ULTURE SUMMER

Summertime in the Cincy Region is filled with leisure and adventure. Whether you’re visiting one of the many local festivals or venturing into the great outdoors, you’re sure to find a way to enjoy the sunshine.

Enjoy Newport like a local at the annual Italianfest in June. This celebration of Italian heritage—complete with authentic Italian food, music, and historic photographs of the region’s Italian ancestors—attracts thousands of visitors to the riverfront each year. Also in the summertime, Summerfair is one of the area’s largest fine arts and crafts festivals. Held at Coney Island, the fair features a wide range of work, from paintings to metalwork. Attendees also enjoy live music and fantastic fair food.

The Ohio River is one of the defining natural wonders of the Cincy Region, so understandably, locals and visitors spend plenty of time enjoying the waterway—including the urban green space, Smale Riverfront Park. Porch swings, water play areas, a carousel, and spectacular river views make this a great spot for visitors of all ages. In June, this area hosts local and national blues musicians at Cincy Blues Fest, part of the region’s storied love for the blues and R&B music. Also in the area is the Ohio River Paddlefest, a late-summer event that involves 2,000 paddlers traveling 9 miles down the Ohio River. It’s one of America’s largest paddling events and attracts kayakers and canoers from all over, plus plenty of supportive spectators.

Celebrate the Fourth of July with events like Red, White and Boom at Riverbend and enjoy fireworks with a side of symphony. The last weekend in July always brings the fun with the Cincinnati Music Festival, the largest urban music festival in America, held at Paycor Stadium.

Every summer, Glier’s Goettafest is for both goetta devotees of the world and those seeking to find their new favorite food. A weekend stuffed from top to bottom with live entertainment, family-focused goetta games, and super inventive food.

Round out summer at the world’s largest Christian music festival—40 Days & 40 Nights of Gospel Music at the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum—featuring multiple concerts daily from award-winning artists, inspirational messages from sought-after speakers, and more. Between concerts, explore the Ark Encounter with state-of-the-art exhibits, ride the brand-new carousel with custom-built animals, visit Ararat Ridge Zoo’s exotic animals, enjoy group-friendly dining, and ride zip lines—or even ride a camel!