This is Lit
The BLINK Parade is looking for outstanding community members! Nominations are open for this year’s TorchBearers, who will lead the kickoff celebration on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Ross van Pelt
Do you know the perfect person to help lead Cincinnati into a brighter future?
Nominations for TorchBearers for the BLINK Parade are open now.
People throughout the region are invited to nominate outstanding community members who are making a difference. This is a great way to shout out someone who lets their light shine through their work, service, creativity and care.
Since 2022, the TorchBearer awards have offered a rich opportunity to applaud those who light up our cities with their hearts and hands. Each TorchBearer will be featured by walking in the parade with a special BLINK Torch, to recognize their contributions in front of more than 100,000 anticipated spectators. BLINK will also highlight each TorchBearer in a digital program, accessible to all BLINK attendees.
BLINK returns to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Oct. 17 to 20.
Wall-to-Wall Coverage
ArtWorks invites you to experience a night of enchantment and elegance during Art Off the Walls at the Newport Car Barn on Sept. 14
Art Off the Walls: Sunrise to Starlight
5:30–6:30 p.m.
VIP ArtParty
Enjoy cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, mingle with honorary guest artists, receive early access to Silent & Live Art Auctions
6:30-10:30 p.m.
All Guests enjoy
Mural projections and light installations
Music by DJ Monet
Interactive mural dance performances by Pones
Live & silent art auctions featuring one-of-a-kind art experiences & works created by ArtWorks artists, staff, community members & acclaimed designers
Mural inspired beverages & curated coffees by Deeper Roots Coffee
Mazunte passed hors d’oeuvres, dinner stations & dessert
Unboxed Photo Booth
Complimentary parking.
Not everyone can claim to throw the “party of the year,” but each year, the annual fundraiser hosted by ArtWorks is in the mix as the best event of the year.
Not only does the event raise money for the work ArtWorks does throughout the region, it also celebrates their monumental masterpieces and the talented artists who make them.
Get tickets now for this year’s party, Art Off the Walls: Sunrise to Starlight, on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 6:30–10:30 p.m. at Newport Car Barn. This year’s co-chairs are Jens G. Rosenkrantz, Jr. , photographer and ArtWorks board member, and Katherine Hurley, landscape artist and community advocate, hosting an evening celebrating the enchantment and elegance as Kentucky’s stunning natural beauty.
Art Off the Walls also celebrates ArtWorks’ newest murals in Newport, created in partnership with Corporex for their state-of-the-art Ovation project, along Northern Kentucky’s scenic riverfront. Two large-scale murals (above) will take center stage – Adrienne Dixon’s “Resilience (Sunrise)”—a breathtaking tribute to Kentucky’s lush landscapes and Emily Howard’s “I Wrap Myself in Starlight”—a magical fusion of myth, folklore, and the divine human form. These works of art are part of Corporex’s inspiring CASA concept – combining Color, Art, Sound, and Architecture in their projects.
For Life
LifeCenter partners with ArtWorks on a new mural that highlights the impact of organ donation.
Phil Armstrong
Mural Dedication
Saturday, August 24, 6–8 p.m.
933 Lincoln Ave., Walnut Hills.
This free event includes a dance performance film by Pones, apprentices activating the mural, music, and a chance to learn more about LifeCenter.
The mural is located on a wall at Thatcher Flats affordable housing development, by Pennrose, a real estate and multifamily property management company.
More at www.artworkscincinnati.org.
Art not only makes life better, sometimes it can even save a life.
That’s the idea behind a new collaboration between ArtWorks and LifeCenter Organ Donor Network (LifeCenter), which aims to engage and inspire the community, reinforcing LifeCenter’s commitment to inclusivity and generational health.
The mural in Walnut Hills serves as a powerful visual reminder of the life-saving impact of organ, tissue and eye donation and the importance of registering as donors. Through this partnership, LifeCenter and ArtWorks seek to educate and encourage community members to consider the profound difference they can make by becoming organ donors.
The mural came together this summer thanks to the work of 12 ArtWorks apprentices and teaching artists Michael Thompson and Yordy Cabrera Garcia.
Designed by Cincinnati-based artist and muralist Jeni Jenkins, the mural features a strong woman of color, smiling towards the sky. With bright, uplifting colors and dynamic shapes that convey movement and life, the work emphasizes the theme of organ donation. Interwoven into the design are elements such as organs, tissues and eyes, artistically represented with stylized motifs to signify the importance and impact of organ donation.
A powerful quote from double-lung recipient, Jennie Wright, is incorporated into the mural: “Above all else, let love be your legacy.” Wright, a Madisonville resident whose organ donation came from LifeCenter in 2023, embodies the life-changing impact of organ donation. Her words resonate with themes of hope, legacy, and the profound gift of life, reminding us of the transformative power of love and generosity.
Phoning It In
The Contemporary Arts Center has joined Bloomberg Connects, a free app that provides exclusive access to more than 500 cultural organizations.
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is now part of Bloomberg Connects, a free arts and culture app. Bloomberg Connects provides access to exhibitions, collections, and renowned artists at more than 500 museums and other cultural organizations, anywhere, at any time
“Being part of Bloomberg Connects extensive network helps us further our mission to be a lab for understanding ourselves, others and the world around us through creating and experiencing all forms of contemporary art,” says Christina Vassallo, the Alice & Harris Weston Director of the CAC. “This app by Bloomberg Philanthropies makes the offerings of the CAC, as well as hundreds of other cultural organizations, easily accessible to both on-site visitors and people around the world.”
The CAC app includes information on its Zaha Hadid-designed building, audio, video, and written content on its exhibitions and The Sara M. and Patricia A. Vance UnMuseum® and Creativity Center, and provides greater accessibility with language translation, ASL video tours, and captioned videos.
The free Bloomberg Connects app allows users to explore expert-curated content and guides to more than 500 museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces from the palm of your hand. From behind-the-scenes guides, to artist and expert-curated video and audio content, Bloomberg Connects makes it easy to discover arts and culture, anytime, anywhere.
Designed to remove barriers to experiencing arts and culture, the app includes a variety of built-in accessibility features including voice-over, captions and audio transcripts, image zoom, and font size adjustment.
Bloomberg Connects features thousands of hours of bespoke audio, video and text content, with more content being added every month. The app makes it easy for users to explore arts and culture on their own time, at their own pace. Quick snackable content or deep dives. On site or from home. In user’s hometowns or around the world. All guides are downloadable, allowing users to explore them even when offline.
Created by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bloomberg Connects benefits over 500 museums, galleries, gardens, and cultural spaces — with more joining every month — by providing a pre-built, easy-to use app interface customizable to their content and mission.
Making Arrangements
Summermusik celebrates its tenth anniversary with collaborations across genres and art forms to create inspiration and innovation.
July 31–Aug. 24
Summermusik has three different concert experiences:
Full chamber orchestra performances at the School for Creative & Performing Arts
A Little Afternoon Musik, Sunday matinee concerts at local churches and schools
Chamber Crawls, held at bars, restaurants, and non-traditional concert venues., including the American Sign Museum, Crestview Presbyterian Church, and Westwood First Presbyterian Church.
Summermusik offers $25 discounted single ticket rate for Young Professionals (under 40) for the Chamber Crawl series; FREE tickets for children under 13 for selected Mainstage and A Little Afternoon Musik concerts.
Tickets available at https://summermusik.org.
After Cincinnati Opera winds down and before the CSO begins, you can still enjoy incredible classical – and beyond – music at Summermusik.
The festival is celebrating its tenth annual concert series as part of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) landmark 50th anniversary.
“We have a lot to be thankful for. Standing on the shoulders of many phenomenal musicians, music directors, staff and board members, artistic and community partners, and many generous supporters, we have been a beacon of innovation, community-mindedness, and musical excellence,” says Eckart Preu, CCO’s musical director.
Founded in 1974 by Paul Nadler and Jorja Fleezanis, CCO creates intimate, transformative experiences that connect the musically curious. The Summermusik program provides a vibrant musical experience in intimate and informal settings, presenting orchestral works from the Baroque and Classical eras, as well as commissioned works by contemporary composers.
The 2024 Summermusik festival recognizes the artistry of the CCO’s musicians. Many CCO musicians will be featured as soloists, including Principal Trumpet Ashley Hall-Tighe with the world-renowned Canadian Brass and Concertmaster Celeste Golden Andrews. The orchestra will also be spotlighted with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the work’s 200th anniversary, which will close the festival.
A hallmark of Summermusik is its use of collaboration, bringing together artists from, across genres and art forms to create inspiration and innovation. This year’s programming includes a partnership with members of the local Indian community. Additional collaborations with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati Brass Band, and others, continue the tradition of partnering with local artists and organizations.
Summermusik 2024 Events
Notes in Neon
Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave.
Using the “hum” of neon signs as a springboard, the CCO’s string quartet performs selections that incorporate or mimic this electrical sound to create an atmospheric experience for the audience.
Let the Trumpets Sound
Saturday, August 3, 7:30pm
SCPA Corbett Theater, 108 W. Central Parkway
Prelude Talk: 6:45pm | SCPA Mayerson Theater
The opening fanfare to the 2024 Mainstage series brings a true heavyweight of the brass world: Canadian Brass. The world-famous ensemble teams up with Summermusik for a program that weaves freely across musical genres in what promises to be an exhilarating evening.
Brass Across Borders
Sunday, August 4, 4 p.m.
Crestview Presbyterian Church, 9463 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester
Prepare to be blown away! World-renowned Canadian Brass will air out a mind-blowing program full of surprises with some tunes known, some unknown, and some practically unheard of. For the grand finale, Canadian Brass teams up with the Cincinnati Brass Band, and their combined brass power promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime roof raising event.
Tropical Tunes – JOIN WAITLIST!
Tuesday, August 6, 7:30 p.m.
Pirates Cove Tropical Bar and Grill, 4609 Kellogg Ave.
This concert will be smooth sailing through this Caribbean-themed event featuring music by Latin American composers. Enjoy your favorite fruity summer drinks on the open water and be sure to scan the horizon just across the railing for Captains' Jack and Morgan to take you home tonight.
One drink included in the price of admission!
Shakespeare in Love
Saturday, August 10, 7:30 p.m.
SCPA Corbett Theater, 108 W. Central Parkway
Prelude Talk: 6:45 p.m., SCPA Mayerson Theater
The concert features 10-time Emmy-winning composer John Henry Kreitler’s second symphony—his final oeuvre which he composed right before his passing in January 2024 in celebration of the Chamber Orchestra's 50th anniversary. The program also features works that took inspiration from the greatest bard of all—William Shakespeare, with readings from members of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
Musical Poetry
Sunday, August 11, 4 p.m.
Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave.
Join concertmaster Celeste Golden Andrews and her fellow Summermusik musicians as they present works inspired by literature.
Locomotive Breath
Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m.
The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave.
Join a tribute to Jethro Tull, the English agronomist who brought about agricultural reforms and invented the horse-drawn seed drill and the horse-drawn hoe. Oh dear! Apologies all around, wrong Jethro Tull! Get ready to rock with a tribute to the band Jethro Tull, featuring Roger Klug, guitar/performance curator and Annie Darlin Gordon, flute/performance curator.
Many Colors of India
Saturday, August 17, 7:30 p.m.
SCPA Corbett Theater, 108 W. Central Parkway
Prelude Talk: 6:45 p.m., SCPA Mayerson Theater
Venture to the world’s most populous country, India, and delve into its rich culture. Eastern classical music and Western classical music related to India’s history meet in their first-ever collaboration with members of the Indian community. With the help of artistic advisor and local composer Kanniks Kannikeswaran, we created an orchestral exploration that offers a peek into India’s fascinating and colorful culture, along with a tabla player, Indian dancers, and the Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir.
Bach Meets Bollywood
Sunday, August 18, 4 p.m.
Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Lindner Theatre
8283 East Kemper Road
For part two of this deep dive into Indian music, CCO explores the connection of Indian ragas to the music ofBach and Beethoven with music from Mumbai’s Hindi cinema, or ‘Bollywood’, works by local composer Kanniks Kannikeswaran, and arrangements of traditional Indian music by Vidita Kanniks. Hindi cinema is one of the largest centers for film production in the world, selling over 340 million tickets in India in 2019.
Lion: Commentary & Film Screening
Tuesday, August 20, 7:30 p.m.
Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave.
Starring Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, and David Wenham, this 2016 biographical drama tells the life story of Saroo. As a five-year-old, Saroo unwittingly winds up in Calcutta. Not understanding the local Bengali language, he begins to wander the streets of Calcutta before he is placed in an orphanage. Eventually, he is adopted by an Australian couple and 20 years later begins to trace his roots to find his biological family. During the process, Saroo finds out that his real name is ‘Sheru’, meaning ‘Lion’. The film earned six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Patel), Best Supporting Actress (Kidman), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is rated PG-13.
Great American Songbook Revue
Wednesday, August 21, 9 p.m.
828 The Turn, 828 Monmouth St., Newport
The penultimate evening of our celebration has Mandy Gaines and our crew throw the book at you, figuratively speaking. The Great American Songbook is not an actual book, but a loosely defined canon of significant 20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes. Many of them will get their turn tonight as Mandy leafs through the book, again figuratively speaking.
Happy Birthday!
Saturday, August 24, 7:30 p.m.
SCPA Corbett Theater, 108 W. Central Parkway
Prelude Talk: 6:45 p.m., SCPA Mayerson Theater
Oh, the joy! 315 years of birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate in one sitting – 200 years of Ludwig's Ninth, 50 years of CCO, 10 years of the Summermusik festival, and a surprise! The festival closes with a huge birthday party!
Keep it Fresh
Head to the great outdoors for ArtsWave's fifth annual CMF Outdoor Museum, kicking off with a live painting event on Friday, July 19.
Courtesy ArtsWave
CMF Outdoor Museum
Opens Friday, July 19, 3–8 p.m.
Washington Park, 1230 Elm St.
The works will be on exhibit through the end of July in Washington Park
FREE. For more information visit artswave.org/CMF.
“I love the creative community of Cincinnati and being able to help artists showcase their talents for others to recognize is important to me,” says Nytaya Babbitt the curator for this year’s CMF Outdoor Museum.
The CMF Outdoor Museum, an outdoor public art exhibition, features works from 10 local visual artists, all drawing inspiration from the Cincinnati Music Festival’s culture and music. The artists will create artwork live at Washington Park. ArtsWave, through the community's support of the 2024 ArtsWave Campaign, will fund the artist fees and curation.
Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Babbitt is a Cincinnati-based multidisciplinary artist working to foster a healthy community. She believes connecting and understanding means providing spaces that are initially uncomfortable, because vulnerability and empathy form a connection that lasts.
“I want people to feel like engaging with the creative community is accessible and inviting,” says Babbitt.
The CMF Outdoor Museum, an outdoor public art exhibition, features works from 10 local visual artists, all drawing inspiration from the Cincinnati Music Festival's culture and music. The artists will create artwork live in Washington Park. ArtsWave, through the community's support of the 2024 ArtsWave Campaign, will fund the artist fees and curation.
“Music sets the pace for me when I start to work,” says Babbitt. “My favorite thing to listen to is study beats while working!”
P&G, the long-time presenting sponsor of the Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF), ArtsWave, the engine for the arts and the Cincinnati/Dayton division of Kroger, have teamed up again to create the fifth annual CMF Outdoor Museum, kicking off with a live painting event. The artwork will stay in Washington Park until the end of the month, when it will move to Court Street.
CMF Outdoor Museum visitors will enjoy musical entertainment starting at 7 p.m. thanks to the Friday Flow concert, presented by P&G featuring Ruff Endz. It’s all part of “Road to CMF,” a series of events leading up to the annual festival.
The Cincinnati Music Festival, presented by P&G, takes place the following weekend, July 25–27, with a stacked lineup headlined by Maxwell and New Edition. Before the music on Saturday, an unveiling ceremony will reveal the newest inductees to the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame at The Banks.
Here, There, and Everywhere
Get a special behind-the-scenes look at the incredible design of “Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio“ ahead of it’s world stage premiere with Cincinnati Opera, opening tonight and running through July 27.
When Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio opens at Music Hall, it will not only feature amazing singers and musicians, but an incredible set that moves and changes, reflecting how the lives of the people in Liverpool change from the 1940s to the present day.
Video by Shae Huth
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
July 18, 20 and 25, 7:30 p.m.
July 21 and 27, 3 p.m.
Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.
Info and tickets at www.cincinnatiopera.org.
Directing the production is Caroline Clegg, with sets and costumes designed by Leslie Travers, lighting design by Thomas C. Hase, and choreography by Michael Pappalardo. Conductor Joseph Young leads the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Chorus Master Henri Venanzi directs the Cincinnati Opera Chorus.
Cincinnati Opera’s production of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio is the work’s first-ever operatic staging, featuring all new sets, costumes, lighting, staging, and choreography, plus a dazzling cast, a 48-voice chorus, dancers from the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Get Back
Memories from Paul McCartney’s life inspired “Liverpool Oratorio,” which makes its world stage premiere at Cincinnati Opera July 18–27.
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
July 18, 20 and 25, 7:30 p.m.
July 21 and 27, 3 p.m.
Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.
Info and tickets at www.cincinnatiopera.org.
Memories from Paul McCartney’s life in Liverpool, England, inspire this story of growing up and finding your way. Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, offers insight into the first fully staged production of the piece.
Beginning with Latin text that means “not for ourselves, but for the whole world were we born,” Liverpool Oratorio explores formative moments, relationships, and the responsibilities we accept. The world-premiere stage adaptation of McCartney’s acclaimed 1991 work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists includes the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, and Cincinnati Boychoir.
Will McCartney be there? Join the community-wide effort to #GetPaulToMusicHall by sharing a video tribute to Sir Paul and posting it on social media using the hashtag.
Rise Up
Using their personal stories interwoven with music and dance, the cast of “label•less“ offers a heartfelt show at Playhouse in the Park, through July 19.
label•less
Presented by Lachey Arts
Playhouse in the Park
962 Mt. Adams Circle,
Through July 19
After a cross-country tour and stint on Broadway, , “label•less,” a musical from Lachey Arts, culminates its six-year journey on stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
The musical began as a local acting class exercise has become a national phenomenon – and a vehicle to start difficult conversations about race, sexuality, mental health and more. Using contemporary music, powerful choreography and personal stories to spread a message of heart, humanity, and hope, the “label•less” cast of 17-27 year olds draws attention to the struggles facing all of us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.
Founders of Lachey Arts, Drew and Lea Lachey understand the impact music and dance can have on someone’s life. Through Lachey Arts, in Pleasant Ridge, they offer classes for students to hone their skills by learning from working artists.
But they are also creating a space for young artists to follow their hearts, including creating “label•less,” a musical journey toward acceptance.
Truth to Power
ArtsWave's fourth annual “Truth and Innovation Artist Showcase" supports the work of local BIPOC artists with exhibitions throughout the region.
As part of their fourth annual “Truth & Innovation Artist Showcase” happening this weekend, ArtsWave highlights new works by 22 of the region’s leading Black and Brown artists.
Friday, July 12
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.
Saturday, July 13
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3412 Clifton Ave,
Sunday, July 14
The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd.. Covington
The projects reflect not only the African American experience, but the experiences of other often-underrepresented groups and cultural traditions throughout modern American life. Programs during the weekend feature visual art, painting, sculpture, musical composition, film, theater, dance, multidisciplinary works and more.
The Black and Brown Artist Program is also a key component of ArtsWave’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access plan, “Lifting as We Learn,” in which ArtsWave is intentionally increasing resources for Black and Brown arts throughout the region.
“With the continued growth of these investments, ArtsWave has established one of the largest annual grant programs dedicated to Black and Brown artists and cultural organizations in the Cincinnati region,” says Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO.
This year’s artists are creating projects across genres focusing on the modern BIPOC experience and, within that context, exploring the meaning of “Truth” and “Innovation.” Each artist has also incorporated some form of community collaboration, ensuring we can all play a role in innovating toward a more just and equitable future for the Cincinnati region.
A new mural in Woodlawn by Brandon Hawkins, “Where Honor is Due,” explores the under-told stories of BIPOC military personnel who served proudly but are often under-recognized as they don’t fit the cultural ‘mold’ of a soldier in our modern culture. Another example of the showcase shining light on stories usually left in the dark is from Anupama Mirle, presenting “DOR” a theatrical, classical Indian dance performance about a young, ‘unmarriable’ widow with a five-year-old daughter who decides to leave India for the United States.
All of the projects were selected by ArtsWave’s panel of community stakeholders in a competitive process for funding last fall. Out of 71 proposals, the most ever, the 22 awardees were determined to best capture the idea of “truth and innovation,” and together received a total of $212,500 to finance their projects.
The showcase is part of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program, which has funded 90 artist projects and distributed $950,000 in grants over the past four years.
In addition to working capital, ArtsWave’s program helps artists develop valuable business and entrepreneurial skills. This year’s artists received professional development courses conducted through Wave Pool’s “Driving Lessons” program, as well as networking and progress meetings with ArtsWave staff and consultants
These projects advance overarching goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action by bridging cultural divides, promoting understanding and empathy, deepening residents' roots, and improving neighborhoods.
Look Beyond
Take a break from the everyday with art with current exhibitions at Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Cener, and Taft Museum of Art.
One of the first items on many travel agendas is to hit up a museum when you get into a new city. But don’t have to wait for your next trip to the Met or the Getty to see incredible art.
The current exhibitions at Cincinnati’s major art museums offer a look at some of the best artists of the past, present, and future, giving you the chance to learn more about the world around you and the opportunity to step away from the everyday.
At the Cincinnati Art Museum, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century opens this Thursday, June 28.
The exhibition showcases more than 90 works of art by some of today’s most important and celebrated artists—such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roberto Lugo, Carrie Mae Weems, William Cordova, Hassan Hajjaj, Hank Willis Thomas—and fashion brands, with looks from Cross Colours and Vivienne Westwood
The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century
Cincinnati Art Museum
June 28–Sept. 29
Free for Members. Save $2 when purchasing tickets online. Adult tickets: $12 in-person, $10 online. Seniors, college students and children 6–17 years: $8 in person, $6 online. Children 5 years & under: Free
The Culture examine’s hip hop's influence on contemporary society through the last two decades.
Jason Rawls, EdD, assistant professor of hip hop at The Ohio State University, is the on site-curator. Dr. Rawls leads the team that is creating a hip hop studies program in its School of Music and Department of African American & African Studies.
“Grandmaster Caz said, ‘Hip Hop didn’t invent anything. It reinvented everything,’” says Dr. Rawls. “This is what we can share with visitors, this idea of hip hop mentality—using the resources at hand in an innovative way and how this can inform art and culture.”
Rooted in the origins of hip hop in the mid-1970s as a cultural expression of Black, Latinx, and Afro-Latinx youth, The Culture explores the transformation of contemporary art and material culture through the collision of hip hop, technology and the marketplace.
Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs / Works from the Bank of America Collection at the Taft Museum of Art, is rich in history, with the works having been shown internationally.
Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs / Works from the Bank of America Collection
Taft Museum of Art
Fifth Third and Sinton Galleries
Through Sept. 15
General admission is free for Taft members, military, youth (17 and under); $15 for adults; $12 for seniors. Non-members save by purchasing tickets online. Sundays and Mondays are Free!
Tickets at taftmuseum.org/Moment. .
The collection explores the breadth and depth of the camera’s ability to capture a moment in time. The exhibition encompasses photographs that date from the invention of the medium through the mid-20th century.
The first photographs astonished the public with their apparent ability to freeze time. Even today, in an age in which we are witnesses to an endless flow of images, we continue to be fascinated by the power of photography. Moment in Time features more than 100 photographs dating from the 1840s through the 1960s. The exhibition includes compelling masterworks by William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Timothy O’Sullivan, Alfred Stieglitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Walker Evans.
Out of the social documentary photography of the 1930s and 1940s, new forms of photographic storytelling emerged, expanding the medium’s narrative potential. W. Eugene Smith pioneered the photo essay format for Life magazine, and highlighted the accomplishments of young artists like Charles Harbutt, who took a deeply personal approach to documentary photography. The photographers’ interests ranged from perfecting photography’s technical capabilities to documenting the formal beauty of nature to exposing the social realities of America.
For decades, the Contemporary Arts Center has provided work opportunities, both behind the scenes, in the galleries, and onstage, for artists from around the region.
After (Work) Hours,
Contemporary Arts Center
Through August 4
Admission to the CAC galleries is Free; Open Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Info at cincycac.org.
The current exhibition After (Work) Hours, celebrates the diverse depth of artistry across multiple CAC departments, including former and current CAC staff members, working within a variety of media including sculpture, painting, installation, illustration, photography, and video.
“The CAC has a remarkable history of being a lab for exploration of ourselves and the world around us through the creative process of artmaking,” said Christina Vassallo, CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have been a part of the journey for so many staff artists and can’t wait to share with the community a peek into the talent that has filled our CAC team, past and present.”
The CAC is a hub for local artists to grow and allows individuals to express their creativity.
– Sydney Carter
Silly Love Songs
Cincinnati Opera's season includes classic faves like La Traviata and a world stage premiere of Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio.
La Traviata
June 27 and 28, 7:30 p.m.
June 30, 3 p.m.
Studio Session: Elliot Madore
Tuesday, July 2, 8 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Studio Session: Jessica Rivera
Thursday, July 11, 8 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
July 18, 20, and 25, 7:30 p.m.
July 21 and 27, 3 p.m.
For tickets and information visit cincinnatiopera.org.
Opera offers romance in all its forms – tragic, comic, epic, and frivolous – set amid gorgeous voices, lush orchestrations, and stunning staging.
“What makes opera so special is that it is living, thriving, and ever evolving, and the same can be said for Cincinnati Opera itself,” says Evans Mirageas, the opera’s Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director. “Our mainstage repertoire for the 2024 season is emblematic of the diverse voices, captivating stories, and outstanding artistry we strive to elevate and celebrate. And we look forward to expanding the festival-going experience with surprising and evocative projects suited perfectly to the Wilks.”
Along with beloved classics like the season opener Don Giovanni and La Traviata later this month, the mainstage season includes the world stage premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio.
Free For All
Celebrate Juneteenth at the Block Party at The Banks on Saturday, and at the inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee as the Freedom Center on Wednesday.
Raising the Juneteenth Flag
City Hall, June 14 at 12 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum, June 15
Hamilton County Courthouse, June 18, 10 a.m.
Cincinnati’s Juneteenth tradition began in 1988 as a neighborhood festival in Kennedy Heights, more than three decades before it was declared a national holiday
This year, the celebration of freedom continues, with community events in Eden Park, The Banks, and for the first time, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival
Eden Park
Saturday, June 15 and
Sunday, June 16, 12–9 p.m.
juneteenthcincinnati.org
The family-friendly, free event features fun for all ages.
The Juneteenth Festival kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with a parade of flags representing the African diaspora—the origins and forced destinations of Africans during the slave trade that lasted for more than 400 years. The festival continues through Saturday afternoon and evening with crafts, books, games, and horseback rides. More than 25 performances on two stages will be presented, reflecting the shared heritage within the African diaspora.
In 2005, Juneteenth Cincinnati revived June Fest, a concert series that served the African American community, from the late 1920s through the early 1950s, when African American performers and audiences were not welcome in Music Hall and other venues. The Juneteenth weekend ends on Sunday afternoon with the June Fest Father’s Day Concert, from 2 to 6 p.m., featuring a variety of inspirational music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion.
Fifth Annual Juneteenth Block Party at The Banks
Freedom Way at The Banks
Saturday, June 15, 4–11 p.m.
paloozanoire.com
This marks the fifth year Paloozanoire has thrown the Juneteenth Block Party.
Celebrate the holiday and enjoy DJs, food trucks, and entertainment for the entire family. This event is free to the public and open to all ages.
Paloozanoire was founded in 2019 to focus on enriching the lives of people of color throughout the Midwest in the areas of creativity, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. Along with the Juneteenth Block Party Experience, the organization’s works on the annual Black & Brown Faces Art Exhibition.
Publishers throughout the North responded to a demand for copies of Lincoln’s proclamation and produced numerous decorative versions, including this engraving by R. A. Dimmick in 1864.
National Museum of American History, gift of Ralph E. Becker
Juneteenth Jubilee
The Freedom Center
Wednesday, June 19,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
freedomcenter.org/juneteenthjubilee2024
The inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee at the Freedom Center is a free, daylong festival celebrating true independence with live music, programming, community vendors and food trucks. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown, Jr., will be the event’s featured guest, delivering a motivational speech followed by a photo and autograph session.
Enjoy extended hours and free admission to the Freedom Center, thanks to support from the Fifth Third Foundation, with drop-in programming and mini tours for guests of all ages.
The celebration will culminate in a “second line” style march to the banks to the Ohio River, the symbolic River Jordan over which thousands of enslaved people crossed into freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Living Memory
As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center at Cincinnati Museum Centers brings history home with local stories from WWII.
Around the world, the 80th anniversary of D-Day is being marked today with solemn ceremonies, heartfelt speeches, and poignant remembrances of those who fought and died during the historic landing that changed the world.
Showing June 6, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater
Narrated by Tom Brokaw and blending animation, CGI and stunning live-action images, D-Day: Normandy 1944 pays tribute to the those who made history 80 years ago on and around the beaches of Normandy. Exploring history, military strategy, science, technology and human values, audiences of all ages, including new generations, will discover from a new perspective how this landing changed the world.
Closer to home, you can relive the stories of local WWII veterans, and Cincinnati’s place in the war’s history, at Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Through the work of The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, visitors can experience stories of courage, perseverance, loss, redemption, and new life, as told by local Holocaust survivors.
Founded by local Holocaust survivors and grounded in their commitment to education that inspires action, the Holocaust & Humanity Center is dedicated to providing transformative learning experiences that touch hearts and change minds, on this historic anniversary and every day.
Bold Strokes
The Contemporary Arts Center unveils bold strategic plan and offers a preview of its upcoming exhibition season.
At last week’s State of the CAC program, leaders of the Contemporary Arts Center debuted a new strategic plan to guide the institution in the decades to come.
“We were really thinking about our greatest assets, what’s happening in the world around us and in the field of contemporary art, and we decided that we really need to express what our purpose is,” said Christina Vassallo, the CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “And our purpose is to build empathy.”
The strategic plan, facilitated by the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, was developed over the course of nine months,t with input from a Strategic Planning Committee that considered the lived experiences and observations of board members, staff members, and key stakeholders. The CAC followed a framework to develop six major objectives, which are mission-driven and reflect a focus on ensuring the institution can continue to operate at the highest level possible for its next 85 years.
Using these newly outlined objectives (see video) as a basis, the CAC's developed a new mission statement: “The CAC is a lab for understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us through the experience and creation of all contemporary art forms.”
Also at the meeting, Curator Theresa Bembnister offered a preview of the CAC's 2004-25 exhibition season which will highlight community partnerships, illustrate the artistic process, and better connect visitors to the CAC's space.
The season opens with two exhibitions in partnership with FotoFocus, curated by FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator Kevin Moore.
Chip Thomas and The Painted Desert Project (opening Sept. 6), by photographer, activist, and physician Chip Thomas (known as jetsonorama), combines photography and street art to celebrate Navajo culture and draws attention to the negative effects of capitalism. Thomas has lived among the Navajo people since the late 1980s. Subjective Evidence (opening Sept. 27) is the first American survey of German photographer Barbara Probst. The exhibition features Exposure series of images of multiple views of a single scene, shot using a radio-controlled system.
In October, the CAC teams with SOFTlab, a design studio based in New York City led by Michael Szivos. for an installation in the Kaplan Lobby will hang from the ceiling and will be visible through the lobby windows.
Beginning in January, the CAC, in partnership with The Phillips Collection, presents the first comprehensive museum exhibition artist, activist, and educator, Vivian Browne. Vivian Browne My Kind of Protest consists of approximately 60 paintings, prints, and works on paper spanning the artist’s 30-year career, along with ephemera. In April 2025, the CAC partners with MOCA in Cleveland for “Only in Ohio,” featuring the work of artists across the state. The season ends with an exhibition by Brooklyn-based figurative painter Marcus Leslie Singleton, Marcus Leslie Singleton: New Steps.
In alignment with the new strategic plan objectives, the CAC will refine the educational and participatory programming offered. Shawnee Turner, director of interpretation and visitor experience, discussed how events will be a combination of CAC-originating initiatives as well as events developed by other institutions, continuing a commitment to local, regional, and national partnerships. The CAC will focus on all arts disciplines, including film, performance, music, movement, and other non-visual forms of contemporary art.
“We are also talking about all forms of contemporary art, not just the visual arts,” Vassallo says. “There are so many different components to the CAC building, (and) we can showcase all forms of emerging arts, all kinds of artistic experiences.”
Making Good
Find artists from around the country at Summerfair Cincinnati this weekend! The annual art fair returns to Coney Island, opening Friday and running through Sunday, with art, music, and food.
Summerfair Cincinnati
Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave.
Friday, May 31, 12 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
One-day tickets are $10, with children 12 and under admitted free. Multi-day tickets are $15.
Tickets for one day or multi-day admission available at summerfair.org.
Whether you’re buying a necklace, picking up some new art for your living room, or looking for a sculpture for your garden, your support of Summerfair Cincinnati helps artists and arts organizations all year long in our community.
During its history, Summerfair has given more than $2 million to the regional arts community. Proceeds from Summerfair Cincinnati, anon-profit arts organization, provide award, scholarship and exhibit opportunities to a variety of emerging and individual artists as well as and regional small arts organizations.
Now in its 57th year, Summerfair returns to Coney Island this weekend, with more than 300 artists, plus music and “gourmet arts” – one-of-a-kind food options!
Music at Summerfair
Saturday, June 1
12 p.m. Eric Wurzelbacher & Noah Wotherspoon
1 p.m. Boutique
2 p.m. 3 Micks
3 p.m. Faux Frenchmen
4 p.m Tracy Walker
5 p.m. Wild Carrot
6 p.m. Woodnote
Sunday, June 2
11 a.m. Farm Report
12 p.m. The Amador Sisters
1 p.m. Ricky Nye
2 p.m. Chris Collier
3 p.m. Heather Roush Duo
4 p.m. The Cheryl & Shorty Show
The artists at Summerfair represent 12 categories: photography, painting, drawing/printmaking, wood, metal, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fibers, leather, jewelry and 2D/3D mixed media.
What started as a small art fair’s salute to the opening of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park has grown into one of the oldest continuous art fairs in the country, drawing more than 20,000 art enthusiasts to see and purchase the works of artists from across the United States.
Summerfair consistently ranks in the Top 25 among U.S. Fine Art and Design Shows, provides support for individual artists and small arts organizations through scholarships, awards and exhibitions. The art fair is listed in the Top 25 America’s Best Art Fairs and one of the top five Best Midwest Art Fairs by Art Fair Calendar.com.
A Little Out There
Cincinnati Fringe Festival begins May 31, with cutting edge performances from local and national creators.
May 31st–June 15th
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati, with performances in venues throughout OTR.
Tickets and info at cincyfringe.com.
Fringe fanatics, lovers of the unorthodox, unfamiliar and unprecedented, are you ready for Cincinnati Fringe Festival?
Of course you are.
Cincy Fringe is a 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, film, dance, and everything between. Produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincy Fringe began in 2004 and has grown to be one of the largest performing arts festival in Ohio.
This year’s edition features 170 performances of theatre productions, art galleries, screenings, concerts, workshops, classes, and nightly parties.
Know Theatre is HQ and is also a venue for performances, with a dozen other spaces in OTR serving as pop-ups throughout the festival.
Cincy Fringe, like ther Fringe Festivals around the world, exists to give opportunities to artists — especially independent artists — to present their work. The freedom artists have to create whatever they want makes Fringes a popular destination for more experimental or unusual productions. Cincy Fringe, specifically, has grown into an exceptional opportunity for Fringe circuit artists to present brand new or in-progress works, as our low upfront costs make it a low risk, financially, and our immensely supportive core of Fringe fanatics try and see as many productions as possible.
Artists at Work
The Contemporary Arts Center staff and crew showcase their works in the galleries when the new exhibition After (Work) Hours opens Friday, May. 17.
After(Work) Hours
Opening reception Friday, May 17. 6–8 p.m.
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. Sixth St.
Register online!
Exhibition features works by
Patricia Andreadis
Nytaya Babbitt
Erica Bailey
Scottie Bellissemo
Emanuel Brannon II
Clay Brown
Kendall Bruns
Kimora Bulter
Ellina Chetverikova
Zachary Copfer
Kara Daniel
Sea Dax
Adrienne Dixon
Erica Fitzgerald
Mary Flinker
Cierra Fogle
Claire Frank
Hailey Fulford
Asa Featherstone, IV
Sarah Day Featherstone
Karla Batres Gilvin
Cody Goodin
Richie Gould
Allison Grant with Karsten Lund
Andew Hahn
Tyler Hamilton
Sophia Hamilton
Sammie Jane Hardewig
Sam Hecht
Curtis Johnson
Jay B. Kalagayan with Dylan Speeg
Stephanie Kang
Emily Kim
Kish, Da Poet
Katie Labmeier
Ryan Nichole Leary
Alison Leckrone (STRAWN)
Rachel Linnemann
Lindsay McCarty
Jess Miller
Lexi Musselman
L.D. Nehls
Hannah Parrett
Jamie Payne
Isadis J. Alcántara Rivera
Sarah Rodriguez
Rebecca Roman-Sutton
Cody Schriever
Aspen Que Stein
Lizz Stringfield
Breanna Tanksley
Technique2012
Sara Torgison
Laura Valls
Brandon Wagner
Michael Weber
Loraine Wible
Dai Williams
Kristin Zanos
The Contemporary Arts Center has long been a hub for local artists and has acted as a catalyst for creativity throughout the region.
For decades, the CAC has provided work opportunities, both behind the scenes, in the galleries, and onstage, for artists from around the region.
“The CAC has a remarkable history of being a lab for exploration of ourselves and the world around us through the creative process of artmaking,” said Christina Vassallo, CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have been a part of the journey for so many staff artists and can’t wait to share with the community a peek into the talent that has filled our CAC team, past and present.”
The talented CAC staff, both past and present, have created the visual art for the exhibition After (Work) Hours.
The opening reception includes a DJ set by former staff member Ben Lehman. Food will be available for purchase from Kabobske food truck, which is operated by Andy’s Mediterranean Grill. Following the opening, guests and CAC members are invited to attend the official afterparty hosted by Alice OTR, where a portion of sales of the “Gemini Season” cocktail will be donated to CAC.
After (Work) Hours celebrates the diverse depth of artistry across multiple CAC departments, since the 2003 opening of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art. This exhibition features more than 50 artists working within a variety of media including sculpture, painting, installation, illustration, photography, and video
Telling Her Story
Pulitzer Prize-winner Julia Wolfe steps in as the inaugural May Festival director with the world premiere of her composition, All that breathes.
2024 May Festival Event Schedule
The Creation
Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
Franz Joseph HAYDN The Creation
Anthems
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Julia WOLFE All that breathes (World Premiere, May Festival Commission)
David LANG the national anthems
Julia WOLFE Pretty
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Dona nobis pacem
Voices of the Earth
Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Program:
Michael GORDON Natural History
Julia WOLFE Anthracite Fields
Her Story
Saturday, May 25, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Program:
Julia WOLFE Her Story
Gabriel FAURÉ Requiem
Subscription ticket packages for the 2024 May Festival and Bob’s Big Sing: A May Festival Reunion are available at mayfestival.com.
Following a monumental 150th anniversary celebration and as part of its vision to become the most exciting force in the choral world, the Cincinnati May Festival introduces Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe as May Festival’s inaugural Festival Director.
Inspired by Wolfe’s body of work for chorus and orchestra, as well as decades-long collaborations with composers and performers across genres and media, the May Festival features the world premiere of All that breathes, a new choral fanfare that Wolfe composed especially for the Festival, alongside her compositions Her Story, Anthracite Fields and Pretty. The festival also has works by her longtime collaborators and Bang on a Can co-founders Michael Gordon and David Lang plus treasured works from the repertoire.
The May Festival Chorus (Robert Porco, director) and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Louis Langrée, music director) will be conducted by Teddy Abrams, Stephanie Childress, François López-Ferrer and Robert Porco. Featured guests will include soprano Camilla Tilling, tenor Nicholas Phan, and ensembles Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Lorelei Ensemble (Beth Willer, artistic director), the Steiger Butte Singers of Chiloquin, Oregon and the May Festival Youth Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).
“The May Festival has evolved through many changes and adjustments over 150 years into its current iteration, but one thing that has never wavered is its artistic excellence and commitment to the choral repertoire,” said May Festival Executive Director Steven Sunderman. “This new artistic model embraces our traditions and advances our vision. It combines acclaimed artists from all disciplines who are at the top of their craft with the talents of the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to create new and exciting experiences for all. This new artistic model will build upon the legacy and success of the May Festival, and we are thrilled that Julia Wolfe will join us as our first-ever Festival Director.”
The new artistic leadership model aims to invigorate all aspects of artistic planning and preparation through the close collaboration between two artistic leads: an annual Festival Director and the May Festival Director of Choruses.
In this newly created role, Wolfe draws upon decades of collaboration and interdisciplinary artistry to devise a program that exhibits the full breadth of the chorus as a musical medium. Through several contemporary works that highlight the chorus—including three vocal works of her own—Wolfe exposes common ground with the May Festival’s celebrated classical offerings, creating contrasts and unexpected synergies that resonate across centuries of musical history.
Julia Wolfe’s music is distinguished by an intense physicality and a relentless power that pushes performers to extremes and demands attention from the audience. She draws inspiration from folk, classical and rock genres, bringing a modern sensibility to each while simultaneously tearing down the walls between them.
Wolfe saw three major orchestra premieres in the 2022-23 season. Pretty was premiered in June 2023 by conductor Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic. Co-commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pretty is a raucous celebration — embracing the grit of fiddling, the relentlessness of work rhythms, and inspired by the distortion and reverberation of rock and roll.
UnEarth, commissioned and premiered in June 2023 by the New York Philharmonic, is a large-scale work for orchestra, men’s chorus and children’s chorus that addresses the climate crisis. Performed in three movements, the 40-minute piece is realized with spatial staging and scenic design projected on a large circular screen.
Her Story, a 45-minute semi-staged work for orchestra and women’s chamber choir, received its world premiere in September 2022 with the Nashville Symphony, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, the vocal ensemble Lorelei, and stage direction by Anne Kauffman. Co-commissioned by the Nashville Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra, Her Story invokes the words of historical figures and the spirit of pivotal moments to pay tribute to the centuries of ongoing struggle for equal rights and representation for women in America.
In addition to receiving the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Music, Wolfe was a 2016 MacArthur Fellow. She received the 2015 Herb Alpert Award in Music and was named Musical America’s 2019 Composer of the Year. Julia Wolfe is co-founder/co-artistic director of New York’s legendary music collective Bang on a Can, and she is Artistic Director of Music Composition at NYU Steinhardt.
Her music is published by Red Poppy Music and G. Ricordi & Co., New York (ASCAP) and is distributed worldwide by the Universal Music Publishing Group.
“I am thrilled to be working with the forward-looking May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to bring powerful musical narratives to the historic May Festival,” said Festival Director Julia Wolfe. “Pairing new with old, the works resonate together across time and space to share the powerful vehicle of music—expressing who we were and who we are today.”
“I love Julia’s music. It is imaginative, interesting and eclectic,” said May Festival Director of Choruses Robert Porco. “I was particularly drawn to her piece Anthracite Fields, since my father worked in the steel mills for 41 years. The quotes within the piece drawn from people who worked in the coal mines resonated with me. Her music is fascinating and extraordinary, and I look forward to sharing it with everyone here in Cincinnati.”
Sunderman added, “Our vision here at the May Festival is to become the most exciting force in the choral world. Julia Wolfe is a prolific composer with a substantial body of work for full orchestra and chorus. Her music includes theatrical and multimedia elements that are integral to her works, and she expertly uses the artform to tell relevant stories on a variety of subjects. Julia’s achievements are unique, and as the May Festival lays the foundation for its next 150 years, Julia is the perfect person to serve as our inaugural Festival Director in this new model.”
Take Me to the River
America’s River Roots, coming to our shores Oct. 9-12, 2025, kicks off a celebration of America's 250th birthday with local music, cuisine and culture.
Oct. 9 to 12, 2025
A celebration of inland river cuisine, music and culture to kick off the America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Visit AmericasRiverRoots.com to sign up for future announcements.
The road to America’s 250th birthday celebration rolls through Cincinnati.
Yesterday, organizers announced that America’s River Roots, a celebration of inland river cuisine, music and culture will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport from October 9 to 12, 2025. America’s River Roots will showcase the Ohio River and its vital role in our nation’s history while promoting cultural tourism in what promises to be a unique and memorable four days for the Cincy region.
“America's River Roots will focus attention on the Ohio River Valley region and its impact on the nation's growth and shaping of our diverse cultures,” said Rick Greiwe, event co-chair. “The event will deepen this awareness with roots music, river cuisine and cultural experiences along our world-class riverfront. Area residents will connect with our common roots and visitors will discover the heritage of America’s inland river culture.”
Nationally-recognized and emerging artists will perform on multiple stages on both sides of the river. Tall stacks riverboat cruises and river culture will be highlighted through the River Cities EXPO. A River Roots Gospel Revival and education programs will put a spotlight on The Freedom Journey and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Cuisine attractions will include celebrity chef presentations, bourbon and craft beer tastings, multicultural food vendors, and regional food artisans.
Exciting additional details, including nationally-recognized musicians, visiting celebrity chefs, participating riverboats, and the first date of cruise tickets and merchandise sales, will be announced in the coming months.
America’s River Roots has been endorsed as an official event of the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial or America 250-Ohio, and is working with the U.S. America 250 Commission, established by Congress, to secure designation as a national signature event.
First Financial Bank is the title sponsor of America’s River Roots.
“At First Financial, we’re proud to be an early supporter of America’s River Roots in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO. “We exist to be a positive influence to help our communities thrive, and this celebration will deliver incredible benefits throughout our community. America’s River Roots will be the perfect opportunity to showcase the talent, food and culture that makes Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky so unique.”
In addition to First Financial Bank as the title sponsor, America’s River Roots announced six corporate leaders as event presenters and they include: altafiber, Cintas, Kroger, TQL and Western & Southern Financial Group along with the alliance of Northern Kentucky companies, OneNKY.
America’s River Roots is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the riverfront, including many from outside the region, while delivering an economic impact in the tens of millions of dollars.