Carry Through

Giving back to our nation’s veterans has never been easier.

Now through Sept. 25, when you make a donation to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) at Tire Discounters, you can receive up to $300 in discounts off of a set of tires.

Tire Discounters is the largest 100% family-owned and operated independent tire and automotive repair provider in the country. They are committed to helping injured veterans and their families through their support of WWP and the nonprofit’s free programs and services.

Through the month of September, customers can donate to WWP as part of Tire Discounters’ “It’s Our Turn to Give” initiative. With any donation, customers receive a discount on a set of tires.

“It’s Our Turn to Give” gives customers at all of Tires Discounters’ almost 200 locations the opportunity to participate in the fundraiser.

This is the fourth year Tire Discounters has led the fundraiser for WWP, donating $375,000 since 2019.

Funds raised by partners like Tire Discounters provide warriors and their families with free, life-changing programs and services in mental health, career counseling, long-term rehabilitative care, and policy advocacy.

Customers will be able to make donations through Sept. 25.

All Duck No or No Dinner

• Bob’s Quack Pack: $50 helps provide 150 meals. You get 10 ducks + two free!

• Football Duck Pack: $100 helps provide 300 meals. You get 20 ducks + four free!

Prizes:

First place prize: This year one lucky winner will receive a 2024 Honda HR-V courtesy of the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers.

Second place prize is $5,200 in gift cards from Kroger ($100 a week for a year)

The remaining five prizes are $500 in cash from Kemba Credit Union.

Buy a duck!

Donate to Freestore Foodbank.

You know the drill by now.. “Buy a duck. Feed a child. Win a car! ”

As the annual Rubber Duck Regatta returns this Sunday, Sept. 3, we take a look back at is origins and impact.

“When this event started back in 1995, everyone thought Rubber Duck Regatta founder Bob Edwards had a crazy idea,” according to Kurt Reiber, the president CEO of Freestore Foodbank. “It might still be crazy, but to date, we’ve sold more than three million ducks, which is enough to provide at least 45 million meals!”

With more than 60,000 children in the Tristate without a reliable source of nutritious food, the contributions to Freestore during the Rubber Duck Regatta make a big difference.

Longtime Rubber Duck Regatta volunteer Jim Coates and his wife, Joan, moved to Greater Cincinnati in 1970 when P&G recruited him right out of graduate school. They raised their two children here, and it's where Jim first got involved with Freestore Foodbank more than three decades ago. 

Straight from the Duck’s Mouth
Provided by Freestore Foodbank

It's not every day that you get to sit down and talk with a 5-foot-tall duck about helping children get nutritious food. So when the opportunity arose to interview the tristate area's coolest duck, we jumped at the chance! 

Quacky, how long have you been the official mascot of Freestore Foodbank and the Rubber Duck Regatta?:

I've been with Freestore Foodbank since 1995, when I was just a young duckling wanting to make a difference. It's been 29 amazing years of making friends and supporting the community. 

Tell us a little about the job of being the mascot. What's it like? 

It's the best job ever, even though some people mistake me for a chicken. I've learned you have to put your best webfoot and feather forward and bring a happy bill to every job, and the Rubber Duck Regatta makes that easy! 

I've seen some pictures of you with Who Dey from the Bengals. That's pretty exciting! Tell us about some other mascots you hang out with and what that's like. 

What?! I'm not just a mascot ... I like to see myself more as a spokesduck with a purpose. I love all my mascot friends and every opportunity to meet someone new! 

It must really be an honor to be part of this iconic event that helps so many children. 

It is a unique way to discuss a serious subject like hunger and open the door to meaningful action in our hometown. By highlighting the issue, we can work together to address the root causes. 

What's your favorite part of the regatta? 

All the ducks, of course! I love swimming with 200,000 of my closest friends to support the region and getting to see the shock and excitement of the prize winners. 

Anything else you'd like to share with us? 

I know many of us ducks look alike, but keep an eye out for me - the coolest duck who has sunglasses on and ... Buy a Duck! Feed a Child! 

It all started when Coates worked in corporate distribution at P&G. His section was involved with getting rid of surplus product, and they had two truckloads of laundry detergent. Coates worked with Freestore Foodbank staff to have the supplies delivered, and the staff distributed the detergent to struggling families. 

Years later, “Freestore Foodbank called me and had a crazy idea of dropping some rubber ducks into the river,” Coates says. “I was happy to help. I've been here since the first rubber duck, and I've been involved every year since.”

To say Coates has "been involved" is a HUGE understatement. He’s been instrumental in figuring out how to get the ducks into the water, how to make them race, and how to fish them back out again. “I was in charge of making sure the ducks, crane and equipment got onto the bridge, and then I gave the signal to drop them,” he says. 

In his time with the Rubber Duck Regatta, Jim has helped work through all kinds of “ducky drama.”

“The first year, the ducks wouldn't float down the river,” Coates remembers. “We had to ask the fire department to help move them along with their fire hoses. Another year, we had a thunderstorm roll in and it blew the ducks toward Pittsburgh instead of Louisville.”

Through it all, what keeps Jim coming back is knowing the incredible impact the event has for our neighbors facing hunger.

“The major thing is raising money for Freestore Foodbank, which feeds people,” Coates says. “Rubber Duck Regatta is a long day, but at the end of the day, feeding people keeps me involved.”

When Bob Edwards first had the idea of holding a fundraiser with thousands of rubber ducks, he floated the idea past his fellow board members at Freestore Foodbank. 

One had a strong reaction: “That is the craziest thing I've ever heard. That really is a dumb idea, Bob.”

Sylvia Edwards laughs as she recounts this story about her late husband, whose “dumb idea” went on to become arguably one of the most famous fundraising events in the nation. 

“That was all Bob needed to hear,” says Sylvia, recalling the board member's reaction. ‘Bob took it from there. And, of course, it's gotten bigger and bigger over the years.”

Sylvia, married to Bob for 55 years before his death in 2014, has been involved all along numbering ducks beforehand, power-washing them after, and everything in between. 

“I bailed ducks out of the river the first year, and every single year after until the event went virtual,” she says. “And after Bob was gone, I always bailed out the first batch.”

That “first batch:” is vital, because they're the ones that win prizes. The first duck plucked wins a new car donated by Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers. 

Sylvia recalls one particular year when Duck No. 1 had a familiar name. 

“Scott Edwards,” Sylvia says, laughing again. “Bob said something like, ‘Uh-oh, that's our son!’ It can't go to a family member!” By rule, a family member can’t win, so to avoid fowl play, Bob quickly called for duck No. 2. 

Sylvia says Bob's greatest asset was his gift of convincing others to come on board — from major corporate sponsors to individual donors. 

“He could talk people into anything,” she says. “Anything. Bob was a force to be reckoned with, in a very unassuming, quiet way. And he worked on this nonstop, year-round.”

"Freestore [Foodbank] is a great organization, and there's a huge need out there.”

That's why Sylvia encourages you to buy a duck or three for this year's event. To everyone that buys a duck, she wishes you the best of luck. Because every duck that is purchased helps our community fight hunger. 

---

Thank you to Freestore Foodbank for allowing us to use Sylvia’s story.

Have a Blast

Cincinnati has said goodbye to summer with the Labor Day Fireworks since 1977, and everyone has their favorite spots to enjoy the show. Whether it’s shoulder to shoulder on the river with 500,000 of your closest friends, far away from the madding crowd in a quiet park overlooking the city, or plopped in front of the tv in your own living room – it’s a tradition the first Sunday in September.

But let’s say you want something a little different this year. Maybe air conditioning and indoor bathrooms are starting to seem like necessities, rather than luxuries for a day of fun. Several organizations and businesses have found ways to elevate the fireworks experience – and in many cases, bring you closer to the show than you’ve ever been.

CAST Boom Bash

Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre is hosting an evening of fun and fundraising at the Sample Space at The Banks with (wait for it) bathrooms, food and an open bar. It’s the trifecta of comfort. Try your hand at ping pong and skee-ball, karaoke and dancing. When the fireworks begin, you can walk right outside and get an amazing view. Tickets to CAST Boom Bash are $125 and proceeds benefit the development of a regional high school awards program for area students from all high schools.

Boom on the Bridge

You can’t get much closer to the fireworks than the Purple People Bridge. Boom on the Bridge is a complete VIP experience with unobstructed views, live music featuring The Naked Karate Girls, local food and drinks and easy parking at Newport on the Levee. All proceeds from the celebration will go to preserving, maintaining and enhancing the iconic Purple People Bridge.

 Labor Day at Shire’s Garden

The View at Shire’s Garden is the perfect rooftop to check out the fireworks, while being far away from the fray. Labor Day at Shire’s Garden starts at 5:30pm, and guests can enjoy a buffet throughout the night and a sparkling wine toast when the fireworks begin. Tickets are $150 and can be bought individually or by the table.

RiverfestWest

Bring the family to Mt. Echo Park to check out the fireworks after a day of activities. Family fun starts at 4pm with food trucks, inflatables, games and live music by Cincinnati Dancing Pigs and Marsha Brady. The event is free.

Labor Day & Riverfest Fireworks Cruise

BB Riverboats provides an up-close view of the Riverfest from the river itself. Tickets for the Labor Day fireworks cruise are $175 for the evening of family-friendly fun featuring a

dinner buffet, dessert, and a snack buffet for a grand finale to the fireworks.

Swing Into High Gear

Kroger Queen City Championship,
presented by P&G,
Sept. 6–10 
Kenwood Country Club
6501 Kenwood Road

Ticket and hospitality packages are available now!

Children 17 and under will receive complimentary admission with a ticketed adult and all active, and retired military will also receive free admission

Order now at queencitylpga.com/

Some of the finest golfers in the world will be just a short drive away starting next week.

The second annual Kroger Queen City Championship, presented by P&G, will be held Sept. 6–10 at Kenwood Country Club, featuring a field of 144 of the world’s best golfers.

The tournament welcomed more than 50,000 patrons to Kenwood Country Club in 2022, with more than 70 local and national partners supporting the tournament, 700+ volunteers, and by delivering more than $12 million of economic impact to Cincinnati.

Kroger and P&G announced that the purse for this year’s Queen City Championship will increase to $2 Million, up from $1.75 million in 2022.

“The Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G is more than a professional golf tournament,” said Kate Meyer, Kroger Vice President of Health & Beauty Merchandising. “It’s also a game-changing platform to advance women in sports, business, and education. This effort includes the Queen City Game Changers Leadership Program that recently graduated 135 Cincinnati-based women from both corporate and entrepreneurial backgrounds. Additionally, this September the Kroger Foundation and P&G’s Always® Brand will award 23 scholarships to diverse female students from across the country – expanding our reach from the 5 scholarships awarded the prior year.”

This year’s tournament will feature two teenage golfers already making their mark on the LPGA Tour, along with a long-time fan favorite who made a big splash with a hole-in-one at the event last year.

Schedule:

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday & Friday, Sept. 7 & 8, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 9 & 10, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m
Tournament Gates are CLOSED on Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday, Sept. 6 | Pro-Am Day
The Official Pro-Am tee times are 7:30 AM – 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 – 2:40 p.m., starting on Holes #1 and #10.

Thursday, Sept. 7– Sunday, Sept. 10 | Tournament Rounds
Start times are approximate and assume that there are no delays, inclement weather, etc.

Thursday, Sep. 7 & Friday, Sept. 8
Starting on Holes #1 and #10 (groups of three)

1st & 2nd Round Morning Wave, 7:30 – 9:31 a.m.*
1st & 2nd Round Afternoon Wave, 12:30 – 2:31 p.m.*

Saturday, Sept. 9 & Sunday, Sept. 10
Starting on Hole #1 (groups of two)

3rd & Final Round Starting Times, 7:42 – 11:55*

*Starting times are subject to change

“With an already impressive lineup for the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, our three sponsor exemptions will make this field even more exciting,” said Pat Cady, Senior Vice President of Sales, P&G. “Paula has been an LPGA Tour favorite for more than a decade, and Mia and Gianna represent the next generation of great golfers we’ll see for years to come.”

Mia Hammond from New Albany, Ohio, made her LPGA Tour debut earlier this summer shooting a 5-under 66 to win the Monday qualifier at the Dana Open in Toledo. The 15-year-old made the cut on a pair of 68s and finished the tournament T-26. Some of her notable wins include the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt National Championship at Augusta National, 2022 AJGA Memorial Junior at Ohio State and 2022 AJGA Visit Fayetteville Junior Championship in North Carolina.

Returning to Kenwood is Gianna Clemente, who, as a 14-year-old last year, won Monday qualifiers three weeks in a row, including a 7-under 65 at Kenwood, to earn her way in the field for the Kroger Queen City Championship. Clemente has been playing competitive golf since she was 5 and this year was chosen for the 2023 U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup team.

Rounding out the sponsor exemptions for this year is major championship winner Paula Creamer, who made Cincinnati her second stop last year following her maternity leave. She stole the show at last year’s event with a hole-in-one during Thursday’s round that took the No. 1 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10.

Just Keep Swimming

Ever thought “I’d like to do a few laps in the Ohio River?”

Bill Keating, Jr. Great Ohio River Swim

Sunday, Aug. 27

8:15 a.m. start time
Registration opens at 7 a.m.

On the day of the event, on-site registration opens at 7 a.m., with mandatory open water safety instructions at 8 a.m. and an 8:15 a.m. start. Double Dippers must be present by 6:15 a.m. to complete their 2.5-mile swim before joining the 900-meter course.

Participants enter the Ohio River at the Serpentine Wall in Downtown Cincinnati, then swim to the Kentucky side of the river and back (approximately 900 meters, or one-half mile) while the river is closed to motorized traffic. Registration is open on the event website.

Online pre-registration closes at noon on Saturday, August 26. On-site registration is $75 for all swimmers.

www.greatohioriverswim.com

You’re not alone!

Every year, hundreds of people take part in the Bill Keating, Jr. Great Ohio River Swim, the only – and largest! – open water swim across the Ohio River and back.

Besides the fun of it all, the event is also a fundraiser for Adventure Crew, a local nonprofit that connects city teens with nature and each other through outdoor adventures.

“The Great Ohio River Swim has become a ‘bucket list’ event for many local swimmers,” said Miriam Wise, Adventure Crew’s director of support and engagement. “We’re excited to host both competitive and recreational swimmers in support of Adventure Crew’s Swim Training Program, which provides city teens with access to swim lessons, water safety instruction and lifeguard certification.”

Swimmers who want to go the extra miles (literally) can become “Double Dippers.” This small group of participants will take a 2.5-mile swim downstream along the Ohio shoreline before joining participants in the traditional 900-meter course. Double Dippers are encouraged to raise $200 for Adventure Crew. Only a few Double Dipper spots remain; interested swimmers must apply online and be accepted to participate.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

This weekend’s swim is named for Bill Keating, Jr., one of the first swimmers to sign up for the inaugural event in 2007. He won the men’s swim that year, but lost the overall title to his daughter, Caroline Keating, who now serves as the event chair. He continued to be a huge supporter of the event until he lost his battle with brain cancer in 2017.

“I’m thrilled to continue being part of this event and to honor my dad’s legacy,” said Keating, who also serves on Adventure Crew’s board. “Adventure Crew broadens access to swim instruction and provides city teens with a critical life-saving skill, thanks in part to the proceeds from this fun morning on the river.”

If river conditions are uncooperative, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 10.

Join the Club

If your golf expertise starts and end with the windmill at the putt putt course, fear not!

You will still enjoy the Kroger Queen City Championship Presented By P&G. While members of the LPGA Tour play for $2 million at the Kenwood Country Club, Sept. 6–10, you can enjoy interactive activities. try out products, sample new foods, and indulge in five-star dining.

Free parking for the Queen City Championship will be provided by Tire Discounters so all guests will have convenient access to the tournament.

The Commissioners Club will become the Carlo & Johnny Pavilion featuring food and beverage from one of Cincinnati’s most iconic names, as the Jeff Ruby family adds their supporting to the tournament.

New fan interactions this year are

Pampers Family Center will include a mom’s room, changing stations for parents, and an area where parents can take a break with their kids from the day and enjoy fun activities under the supervision of qualified daycare experts. This year, additional changing stations will be added throughout the tournament grounds to make it more convenient for families to enjoy the tournament, no matter where they are on the course.

Dawn, Swiffer, and Febreze will activate their “Close the Chore Gap” campaign, by taking over the on-site Volunteer HQ but also being featured in any areas where Volunteers will be present. This includes everything from the Marshal Quiet Paddles, Standard Bearer Shirts and the Standard Header, all Volunteer Cinch Bags, and the Front Pocket of all Caddie Bibs.

Tide will come to life in one of the highest-visibility placements in the entire tournament by sponsoring the full back of the Caddie Bibs. Caddies play such an important role in supporting the athletes to play at their best. Tide will play a similar role to ensure the players stay clean and fresh throughout the week, providing daily laundry service through our local Tide Dry Cleaners. Each Caddie will also receive a Tide-branded towel throughout the course to wash their clubs. Throughout the entire tournament grounds, you’ll see our fabric care brands represented, including Gain, Downy, and Unstoppables.

Secret Deodorant will sponsor the Driving Range and will be represented on all the Tee Markers and the Tee fence. This year, the tournament has added DJ Etrayn and a beverage stand from Wednesday-Sunday at the Secret Driving Range (beverages will include beer, wine, mixed cocktails, sodas and water). An LPGA Selfie Station will also be available for fans and families to take pictures and capture memories from the tournament.

The Kroger “Our Brands” trailer will be distributing samples from Kroger Simple Truth and Private Selection brands from Thursday thru Sunday.

Kroger Kroji Mascots will be present on select days to engage with fans through photo ops and unique one-on-one experiences. Kroger will host a longest putt experience for all fans where they can test their skills and win exclusive prizes. Kroger will also host a “Re-Fresh Zone” at this year’s tournament where fans can get a break from the heat and relax.

Striving Forward

2023 National Fallen Firefighter Foundation 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb 

Saturday, Sept. 9
TQL Stadium
1501 Central Parkway

• 8 a.m. – Registration and check-in opens

• 9 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

• 9:30 a.m. – National Fallen Fire Fighter 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb begins

• 12:30 p.m. – Event concludes

Registration is $45. Funds provided by the NFFF support the families of your local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.

Register now!

Though some debts can never be truly repaid, the dedication of those who served can always be honored.

Each year, the  National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) pays tribute to the FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives so that others could live on Sept. 11, 2001 with the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Event.

This year, the local NFFF event will be held at TQL Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, sponsored by Cintas.

“At Cintas, we’re proud to partner with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to honor and remember the 343 FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives to save others on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Crystal Hooper, philanthropy & community relations specialist. “Support through our Stair Climb event provides assistance to the surviving families and co-workers of these fallen heroes.”

During the event, each participant pays tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. The individual tributes not only remember the sacrifice of a FDNY brother, but symbolically completes their heroic journey to save others.

Registration is now open for individuals and teams that would like to participate. Cintas is also accepting donations on behalf of NFFF for those unable to join the stair climb.

Dog Days of Summer

Attention, Campers!

The summer fun at Kings Island might be winding down, but mark your calendars for next season, because the park is already prepping for next year with an expansion of its award-winning kids area, Camp Snoopy!

The immersive Camp Snoopy area will also be home to the park’s new family boomerang coaster, Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers.

Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers takes the classic fun of a soapbox racing derby to a whole new level as both parents and kids climb aboard their favorite Peanuts-decorated soapbox coaster car and are hoisted up a 70-foot hill to the starting line. As Snoopy waves the checkered flag, riders will be released and launched forward onto a track full of exhilarating twists and turns, passing the camp lookout station, racing toward the finish line up ahead.

With the addition of Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, Kings Island will become the Kids Coaster Capital of the World, offering five different coaster experiences for the littlest thrill seekers. This will be the park’s first family boomerang coaster, that races riders both forward and backward on the same track.

At Camp Snoopy, kids of all ages will also have the chance to become full-fledged Beagle Scouts.

“Camp Snoopy is just what families visiting Kings Island have been looking for,” said Mike Koontz, vice president and general manager of Kings Island. “We’ve designed this new immersive area to feel like a day at camp where families can spend time with each other in a variety of ways, from the thrill of a new coaster to exploring and relaxing in the great outdoors with their favorite Peanuts characters.”

Beagle Scout Acres, the official headquarters of the troop, will provide more outdoor summer camp fun and activities. In this new shaded, nature-themed play area, kids and their families will be able to explore and play on their own among turfed mounds and grassy areas, filled with camping equipment to play in, climb over and through. Eager Beagle Scouts can also work to earn merit badges for sharing, working together, trying new things and helping someone in need.

In Beagle Scout Acres, kids can run, crawl, play or relax with the family in a shaded comfortable space. They can also explore a campsite filled with turfed mounds and grassy areas, interactive equipment to makes noise, tents to climb through or over and footprint paths made by Woodstock and his friends.

Construction on Camp Snoopy, including the coaster and Beagle Scout Acres, begins this fall.

The Old Ballgame

The Play Forever Project

Founded and chaired by cast members from The Sandlot, The Play Forever Project works to reduce obstacles and break down barriers for young athletes and kids who want to pursue a career in sports. 

Play Forever works to address socio-economic, food insecurity, health and wellness, educational, gender inequity, and field and environmental issues, amongst others that prevent kids from participating.

For more on Play Forever, its mission and team, visit playforever.org.

Your days of playing pick-up games your best friends might be over, but you can relive all the summertime fun with a free showing of “The Sandlot.”

To mark the 30th anniversary of this beloved classic baseball film, The Banks is showing the movie on Thursday, Aug.17, at 8:30 p.m. on the video board outside Great American Ball Park for free.

The 1993 baseball comedy tells the story of a group of young players in the summer of 1962 who welcome the new kid in town, Scotty Smalls, to the San Fernando Valley. To make friends, Smalls joins the boys on their sandlot baseball team and, unknowingly, gets them into the biggest pickle of their lives. The film has become a cult classic and is regarded as one of the greatest baseball movies of all time.

Original cast members Grant Gelt (“Bertram”), Victor DiMattia (“Timmy Timmons”), and Shane Obedzinski (“Tommy ‘Repeat’ Timmons”) will be at the screening to benefit The Play Forever Project, their new youth sports non-profit organization, and will be in attendance for the screening.

They will be working as celebrity bartenders at Moerlein Lager House on Aug. 17, 6–8 p.m., before the screening. The Lager House will donate $1 from every Moerlein beer and speciality Sandlot cocktail to Play Forever.

To celebrate 30 years of The Sandlot, Play Forever has launched the “30 for the 30th” fundraising initiative with a goal to raise enough money to impact 30 communities through a combination of equipment donations, grant writing, strategic alignments, field improvements, educational support, and more.

Food and beverages will be available at all Banks restaurants for the family-friendly movie. Bring your own lawn chairs to set up in front of the Great American Ball Park screen.

Flying High

Red Bull Flugtag
Saturday, Aug. 12
Sawyer Point Park & Yeatman's Cove
12–4 p.m.

Flugtag Judges

Jessica Dimon
Cincinnati Drag Queen

Nick Goepper
3-time Olympic Medalist

Chad Johnson
Former Cincinnati Bengal

Chloe Pavlech
Cincinnati native and Content Creator

Cale Saurage
TikTok Content Creator & DJ

Over-the-Rhine.

Oktoberfest.

Flugtag?

Add another German word to the local vernacular, as the Red Bull Flugtag takes to the skies – and the water – this Saturday.

Named for the German word for “flying day,” Red Bull Flugtag has pushed people’s creativity to the limit for over 30 years. The legendary Red Bull event has been held in more than 50 countries and hosted nine million spectators worldwide. Over the years, Flugtag has seen winning crafts such as Snoop's Dogg House (San Francisco, 2003), Greased Lightning (Portland, Oregon, 2008) and Flight at the Roxbury (Pittsburgh, 2017).

The Cincinnati event is the only Flugtag in America this year. More than 40 teams have been selected to compete, including teams from PFLAG, the Art Academy and Rhinegeist, Thunderdome, and Cincinnati Fear, the city's professional esports team.

“The Fear continues to look for fun, engaging events throughout Cincinnati to be involved in,” said Tim David, general manager of Cincinnati Fear. “We have a great partnership with MSA Design to develop a vision that is equally spooky and amusing: Monsters Under the Bed the Float.”

“MSA Design are great, they've been a blast to work with throughout the whole process,” David continued. “They’ve been key in helping us build out a vision for the float. I can build things in Minecraft, but anything in the real world that I would try would fail miserably and look bad.”

“The goal is to reach flight, so having their expertise and guidance is huge and they’ll be the ones to thank if we can get it off the ground!” said David.

Jeff Provenzano, a long-time Red Bull Air Force member with over 14,000 skydives to his resume. He knows better than anyone the thrill of flight, whether it be swooping from mountaintops or taking the eventual plunge in a homemade Red Bull Flugtag craft.

“It’s an awesome experience to be flying, and I’m excited for everyone participating in the upcoming Red Bull Flugtag Cincinnati,” said Provenzano, who has played roles in past Flugtags including being a judge.

“It takes guts to step off that ledge whether you’re in a wingsuit or in a Flugtag aircraft, but that freeing feeling that only flying can provide makes it all worth it.”

That fancy of flight is part of the appeal to David and Cincinnati Fear team participating in the Flugtag.

“I’m looking forward to just jumping in the river,” David said. “I think it'll be fun. Winning would be a huge bonus for the team and the celebration afterwards with Redbull will be an event.”

Taking the Field

– Betsy Ross

Are you ready for some football?

Cincinnati fans certainly are, given the long lines each day waiting for training camp to open. If you have not been, the open practices are done but there are additional practices for season ticket holders and waitlist members Sunday, Aug. 13, Monday, Aug. 14 and Wednesday, Aug. 16.

If you have not gone, here are some reminders: Practice is at the Kettering Health Practice Fields just west of Paycor Stadium. There is bleacher seating for 1,250, plus standing room along sidelines. Admission is free, concessions are available.

The clear bag policy that the NFL has during the season is also in effect here, and if you stick around after practice there’s a good chance you can snag an autograph or two from players.

This week is a little different because, after a Wednesday practice with Green Bay, the Packers stick around for Friday’s first (and only home) pre-season game. The other two are at Atlanta and at Washington.

What will you see at that first pre-season game? Probably a lot of players whose names you don’t recognize. Once pre-season starts, rosters start getting smaller and smaller so this is the only chance that a lot of rookies and free-agent signees have, to show their stuff for the coaches.

QB Joe Burrow throws the ball during fieldwork at Kettering Health Practice Field on July 24.

Photo by Ryan Meyer. Courtesy Cincinnati Bengals

Expect few starters to take reps which, of course, leads us to Joe Burrow, he of the wrapped right calf. He has not been on the field since he pulled the calf muscle the second day of practice, but has been in meetings. You wouldn’t have expected him to get many, if any, reps in the pre-season even without the injury, so that doesn’t really change things except the timeline for Week 1, a road game against division opponent Cleveland.

Will he be ready? Coaches are deliberately ambiguous about a return timeline, which makes Ja’Marr Chase’ declaration that he doesn’t want to see Burrow rush back for Week 1 even more curious. In the pre-season, don’t believe anything that anyone says when it comes to injury—every team wants to keep opponents guessing as to the personnel they’ll see on that first snap.

Some positive movement out of Bengals’ camp: The re-signing of important players, most recently linebacker Logan Wilson with a four-year, $37.25 million extension. The Bengals have lots of talented youngsters whose contracts will be coming up in the next year or two (including Burrow). The signings are a good sign for Bengals fans that the club is coming up with ways to keep its core talent.

LB Germaine Pratt (left) and LB Logan Wilson listens during Training Camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields on Sunday.

Photo by Ryan Meyer. Courtesy Cincinnati Bengals

Will we learn much in the pre-season? Probably not, except getting a closer look at new Bengals backup quarterback and NFL veteran Trevor Siemian. That doesn’t take away from the fact that, this is the most anticipated season since Boomer was calling signals. Enjoy it!

Net Result

– Kathrine Nero

Match action starts with qualifying play on Saturday, Aug. 12. The Western & Southern Open singles champions will be crowned during the finals on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Learn more about this world-class event and buy ticket at wsopen.com.

The fashion, the fun, the fabulous tennis – late summer in Cincinnati means it’s time for the Western & Southern Open. The annual event, founded in 1899, has had many incarnations and locations before settling in for the past few decades at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Annually, it welcomes a who’s who in professional tennis and hundreds of thousands of sports fans from Cincinnati and beyond.

2023 Western & Southern Open Seeds

Seeds are subject to change to reflect any changes to player entries. The singles draws for the Western & Southern Open will be made Friday, Aug. 11.

WTA

1. lga Swiatek (Poland}

2. Aryna Sabalenka

3. Jessica Pegula {USA}

4. Elena Rybakina {Kazakhstan}

5. Ons Jabeur (Tunisia)

6. Caroline Garcia {France)

7. Coco Gauff {USA}

8. Maria Sakkari (Greece)

9. Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic}

10. Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Rep.)

11. Barbara Krejcikova (Czech Repub.)

12. Beatriz Haddad Mai.a(Brazil)

13. Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)

14. Daria Kasatkina

15. Madison Keys (USA)

16. Veronika Kudecmetova

ATP

1. Carlos Afcaraz (Spain)

2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia}

3. Daniil Medvedev

4. Stefanos Tsitsipas {Greece)

5. Casper Ruud (Norway}

6. Holger Rune (Denmark)

7. Andrey Rublev

8. Jannik Sinner {ltafy)

9. Taylor Fritz {USA)

10. Frances Tiafoe (USA)

11. Karen Khachanov

12. Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)

13. Cameron Norrie (Great Britain)

14. Tommy Paul (USA)

15. Berna Coric (Croatia}

16. Alexander Zverev (Germany}

Italics indicates seeds with a·rst round bye

This year, the 16 highest ranked players in the world for both the men’s and women’s draws will arrive in Mason, including Men’s World #1 Carlos Alcaraz and Women’s #1 Iga Swiatek.

Other notable names you’ll see at the Lindner Family Tennis Center include second seeded Novac Djokovic, a two-time W&S champ, and Americans #3 Jessica Pegula and crowd favorite #7 Coco Gauff. Defending champ, #6 Caroline Garcia, will also try to grab the coveted Rookwood Cup once again.

A couple of other two-time Cincinnati champs will be entering the field unseeded: Victoria Azarenka and Andy Murray.

OK – you’re sold. So what’s the best day to get tickets?

Logic might tell you to wait until finals weekend, August 19-20, to see the best tennis. Though that’s true, checking out the event on weekdays allows you to see many more matches, and in many cases, you’re within just feet of some of the world’s best athletes. Players will be warming up on practice courts, while multiple matches happen simultaneously. A ticket gets you a specific seat at Center Court, but also allows you to wander the grounds, and sit at any of the other 16 courts to soak up the action.

Besides, the concessions and dining experiences are UNMATCHED. Check out the Moet Champagne Deck or Kim Crawford Wine Garden for a moment of Zen between matches. You can also elevate your experience at the Sip & Serve Sundeck on the east sideline of the Porsche Court. Here, you and three guests can reserve a table and get two bottles of champagne for 45 minutes, while enjoying the perfect vantage point of the action on the court.

You’ll also find Cincinnati favorites like LaRosa’s, Skyline and Graeter’s in one of the finest sporting event food courts you’ll encounter. Instagrammable moments, great tennis merchandise and gorgeous flowers are at every turn, making this an experience for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.

Besides tennis, the whole family will be entertained by bands, musicians, kids activities and even agility drills.

Being Neighborly

Ridge Day

Saturday, Aug. 5
4 – 10 p.m.
Moler Beauty Academy Lot
6142 Montgomery Road

More information at www.facebook.com/RidgeDay

Looking for an old-fashioned good time this weekend? Head over to Pleasant Ridge for Ridge Day and Night, an annual celebration featuring food trucks, live music and more than 40 vendors.

Ridge Day is a longstanding community celebration in the city’s Pleasant Ridge neighborhood with the feel of a family festival. The goal is to raise funds for the Pleasant Ridge community council, give neighbors an opportunity to visit with one another, and celebrate a pleasant neighborhood.

The day begins with the Ridge Day Children’s 1 Mile Run. A family-friendly, child-focused one-mile race that begins at 11 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church Cincinnati, 6301 Parkman Place. The $10 registration fee supports Community Happens Here's neighborhood-based mission. After the race, coffee, donuts, and snow cones will be provided at Community Happens Here, 6238 Montgomery Road.

There’s plenty to eat with Food Trucks (Twisted Greek, Queensofthecrop3 & Streetpops) on site!

Sip on your fav Rhinegeist & Nine Giant brews, shop from 40 vendors and much more.

Other local businesses particapating in Ridge Day include Terps Smokeshop & Gallery, Fine Wine O’Clock, Queen City Comic and Card Company, and LaRosa’s, with beer from Rhinegeist and Nine Giant Brewing.

Entertainment begins at 4 p.m., with Cincinnati Kung Fu, followed by Akela Island Dance and Anaya Belly Dance. The fun continues with live bands after that.

Front, Row Seat

Get in the water and support a great cause, or cheer on participants, during Ohio River Paddlefest, as the nation's largest paddling event returns this Saturday, Aug. 5.

Local nonprofit Adventure Crew hosts the river-centric event, now in its 22nd year.

Adventure Crew’s Outdoors for Expo, a free community event celebrating all things outdoors, will kicks off Paddlefest weekend on Friday, August 4.

“Between Ohio River Paddlefest and the Outdoors for All Expo, Paddlefest weekend has become a can’t-miss event for outdoor enthusiasts,” said Miriam Wise, director of support and engagement for Adventure Crew. “Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family to join us the first weekend in August for this much-loved annual tradition.”

Paddlefest brings 2,000 paddlers in kayaks, canoes and SUPs to the Ohio River each August. Participants can choose between two distances to paddle the Ohio while it’s closed to motorized traffic, making the event accessible to paddlers of all skill levels.

Ohio River Paddlefest
Schmidt Recreation Complex
2944 Humbert Ave.
Register for Paddlefest 

Friday, Aug. 4 
4-9:30 p.m
Outdoors for All Expo

This Paddlefest pre-party feature hands-on demos, live music, food and drinks. .
More information

Saturday, Aug. 5
Ohio River Paddlefest
7 a.m.

Paddlers launch from Schmidt Recreation Complex at 7 a.m., and all paddlers will launch by 8:30 a.m.

See full schedule for the event www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org/schedule 

The nine-mile paddle ends with a Finish Line Festival, featuring music by The Sunburners, food trucks and MadTree beer, at Gilday Recreation Complex in Riverside. For a shorter adventure, the 4.5-mile Paddlefest MINI finishes at the Public Landing in Downtown Cincinnati. Both paddling routes start at Schmidt Recreation Complex, 2944 Humbert Ave. in the East End.

Friday night’s Outdoors for All Expo, is free and open to the public. The event has grown to feature around 70 exhibitors, including local parks, outdoor outfitters, adventure experts and environmentally minded organizations, with hands-on demos.

The event also includes music by Jake Speed & the Freddies, Honey & Houston and Ma Crow & Company, plus raffles, food trucks, and beer from MadTree. his year’s Expo runs from 4-9:30 p.m. at Schmidt Recreation Complex. 

A new addition to Paddlefest this year is a kayak bass fishing tournament spanning both Friday and Saturday that lets anglers compete for prizes and bragging rights while fishing any of three tributaries of the Ohio: Great Miami River, Licking River or Little Miami River.

Paddlefest is organized by and is a benefit for Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that connects city teens in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures.

“Every dollar we raise through Paddlefest supports that mission,” Wise said. “So by signing up to paddle on Saturday or buying raffle tickets and a beer on Friday, you’re helping us get city teens who might not otherwise have access to nature out on adventures like hiking, biking and of course, paddling. It’s a great way to share your love of the outdoors while having a great time in the process.”

Swing Into Action

During a recent media preview for the 2023 Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, Emily Norell, the tournament director, sponsors, and Ally Ewing, 2022 champion, shared their thoughts and insights about this year’s competition.

The second annual tournament will be held Sept. 6–10 at Kenwood Country Club, featuring a field of 144 of the world’s best golfers. The event is broadcast domestically on Golf Channel with more than 12 hours of live coverage and is distributed around the globe to more than 220 countries.

In May, Kroger and P&G announced that the purse for this year’s Queen City Championship will increase to $2 Million, up from $1.75 Million in 2022. This is part of the co-title sponsor’s commitment to the tournament to attract the world’s best golfers to the city of Cincinnati and to ensure women’s golf has a platform to showcase their talent.

Last year, the tournament welcomed more than 50,000 fans to Kenwood Country Club, with more than 70 local and national partners supporting the tournament, over 700 volunteers, and by delivering over $12 Million of economic impact to Cincinnati. In 2022, more than $500,000 was cumulatively invested across all sponsors behind charitable programs as a result of the tournament.

Kroger Queen City Championship Media Day Speakers

• Betsy Ross, Moderator & President of Game Day

• Kate Meyer, Kroger Head of Health & Beauty Merchandising

• Pat Cady, P&G Sales Senior Vice President

• Emily Norell, Tournament Director

• Ally Ewing, 2022 Champion of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G

• Dan Plunkett, Kenwood Country Club CEO

Ticket and hospitality packages are available now.

Free parking for all fans will be provided by Tire Discounters so all guests will have convenient access to the tournament. The Commissioners Club will have a new name and dining flair as the Jeff Ruby family is supporting the tournament. The new name of the Commissioners Club will be the Carlo & Johnny Pavilion featuring food and beverage from one of Cincinnati’s most iconic names.

The Kroger Queen City Championship is part of a platform to advance women in sports, business, and education. This effort includes the Queen City Game Changers Leadership program that recently graduated 130 Cincinnati-based women from both corporate and entrepreneurial backgrounds. Through four full-day events last year, the program connected each participant with an executive coach, executive mentors, and provided a curriculum designed to accelerate each individual’s path to executive leadership. Within the past year, 20% of the Game Changers earned promotions within their companies, and numerous entrepreneurs in the program received new business accounts and access to corporate collaborations. Founding members of the Game Changers Leadership Program include Kroger and P&G, Cintas, Great American, St. Elizabeth, TriHealth, and GE Aviation. To learn more about the program, as a potential candidate or to volunteer, visit the website at www.queencitygamechangers.com.

In 2022, the first year of the Game Changers Scholarship was launched, awarding scholarships to five young women from Cincinnati and Dayton. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the scholarship awards will have an 84% increase from the previous year by including all Kroger divisions. These scholarships are 100% awarded to multi-cultural women and will be selected across the entire Kroger Family of Companies. The 23 winners of this year’s Game Changer Scholarship will be announced during the week of the Queen City Championship presented by P&G.

A World Apart

by Courtney Tomasetti

World Cup Winners 

• 2019 – United States

• 2015 – United States

• 2011 – Japan

• 2007 – Germany 

• 2003 – Germany

• 1999 – United States

• 1995 – Norway

• 1991 – United States

After a hard fought game against the Netherlands that ended in a 1-1 draw, the US women’s national soccer team face Portugal in their final match of the group stage at the 2023 Women's World Cup, hosted in Australia and New Zealand. Want to impress your friends and loved ones with your expert knowledge of the Cup? We’ve got some notes to make you look good, no matter your skill level.

Matches are being held at 10 stadiums in nine cities: five in Australia and four in New Zealand. For the first time, 32 teams will be part of the tournament. The field has been expanded from 24 teams after the 2019 World Cup in France.

Tournament Format

The tournament opens with the group stage where each of the 32 teams play three matches. In group stage, three points are awarded for a win, one point is awarded for a draw, no points are awarded for a loss. Max points a team can accrue is 9 if they win all three matches. The top two teams in each group (based on total points) moves on to the knockout round of 16. The U.S. is in Group E and will play Vietnam, Netherlands, and Portugal during group play.

Cincinnatians on the USWNT

Two Cincinnati natives are playing for the U.S. Women's National Team's World Cup team.

Rose Lavelle (Midfielder) – Lavelle is a graduate of Mount Notre Dame High School where she was the team’s leading goal scorer. Lavelle completed her collegiate career for the Wisconsin Badgers where she was named an All-American. She started six games for the United States at the 2019 World Cup, scoring three goals, and was awarded the Bronze Ball. This will be Lavelle’s second World Cup apearance.

Aubrey Kingsbury (Goalkeeper) – Kingsbury attended St. Ursula Academy where she was a member of the state championship soccer team in 2007 and 2008. Kingsbury was a three-time All-American at Wake Forest and is currently in her eigth year in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Kingsbury is making her first-career World Cup appearance.

Prize Money 

FIFA will pay out $110 million in total prize money to the 32 teams at the 2023 World Cup. Every player will earn at least $30,000, with the amount increasing the further along that teams progress in the tournament. The 23 players in the title-winning squad will each get $270,000.

about the team

Veterans Alex Morgan and Lindsay Horan are co-captains of the USWNT. U.S. Soccer said that when both Horan and Morgan are on the field — which will be often — Horan will wear the armband. 

The U.S. has seen the emergence of promising new talents like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Alyssa Thompson. All three are making their first career appearance in a World Cup.

Trinity Rodman (Forward, 21) – Rodman, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, made history after becoming the youngest woman ever selected in the NWSL draft. The then 18-year-old was drafted to Washington Spirit as the No. 2 pick. She was named NWSL Rookie of the Year later that year as she helped her team lift the NWSL title. The 21-year-old scored both goals as the USWNT secured a 2-0 friendly win over Wales in the team's final tuneup before the start of the tournament. Rodman entered the match at halftime in place of Alex Morgan. (Yes, her dad is who you think he is!)

Sophia Smith (Forward, 22) – The Standford alum just became the youngest player in the NWSL to reach thirty goals. Smith is one of the most explosive scorers on the roster and once she gets on the move there’s almost no stopping her. Her confidence and finishing ability will be key for the USWNT. 

Alyssa Thompson (Forward, 18) – After learning she was selected to the USWNT roster just days after finishing high school, Thompson became the second youngest player to ever be named to a USWNT World Cup team. Thompson decommitted from Stanford in January, a week before the NWSL draft, and became the top overall pick by Angel City FC. Since then, she has made twelve appearances in the NWSL, scoring three goals.

USWNT defender and captain Becky Sauerbrunn will be the biggest omission on and off the field. Sauerbrunn suffered a foot injury in an April NWSL match and will miss the tournament. Without its longtime anchor, the USWNT backline will look and play differently than it has in World Cups past — likely with Alana Cook at the heart of it all.  Cook seems likely to be the U.S.’s top center back throughout the tournament.

Mallory Swanson (Forward), suffered a torn patellar tendon in an April friendly against Ireland, sidelining her for several months. Swanson was one of the teams most reliable goalscorers in the months before her injury.

Catarina Macario (Midfielder), suffered a torn ACL in June 2022. While it seemed to give her enough time to be ready for the World Cup, her recovery has not gone as planned. Prior to her injury, the 23-year-old was showing the potential to be one of the team’s most important players as she scored five goals in five appearances last year.

Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe (Forward) announced that she will retire from competitive soccer at the end of the current season. Rapinoe said her decision to announce her retirement before the Women’s World Cup will help the U.S. team better focus on its attempt to win a third straight world championship. The 38-year-old has scored 63 goals and registered 73 assists for the USWNT and in 2019 won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s The Best award after a scintillating Women’s World Cup in which she earned the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

Teams Most Likely to Usurp the U.S. Crown

England

England may be the biggest threat to the USWNT hopes of claiming a third straight title. The USWNT fell to England in a 2-1 defeat in a friendly last fall. Since then, England has lost three players to injury including their star striker.

Netherlands

The USWNT and Netherlands will meet in both sides' second Group E game. Favorites often slip up in group play. A Dutch upset could dent the Americans title hopes in several ways, as it would almost certainly relegate them to a second-place group finish and a likely matchup against No. 3-ranked Sweden in the round of 16.

 Sweden

Sweden are longstanding giants of women's international football and often go far in tournaments. Even if they don't meet until the quarters or semis, the U.S. will probably eventually have to go through Sweden — an opponent that has given them nightmares repeatedly on the global stage.  The Swedes tied the U.S. at the 2015 World Cup, then famously knocked the Americans out of the 2016 Olympics. The most recent meeting came in 2021 at the Summer Games in Tokyo, when Sweden embarrassed the USWNT 3-0 in the group phase.

France

The only way France and the U.S. can face off is in the Aug. 20 championship match at Stadium Australia in Sydney. France has a new a standout coach in recently hired manager Hervé Renard and a deep, talented and experienced roster that is capable of winning a one-off match against anyone.

Germany

Despite having suffered an early exit from the Women’s World Cup in 2019, the two-time World Cup winners headed Down Under with high hopes. With the confidence boost of the European Championships behind them and a largely unchanged squad, Germany are keen to return to the upper echelons of world football again and have their eyes set on a third title.

 Australia

Australia has never been beyond the quarter-finals but are a contender to go all the way as co-hosts with Sam Kerr leading the line. Don't discount the power of playing on home soil — an advantage that would be most pronounced at the final in Sydney, when more than 83,000 fans are expected.  Should both the U.S. and Australia make it that far, the USWNT will be up against not just the 11 Australians on the field, but the entire country of almost 27 million. 

Wanna bet?

Arguably the most popular market in Women’s World Cup betting is on futures odds. Sportsbooks far and wide have been taking money for months from customers wagering on who will win the tournament.

The defending champion U.S. team is the current favorite at +225 followed by England (+375), Germany (+650), Spain (+700) and France (+800). The U.S. is a clear favorite to win another title and would become the first men's or women's team to three-peat in the process.

For those unfamiliar, most sportsbooks offer three-way betting on World Cup games and soccer in general. Bettors can wager on what the result will be after 90 minutes plus injury time. A moneyline bet can be made on either team or on Draw. A game ending in a tie is a draw.

In the Women’s World Cup, the talent gap between the top teams and the bottom teams is much larger than in the men’s tournament. So, if you’re thinking about betting on Draw, start by looking for matches that at least have a chance to be competitive.

Drink in the History

Friday, July 28, 5 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 11, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m.

• Tour length is 1 hour
• Limit 4 tickets per transaction
• Guest 21 and over
• Proceeds benefit Friends of Music Hall a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information go to, friendsofmusichall.org

Buy tickets!

Cincinnati is a city that loves its beer, its history, and its beer history!

Friends of Music Hall have combined all those interests for their new Bricks and Beers tours.

“Learning about hops and history while sampling delicious beers would, we hope, attract a new audience to Music Hall,” says Mindy Rosen, executive director of The Friends of Music Hall.

In partnership with Rhinegeist Brewery, the Friends have developed a unique tour experience that welcomes you to late 19th-century. There you’ll uncover the surprising intersection of the Cincinnati beer industry and its contributions to the development of Music Hall. Tour parts of the building and quench your thirst with beer selections from Rhinegeist.

“(We) love to introduce this magnificent building to people who have never stepped foot inside,” says Rosen. “Taking the Bricks and Beer Tour does just that – over half of the guests are first-time visitors.”

Friends of Music Hall, formerly Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH), is a volunteer-driven organization with a mission to preserve, improve, promote and provide education about Cincinnati Music Hall.

“It’s time to party...”

Thursday, July 20

Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane

Friday, July 21

Al Green, Jill Scott, Jodeci, Midnight Star, Gerald Albright

Saturday, July 22

Snoop Dogg, Babyface, P-Funk Connection, Avery Sunshine, Norman Brown

For tickets and more, click here.

Get ready to G R O O V E.

The Cincinnati Music Festival is back with no shortage of events, music and more. The music starts with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center on Thursday, July 20, with concerts at Paycor Stadium on Friday and Saturday nights.

What started as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival has grown and evolved into a spectacular three-day event on the riverfront. Throughout the festivals’s history, though, the hottest stars in R&B, jazz, soul, and hip-hop have taken the stage, including Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle, New Edition, Earth Wind and Fire, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Janet Jackson.

What to see

From the jam packed shows with stars like Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott, Al Green, Midnight Star, Slick Rick and so many more, you can sit back and relax to the music or get up and groove.

During the afternoon, Music Hall, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, and Taft Museum of Art are offering tours, with discounts for CMF attendees!

• Friends of Music Hall: BOGO ticket offer to tour Music Hall with code FESTIVAL at Friend of Music Hall ticketing website.

• Harriet Beecher Stowe House: BOGO general admission

• Taft Museum of Art: Free general admission by using code CMF23!! on https://www.taftmuseum.org/tickets.

What to eat:

There’s no shortage of places to grab a great bite to eat at The Banks and throughout downton, but these stops are offering deals when you dine with them!

• Aladdins Eatery, 1203 Main St.: automatic 10% any food purchase.

• Cheba Hut, 2614 Short Vine: Use code “420” in store for a discount.

• Cincinnati Food Tours, Findlay Market, 107 W Elder St.: 10% off any guided tour July 21st-22nd 2023 with code “CINCY”

• Cinema OTR, 1517 Vine St: 50% off one specialty drink with proof of your CMF ticket.

• Findlay Market, 1810 Race St.: 15% off one item at Market Center and 50% one drink at Jane’s.

• Riverside Food Tours, 145 E. Second St: 10% off any tour with code “FOODIE10.”

Accompanied by a street festival, Festival 513, the Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G has an estimated annual economic impact of $107 million, according to the Greater Cincinnati Center for Economic Education at the University of Cincinnati. ​

Wild Ones

Hard Rock’s outdoor concerts make a trip to the “Dirty South,” with hip-hop legend Ludacris. Though he’s taken a detour with the Fast and Furious films, he returns to his roots, performing this Thursday at Hard Rock Casino’s outdoor venue, along with Ashanti and Flo Rida.

During his career, Ludacris has won three Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critic's Choice Award and an MTV Video Music Award. Among his many hits are “Last of a Dying Breed,” “Number One Spot,” “What's Your Fantasy / Roll Out (My Business)” and “On Top Of The World.”

If You Go

Ludacris Ashanti Flo Rida
Thursday, July 20, 6:30 p.m.
Hard Rock Casino, Outdoor Venue

Experience Ludacris, Ashanti, and Flo Rida like never before!

Tickets and info

Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, actor and author Ashanti burst onto the music scene in 2002 with her self-titled debut album, Ashanti. Over the span of her more than 20-year career, Ashanti has released six studio albums and received a number of awards including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards and six ASCAP Awards.

An actress (The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Army Wives, John Tucker Must Die), Ashanti also executive produced and starred in the musical drama and feature film Stuck.

In 2022, she wrote and released her first book of poetry through Hyperion, Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love.

With his 2007 breakout single “Low,” Flo Rida broke the record for digital download sales at the time of its release. Since then, he sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists. His hits include “Right Round,” “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Good Feeling,” “Wild Ones,” and “My House.”

In 2021, Flo Rida represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest, performing "Adrenalina" by Italian singer Senhit.

Being Your Best

The Kroger Wellness Festival presented by PepsiCo featuring Gatorade
Sept. 22 and 23, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Banks

Free concerts by Barenaked Ladies on Friday, Sept. 22, 5 p.m. and Flo Rida on Saturday, Sept. 23, 5 p.m.

Get ticket at

Looking for inspiration to be your best self?

Maybe some pointers from Venus Williams and the Manning brothers will help.

Learn from them, plus more than 150 experiences and food offerings focused on six core pillars of transformation: balance, move, breathe, care, uplift and play, at the Kroger Wellness Festival.

The largest free health and wellness festival in America, Kroger Wellness celebrates physical, mental and emotional health for the whole family.

On the afternoon of September 23, Gatorade will host Peyton and Eli Manning for a special Q&A appearance at the festival. Peyton retired from the NFL after 18 seasons in 2016, playing for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, and Eli retired after 16 seasons in 2020, playing his entire career as the quarterback for the New York Giants. The brothers each won two Super Bowl championships and currently are the co-hosts of ESPN's “ManningCast” during Monday Night Football.

Cameron Diaz, actress and co-founder of Avaline Wine, and celebrity chef and Blue Diamond Culinary Partner Amanda Freitag, among many others, will also appear at the Festival.  

Tennis champion and entrepreneur, Venus Williams, will also make an appearance presented by PepsiCo. With seven Grand Slam titles, five Wimbledon championships and four Olympic gold medals, Williams is arguably one of the most accomplished and inspiring women in the history of sports. Off the court, she has parlayed her fine-tuned business acumen with her healthy competitive spirit into multiple successful entrepreneurial pursuits.

A featured highlight at the Festival will be an appearance by Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl with an accompanying performance by the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

“At Kroger, we believe in the power of Food as Medicine and are committed to helping people live healthier lives in the communities that we serve,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. “The Kroger Wellness Festival reflects this commitment and our vision to change the way people eat in the country. We are excited to bring a weekend full of resources that encourage heathy living, while also offering a family-friendly atmosphere with fun activities and events.”

Festival attendees can experience fitness activities, panel discussions, cooking demos, exhibitions, classes, and live music across six stages from brand sponsors: PepsiCo, J&J, BODYARMOR, Campbell’s, Saratoga Water and American Greetings. The full schedule will be released next month.