A Dickens of a Time

If You Go

Mr and Mrs. Fezziwig’s Holiday Party
Dec. 14–18, 7 p.m.
The Phoenix, 812 Race St.

Get tickets and information.

Ticket price includes lite bites, dessert and unlimited punch, cider and hot cocoa.

Adults will receive one drink ticket for beer, wine or spiced mead. Cash bar available for additional adult beverages. Holiday attire is welcome. Period costumes are not necessary.

If you think you can’t enjoy a Victorian holiday celebration because Playhouse in the Park isn’t performing A Christmas Carol this year, think again!

While we all wait for their all-new production to debut next year, you can celebrate the holidays Dickens-style with everyone’s favorite party hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig.

Immerse yourself in a Victorian-era party at The Phoenix! Carolers and actors will perform throughout the party for an interactive, festive evening that takes you back in time and celebrates the cheerful spirit of the season.

Like any good party, guests will enjoy holiday-styled beverages and light bites, play a variety of parlor games, including knock rummy, charades and “Yes or No,” as seen in the Playhouse’s production of A Christmas Carol, and have the chance to learn Victorian-era group dances. All the while, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig and other Victorian-era characters will be mingling among the guests!

Dylan Shelton in rehearsals for Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig’s Holiday Party, at the Phoenix Dec. 14–18.

Even the youngest guests (children ages 5 and up) will have a grand time, with guided, fun activities in the library and parlor, including Victorian-era floor games, holiday arts and crafts, puppet shows, a magician, and even a short, original melodrama written and performed in the Victorian style.

Out of this world

It’s been more than two years since the red planet was closest to Earth. This Saturday, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with it.

Cincinnati Observatory is hosting “Mars-a-palooza”, where you’ll learn about Mars, tour the observatory, and weather permitting, get a good look at Mars through the historic telescopes.

For ticketing info and more, click here.

Next Sunday, Dec. 11, the observatory welcomes the holiday season with a special open house. The afternoon includes tours, safe solar viewing (weather permitting), holiday refreshments, and shopping.

Plus you can take your holiday photo by their special Galaxy Tree. Admission is free, with no reservations required.

All the Bright Lights

If You Go

PNC Festival of Lights
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Zoo Hours, through Jan. 8, 2023
Sunday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

North Polar Express train ride begins at 2:30 p.m. Activities, including visits with Santa, begin daily at 4 p.m.

PNC Festival of Lights is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas

Share your #PNCFestivalOfLights pictures on your social channels using #cincyzoopic for a chance to be featured in future Zoo marketing materials!

Did you ever think you’d fall in love with a baby hippo? Did you ever think you’d fall in love with a baby hippo TWICE?

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, home to our beloved Fiona and Fritz, is celebrating the holidays in a big way with the 40th annual PNC Festival of Lights.

“I was here for the first PNC Festival of Lights and look forward to enjoying the 40th anniversary of one of my favorite Zoo events,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard. “We add something new every year and keep the favorite things that bring back great memories for repeat guests.”

Photos by Shae Combs

Festival of Lights is the region’s longest-running holiday tradition, with four million LED lights, hung with care by Zoo employees and volunteer elves. Visitors coming to see animals should come earlier in the day or visit indoor habitats such as World of the Insect, Night Hunters, and Manatee Springs, where they can see the three manatees that arrived earlier this month.

The Zoo is bringing back its popular Under the Sea area, where guests are surrounded by lights and giant, colorful jellyfish. Pose for Instagram-worthy photos here and at Elfie Selfie Stations throughout the Zoo. 

“The events team has done a spectacular job reimagining Santa’s Village and moving it to our new picnic shelter area.  The space is new, but our wonderful Santa hasn’t changed!”

Santa will be available for visits and photos in the all-new Santa’s Village, sponsored by Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers, starting at 4 p.m. To give more people a chance to ride the popular North Polar Express Train, sponsored by Superior Credit Union, it will start running at 2:30 p.m. daily.  It will chug through a longer-than-ever light tunnel to make your ride extra bright!

Kind of a Big Deal

Sure, shopping online has its perks. Need a gift in a flash? It’ll be at your door tomorrow morning!

But where’s the fun in that?

While we love a good online deal (especially this time of the year!), there’s just something about hunting down the perfect gift at a local business, chatting with the owner and leaving the store with that perfectly wrapped present. Andd Saturday, Nov. 26 is the perfect time to do it!

OTR Chamber just released it’s “Buy OTR Made” list:

Here, you can find discounts, holiday happenings and more! Click here for that.

It’s Small Business Saturday.

The movement kicked off in a big way back in 2010, in the midst of the recession.

It’s a wonderful way to kick of the holiday shopping seasons, while supporting local businesses!

Here’s a list of Tristate businesses who are signed up for the official event, but it’s likely that every local store you know and love will be taking part.

Light Hearted

A Northern Kentucky holiday tradition is back, and bigger than ever.

Light Up The Fair is open for the season at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 2819 Idlewild Rd., Burlington, Ky. The family favorite light show is Northern Kentucky’s only drive-thru light display, and even if it’fs been a part of your family’s tradition for years, there’s something new this time around. 

This is the fifth year for the event, and just as its popularity has grown over that time, so has the display itself. Light Up the Fair is now longer than ever – you can now work your way through two full miles of twinkling, brilliant lights set to holiday music you can hear through your car’s stereo.

If You Go

Light Up The Fair
Boone County Fairgrounds
2819 Idlewild Road, Burlington

Open rain, snow, or (moon)shine

Sunday–Thursday: 5:30–9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 5:30–10 p.m.

Open holidays through New Years Eve.

Tickets:

$7 per person (1-3 people); $25 carload of 4- 8 people

Free for active Military and First Responders

 The LED light show lets you enjoy the holiday scenes from the comfort of your own vehicle, and features more than a million lights. Keep an eye out for quite a few local touches, like a replica of the famous Florence Y’all water tower as a centerpiece to one display. A 300-foot long Snowflake Tunnel is also an annual favorite. Organizers promise a few surprises as well this year.

To enjoy music on the ride, tune the radio in your car to 97.9 FM. A Light Up The Fair team member will also remind you of the channel information, when you enter the fairgrounds!

Light Up the Fair is created by Boone Lighting Effects, and opens at dusk every day through Dec. 31, including holidays. 

Crazy in Love

The Cincinnati premiere of the Timothée Chalamet feature film shot in Cincinnati, “Bones and All” was held Sunday evening, November 13, before a packed house at the Esquire Theatre, Clifton. 

Attending the local premiere were David Kajganic, screenplay/producer and a graduate of Miami University, and Theresa Park, producer. The movie was directed by Luca Guadagnino, who also directed Chalamet’s breakout film, “Call Me by Your Name.”

“Bones and All” received a 10-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September and won two awards at Venice, including Best Director for Guadagnino and Best Young Actor for Taylor Russell.

“Bones and All” will be released nationally in theaters on November 23

Stars & Stripes Forever

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati will host its second annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m.

At the ceremony George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, will present a $10,000 donation to Jeremy Yost, assistant national employment director at the DAV and a Marine veteran.

Robert Lomax, from the Hamilton County Sherriff’s office, will sing the National Anthem.

Hard Rock Cafe and Brick’d Oven Pizza will be offering Veterans Day lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for all military personnel, veterans, and first responders.

Local Legends

If You Go

The Golden Ticket Opening Reception
Friday, Nov. 4, 6–8 p.m.
CCAC @ Short Vine Gallery
2728 Short Vine St.

Additional information at cliftonculturalarts.org/golden-ticket.

Some of the best regional artists are participating in the 13th annual Golden Ticket juried exhibition at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC), presented by Summerfair. This prestigious exhibition features the artwork of exceptional local artists, all vying for “Best in Show" and the coveted “People's Choice” award, voted on by attendees.

The exhibition opens on Friday, Nov. 4 with an opening reception celebrating the artists, judges, and the community.

“The Golden Ticket is proof how many exceptional artists work right here in our area,” says Jayne Utter, managing director of Summerfair. “The 43 artists in this year's exhibition are the cream of our crop. Some sell at Summerfair, others are award-winners in our outreach programs.”

The annual Golden Ticket exhibition showcases diverse, talented artists living or working within a 25-mile radius of the CCAC. Over $1,500 in prizes will be awarded for Best in Show, second and third place, and honorable mention. The artist with “Best in Show” will also have a solo exhibition hosted by the CCAC.

Janiene Baker | Katie Baker | Christina Baitz-Brandewie | Carol Blum | Beth Belknap Brann | Alan Brown | Greg Buening | Christopher A Cain | Stephen Childress | Don Cluxton | Lisa Hueil Conner | Brooke Crowley | Daniel Dickerscheid | Samantha England | Judith Effa Ford | Leslie Getz | Tina Gutierrez | Devan Horton | Francis Huffman | Jonathan Kamholtz | Michael Kitei | Debra Bushman Kopena | Paul Kroner | Veronica Lash | Becky Linhardt | Tom Lohre | Scott Meyer | ChengLun Na | Carole Price | Kat Rakel-Ferguson | Jazmina Robinhawk | Jacqui Rohner | Kate Rowekamp | Anisha Sangshani | Thelma Shotten | Linda Susman | Teresa Tolentino | Rory Torstensson | Mark Ullrich | Joanie Wiedner | John Wiehe | Jan Wiesner | Mark Wiesner | Clinton Wood III

“The Golden Ticket has featured some of the most well-known and celebrated artists in the region, but also created a launching pad for many emerging artists,” said CCAC Executive Director, Leslie Mooney. “We are so proud and honored to be able to showcase the work of the incredibly talented artists who live and work in the Greater Cincinnati region.”

The jury for this year’s Golden Ticket was Mary Campbell Zopf, retired executive director from Muse Machine; Brandon Hawkins, co-Owner and lead teaching artist with Soul Palette; Jee Eun Lee, assistant professor of ceramics at Northern Kentucky University; and David C. Smith, the owner of Eisele Gallery.

“It was very exciting hearing the results from the jury this year because we have a nice balance of familiar names and new artists,” says Emily Versoza. CCAC’s gallery coordinator. “That’s really what the Golden Ticket is all about – celebrating impressive local talent at all stages of their career.”

Since 2018, CCAC has used the space on Short Vine Street for exhibitions and programs. Earlier this year, however, CCAC broke ground for its new facility, located at 3412 Clifton Ave.

“For years CCAC has hosted Summerfair’s Emerging Artist Exhibition,” says Utter. “So it was easy to choose them when we were looking for an organization for our next ‘Big Give,” especially when they were looking for donors to support their new building.”

“With our four-year commitment came the honor of being the presenter of The Golden Ticket,” Utter says.

On the Dark Side

If you like your Halloween chills with a murderous local twist, take a trip with “The Darkside of Brewing Tour – Tales of Cincinnati’s Haunted and Gruesome Past.”

This limited-edition seasonal guided walking tour from the Brewing Heritage Trail, which continues through Nov. 5, offers tales of macabre events – grave robbing, a serial killing saloonist, and other murderous and deadly mayhem. The tour also includes a visit to an abandoned city street overtaken by nature, as well as a flashlight tour of the underground cellar complex of a historic abandoned Cincinnati brewery.

Tours begin at the Brewing Heritage Trail Tour Center, 1939 Race St., and end at the same location.

The non-profit Brewery District CURC organizes historic brewery tours and started the first large-scale heritage tour program in Over-the-Rhine in 2006. It is a non-profit organization committed to making Cincinnati’s historic Brewery District a healthy, balanced, and supportive neighborhood economy by preserving, restoring, and redeveloping our unique brewing history and historic urban fabric through projects like the Brewing Heritage Trail.

In addition to the limited-edition seasonal tour, the Brewing Heritage Trail offers a wide range of tours throughout the year such as “Built on Beer”, “Brewers & Barons”, and “Brunch, Beer, & Breweries” tours. For a complete schedule of tours, times, and tickets, visit brewingheritagetrail.org.

Setting the Scene

Backlot 2022

Saturday, October 29, 7 – 11 p.m.
Waypoint Aviation, Lunken Airport

Event attire: Hollywood Glam

VIP cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m., with general admission at 7 p.m.

Music provided by Fixx Band, and valet service is available at Waypoint Aviation.

Get tickets!

Ready for your close-up?

Celebrate the movie industry and the local crews and talent that keep the industry growing during Film Cincinnati’s fourth annual Backlot gala.

“We are excited to bring Backlot back to celebrate the work of our local crews and talent, as well as to welcome the motion picture industry to Greater Cincinnati,” said Kristen Schlotman, executive director of Film Cincinnati.

With the theme “Hollywood Glam,” Backlot is Film Cincinnati’s largest fundraiser, helping the non-profit continue to bring in major motion picture production teams to the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2017 and 2018, the last years figures are available, the motion picture industry had an economic impact of nearly $80 million in the Cincinnati area, according to the University of Cincinnati Economics Center. 

Along with celebrating local talent, the event will honor Sarah Green with their Founder’s Award. Green is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated producer known for powerful auteur-driven work in film and television. She currently is in town for Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders, starring Tom Hardy, Austin Butler and Jodie Comer. She also is in post-production for Michael Shannon’s directorial feature debut, Eric LaRue.

Green produced Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life with Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain and Sean Penn, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award.  Other notable productions include Nichols’ Mud, Midnight Special and Loving, Malick’s The New World, Knight of Cups and Song to Song, Julie Taymor’s Academy Award-winning Frida, Karyn Kusama’s Girlfight, and John Sayles’ The Secret of Roan Inish. 

Film Cincinnati, celebrating its 35th year in 2022, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to attracting, promoting and cultivating film, television and commercial production throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Since its beginning in 1987, Film Cincinnati has brought hundreds of films to Greater Cincinnati, plus thousands of commercials, music videos, documentaries and industrials.

Screen Time

If You Go

Cinema OTR
1517 Vine St.

Open Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

If you’re looking for a mix of good music, classic films, and Black culture, Cinema OTR is the place to be.

Located in the heart of OTR, the new bar and lounge is dedicated to ‘90s R&B, hip hop, and classic Black films. Who doesn’t love a good throwback movie while enjoying a cocktail?

Cinema has even dedicated their cocktail menu to classic Black films. Their specialty drink, “Nina” was inspired by the film “Love Jones” (1997), an iconic film to this day, that represents Black love, life, careers and the possibilities in between. The character, Nina, was a young, beautiful, and outgoing woman. The cocktail is said to be a perfect balance of bold and beautiful, just like Nina.

Cinema also has special events throughout the week, including Matinee Day Party,The Games Watch Party (Who Dey!), and The Late Show. Vsit their Instagram page for a full schedule.

– Tiasia Cockrell

Horsing Around

Prepare thyself for fun, feasts (on massive, roasted turkey legs), mayhem, and more at the Ohio Renaissance Festival!

Pro Tip:

Beautiful fall weekends add to magic at the Renaissance Fair. So, be patient and plan ahead to avoid the long lines.

This weekend and next are your last chances to get in on the fun in Warren County.

Not sure what to wear, see or do? We solved that for you with a trip of our own!

Inside the festival walls you’ll find endless forms of entertainment. There’s also artisans selling their goods, shops and of course, plenty of beer and food.

Show time

The entertainment in the shire is non-stop! Just listen for the laughs and follow the signs to find a show.

One of our first stops took us to the Mudd(e) Show, where classic literary tales are performed in the shire’s Muditorium.

Grab a leg

You mustn’t miss the delicious turkey legs!

Get your front row seat (if you dare). We watched Dante’s Inferno (slightly muddy) but the muddiest shows of all, The Viking Show and Jerkules prove to be massive messy fun.

From there, we wandered into a few shops, tried on cloaks, and crowns and then grabbed a few beers.

There’s a great variety of brews and food to choose.

Joust a lot of fun

The full armored joust is another “can’t miss” event.

Combatants compete in high-energy shows multiple times a day.

There’s truly so much to do and see at the Renaissance Festival and don’t worry about missing something. There’s activity everywhere you turn!

For ticket info and more, click here.

Street, Lights, People

More than 2,500 participants from 85 groups will shine a light on cultural heritage, identity and pride, the Cincinnati region, and our connections as humans throughout space and time during the BLINK parade on Thursday, Oct. 13.

The parade steps off at 7:30 pm, and participants will light up Fifth Street from Broadway to Elm streets, with a special Parade Finale near Fifth and Elm.

Parade Torchbearers

For the first time, the parade features local TorchBearers, nominated by the community, that will be carrying glowing BLINK torches 10 Torchbearers were chosen by a committee:

• Will from Make-A-Wish

• Kristen Schlotmann

• Toilynn O’Neal Turner

• Lee Turner

• Jo Martin

• Ian & Jessica Orr

• Gary Dangel

• Charlotte Reed

• Sherry Hughes

• Isaac Wright

The parade is the official kickoff to BLINK™, the nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping experience. Sitting at the crossroads of innovative art and new technology, BLINK embodies the spirit of world-building, connecting artists who craft their own unique environments within the Cincinnati cityscape.

This free, four-night event runs from 7 to 11 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16.

With more than 100 installations and projections, it will hard, though not impossible, to see everything at BLINK. This year, events are broken into five zones, spanning 30 blocks from Seventh Street in Covington to McMicken Avenue. So you could do a little more than a zone a night and try to do it all.

But if you want to capture the spirit of the event and wander through all of the art and events, we’ve picked a few highlights in each zone to act as a guide.

COVINGTON

In The Middle
by Antaless Visual Design
Mother Of God Church, 119 W. Sixth St.

Through the use of lights and shadows, the expansion of time and space, the multiplication of objects, the application of physical/mathematical laws, the project appears as a continuous succession of ideas that pursue the logic of reasoning and at the same time the logic of the imagination.

Arcade of Light
by Kemper Sauce Studios
Madison Ave. and W. Fifth Street

Find an interactive collection of retro style games built on the latest in microcontroller technology. Each piece is designed to be fun and approachable, with an exaggerated scale that imparts a sense of childlike wonder. The installation draws on the unique experience of the ARCADE: where undiscovered worlds live behind blinking neon lights and a new friend may be just a quarter away.

Cinemagic
by Spotted Yeti Media
Madison Ave and Sixth St

With endless entertainment at your fingertips, it’s often a quest to find just the right thing to watch. CINEMAGIC takes you on a journey through worlds influenced by film and television masterpieces. With a touch of whimsy and magic, watch as Ms. W. Panes navigates her streaming options searching for the perfect escape to a world of make believe.

 Drawing inspiration from the building’s geometric exterior, CINEMAGIC transforms physical architecture through touchscreen navigation, opening portals to imagination.

Drone Show Viewing Area – Presented by CVG Airport
Madison Ave. at the Riverfront

The Eyes Up Drone Show – Presented by Altafiber will be visible from both sides of the river. Show times are Thursday, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

THE BANKS

Eyes Up Drone Show – Presented by Altafiber
Smale Park

Show times Thursday, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m

The BLINK Drone Light highlights the Suspension Bridge, using the Roebling as the back drop for the nightly shows. The show includes 300 drones for an approximately 10-minute show with a sequence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in harmony.  

The Banks Zone is made possible by P&G, extending its relationship that has been in place since BLINK’s inception in 2017.

“The P&G Zone is the welcome mat for BLINK greeting attendees from the highways and the bridges alike. It’s so critical for us to make a great first impression for BLINK attendees and we couldn’t do that without the partnership with P&G,” says BLINK co-founder Andrew Salzbrun.

The Golden Garden at The Black Music Walk Of Fame
by PRG
Andrew J. Brady Music Center, 25 Race St.

The Golden Garden at the new Cincinnati Music Black Walk of Fame celebrates the greatness that has risen from our city and an appreciation for the greatness that lives within each of us.

Visit for an expansive experience within the BLINK footprint that invites guests to gather, bask in the golden glow of their light, and lounge together under the stars. Within the footprint, you’ll also find the light-based installations Parastella and fences.

Enchanted Forest
by Kolar Design
Smale Riverfront Park

Wander into the Enchanted Forest, explore the secrets of the fairy trees, and discover a magical moonlit forest clearing! The Enchanted Forest at Schmidlapp Lawn is a place where you can dance, listen, relax and celebrate community throughout Blink 2022.

Fences
by Immerge Interactive
Smale Riverfront Park

Fences is an interactive light installation, where patterns are generated by the motion of foot traffic along a custom LED display. The 72-foot long and 7-foot high artwork creates lighting effects through color, shape, and brightness across 9,000 individually controlled LEDs. As viewers walk along the path, video tracking creates patterns that are displayed alongside them. Over time, the interactions layer to create generative patterns that visualize the current viewers and the history of those who have visited the space.

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Care Bear
by Michael Coppage with Jason Snell and Adam Wicktora
Walnut and Seventh streets

Care Bear is an adaptation of Michael Coppage’s Black Box Project. The project will address current events and topics of importance in a nuanced, artistic way, celebrate Cincinnati and it's people, places and things. the goal of the project is to turn a 55ft Black man into a teddy bears, showing the softer, funnier, side and grounding him in his humanity. This extension of the Black Box project goes interactive by adding animated elements by Jason Snell and Adam Wicktora.

Fifth Third Bank Presents ElectriFi
Fountain Square, Fifth and Vine streets

Energy makes our lives better. It is all around us, yet we can be limited by it—by the finite amount we have and how to cleanly produce it. But not today. Today we celebrate our ability to generate energy from sustainable sources such as the sun while we reflect upon the opportunities this creates for future generations.

Featuring The ARRAY, A B!G ART work by:

• Paul Magnuson

• Devin Giles

• Laura Anzola

• Mathew Waddell

• Chris Depape

• Stephen Rhoades

• Fifth Third Bank

Mural 84.51
by Tristan Eaton

At 18, LA-born artist Tristan Eaton designed his first toy for Fisher-Price, and quickly became a driving force in the world of ‘Art Toys.’ Upon graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York, Eaton revolutionized the art toy works as the founding creative director of the legendary KidRobot. Shortly after, he founded Thunderdog Studios, where he amassed a roster of high profile clients including Nike and Universal. In the years since, Eaton has become one of the most prominent international muralists. He earned the coveted job of rendering the classic Universal Monsters at Universal Studios and an elusive licensing deal with Marvel, kicking off the partnership with a limited run of a Marvel’s The Avengers fine art print series that sold out in just five minutes. His endeavors have also ventured into the metaverse. Eaton’s first ever animated paintings combine spray paint--one of Eaton’s most prolific mediums--and digital art--which has become wildly popular thanks to the NFT Renaissance. Eaton’s work can be seen in the Museum of Modern Art's (MoMA) permanent collection as well as the Cooper Hewitt Museum. Most recently, the Long Beach Museum Art (LBMA) hosted a 25-year career retrospective of his work.

The Manifold Potential
by Lightborne
Contemporary Arts Center

A celebratory exploration of possibilities; how the alchemies of light, sound and time can be wielded to alter the perceived world, using the iconic CAC architecture as our inspiration and canvas. We’re drawn to the anamorphic potential of animated light colliding with the structure, augmenting the perceptions of viewers with a revelry of vibrant animations that explore the lines, surfaces and volumes of the building, letting the architectural forms lead us on a journey through the manifold variations hidden within.

Frisch’s Mobile Roller Rink

During BLINK, Frisch’s Mobile Roller Rink will be popping up at Court Street Plaza, located between Vine and Walnut streets. The rink has nearly 9,000 square feet of space. Walk-ups are also welcome, cashless payments only or make a reservation.

The Frisch's Mobile Roller Rink is operated by 3CDC.

Asianati Night Market
23 W. Court St.

The first ever Asianati Night Market brings the tastes, sights, and sounds of classic Asian night markets to Court Street (between Race & Vine)!

• Asian street food stalls with curated "Night Market" menu items

• Family-friendly glow-in-the-dark activities & games

• Rows of iconic Night Market lanterns

• Asian-inspired art & light installations

Night markets have been the cornerstone of many Asian cultures for centuries symbolizing a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community experience with delicious, accessible late-night street food.

Sponsored by P&G and Frost Brown Todd.

OVER-THE-RHINE

The Inside Out
by Lightborne

 As active participants in the audio visual design field, we strive to make the impossible possible: to provide our audiences with an escape from a world of limitations, and aggravations

The engines of creativity contained within our walls are ready once more to create a shared experience with our city. Join us as the worlds we’ve created break free from the concrete confines of our physical space and transform our street and neighborhood.

TIMISIEN
Architects of Air
Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St.

The luminarium is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. Visitors remove their shoes before entering an airlock. Once inside they can wander freely or just lay back and enjoy the ambiance of the structure.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. $15 for adults, $10 for children 2-10, under age 2 are free. Tickets can be purchased on-site or fast passes are available at zieglerpark.org.

Mr. Dynamite
by  Kyle Eli Ebersole

James Brown is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians of the 20th century. 

Brown spent the formative years of his career on the Cincinnati-based King Records label producing some of his earliest hits and providing inspiration and guidance to a generation of musicians. Highlighting the vibrant mural created by Artist Jenny Ustick and Artworks. This projection sends you on a musical journey that honors the legacy of Mr. Dynamite.

Disco Ball Y’all
by Disco Ball Y’all
Elm and 12th streets

The current Guinness World Record for largest disco ball is found on the Isle of Wight in England. This ball was confirmed as measuring nearly 33 feet in September of 2014.

Disco Ball Y’all’s vision is to create a disco ball that measures 67 feet, more than doubling the current world record. This landmark would then be gifted to the city of Louisville. Why, you ask? Here's why:

1. Louisville is the world's largest producer of disco balls.

2. This disco ball will exemplify the energy, innovation, passion, and wonderful weirdness that we know exists in our great city.

3. It is our duty as Americans to ensure that this record is broken, and the title brought to its rightful home in the good ole U.S.A.

I Am Ezz
by Jason Snell with Jim Cunningham and Citoak
1537 Republic St.

On a canvas created for ArtWorks’ 100th mural, “I Am Ezz” is an audio/visual anthem dedicated to local legend, Ezzard Charles.

In 12 verses of spoken word layered atop a record from the 1961 album, “Ezz-thetics”, “I Am Ezz” follows our unlikely hero on his epic journey from Jim Crow South through Cincinnati’s West End to an against-all-odds rise as champion of the world—inside the ring and out.

FINDLAY MARKET

The Findlay Market Zone will be home to a number of new murals which will remain a part of the city’s artistic landscape for years to come.

Sister City
by Jenny Ustick  & Sean P. Hafer
Dunlap Street

Sister City is a visual love letter to the people, history, and culture of Ukraine.

Artist team Jenny Roesel Ustick and Sean P. Hafer are University of Cincinnati DAAP Professors and active artists and designers who have teamed up to create a mural and projection mapped animation for BLINK Cincinnati 2022.

This mural, sponsored by the Cincinnati–Kharkiv Sister City Partnership, Cincy4Ukraine, and the College of DAAP at the University of Cincinnati was created to remind us of the strength and beauty of Ukrainian culture and the enduring friendships between the people of Kharkiv and Cincinnati. Sean P. Hafer and his students have created projection mapped animations to be projected onto the permanent mural.

The DogFish
by DogFish Crew

The DogFish, a historic Burning Man Art Car or “Mutant Vehicle”, has participated in the art and culture event for 23 years.

Burning Man is a week long global gathering in the Nevada desert where we come together to create a “participative temporary metropolis” based around art, music and community on the “playa”. The DogFish has returned to Cincinnati, and is creating a place to gather, dance and share some of its magic and mysticism with BLINK community.

WHO DEY!
by Lindz & Lamb

Hear that Bengal growlin’ mean and angry
Here he comes a prowlin’ lean and hungry
An offensive brute
Run, pass or boot
And defensively he's rough, tough
Cincinnati Bengals
That’s the team we're going to cheer to victory
Touchdown Bengals get some points upon that board
And win a game for Cincinnati

Circuit Breaker

Looking for a quick break, a snack, and a drink while enjoying BLINK?

There’s a bunch of places you can do just that…for free!

Check out our list below for some of the spots where you can rest, refresh, and recharge (your phone!).

BLINK IN THE BALLROOM

Music played on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ while sipping on a cocktail? Wer’re in!

Presented by Friends of Music Hall and Cincinnati Arts Association, BLINK in the Ballroom, runs Oct. 13 to 16, 7 to 10 p.m. Acclaimed theater organist Trent Sims will playing a medley of new and classic songs on the 1927 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ each night in the Music Hall Ballroom. Guests can also see the remarkable Music Hall model made with botanical materials by Applied Imagination from Alexandria, Ky., which will be included in the Krohn Conservatory’s holiday exhibit.

During the day, Music Hall will offer tours (Oct. 14 and 15 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Oct. 16 at noon). Tour tickets are required. 

BLINK in the Ballroom is free and open to the public. Concessions will be available for purchase. Restrooms will be open.

FINDLAY MARKET

A feast for all your senses. There’s a ton to see and do here!

During BLINK, the Findlay Market Zone will be feast for the eyes (and stomach) with dozens of murals, light projection mappings, along with food to enjoy. Explore the vibrant Outdoor Night Market, with food and drink specials from storefronts, bars, and more.

See the Outdoor Market lineup for more.

BLINK AT BRAXTON

Don’t forget the BLINK fun in NKY!

BLINK is back in Covington. Braxton Brewing Company will have two installations, but you can also grab a beer (of course!) and check out the views of the other works from their rooftop.

The Lift One to Light in the Lumen Lounge will be in front of Braxton, with an inflatable, illuminated bar on Seventh Street, complete with experiential music and seating. On the roof, you can experience the Glowing Garden.

On Thursday, The Loft on Braxton's second floor welcomes NKY Pride Center for a BLINK Drag show.

BLINK AT THE CAC

Rest, refresh, and shop!

Stop by the CAC during your BLINK adventures! While the facade will be illuminated and animated by the brilliant minds at Lightborne, the CAC’s Lobby, Lower Level, and 2nd Floor Galleries will be open during.

Enjoy a cash bars, use their restrooms, and see two of their current exhibitions, Images on which to build, 1970s-1990s and Baseera Khan Weight On History.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, from 6–10 p.m., Market Bleu, a quarterly event showcasing artisan handmade products, takes over the CAC Lobby. Enjoy shopping along with treats from Fausto at the CAC amidst the energetic entertainment of BLINK.

HARD ROCK CASINO

Black Jack and burgers served all weekend long!

Whether it’s before the lights go on or after BLINK has gone dark, head to Hard Rock Cincinnati for drinks, dinner, and fun, plus the chance to recharge your phone while you’re doing all that! You’ll need it for all those Instagram-able pics you’re taking.

The Hard Rock Cafe, home of its legendary burger, is open until midnight, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight.

YouYu has Asian-inspired street food, with a late-night menu of savory broths and noodles, sushi, and more. Don’t miss their coconut buns – a yummy, sweet treat, day or night.

The restaurant is open, 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Pm, Friday - Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Looking for a classic, late-night slice? Brick’d Pizza offers real Neapolitan pizza cooked in a brick oven, over fire. This chef-led pizzeria also offers pastas and sandwiches. Find great dishes from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. 

AGAR

Artists battle it out in Secret Walls

One of the coolest parts of an already cool event is Secret Walls.

This competition between muralists in town for BLINK will be held at AGAR, 1205 Walnut St., on Friday, Oct. 14, from 8 to 11 p.m.

The artists competing are Jason Alghussein, The Cats Eye Art, Chris Caudill, Chroma Projects, DEVI, Dye Brothers, Danny Gamble, LAmour Supreme, Tenzing, Michael Thompson, and Jenny Roesel Ustick.

An Apple a Day

An apple a day just feels right, especially now that it’s Fall.

Irons Fruit Farm
640 Stubbs Mills Road in Lebanon
Open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m. –6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. October.

We took a trip to Irons Fruit Farm in Lebanon to gather up a bushel or two and had the best time!

Irons Fruit Farm is a fourth generation farm with a market, plenty of apple picking/buying options, a corn maze, hay rides to find that perfect pumpkin, and more.

Grab an apple cider donut!

There’s donuts and then there’s this. We had to grab a few before we left.

If your schedule allows, stop by on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds. The hayrides won’t be available but you’ll practically have the apple crates to yourself.

All the apple goodness

Apples, apple butter, apple fritters, apple tarts..

Hoop It Up!

Saturday Hoops works to change the lives of youths in Cincinnati.

It started with Saturday basketball, but then came volleyball, yoga, ballet, jumprope, and more.

These gatherings grow bigger and bigger during the summer, but with the weather turning cooler, the organization needed a bigger indoor space to continue its growth.

Enter, Lincoln Recreation Center in the West End.

“We’re so excited! This is year 19 for Saturday Hoops. The program began and it was January - May and that was it. 5 years ago we had a summer program at Ziegler Park. And now, we’re here year round at the Lincoln Rec Center.. We’re really excited to serve hundreds of families here in the West End.” said Saturday Hoops Director, Adam Turer.

Last week, on a cool, fall day, Saturday Hoops welcomed local students and volunteers at Lincoln Rec Center to kick off its Fall Season.

Photos courtesy of Saturday Hoops

Their friends at Bigger Than Sneakers unveiled the fully stocked Saturday Hoops Resource Closet. Kids will be invited to grab a new pair of shoes, a basketball, a toy or anything else they’d like.

Turer says they’ll gauge this by the awards given out at the end of each day.

“We’re really excited that Saturday Hoops is now officially a program of CYC, one of the biggest and best youth mentoring programs in Cincinnati. We’ve hired program coordinator, Jason Brown and we’re really excited to see it expand and grow throughout the city,” he says.

Relish the Idea

PIckleball, anyone?

More and more, the answer is yes.

Monster Smash
Oct. 7–9
Sawyer Point Pickleplex
815 East Pete Rose Way

CPC members get discounted registration. All event registrations include either a boxed lunch or a food truck voucher and a drink ticket that can be used for beer, seltzer, water, or a soft drink

For more information, check out the event page.

The nation’s fastest-growing sport has a chokehold on Cincinnati, from professional tour stops to neighborhood pickup games in cul-de-sacs from Walton to West Chester.

The sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, rose to recent prominence during the pandemic, but it’s been around since 1965. It draws fans of all ages, from all corners of the country, with players now eclipsing the five million mark nationwide.

Why? Several reasons, according to pickleball experts here and around the country. It has a low barrier of entry – all you need is a paddle, a small court and a net – and, according to Mitch Dunn, co-founder and president of the CIncinnati Pickleball Club, it’s “easy to learn – but difficult to master. The sport attracts people looking for something athletic that is easy to pick up. Once they start playing though, they often find that the "difficult to master" part is what really hooks them. It's that part that makes the sport so addictive.” 

Dunn and fellow co-founder Karen Games launched the Cincinnati Pickleball Club (CPC) in January 2020 – before the pandemic saw pickleball participation rise exponentially.

“We saw a huge opportunity for the tri-state. We made it our mission to turn Cincinnati into the hub of midwest pickleball, “ Dunn said. “We were confident we could pull this off because of Cincinnati's heritage as a tennis town.”

Since then, CPC has grown into one of the largest pickleball organizations in the midwest, with more than 1,500 members. The group has helped draw both professional pickleball tours to the city, with multi-year commitments.

Dunn points out, “Since we launched we have hosted eight major tournaments, run year-round league play that attracts roughly 200 players per session, given over 1,000 lessons, and hosted more Club events than we can count.”

And the allure of pickleball has made it to the city level as well. The city of Cincinnati saw enough potential in the sport to renovate the Sawyer Point Pickleplex, a $600,000 complex that will be the site of the third annual Monster Smash, a pickleball tournament sponsored by CPC, Oct. 7–9.

“Monster Smash is our last tournament of the year, and we think it's the most enjoyable tournament,” said Dunn. “It's a celebration of pickleball, Halloween, and the fall weather that Cincinnatians love.”

It also includes live music, a college division, a beer booth, and food trucks throughout the weekend. And the best part: anyone can enter.

“Even if you're not playing, we encourage people to come down to Sawyer Point and watch some of our gold medal matches. Pickleball is as fun to watch as it is to play.”

In addition to competition, Monster Smash will also feature open play once tournament play concludes.

“Pickleball is a game for all, regardless of your athletic prowess,” Dunn said. “I play with 12-year-olds and 87-year-olds in the same day, and have great experiences with both. So if you're curious, come out and join the Club. Pickleball is hugely beneficial for both your physical and mental wellbeing.”

Well and Good

New season, new outlook!

If Fall has you ready to start new endeavors with new energy, especially for your health and well-being, don’t miss the the Kroger Wellness Festival.

The festival includes panels, demonstrations, and entertainment to help people along their wellness journey. This year’s presenters include Olympian Abby Wambach, New York Times best-selling author Chrissy Teigen, entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel, and Grammy-winner Carrie Underwood.

The festival is designed to help people live healthier lives by taking a holistic approach to healthy living and raise awareness of how Kroger and its products can help improve both your physical and mental heal

Here are a few highlights, but view the full schedule. For a playlist of musical performers click here.

FRIDAY, SEPT 23

11 a.m. – Olympian, Activist, Author

Prepare to be empowered and energized by Abby Wambach, world champion, author, activist, and soccer legend, during this moderated conversation and public Q&A session, powered by Gatorade Fit. Public meet and greet to follow.
Johnson & Johnson Stage

1:15 p.m. Cooking Simply with Chrissy Teigen

Author of New York Times bestseller Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat, Chrissy Teigen will host a 30-minute cooking segment, presented by Simply®.
Laura’s Lean Stage

2 p.m. – Becoming a Food Entrepreneur

Stories and advice from powerhouse food founders and how they found success, featuring Kyle Cooke, TV personality and founder of Loverboy.
BODYARMOR Stage

2 p.m. – Chef’s Shortcuts

Join Chef Brian Malarkey, Top Chef and 10x Award-Winning Restaurateur, as he shares his top tips to hacking it in the kitchen. Featuring Chef Christian Gill and Kroger’s Ashley Martinez.
Laura’s Lean Stage

2:30 p.m. –America’s Foodie Family

Mother-daughter duo Chrissy and Pepper Teigen discuss the importance of embracing cultural traditions while making them your own.
Johnson & Johnson Stage

3:15 p.m. – Down to Business

Entrepreneur, author and reality TV star Bethenny Frankel shares her approach to fearlessly leading with her gut, embracing being a “multi-hyphenate woman” and laying a foundation for greatness through investing in her wellness.
BODYARMOR Stage

6:15 p.m.–Curvy Cardio

Join Morgan Angelique Owens for Curvy Cardio, where every body can move in a healthy and happy way!
American Greetings Stage

SATURDAY SEPT 24

12:30 p.m.–Mental Health and the Media

Exploring tips to develop healthy social media hygiene for better quality of life, featuring TV Star Dylan Barbour and TikToker Megan Mitchell.
American Greetings Stage

2:15 p.m.–30-Minute Mind-Blowing Meals with Home Chef

Explore easy-to-make dishes with Chef Vanessa Miller and iHeart Radio’s JonJon!
Laura’s Lean Stage

2:30 p.m.–Cardio with Carrie Underwood

BODYARMOR presents a special 30-minute full body cardio blast workout led by 8-time GRAMMY® Award-winning superstar and fitness entrepreneur Carrie Underwood and her trainer Eve Overland.
BODYARMOR Stage

3 p.m. – Flipping Out with Dominique Dawes

Join a whole-family gymnastics activity led by 3x Olympic Gymnast Dominique Dawes, owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies.
Johnson & Johnson Stage

Around the Cluck

“…and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world!”

This year’s World's Largest Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is not throwing away its show, as the cast of HAMILTON steps in to lead the dance.

Cast members will take the stage in front of tens of thousands of people in on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. on the Turfway Park Main Stage, at Second and Elm Streets.

HAMILTON National Tour (c) Joan-Marcus

Saturday also marks a new name for the dance. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is renaming of the World’s Largest Chicken Dance in honor of longtime Chamber employee and local media legend Rich Walburg. Walburg was the Chicken Dance’s biggest fan and had a hand in booking some of the most popular grand marshals over the years.

After leading the chicken dance at Oktoberfest, the cast heads back to the Aronoff Center, where HAMILTON is playing through Oct. 2, as a part of Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati’s season presented by TriHealth.

Kegs-cellent Adventure

Ready to get the party started?

Cincinnati Mayor, Aftab Pureval, has proclaimed Friday, Sept. 16 a half-day holiday in Cincinnati. 

“Nobody else in the country does Oktoberfest as big and as proudly as we do here in Cincinnati,” said Mayor Pureval. “And we should continue to recognize its importance to our community and local businesses.”

While not an official half-day holiday, with this proclamation, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati® and Mayor Aftab Pureval encourage the Cincinnati region to come downtown early and celebrate on Friday, Sept. 16 starting at 11 a.m. 

“We’re opening up the event this year with some of our fan-favorite festivities,” said Maddie Regan, vice president of events and experiences at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “We hope the city and region can take advantage of the half-day holiday and make their way down to this amazing Cincinnati tradition.”

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati festivities will begin with the Running of the Wieners, Friday, Sept. 16 at 12 p.m. at the Turfway Park Main Stage at Second and Elm Streets. In this event, 100 dachshunds will don costumes and compete to determine Zinzinnati’s fastest wiener dog.

It will be followed at 2 p.m by the Gemütlichkeit (Goodwill) Games. This annual event features local media personalities competing in stein carrying and barrel rolling competitions. The festivities continue on Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has a lineup of more than 130 different varieties of beer and alcoholic beverages from national and local breweries.

“We’re excited to offer a beer list with a variety of options and flavors,” said Spencer Mapes, lead event manager for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. “Along with our official beer, Samuel Adams, local favorites like Madtree, Rhinegeist, and Urban Artifact will be participating in the event.”

Food also plays a big part in Oktoberfest, and this year, more than 30% of the vendors are new to the event. Patrons will enjoy choosing from more than 150 food options, both traditional along with new twists on favorite dishes.

Of course, Oktoberfest also includes a diverse entertainment line-up, with more than 30 acts ranging from traditional German music to indie rock appearing on multiple stages all weekend long.

Get all the details at https://oktoberfestzinzinnati.com/food/.