.com 513-900- 0959 Football meets bowling. Plus, Fowling offers Family Funday every Sunday. MADTREE BREWING 3301 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH madtreebrewing.com | 513-836-8733 Indoor and outdoor areas available; cornhole and foosball.
BLUE ASH SUMMIT PARK 4335 Glendale Milford Road Blue Ash, OH summitblueash.com | 513-745-8644 New this month, Summit Park offers a designated outdoor refreshment area.
NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY newportonthelevee.com | 859-291-0550 Attractions for the family including Bridgeview Box Park, Rotolo and Velocity Esports.
BIRCUS BREWING CO. 322 Elm St., Ludlow, KY bircus.com | 859-740-3118 Families can see Saturday and Sunday circus matinee shows.
RHINEGEIST BREWERY 1910 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH rhinegeist.com | 513-381-1367 Adults can grab a beverage and everyone can enjoy ping pong and board games.
A birthday party at Fifty West Brewing Co.
cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
(please turn the page)
june 2022 5
local news
Join Cincinnati Family at Babies and Bumps
E
xpectant parents can meet with leading experts to prepare for Baby at Babies and Bumps 2022. The event will be coming to Marriott North, located at 6189 Mulhauser Road in West
Chester, on June 25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be exhibition booths, informative demonstrations and educational workshops, too. There will be fun giveaways throughout the day and expecting parents can even connect with new friends along the way! Visit babies-and-bumps.com for more information and be sure to stop by at Cincinnati Family magazine’s booth to say hello and enter to win our Babies and Bumps Giveaway.
Babies and Bumps is at the Marriot North on June 25.
NEWSY BITS Free Books & More at Library
New Bounce Spot Hello Honey on the Way Opens June 17
S
A
top by any of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public
ltitude Trampoline Park will be opening at 7522
Hit the Road for Strawberries
A
T
new sweet treat shop will be opening in Fort Thomas
he 45th Annual Troy Strawberry Festival
Library’s 41 locations to pick up a
Beechmont Ave. in Anderson
this summer. Hello Honey, the
free activity booklet, free books
this summer. Kids can enjoy
Cincinnati-based homemade small
Sunday, June 5. Troy is located
and enjoy hands-on programs all
attractions like a giant foam pit,
batch ice cream shop, will carry
approximately one-and-a-half
summerlong. Eligible locations
rock wall, trampoline basketball,
unique small batch concoctions
hours from Cincinnati, so make
will also provide free meals
gymnastic tumble track, dodgeball
like cookies and biscoff,
a plan to pack up the kids for
and snacks, in partnership with
court and even a kids’ court for
gorgonzola honey pecan, charcoal
all the fun. The all-ages festival
UMC Food Ministries. The
junior jumpers. Birthday parties
black sesame. Classic flavors will
includes a variety of food and
library is offering early literacy
will be available as well, so be
also be available. The other Hello
strawberry delights along the
programming all summer and the
sure to keep that in mind when
Honey is located at 1530 Madison
great Miami River in addition to
it's time to book for your child.
Road in Cincinnati and another
100 arts and crafts vendors, fun
Cincinnati location will open this
family activities and strawberry
fall.
shortcake eating contests.
summer learning journey is for kids and teens. Visit cincysummer.org or call 513-369-6900 for more information.
Call 513-232-7522 or visit altitudetrampolinepark.com/ locations/cincinnatianderson for more information.
Hello Honey is at 118
For more information on the
N. Fort Thomas Ave. Visit
Troy Strawberry Festival, head
hellohoneyicecream.com for
to troystrawberryfest.com.
more information.
6 june 2022
takes place Saturday, June 4 -
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
Dedicated to Women’s Health Hilltop OB/GYN is excited to welcome Dr. Jeffrey Lubow to our group. Call today to schedule an appointment with him or any of our great physicians.
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513.424.1440
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CAMP START JUNE 14
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888.424.0017
CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
Research Opportunity
BOOK YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY TODAY!
CMV VACCINE RESEARCH STUDY Recruiting women 16-40 years old. Regular exposure to children 5 years and younger required for women 20 years and older. Participants must meet enrollment criteria to be a part of this clinical research study of an investigational medication. Eligible participants may be compensated up to $2,017 for their time and travel. For more information call 513.721.3868 text 513.854.3370 or visit www.ctifacts.com cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
Party packages for all sizes and budgets!
SAVE $50
with any party booked in June. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Group Sales
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EnterTRAINmentJunction.com june 2022 7
BiCYCLES - HELMETS - ACCESSORiES - REPAiRS
RESER BiCYCLE OUTFiTTERS 648 MONMOUTH ST. NEWPORT, KY 859-261-6187 RESERBiCYCLE.COM
The Premier Event for
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New & Soon-to-Be Parents
CINCINNATI June 25, 2022 10AM – 2PM
Pampers® Discovery Center New Potty Training Study Starts June 17 Looking for little ones currently potty training and wearing brands like Easy Ups (size 3T - 4T). Earn up to $250.
Details & Tickets: babies-and-bumps.com
Register online at: VIPpanelist.com
Questions? Call: 513-945-0002 or Email: contact@vippanelsit.com
Babies in a full-time day care center or individuals employed in areas of conflict with P&G will not qualify.
8 june 2022
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
health Throwing a birthday party for your kid is all fun and games until someone shows up with a food allergy. Here is how to turn that sticky situation around. By Amanda Hayward
Food Allergies + Birthdays A
kid shows up at the birthday party with a food allergy — sounds like the beginning of a knock-knock joke, right? In all seriousness, this really can happen. It happened to me, and even worse, I wasn’t prepared for it. What would this dairyfree kiddo eat when I had a smorgasbord of pizza, cheese, cake and ice cream? Luckily, the kid came prepared and knew exactly what to do. He had his dairy-free treat tucked away in our freezer for later, and he patiently picked through the snacks he was allowed to munch on. But what if he wasn’t self-sufficient? What if neither of us knew what to do? This is where communication with the parents of the food-allergy kid and the party host or hostess comes into play. According to Sandy Durrani, M.D., associate professor, UC Department of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus, it is very important for the party host to engage with the parent of a child with a food allergy (FA) on those very questions. Talk with the parents ahead to review the planned menu and activities you will be planning throughout the day. “The parent should guide the host on what steps to take to ensure everyone’s safety,” Durrani explains. “For example, if cake is being served and the child has a milk allergy, it is important to discuss with the parent how they want to handle things if the cake contains milk.” Some of these options include the FA kid avoiding the cake and bringing along a doctorapproved treat so he can still get in on the fun. The FA parent can bring an allergy-friendly
cake, for example, or you both can work together on having menu items that work for the FA kid. “The parent can guide based on multiple factors (child’s developmental age, food/ snacks being served, etc.) on how to handle food,” he says. Food isn’t always the only allergen to look out for. Some arts and crafts, such as PlayDoh, contain wheat which can cause allergic reactions depending on the kid’s allergies. Communicate with parents beforehand and ask if any of the kids have allergies, and plan from there.
Common Food Allergies The most common food allergies in kids to be aware of are milk, peanut, egg, tree nut, wheat, soy, fish/shellfish and sesame allergies. If a kid had a mild reaction once, don’t let your guard down — it can happen again and possibly worse, according to Durrani. “Each reaction can vary in severity, but life-threatening reactions can occur to anyone with a food allergy even if they have not had one before,” he says. “A common misconception is that just because one has had a mild reaction previously, the next reaction will be mild.” The severity of the reaction depends on dose, method of preparation of the food, cofactors such as exercise, illness and more, Durrani explains. Being prepared for the worst is better than assuming you are in the clear.
Plan of Action
kids with food allergies at the party, ask around and see if any parents have what is called, an anaphylaxis action plan (epinephrine autoinjectors, at least two is generally recommended) available and see if someone at the party is trained to handle reactions, suggests Durrani. “While everyone does their best to avoid accidents, accidents and reactions still do occur,” he says. If a kid has a mild reaction, it can be treated with antihistamines. The person at the party who is trained to recognize and treat allergic reactions can take action and use the anaphylaxis. “Epinephrine should be given, and it is very important that the child be placed in a lying position with legs up or on their sides if having gastrointestinal symptoms,” says Durrani. “The rationale for this is, we do not want kids having a reaction to be sitting up or standing if their blood pressure is an issue, plus running around could worsen the reaction.” Having someone at the party who is trained to handle this sort of reaction isn’t always realistic, so in general, call an EMS especially if the reactions are severe.
Turn the page to learn about helping kids advocate for themselves if they have a food allergy.
So how can you be prepared? If you have
cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
june 2022 9
health bits
Kids and Self-Sufficiency with Food Allergies
I
It’s a challenging yet doable road ahead: Educate your child on basic knowledge and emergency procedures early on to help them be confident and independent individuals.
f your child has a food allergy, teaching her self-sufficiency is important to her confidence and safety in the long run. Empowering your kids will make birthday parties and all situations easier and easier to accept. “Empower the child – remind them they don’t have to eat anything if offered,” says Durrani. “There is no shame in not taking any risks. There are plenty of activities at a party that they will still enjoy.”
Taking Control Start them early. Kids are sponges and want to grow up earlier than we want them to, unfortunately. So teaching them self-sufficiency earlier than later is not only beneficial to them, but letting go and trusting them will also relieve stress for you. You will be surprised at how well your kids will handle a situation all on their own. Be Prepared for Anything Depending on your kid’s food allergy, where the food is being prepared, outside food being brought in, cakes, ice creams, pizza and chocolates/candies tend to be at higher risk for reactions in the common food allergies like peanut, tree nut, milk and egg, says Durrani. Discussing all scenarios with your kid is vital to their health. They need to be aware of what foods are safe, which are not, and what they should do if it’s offered to them.
10 june 2022
“I always recommend to someone without allergies (or anyone for that matter) to be open about your lack of knowledge and to be nonjudgmental,” he continues. “It is very hard sometimes for parents and children with FA to navigate what should be wonderful moments in a child’s life - like their friend’s birthday party - without feeling ostracized. Work with the parent on how they feel their child would.” Teach Fun and Responsibility Do have a great experience in the activities you have together, but also ensure safety at the same time. Before dropping him off at his first birthday party, it’s important you call the parents ahead of time to make them aware of your kid’s food allergy. Also ask if there is someone available and capable of handling reactions and epinephrine autoinjectors. “I think for quality of life, it is important to remind the child that even if they have a reaction, they are safe as there is epinephrine available and someone is there to take care of them,” says Durrani. “They also can have a caretaker call Mom or Dad immediately if they have questions or if they are having a reaction. If the child is older, they can be trained in recognizing and treating reactions.” Cover the Basics Covering the basics is a good way to begin teaching your kids about food allergies so you don’t overwhelm them: don’t share food; don’t
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share utensils; wash your hands before and after eating; and alert a parent immediately if they think they are having a reaction. You as the FA parent are the true expert, emphasizes Durrani. Parents of the birthday kid should offer to let you help supervise, review the menu and activities and be open to questions on what to do if there is a reaction. This is why it is important to talk to the parents well in advance so that you have time to go over your kids’ needs - it is your kid and their life can depend on it. “If it is at a restaurant or Chuck E. Cheesetype facility, engage the parent on how to handle cross-contamination risk at those facilities especially if food is being prepared there.” Before teaching your kids to avoid reactions and be safe, you should first learn yourself over the course of time. Kids are quick to pick up on any anxiety that you feel. To reduce your own anxiety, become well-informed on the subject of allergies and don’t hold back. Ask the parent to bring an auto-injector trainer and teach you how to administer it if they drop the child off, for example. Your kids will see that and learn straight from the source — you. Amanda Hayward is editor of this publication and a mom of three.
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Party On
By Amanda Hayward
Birthday Party TROUBLESHOOTING It’s inevitable! Not every birthday party will be picture perfect. But before you send out those invitations, read on for tips on avoiding major mishaps and keeping the birthday kid happy.
E
verything was
face. Two games, gift opening and a happy
ready for my
birthday song later, a kid shows up with
daughter’s sixth
a dairy allergy, a girl who was third in line
planning of the birthday party, and at the
birthday, so I
for the pinata destroyed it before the other
party. You can only do so much, but there
thought. I invited
kids had a turn and another kid was crying.
are ways to prevent a party fail before it’s
friends and family,
Although the party wasn’t a complete
too late with some careful planning, party
cake was done,
disaster and in the end my birthday girl was
hacks and prepping.
pizza ordered and a big smile on my girl’s
12 june 2022
happy, I know there are ways to prevent
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
some of these disasters in the future. Many problems begin to arise during the
Ready? Let’s troubleshoot!
Invitation Dilemma Do you invite both friends and family or have a separate party for each? Do you send out the invites digitally or by mail? What about school friends?
Drop-off and Pick-up Dilemma Should you stay or should you go? This is always the question when your kids reach the comfortable and acceptable drop-off age, or over 5 or 6 years old.
TROUBLESHOOT! Party planning and digital invitations go hand-in-hand. However, no matter how high-tech this world gets, we sometimes like to stick with the oldfashioned way of doing things. It’s always tough deciding if you should send out physical party invitations by mail, e-mail, Facebook or evite. It’s not rude to send out a quick evite, but there are benefits to both. Start here: if you have a kiddo who is old enough to write or care about their invitations, ask him how he would like to do it. Yes, evites — or creating events on Facebook — is a time and money saver, but your kid may want to help write out, choose and put stamps on invitations which will save some time and make them feel part of the planning process. Whichever way you go, all options are good and appropriate. Separating a family party and friend party at your home can avoid an overwhelming and overcrowded house. However, again, it’s up to you and renting out a venue is always an option if you can’t accommodate everyone. Having friend-only parties let’s you just focus on the kids. When it comes to inviting school friends, know you are not obligated to invite the entire classroom; some schools won’t allow that anyway. For a general guideline, try following the “age plus one” rule. For example, a party for a 4-year-old should have five attendees.
TROUBLESHOOT! Your troubleshooter begins simply with parent-to-parent communication. If you are the one throwing the party and you would rather have the adults stick around, mention this in the invitation right from the get-go. Otherwise, you may be disappointed when a handful of parents drop off their littles and run out. This will save you lots of time, money and worry. If you are the one unsure whether to drop-off, the solution is ask! No one would be offended by you double checking. You can say, “Is it OK if I stick around for the party? I would love to help out!” or “Is this a drop-off kind of party? Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay!” Easy as that to avoid any awkward misunderstandings.
Game Planning Dilemma Which games should you have, if any at all? You didn’t plan out enough games and you can’t decide whether you should include competitive prizes or not. The last thing you want are kids fighting over the pinata or a child crying over prizes. TROUBLESHOOT! First, keep the age of the birthday kid in mind when planning games. You don’t want too many, which can be overwhelming for everyone; and too little may cause boredom if there isn’t a main attraction at the party to keep their attention. One way to plan your games is to keep them simple and quick. Another way is to have some extra games, crafts or activities tucked away in case the kids go through the first two or three games quickly. Next, don’t get wrapped up in making sure every single game is played; the party will naturally pan out and a lot of times, kids wind up having a good time simply by playing with each other.
Cake-and-Ice Cream Trouble Choosing flavors to please the crowd can be challenging, especially when you don’t know if the majority likes chocolate or vanilla. Chocolate cake and vanilla cupcakes? Or vanilla cake and small chocolate cake on top? Decisions, decisions. What do you do? TROUBLESHOOT! Kids can be picky eaters, especially toddlers. So, opt for the simple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting versus the strawberry filled, strong-tasting cakes. For ages 4 and younger, a simple vanilla or funfetti cake recipe is quite the winner; and for older kids, ask them what they like! Does your kid care if you make the cake or have it made? No. They don’t. Even though the “guilt” lies on your shoulders, know that no matter where the cake comes from, it came from the heart. Sure the cake is important, but if it causes you stress spending hours slaving over a hot stove the day before the party, let someone else take that off your plate so you can spend those extra hours doing what you’re meant to do: celebrating your kids’ birthday. They will only be that age one time - remember that. Presents: To OPEN OR NOT? Everything seems to be going smoothly and the kids are playing great. Should you interrupt and announce the present opening or wait until everyone leaves? TROUBLESHOOT! Opening gifts at the party is a good chance for your child to practice being a gracious host. However, some kids (and parents) don’t enjoy being in the spotlight. So if this is the case, check with what they want to do. Either way, it is totally appropriate to open presents at the party or later when everyone leaves. cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
Although guest love watching their friend’s face glow when they open their gift, they are always a phone call, text or even a “Thank You” card away. Discuss with your little ones beforehand about saying, “Thank you,” if they do open their gifts in front of friends and family. Worried about kids getting angry or breaking your kids’ brandnew, opened toys? Set some structure; ask the kids to all sit around your kid, giving them plenty of space to open gifts. Be sure to explain to your birthday kid before the party about playing with their gifts after everyone leaves. This will avoid birthday cries and an angry you. The Party Favor Dilemma Party favors may be tiny and harmless, but they can add up to a BIG expense to an already pricy day. Someone shows up to the party with extra siblings, do you or don’t you have extra party favors when this happens? When do you hand them out? TROUBLESHOOT! Kids are easy to please — remember this when choosing your party favor items. But should you have extra party favors for the guests who bring along extra little family members? This is entirely up to you and your budget, but to avoid this, check in with guests and ask if they plan on bringing extra guests so you can get a complete head count. You are not being pushy, only trying to plan for food, party favors and games. If you are the family wondering if you can bring along the baby or other siblings, politely ask the host if you can bring them along. If not, then arrange for a sitter for the extra kiddos. Knowing when to hand out the party favors is key, too. Handing them out at the end of the party is ideal, otherwise, tiny toys and candy may end up all over the living room (and elsewhere) or get mixed up with the other kids’ party bags. If they are necessary for the party, such as towels and flip-flops, have a permanent marker handy to mark all of the kids’ items or ask their parents to do it if they plan on sticking around. Amanda Hayward is editor of this publication and a mom of three.
Head to cincinnatifamilymagazine.com for more party troubleshooting ideas and the best outdoor venues for hosting your kids’ next birthday bash, worry-free. june 2022
13
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Offering Overnight and Day Camp from Jun. 12 - Aug. 13 for campers ages 6 - 15. Campers stay in cabins with top notch counselors and enjoy the lake, ropes course and activities like archery, team building and biking. Ranch camps available for horse lovers ages 7 - 15. Call or visit our website for full details.
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THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE 4015 Redbank Road, Cincinnati 513-569-8080 | thechildrenstheatre.com
YMCA DAY CAMP Multiple YMCA Locations myy.org/programs/camp
Enjoy a variety of themes for ages 7 - 18. Focus on music, dance, drama, or all three. All levels welcome. Camps run weekly from May 31 – Jul. 1, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. AcademyLive! Summer Camp: Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS. Performances Jun. 10, 17, 24, and July 1.
Week-long camps are offered Jun. 1 - Aug. 13 for campers ages 5 - 15. Your child will grow confident, make friends and create amazing memories by being included in all the fun. Campers rotate with a small group visiting the swimming pool, S.T.E.M. activities, group games and more. 11 Camp Sites serving Anderson, Batavia, Blue Ash, Burlington, Colerain, Ft. Thomas, Hillsboro, Springfield Township, West End, and Western Hills.
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SUMMER CAMPS
A SPECIAL ADVERTISING DIRECTORY
BAKER HUNT 620 Greenup Street Covington, KY 859-431-0020 | bakerhunt.org Baker Hunt offers art and cooking classes for ages 7 - 15. Camps are Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in June and July. Topics range from space, comic books, animals, and more! Are you purchasing more than one camp? Use code YCAMPS22 to save $25 on each camp. BRAIN BALANCE 12084 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati 800-877-5500 | brainbalancecenters.com Help Your Child Reach Their Potential. Our program focuses on helping kids overcome their challenges by improving their cognitive performance. Brain Balance is like exercise but for the brain. Where exercise builds muscles, the Brain Balance Program helps kids build information pathways in the brain. We offer ongoing enrollment and summer bridge programs. BUCKNER MARTIAL ARTS 8216 Highland Pointe Drive, West Chester 513-779-2413 | bucknermartialarts.com Voted one the best martial arts studios in Cincinnati, we combine defense skills with personal development. Students progress quickly while learning leadership and strong values under the teaching of master instructors. Free uniform with class sign-up. CAMP AT THE J 8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati 513-722-7245 | mayersonjcc.org/camp Presenting Camp at the J – voted Cincinnati’s Best Day Camp in the 2020 Best of Parenting poll! We cannot wait for another magical summer filled with memories and friendships that last a lifetime. Give your child a summer to remember at Camp at the J! Activities include archery, sports, arts and crafts, drama, music, Israeli culture, and swimming. Jun. 13 - Aug. 12. 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (extended care available). Grades K - 10.
CHILDREN’S MEETING HOUSE 927 O’Bannonville Road, Loveland 513-683-4757 | cmhschool.com Visit our website to see all the camps we are offering this year. Our camps offer a variety of arts, crafts, nature, science, drama, and fun activities for children ages 3 - 12 on our beautiful 7+ acre campus. Camps are led by experienced CMH staff who are eager to share their passion for learning and having fun with our campers. Reserve your space NOW!
GREAT PARKS OF HAMILTON COUNTY 10245 Winton Road, Cincinnati 513-521-7275 greatparks.org/discovery/children/day-camps Great Parks of Hamilton County Day Camps are a break from school, not from learning! The camps keep kids active, healthy and focused while enjoying the great outdoors. Children ages 2 - 17 can explore nature through hands-on activities, hikes, games, crafts and much more with these full and half-day camps. Offerings include two-day to week-long nature, adventure, farm, fishing, golf and horse camps. HANDS ON ROBOTICS 525 Scott St, Covington, KY facebook.com/handsonroboticsacademy Robots, architecture, engineering, and even athletics! Welcome to the Hands-On Robotics Academy. This camp will take place at the Covington Classical academy for one week. You must pre-register. This camp session runs Jul. 18 - 22, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. MASON DANCE CENTER 600-B Reading Road, Mason 513-398-0353 | masondance.com We provide an opportunity for anyone ages 3 - adult to discover the joys of dance. Ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, pre-professional ballet, pre-dance combos, adult classes. We offer summer and mini-camps!.
MCGING IRISH DANERS 8962 Blue Ash Road, Cincinnati 513-891-6066 | mcgingdancers.com Join us for one of our ever-popular Summer Try It Out Camps! Dancers will learn the basics of Irish Dance, participate in a daily craft activity, enjoy some tasty snacks and have tons of fun while making new friends! Children ages 4 - 10 are welcome and dancers will be grouped by age when applicable. Register today. SNAPOLOGY westchestertwp.snapology.com 513-988-7363 We are the premier partner for STEAM programs, offering year-round programs in schools, community facilities, local businesses and homes. Kids have so much fun in our programs that they don’t even realize they’re learning! Offering a variety of half- and full-day STEAM-based summer camps. Camp themes include: Scientists/Jr. Scientists; Engineers/Jr. Engineers; Stop Motion Animation; Robotics/Jr. Robotics; Video Game Design; Brick Art & Design; Mining & Building; Ninjas and more!
CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati 513-721-2787 | cincinnatiartmuseum.org/summercamp The Cincinnati Art Museum is the place for summer fun and creativity. Jump into art with eight weeks of exciting projects, gallery games and more! Explore a different theme each week with activities taught by skilled museum educators. Themes include Earth Encounters, Make It Mini, Paint Party, Inspiration and Imagination, Geek Out, Art Lab, Decorate It, and Creepy Creations. Convenient before- and after-care available. Member discount available. Camps run Jun. 13 - Aug. 12. Ages 6 - 12. Camps will follow all CDC and Ohio guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. CODE NINJAS – ANDERSON TWP 7426 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati 513-233-2633 codeninjas.com/oh-anderson-township Transform your child’s love for technology into an exciting learning adventure. Guided by our team of Code Senseis, Code Ninjas Camps empower kids to gain valuable tech skills and make new friends. It’s an unforgettably fun learning experience! This year we will be offering week-long summer camps. We will offer different sessions each week featuring some of the most popular games/ activities among kids. Camp themes will include Minecraft, Roblox, YouTube, Legos, 3D printing and more. CODE NINJAS – GREEN TWP 6507 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati 513-878-1338 codeninjas.com/oh-green-township Unleash your child’s inner Ninja! Transform your child’s love for technology into an exciting learning adventure. Guided by our team of Code Senseis, Code Ninjas Camps empower kids to gain valuable tech skills and make new friends. Our camps offer an immersive environment for kids to explore and develop new skills, gain confidence, and have fun with friends. From coding and game building, to STEM and robotics - it’s an unforgettable experience!
16 june 2022
STAR GLAZERS 513-474-6364 | starglazers.com Paint pottery at your location. Pottery experts will bring all the supplies and offer booklets and ideas for your masterpiece. Pricing includes the cost of supplies, glazing and firing. No mess! TAFT MUSEUM OF ART 316 Pike St., Cincinnati 513-241-0313 taftmuseum.org/families-children/summer-camp Our small classes and hands-on activities with experienced teachers will make this a summer of fun. Campers will enjoy painting, sculpting, drawing, and a hybrid of experiences thanks to the great art the Cincinnati area has to offer including right here at the Taft.
WEST CHESTER ACADEMY MUSIC, DANCE, ACTING AND GYMNASTICS 8107 Market Place Drive, West Chester 513-829-2345 | westchesteracademy.com From a child’s very first lesson to the experienced adult, West Chester Academy has something for everyone in music, dance, acting, and gymnastics. Located in West Chester, we specialize in beginners of all ages and offer training through pre-professional levels. We also have camps for all ages.
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SUMMER SAVINGS ALWAYS UP TO 70% LESS THAN RETAIL PRICES!
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A child who has more candles on their birthday cake is just as deserving of celebration and love!
A Voice for Northern Kentucky Families Northern Kentucky CAC’s Head Start prepares children for academic success with Center-Based, Home-Based, and Early Head Start Services. Head Start provides quality preschool education for children ages 0 to 5. Combining Early Head Start Services and resources with traditional childcare and family childcare settings creates opportunities to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their families.
Childcare centers and family childcare providers respond to the needs of working families by offering flexible and convenient full-day and full-year services. Early childhood classroom instruction promotes positive socialization and creates a supportive network for parents.
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937-424-0210 | bair.org
june THINGS TO DO
By Amanda Ciani
DAILY ACTIVITIES | CONCERTS | FAMILY OUTINGS | FARMERS MARKETS | FESTIVALS | SHOWS | STORY TIMES & MORE
World’s Largest Swim Lesson
H
elp to shine a light on the importance of swim lessons for all children. The 23rd World’s Largest Swimming
Lesson event at Coney Island will let your family be apart of the largest world-wide lesson on June 23. Registration begins at 12 p.m. and the event is from 1 - 1:30 p.m. Included free with the cost of daily admission. Coney Island Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, Oh. For more information, call 513-232-8230 or coneyislandpark.com. To learn more about the World’s Largest Swim Lesson, visit wlsl.org.
NOTEABLES Strawberry Days ............... 22 To Kill a Mockingbird ......................... 22 Great Parks’ Float-In Movies ................ 22 The Masked Singer National Tour ............ 25 Italianfest .......... 25 Jurassic Jungle ..................... 25 MLK Park Family Fun Days ....................... 26 Laurel Park Family Fun Days ...................... 28
The World’s Largest Swim Lesson (June 23), helps aquatic facilities and regional, state and national water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together to bring awareness to the importance of swim lessons in the prevention of drowning.
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Babies and Bumps ................. 28
june 2022 19
DAILY EVENTS
wed 1
FREE A TREASURY OF DECORATIVE PAINTING AND ART EVENT An exhibition with a variety of mediums. Fairfield Community Art Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 513405-6100 or gcdapainters.org. FREE BLUE ASH FARMERS MARKET Produce and more. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; Wednesdays, 3:30 - 7 p.m.; summitparkblueash.com/ residents/farmers_market.php. BUTTERFLIES OF THE NILE: KROHN BUTTERFLY SHOW Be surrounded by butterflies. Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati; daily through June 19, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; see website for ticket information; 513-421-4086 or cincinnatiparks. com/krohn. FREE HUMP DAY CONCERT SERIES Live music and concessions. Valid vehicle permit required; Voice of America MetroPark, Ronald Reagan Lodge, 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester; Wednesdays in June, 7 - 9 p.m.; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net. PYRAMID HILL SUMMER SERIES FOR KIDS The activity this week is yoga. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 12 - 1 p.m.; $5 per student, $10 general admission for adults; 513-8688336 or pyramidhill.org. STRAWBERRY DAYS A festival with a bounce pad, farm games and more. The weekend brings live music, food trucks and a Beer Garden. Tickets online only: $14.95 weekend, $10.95 weekday, free for ages 2 and younger; bloomsandberries.com. 20 june 2022
FREE SUMMIT PARK YOGA Family-friendly yoga class on the Great Lawn for all ages. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 5:30 6:30 p.m.; summitparkblueash. com. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD All rise for the national tour. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m., additional showtimes online; tickets start at $36; 513-621-2787 or cincinnatiarts.org. FREE WASHINGTON PARK SUMMER CINEMA Children ages 7 - 17 can learn how to climb, drop and more. Ludlow Theatre, 322 Elm St., Ludlow; 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.; $20; 859-740-3118 or bircus.com/ recurring-events. FREE YOGA ON THE LEVEE Weekly yoga classes for all skill levels. Newport On the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport; 6 - 7 p.m.; 859-291-0550 or newportonthelevee.com/yogaon-the-levee.
thu 2 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Nationals. “Lou Gehrig Day.” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ ballpark for tickets. FREE JOSEPH-BETH KIDS STORY TIME Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati; 10:30 a.m.; 513-396-8960 or josephbeth.com. FREE MOVIES IN THE PARK Family-friendly activities and food trucks at 6 p.m. Encanto, begins at 7 p.m. Village Green Park, 301 Wessel Drive, Fairfield; 6 p.m.; facebook.com/ fairfieldparks. FREE ROCKIN’ THE ROEBLING Thursday concerts; 124 East Mehring Way, Cincinnati; 6 - 10 p.m.; 513-357-2604 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.
FREE SMALE FAMILY FUN DAYS Ice cream, face painting, puppet shows and more. Schmidlapp Event Lawn, 124 East Mehring Way, Cincinnati; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; 513-861-0023 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org/ programs. SPANISH AT LILYPAD PLAY (register) An immersive language class for ages 2 - 5 years old. LilyPad Play, 2008 Madison Road, Cincinnati; 11 - 11:30 a.m.; $15 per class; 513-321-1379 or lilypadplay.com.
fri 3 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Nationals. “Fireworks Friday” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb. com/reds/ballpark for tickets. FLORENCE Y’ALLS “Fireworks Friday.” Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, KY; 7:03 p.m.; tickets start at $11; 859-594-4487 or florenceyalls.com. ACOUSTIC JAM (register) Sing and dance with live music. Ages newborn - 6. LilyPad Play, 2008 Madison Road, Cincinnati; 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.; $15 per class; 513-321-1379 or lilypadplay.com. GREAT PARKS FLOAT-IN MOVIE Watch Jungle Cruise from a rowboat; refreshments for purchase. Winton Woods Harbor, 10245 Winton Road; 9:30 p.m.; rent boats online for up to four people; vehicle permit required for park entry; greatparks.org. REVOLUTION DANCE PRESENTS: SOUL – A CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSIC Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati; 8 p.m.; $30; 513-6212787 or cincinnatiarts.org. SUMMERFAIR More than 300 artists’ works, live music, gourmet food. Coney
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
Island, 7850 Five Mile Road, Cincinnati; June 3: 12 - 7 p.m., June 4: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., June 5: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; $10 or $15 three-day pass; 513-531-0050 or summerfair.org.
sat 4 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Nationals. “Super Saturday.” 4:10 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ ballpark for tickets. BREAKFAST WITH THE ANIMALS (register) Eat at the Base Camp Café and tour and chat about lions and tortoises. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati; 7 - 9 a.m.; $122 a person; cincinnatizoo.org. FREE CABVI FUN FEST 2022 Live music, carnival games, carnival food. The cornhole tournament ($50 per team to register) will raise funds for vision loss. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati; 1 - 5 p.m.; 513-222-8558 or cincyblind.org. FREE FAMILY ARTVENTURES Families take a docent-led tour of the CAM. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati; 2 p.m.; 513-721-2787 or cincinnatiartmuseum.org. FAMILY CIRCUS PERFORMANCE & CLASS (register) A circus performance plus learning skills. Ludlow Theatre, 322 Elm St., Ludlow; 2 p.m.; $5 children, $10 adults; 859-7403118 or bcircus.com. FAMILY SUNSET SAFARI: GOODNIGHT ZOO Night animals hiking the zoo. Ages 5 and older; register for families. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati; 6 - 9 p.m.; $50 nonmember, $45 members; 513559-7767 or cincinnatizoo.org. FAMILY WORKSHOP:
WHIMSICAL BAMBOO CREATIONS (register) Learn art construction with artist Deb Brod. CCAC @ Short Vine, 2728 Short Vine St., Cincinnati; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; $30 per family registered by June 1; 513-497-2860 or cliftonculturalarts.org. FREE GREAT PARKS SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK Live music, tasty food and drinks for purchase. Glenwood Gardens Great Lawn, 10397 Springfield Pike; valid vehicle permit is required for entry; 7 - 9 p.m.; 513-521-7275 or greatparks.org. NKY ROLLER DERBY Cheer on the Blac -N Bluegrass. Hits Entertainment Complex, 3785 Lake Park Drive, Covington; 4:30 OR 6:30 p.m.; $10 general admission, $5 ages 15 and younger, free for ages 6 and younger; 859-795-4042 or nkyrollerderby.com. FREE SAWYER POINT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Bluegrass and Americana bands, a kid’s zone, food trucks. Sawyer Point, 705 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati; 2 - 10 p.m.; 513-357-2604 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org. FREE SIDEWALK POP-UP Popsicles, chalk art, a book signing by children’s author Alexis Winthrob and shopping. Wyoming General Store, 514 Wyoming Ave., Cincinnati; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; facebook.com/ wyominggeneralstore. FREE WESTSIDE MARKET POP-UP One hundred vendors, food trucks, family activities. Westwood Town Hall, 3017 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; westsidemarketcincy.com.
sun 5 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Nationals. “Family Sundays.” 1:40 p.m. 100 Joe
Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ballpark for tickets. FLORENCE Y’ALLS “Family Sundays,” (free for ages 12 and younger); Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, KY; 1:07 p.m.; 859-594-4487 or florenceyalls.com for tickets. FAMILY STEM NIGHT (register) Explore real-world problems. The Stem Lab, 11223 Cornell Park Drive, Blue Ash; 6 - 7:30 p.m.; $10 refundable ticket per family; 513-857-3366 or cincystemlab.com. FREE FLEA IN THE FORT Live music, food trucks and local artisans. Tower Park, 900 South Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; 859-5721209 or ftthomas.org.
To Kill a Mockingbird is at the Aronoff Center through June 12.
FREE HYDE PARK FARMERS MARKET Produce, live music and activities. Hyde Park Square, 2700 Erie Ave., Cincinnati; 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; hydeparkfarmersmarket.com. ICE CREAM SOCIAL CRUISE (register) Cruise and enjoy ice cream. BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport; 3 - 4:30 p.m.; $30 adult, $25 ages 4 - 12; 800-2618586 or bbriverboats.com. FREE SHOW AND TELL ON THE FARM: GOAT JAMBOREE Visit and learn about goats through activities and crafts; vehicle permit required for entry. Chrisholm MetroPark Historic Farmstead, 2070 Woodsdale Road, Trenton; 2 - 3 p.m; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net. SUNDAY YOUTH SILKS CLASSES (register) An aerial silks class for ages 7 - 17. Ludlow Theatre, 322 Elm
St., Ludlow; 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.; $20; 859-740-3118 or bircus. com/recurring-events.
mon 6 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. D-backs. “Military Appreciation Day.” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ ballpark for tickets. MUSIC MONDAY AT HAPPY HANGOUT Explore instruments and more. Happy Hangout Westside, 2041 Anderson Ferry Road, Cincinnati; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; included with playpass; 513458-1470 or happyhangoutws. com.
tue 7 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. D-backs. “3-2-1 Tuesdays.” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/ reds/ballpark for tickets. FREE AMERICAN SIGN
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LANGUAGE CLASS (register) Ages 6 and older can learn beginning sign language. Covedale Branch Library, 4980 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati; 3 - 4 p.m.; 513-369-4460 or cincinnatilibrary.org. FREE KIDS CREW AT NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE Every week brings a new activity for kids. Newport On the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport; 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; 859-291-0550 or newportonthelevee.com/kidscrew. LITTLE FARMER PRE-K FUN Ages 2 to 5 can learn about being a farmer with fun activities. Benton Family Farm, 11896 Old Lexington Pike, Walton; 10 - 11 a.m.; $25 per session; $5 for participating siblings; 859-496-7144 or bentonfarm.com. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Ages 2 - 5 can hear a naturethemed story at Cincinnati Nature Center’s Playscape, 4949 Tealtown Road., Milford; (please turn the page) june 2022 21
THINGS TO DO 10 - 10:30 a.m.; included with daily admission, $10 adults, $6 children; free for members; 513831-1711 or cincynature.org. THE LUMINEERS Enjoy a date night! Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; tickets starting at $35; 513-232-6220 or riverbend.org. THE MASKED SINGER NATIONAL TOUR Music and mystery, hosted by Natasha Bedingfield. Taft Theatre, 317 East 5th St., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $39.75; tafttheatre.org. FREE TOME SUMMER STORY TIME Story time on Tuesday for ages 3 - 6 years old. The Tome Bookstore, 2123 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati; 9:30 - 10 a.m.; thetomebookstore.com.
wed 8
National Best Friends Day CINCINNATI REDS Vs. D-backs. “Bark in the Park.” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ballpark for tickets. PYRAMID HILL SUMMER SERIES FOR KIDS Kids make a universe collage. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 12 - 1 p.m.; $5 per student, $10 general admission for adults; 513-8688336 or pyramidhill.org.
thu 9 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. D-backs. 12:35 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb. com/reds/ballpark for tickets. FREE ITALIANFEST 2022 Food, live music and heritage. 1 Levee Way, Newport; June 9 and 10: 5 - 11 p.m., June 11: 12 - 11 p.m., June 12: 12 - 9 p.m.; see website for daily schedule italianfestnewport.com. 22 june 2022
TODDLER THURSDAYS Explore the sand table and more. Dig ‘N Play, 9405 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester; Thursdays in June, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; $6 for ages 2 and younger; 513-847-1055 or dignplay.com.
fri 10 CHARM AT THE FARM An open-air vintage market, food trucks and photo opps; 4953 Bunnell Hill Road, Lebanon; June 11: 12 - 4 p.m., June 12: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; charmatthefarm. com. DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL EVENT A modern spin on classic characters presented by Acting Up; 6100 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason; 7 p.m.; $15, group tickets available; 513-494-6062 or The Masked Singer National Tour is at the Taft Theatre on Tue., June 7. actingup.com. FARMHANDS (register) org. GOODNIGHT FIREFLIES (regExplore farming through games, ister) MADCAP PUPPETS activities and animals. Gilbert Story time outside with the A performance of The Story Farms Park, 6181 Ross Road, fireflies. Cincinnati Nature Quest. Cincinnati Art Museum, Fairfield; 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati; vehicle permit required for park Milford; 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.; $11 1 or 3 p.m.; $10 general public; entry; 513-867-5835 or yourmenon-members, includes daily 513-721-2787 or cincinnatiartmutroparks.net. admission; $5 members; 513seum.org. 831-1711 or cincynature.org. FREE CITY FLEA 2022 MAKE A HIKING STICK Local vendors and food trucks. MOM’S COFFEE BREAK Hike with a stick you make. Washington Park, 1230 Elm (register) Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 St., Cincinnati; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Drop off kids for activities so Tealtown Road, Milford; 8:30 thecityflea.com. you can run errands. Fairfield 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.; Community Arts Center, 411 JANE AUSTEN: FASHION & $14 (includes daily admission), Wessel Drive, Fairfield; 10 SENSIBILITY $8 members; 513- 831-1711 or a.m. - 12 p.m.; $35 non-Fairfield Fashion brings characters to life. cincynature.org. resident, $30 Fairfield resident; Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., 513-867-5348 or fairfield-city.org. Cincinnati; Wed - Sun, 11 a.m. - 4 MARCHING THROUGH TIME p.m.; $18 non-members, $16 Military history through demos, NICK CANNON PRESENTS: seniors, free for Taft members + artifacts and music. Heritage MTV WILD ‘N OUT LIVE $8 for guests of members; 513Village Museum, 11500 Lebanon An adult night of laughs. 241-0343 or taftmuseum.org. Road, Sharonville; 10 a.m. - 5 Riverbend Music Center, 6295 p.m.; $10 adult, $5 per child; Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati; 8 p.m.; FREE JURASSIC JUNGLE free for members and ages 4 tickets start at $22; 513-232Dino puppets in performance. and younger; 513-563-9484 or 6220 or riverbend.org. Elite Athletics Sports Complex, heritagevillagecincinnati.org. 1155 Cincinnati-Batavia Pike, Batavia; 8 - 9 a.m., 10 - 11 a.m., 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., 3 - 4 p.m.; tickFREE CALLING ALL ets start at $17.99; jurassicjungle.
sat 11
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
FREE O.F.F. MARKET Browse businesses, artisans and more. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; theoffmarket.org.
sun 12 FREE HYDE PARK FARMERS MARKET Produce, live music, activities. Hyde Park Square, 2700 Erie Ave., Cincinnati; 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; hydeparkfarmersmarket. com. FREE LATONIA SECOND SUNDAY MARKETS Artists and local food trucks. Local Studio 325, 3622 Decoursey Ave., Covington; 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; localstudio325. com/latonia-markets. FREE SHOW AND TELL ON THE FARM Celebrate fathers with activities and a craft; vehicle permit required for entry. Chrisholm MetroPark Historic Farmstead, 2070 Woodsdale Road, Trenton; 2 - 3 p.m.; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net.
tue 14 Flag Day
FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Tuesday nights plus
concessions. Blue Ash Nature Park, 4433 Cooper Road, Blue Ash; 7 - 9 p.m.; blueashevents. com. FREE LOCAL STUDIO 325: KCPL STORY TIME Stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays. Local Studio 325, 3622 Decoursey Ave., Covington; 10:30 a.m.; 859-8780591 or localstudio325.com.
wed 15 PYRAMID HILL SUMMER SERIES FOR KIDS Use ordinary objects to make musical compositions. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 12 - 1 p.m.; $5 per student, $10 general admission for adults; 513-868-8336 or pyramidhill.org. FREE SUMMIT CINEMA Feature films at dusk on a big screen. June 15: Sing 2 and June 29: Space Jam. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 8 p.m.; summitparkblueash.com.
thu 16 FREE CREEKING IN THE PARKS Explore creeks in the parks of Butler County. Elk Creek MetroPark, 5580 Elk Creek
Road, Middletown, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; vehicle permit required for park entry; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net.
fri 17 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Brewers. “Fireworks Friday.” 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ ballpark for tickets. FREE FOOD TRUCK FEST Food trucks, music, face painting and more. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; cincinnatifoodtruckassociation. org. PIRATE CRUISE (register) A cruise with fun and games. BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport; 3 - 4:30 p.m.; $30 adults, $25 ages 4 - 12; 800261-8586 or bbriverboats.com.
sat 18 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Brewers. 4:10 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb. com/reds/ballpark for tickets. FREE CREEKING Make nature while exploring a creek. Fairfield Family YMCA, 5220 Bibury Road, Fairfield; 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; fairfieldcity.org. FISHING DERBY A catch-and-release tournament in age groups plus prizes. Pyramid Hill, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; $10 for adults, $5 for children, free for members and ages 5 and younger; 513868-8336 or pyramidhill.org. LA BOHÈME Giacomo Puccini’s most famous opera sung in Italian. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; 513-621-2787 or cincinnatiarts.org.
FREE MLK PARK FAMILY FUN DAYS Inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, live music and more. MLK Park, 3740 Reading Road, Cincinnati; 2 - 10 p.m.; 513-861-0023 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org. PEACH TRUCK TOUR 2022 The very freshest of peaches are coming to town; register for a crate. Multiple dates and locations at thepeachtruck.com. PRINCESS CRUISE (register) Little princesses can cruise, dance to tunes and meet fairy tale princesses. BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport; 12 - 2 p.m.; $33 adults, $28 ages 2 - 12; 800-261-8586 or bbriverboats.com.
sun 19
Father’s Day
CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Brewers. “Family Sundays.” 1:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ ballpark for tickets. FREE HYDE PARK MARKET See Sunday, June 12 FREE SUMMER SOLSTICE YOGA Yoga in the park and live music. Burnet Woods Bandstand, 3251 Brookline Ave., Cincinnati; 3 - 5 p.m.; 513-861-0023 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.
tue 21 Summer Solstice
CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Dodgers. 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb. com/reds/ballpark for tickets. THE CHICKS TOUR With special guest Patty Griffin. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $30; 513232-6220 or riverbend.org. (please turn the page)
Enjoy a catch-and-release fishing derby at Pyramid Hill on the 18th.
cincinnatifamilymagazine.com
june 2022 23
THINGS TO DO
wed 22 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Dodgers. 6:40 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb. com/reds/ballpark for tickets. PYRAMID HILL SUMMER SERIES FOR KIDS Learn about animal adaptations. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 12 - 1 p.m.; $5 per student, $10 general admission for adults; 513-8688336 or pyramidhill.org.
thu 23 CINCINNATI REDS Vs. Dodgers. 12:35 p.m. 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati; mlb.com/reds/ballpark for tickets. KENNY CHESNEY: HERE AND NOW TOUR With special guest Carly Pearce. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; tickets start at $39; 513232-6220 or riverbend.org. FREE SHOW AND TELL ON THE FARM (register) Learn about the sun and make a mini-solar oven for s’mores; vehicle permit required for entry; Chrisholm MetroPark Historic Farmstead, 2070 Woodsdale Road, Trenton; 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.; 513-867-5835 or yourmetroparks.net. WORLD’S LARGEST SWIM LESSON @ CONEY ISLAND See “Things to Do” opener on page 21.
fri 24 FAMILY FUN ON THE HILL A magic show at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton; 6 - 8 p.m.; $10 adults, $5 children; free for members and ages 5 and younger; 513868-8336 or pyramidhill.org. 24 june 2022
Get all kinds of information for life with your baby during Babies and Bumps on Saturday, June 25.
FREE FC CINCINNATI PREMATCH AT THE PARK Family activities and local food trucks. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Cincinnati; 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.; washingtonpark.org. FREE LAUREL PARK FAMILY FUN DAYS Live music, inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, food trucks and more. Laurel Park, 500 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati; 5 - 7:30 p.m.; 513-861-0023 or cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.
sat 25 BABIES AND BUMPS Prepare for pregnancy, birth and life with Baby with the experts. Marriott Cincinnati North, 6189 Muhlhauser Road, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; $20 general admission; $65 premium admission; babies-and-bumps.com. FARM ENCOUNTERS (register) Come see the pro soccer team play! TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway, Cincinnati; 5 p.m.; tickets $19 - $53 depending on location; 513-977-5425 or fccincinnati.com.
FREE FIREFLY FIDDLE FEST (register) Music under the stars. Long Branch Farm & Trails, 6926 Gaynor Road, Goshen; 6 - 10 p.m.; $18 non-member adult, $14 non-member child, $12 member adult, $8 member child; 513-831-1711 or cincynature.org. SIGN CRAFTING SATURDAY Learn about sign making. American Sign Museum, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; included with admission: $15 adult, $10 ages 13 -18, three children (12 and younger) free with each paid adult; 513-541-6366 or americansignmuseum.org.
sun 26 FREE RAPTOR INC. OPEN HOUSE Learn about birds of prey upclose. Raptor Inc., 961 Barg Salt Run Road, Milford; 1 - 4 p.m.; 513-825-3325 or raptorinc.org.
tue 28 HAIRSPRAY A teenager dreams about dancing on a TV dance show. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m.; tickets
Your #1 Hometown Family Resource
start at $34; 513-621-2787 or cincinnatiarts.org. KINGS ISLAND CONCERT SERIES Celebrate Kings Island’s 50th anniversary with The Avett Brothers. Timberwolf Amphitheatre at Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason; 8 p.m.; 513-754-5700 or visitkingsisland.com.
wed 29 MUD BALL THROWING An evening of muddy fun including mud ball corn hole. Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford; 6 - 7:30 p.m.; included with daily admission, $10 adults, $6 children; free for members and ages 3 and younger; 513-8311711 or cincynature.org.
thu 30 FREE MOVIE NIGHT ON THE LEVEE Kick back and relax with a classic film on a jumbo LED screen. Space Jam: A New Legacy. The Gallery at Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport; 6 - 8 p.m.; 859-2910550 or newportonthelevee. com.
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