Winter Wonderland

Lush tropical foliage, illuminated stars, poinsettias and holiday trees. Who could ask for anything more?

Golden Days of Yule
Through Jan. 7, 2024
Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Drive
Info and tickets at krohn.ticketspice.com/2023-holiday-show

Live Nativity, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Once again, the Krohn Conservatory has outdone itself for the holidays, filling the building with glowing stars and twinkling in the a green canopy.

Throughout the annual horticultural exhibit are the traditional garden railways and miniature Cincinnati landmarks made of locally sourced plant material by Applied Imagination. Joining the iconic collection for the first time is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Courtesy Cincinnati Parks

Applied Imagination’s installations have garnered a nationwide reputation, delighting visitors by using all natural materials to build historic architecture and whimsical worlds. The company locally sources all the materials used for the replicas of the landmarks, which include Krohn Conservatory, Findlay Market, Music Hall, the Roebling Bridge, and Union Terminal.

All the Young Dudes

Redsfest
Dec. 1 and 2
Duke Energy Convention Center
525 Elm St.

Friday, Dec. 1, 3 –10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

2-day tickets are $35 for adults; $20 for kids 12 and younger; 1-day tickets are $25 for adults; $15 for kids 12 and younger. Children 3 free

Get tickets at reds.com/Redsfest.

Home to the first professional team, a storied past of iconic players, and an exciting youth movement, it’s always baseball season in Cincinnati.

The past, present, and future of the Cincinnati Reds will be celebrated at this year’s Redsfest, Dec. 1 and 2.

More than 70 current and former Reds players, coaches and broadcasters are scheduled to appear.

Redsfest is the largest team fan festival throughout Major League Baseball. Fans can expect fun for the entire family including autographs and meet and greets with current and former players, interactive games, photo booths, kids-only events, game-used memorabilia and much more.

The first 10,000 fans in attendance each day will receive a Redsfest drawstring bag and sticker sheet.

Among the current player expected to attend Redsfest are Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, Jonathan India, Matt McLain, and Tyler Stephenson. Reds alumni include Marty Brennaman, Sean Casey, Eric Davis, Zack Cozart, Chris Heisey, and Devin Mesoraco.

Players will available for autograph and photo sessions, with specific times for player appearances announced 30 minutes before the autograph sessions on the info screens on the Redsfest floor. Photograph sessions with players will be announced 30 minutes prior to the start of each session.

Main Stage highlights at Redsfest include

Friday, Dec. 1

• 5:30 p.m.: Introduction of Reds Players Past & Present

• 6 p.m.: Redsfest Home Run Derby (featuring major league players)

• 6:40 p.m.: Kids-Only Press Conference

• 7:15 p.m.: Hot Stove Report

• 8:05 p.m.: 2023 Reds Major League Team Awards

• 9:10 p.m.: Reds Cooking Show (featuring major league players)

Saturday, Dec. 2:

• 11 a.m.: Rosie Reds/Kid Glove Ceremony

• 11:20 a.m.: Hot Stove Report

• 12:05 p.m.: Reds Rookie Roundtable

• 12:50 p.m.: Jim Day Podcast Live! featuring Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey

• 2:10 p.m.: Are You Smarter Than a Reds Heads Member? (featuring major league players)

• 3 p.m.: Reds Feud (featuring major league players)

Reds players and coaches will participate in clinics and activities on two indoor ballfields highlighted by the Redsfest Home Run Derby on Friday at 6 p.m. featuring current and former Reds players teaming up with Nike RBI baseball and softball players.

Redsfest has fun for the whole family, with three floors of activities for fans of all ages, with batting cages, speed pitch, miniature golf, pedal cars, inflatables and more.

The Reds Heads Fun Zone presented by Cincinnati Children’s on the third floor features more than 20,000 square feet of activities for kids including bounce houses, trampolines, kids story times with players and much more.

Reds mascots Gapper, Mr. Redlegs, Rosie Red & Mr. Red will have designated rooms on the second floor where kids can visit throughout Redsfest to have a photo taken with their favorite mascot

For those looking ahead to next season, 2024 Reds tickets will beon sale at Redsfest!

In addition to the tickets and Reds fan club memberships, Redsfest features the best selection of Reds gear, apparel and memorabilia of all kinds for holiday shopping. Don’t miss the Reds Authentics booth, which offers unique collectibles for every fan such as authentic jerseys, bats, helmets, hats, bases, lineup cards and more from last season.

Bally Sports Redsfest is presented by PNC.

Swans a-Swimming

If you want a hippopotamus for Christmas, look no further than The Cincinnati Zoo!

Open through Jan. 7, 2024

Sunday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Last night to visit with Santa is Dec. 23.

PNC Festival of Lights activities begin at 4 p.m., the Zoo opens at 10 a.m.

Details at cincinnatizoo.org/events/festival-of-lights.

The bright and beautiful bloat of Tucker, Bibi, Fiona, and Fritz is shining at the 41st annual PNC Festival of Lights.

Visitors will also find five Fiona fairies in Fairyland, enjoy a blacklight puppet show, and snack at the S’mores-n-More stands, all while admiring the beauty of 4 million LED lights,

New this year, the Wild Lights Show is an interactive experience that syncs your phone’s flashlight to the lights. You can download the CUE app and help light up the Zoo.

Because it’s the zoo, you will also be able to see animals inside multiple indoor heated buildings. Ambassador animals that you can meet will be at Manatee Springs, Discovery Forest, and Club House.

The zoo has set up multiple photo opps, ideal for Instagram-worthy photos, at the snowflakes at Eagle Overlook, the ornaments and the sleigh in Santa’s Village​, and the ornament people across from black rhino habitat.

You can share your PNC Festival of Lights pictures on social media using #cincyzoopic for a chance to be featured in future Zoo marketing materials.

Make the Season Bright

Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
Schmiddlapp Event Lawn at Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way

Open Wednesday through Sunday

Wednesday and Thursday, 5–9 p.m.  
Friday, 5–11 p.m.
Saturdays: 12–11 p.m.
Sundays: 12–7 p.m.

Closed : Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

 *Special times during Bengals games will be listed closer to the event time.  

Admission: Free

Find more information at cincinnatichristkindlmarkt.com

A charming holiday village with twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and festive carolers isn’t just for the Hallmark Channel.

You can experience all that and more when the Servatii Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt returns for its second year at the Moerlein Lager House, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 22.

From the day before Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, make your holiday season merry and bright with this FREE old-fashioned holiday village filled with enchanting experiences.

From cozy igloos to family fun, the Christkindlmarkt includes specials each week, and even specials for Bengals home games.

• Family Fun Wednesdays: Kids 12 and under dine for FREE with the purchase of a Ice Slide ticket, for a night of festive memory making.

• Themed Character Days: On Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, enchanting characters help create magical experiences.

• Thirsty Thursdays: Cheers to an unforgettable evening, with half-price featured wine and bourbon.

• Tailgate Extravaganza: Arrive early for Bengals home games! The market opens three hours before kickoff, and you'll receive $300 in bonus gift cards with an igloo rental.

And brace yourself for the coolest slide adventure in the city. Ice Slide tickets are $20, for unlimited slides! Group discounts, for company parties, family fun, or friends’ outgins.

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at The Banks,!

Shining Through

Your favorite spot for summer fun is also a great place for holiday merrymaking!

Coney Island’s annual Nights of Lights opens on Friday, Nov. 10, 5:30 to 6 p.m., with a special guest flipping the switch to turn on this year’s light display. The ceremony takes place at Coney Island’s Lakeside Pavilion and will be livestreamed.

U.S. Navy Retired Airman Siobhan Lowry Goble will do the honors!

Airman Goble joined the armed forces in the footsteps of her grandfather and great-grandfather, who were both U.S. Army veterans. She was recruited into the U.S. Navy in April 2006, and soon became an intermediate level machinist, working on the P3C Orion and T56 Turboprop engines. 

In 2009, she learned of an opportunity to serve in Iraq during wartime to relieve U.S. Army troops stationed there. Without hesitation, she volunteered for an Individual Augmentee Tour. “I wanted to go help,” she noted. “I didn’t have children at the time, and I knew there were others who did, so I wanted to give them a chance to come home.” Due to her altruism, the Army troops she relieved made it home for the holidays. 

Airman Goble was medically retired from the U.S. Navy in 2011. She now lives in Cincinnati with her son and works within the Oak Hills School District.

Coney Island Night of Lights
6201 Kellogg Ave.
Nov. 10–Dec. 31, dusk to 10 p.m.

Tickets and information at coneyislandpark.com/event/holiday-light-show.

All veterans and active military will receive $5 off admission to Coney Island’s Nights of Lights with a valid military ID.

Coney Island’s Nights of Lights is an awe-inspiring drive-thru, family-friendly experience featuring more than 2 million lights synchronized to the beat of fun holiday music! Guests of all ages and mobilities will be delightfully dazzled by more than 2 million lights over a 2.5-mile route, all enjoyed from the comfort of the car! Guests will be amazed by fantastic tunnels of lights, larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes, and more! Nights of Lights has become a family favorite year over year, and this year, the show features several NEW light structures and songs. 

Refreshments available on select nights include hot cocoa, caramel corn, and cotton candy, while supplies last. New this year are holiday light-up bulb necklaces to wear and enjoy during the show and beyond.

Just keep swimming

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

You’re not alone!

Every year, tons 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!

It’s scheduled for Sunday, August 27th and we have all the info you need right here.

Why do it?:

Besides the fun of it all, the event is 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?:

The Swim is named for Bill Keating, Jr., one of the first swimmers to sign up for the inaugural event in 2007. (That first year, he won the men’s swim 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.”

Need to know:

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.

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

About Adventure Crew

Adventure Crew connects city teens in Greater Cincinnati with nature and each other through outdoor adventures. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit now serves all Cincinnati Public Schools high schools, seventh and eighth graders in select CPS elementary schools, and six schools in Northern Kentucky – a total of 27 schools and nearly 1,000 students per year. Through challenging monthly adventures, city teens develop the courageous spirit to step out of their comfort zone and discover new worlds – outside in nature and inside themselves. This deep connection to nature will set a positive course for their lives – and help create the next generation of environmental stewards. For more information, visit www.adventurecrew.org.

Comfort & Joy

Get Involved

If you’re in need this holiday season, find out more about Freestore Food Bank’s services at freestorefoodbank.org.

Freestore Foodbank’s Liberty Street Market will be open though Dec. 23, with all the fixings for the traditional holiday meal available.

If you can’t make it to the Liberty Street Market, you can go to any of the Freestore Foodbank’s pantry network partners and receive food and assistance there. For more information click here.

Families across the country will soon gather around the table for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa – Gobbling up turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and all of those delicious side dishes.

But many are struggling, including many right here in the Tristate. CEO Kurt Reiber says Freestore Foodbank currently helps between 300 to 350 families a day.

“Most of the families we serve are working,” says Reiber. “They’re just not making enough to make ends meet between now and the end of the year, or month.”

To help, Freestore Food Bank continues its annual food distribution, which started in November and continues through the end of the year.

Shoppers can push their shopping carts through the aisles at the Liberty Street Market in Over-the-Rhine, and pick whatever they need for that holiday meal.

“When families come in here, they get their fixings for the holiday meal – they get their stuffing, soup mix, they get mac and cheese, all those comfort foods we sort of rally around..” Says Reiber.

To supply food for families, the Freestore Foodbank works with partner agencies but also buys some of the groceries. Now, the food bank is buying more food than they have in past years.

“When you think about the Thanksgiving meal, last year it went up about 14 percent. This year, they’re talking about the typical meal going up 28 percent,” says Reiber. “When you add all those things together, plus, the cost of transportation. It’s really exacerbated the impact of these inflationary pressures on our families and the entire Tristate area.”

Merry & Mighty

In need of a little holiday spirit?

If You Go

Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer
Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
Music Hall Ballroom
1241 Elm St.

Click here fro tickets and info!

It’s not too late to join the Friends of Music Hall for its annual Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer concert in Music Hall’s beautiful and historic ballroom, with host Kyle Inskeep, from Local 12 .

Guests can enjoy the song stylings of theater organist, Mark Herman as he fills the Wurlitzer organ with spirit of the season! Herman is one of the country’s busiest theatre organists, performing in concerts and silent film presentations.

The evening also features singers from the May Festival Chorus singers. Dancers from the Otto M. Budig Cincinnati Ballet Academy will join the fun, presenting excerpts from The Nutcracker, including the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Candy Cane Dance, and Marzipan Dance.

Once the pride of the RKO Albee Theatre, the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ has been a part of Cincinnati since 1927, when the theatre organ accompanied the showing of silent films. By the late 1960s, RKO donated the organ to the Ohio Mechanics Institute, which owned the Emery Auditorium. The Ohio Valley chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society installed the organ in the Emery Auditorium in 1977. They maintained and played the organ for movie and concert audiences for 22 years as volunteers. But when the Emery Theater closed in 1999, the Wurlitzer was placed in storage under the care of the Ohio Valley chapter.

At the turn of the last century, a proposal surfaced to place the organ in the Music Hall Ballroom. Once funding was secured, Ronald F. Wehmeier started restoration work in 2007. Through the generosity of donors and the efforts of the Friends of Music Hall, this remarkable instrument now has a permanent home in the Music Hall ballroom.

The Wurlitzer Company was founded in Cincinnati in the mid-1800s and originally created a variety of musical instruments. The company's most famous product was the pipe organ, which became known as the “Mighty Wurlitzer” – a designation which became a symbol of quality.

Red Light Go!

If You Go

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr.

Dec. 10–19

Taft Theatre, Fifth and Sycamore,
thechildrenstheatre.com

ASL interpretation will be offered on the first Saturday at 2 p.m. performance.

More about show times and tickets.

For more than 100 years, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) has been the first live theatre experience for countless children throughout the Tristate.

Begun in 1919, TCT presented The Snow Maiden in 1948, but its first specifically holiday show was Christmas Carol, in 1974. Since then, TCT has produced a number of shows for the festive season, from A Charlie Brown Christmas to Elf. The tradition continues with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. . is a great show for all ages,” says Kelly Holtgrefe, digital marketing manager for TCT. “The holiday show is so special because it gives families a chance to come to the theatre, be entertained, and enjoy quality time together.”

The holiday classic soars off the screen in a 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved television special. Filled with holiday hits like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” the show  features all your favorite characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special.

“Attending as a family is a great holiday present because it’s an experience they can all have together. Experiential gifts are becoming more popular and this is a great opportunity for the whole family.”

Full Steam Ahead

If You Go

Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
Open now through through Jan. 3, 2023, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday with select extended hours.

Tickets are $10 each for adults and children or $5 with the purchase of any other museum experience. Admission is FREE for CMC Members.

Visit cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction for more details and special holiday hours.

Santa’s Arrival!

Santa arrives Friday, Nov. 26! No matter what list you’re on, he’ll be sitting by his fireplace eager to hear what you want for the holidays in the Public Landing, adjacent to Holiday Junction.

From the then-CG & E lobby downtown to Cincinnati Museum Center, the Duke Energy trains have been a mainstay of Cincinnati’s holiday traditions for generations.

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains continue to evoke childlike wonder in kids of all ages as they celebrate their 75th year.

“Year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation the Duke Energy Holiday Trains have delighted families during the holidays,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Some people will fall in love with the trains for the first time this year, others for the 75th time, but for everyone we are delighted to once again stoke the fires and send this beloved holiday tradition along their 1,000 feet of track for past and present generations alike.”

Photos by Shae Huth

Since 1946, families have gathered to watch as miniature locomotives and railcars zip around snowbanks and crowded streets. They’ve pored over the scenes of people dragging home freshly-cut trees, pushing cars up snow-covered hills and crowding the rail station. This year, adults will once again bend down to share the same eye-level views they remember from their childhood and hoist a new generation onto their shoulders for a fresh look at a Cincinnati holiday tradition. Children who grew up visiting the trains downtown now bring their grandchildren to see the same trains at Cincinnati Museum Center.

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains are surrounded by other incredible train layouts, some dating back over 100 years. The Carlisle & Finch Company, based in Cincinnati, produced the world’s first toy electric train in 1896. Their 1904 version click-clacks through Holiday Junction, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and detail in its metal trains, cars, buildings and bridges. Nearby is a pre-World War II Lionel layout and a Lionel Super O layout from the 1960s, complete with ready-made structures designed to complement the O-scale trains.

Back again is Brickopolis, a blizzard of LEGO bricks crafted into fantastical scenes from the magical worlds of Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Harry Potter and more. The whimsical display is a seek and find treat surrounding a stunning LEGO metropolis complete with running trains, active seashores and hijinks by the local residents.

Speaking of seek and find, a holiday scavenger hunt featuring CMC-themed objects hidden in the garden railway layout begs you to walk around, peel your eyes and scour every detail for flying pigs, dinosaurs and more tucked away in the snowy hills.

Shop to It

The beloved shopping, celebrating, and drinking event is back!

Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market returns to Duke Energy Convention Center, Friday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 13.

If You Go

Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market
Duke Energy Convention Center
525 Elm St.
www.cincinnatiholidaymarket.com

Friday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Adults (at the door): $12; (online only): $10
Children, 12 & under (at the door): FREE
Group/bus sales of 15 or more : $9 (Groups 15-39: 1 free ticket, groups 40+: 2 free tickets)

VIP Shopper Morning*: Friday, 8–11 a.m.
Early Bird Admission*: Saturday, 8–10 a.m.
Girls Night Out: Friday & Saturday, 4–7 p.m.

*Limited VIP & Early Bird tickets available to enhance your shopping experience. 

The market is a one-stop holiday shop where eager shoppers will find unique and handmade gifts, toys, treats, and holiday décor, along with food, wine and more from more than 300 vendors.

With so many local boutiques and specialty stores in one place, you’ll find the hottest trending gifts for this holiday season. Tickets are available now.

One popular aspect of the Holiday Market is the Wine Down lounge. Located in the center of the show floor, this wine-and-appetizer lounge has comfy chairs and tables, making it a perfect spot to rest from all that shopping. Compare finds and fuel up for your next round of shopping with a glass of wine, artisan cheese plate with gourmet crackers, house-made pita chips, crostini, flatbreads, and sliced artisan breads.

The market offers even more help with your gift-giving by wrapping your presents. Visit the Gift Wrapping Booth sponsored by Cincinnati Open Box Outlet to make your holidays even easier!

SANTA!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a holiday event without Santa!

Santa will be at the Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market to greet visitors and children alike. Donations are welcome and benefit the Butler County Special Olympics.

Find Santa on Friday, from noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Show attendees also have the the chance to win extra money this holiday season! Register to win Merry Money while at the show! A winner will be drawn every hour throughout the show — all three days of the show — to receive $50 in Merry Money to use at any one vendor of your choice.

This year, the Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market is proud to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, which works tirelessly to make wishes come true for local critically ill children across the Tri-state. 

The holidays can be tough for not only precious kids who have critical illnesses, but also their caregivers. The love and care these generous people pour into these sweet kids’ lives each day is inspirational. And the holidays are a great time to show them some appreciation.

Stop by say hello to the generous Make-a-Wish volunteers who will be happily checking packages at the market while you shop, and donations are welcome!

On the Double

With Veterans Day next week, you may be looking for a way to honor those who have served in the military.

If You Go

DAV 5K
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022
Great American Ball Park

Details and more information.

Registration is in the breezeway next to the Red’s Hall of Fame, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way

If you did not pre-register online, you can register on-site the morning of the race morning. The 5K is cashless, but once on site, you can scan a QR code to register.

After-party: Moerlein Lager House, 10: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans receive a complimentary drink and all participants enjoy light refreshments.

On Saturday, you can show your support by cheering on walkers, runners, and riders in the DAV 5K or even taking part in the race yourself. 

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) holds its 10th Annual DAV 5K at The Banks on Saturday, Nov. 5. The DAV 5K is a run, roll, walk and motorcycle ride that thanks those who served and raises awareness of the issues that ill and injured veterans face every day.

The organization also has a virtual DAV 5K, which can be completed any time from Nov. 5–30, which allows participants to show support for veterans from anywhere across the globe. Register for the virtual event.

DAV’s national headquarters are in Erlanger, and the organizations' National Commander will be in town for the race, one week before American honors those who served on Veterans Day.

“For the tenth year running, we are looking forward to honoring our veterans in Cincinnati and around the globe with our hybrid DAV 5K events,” said DAV CEO Marc Burgess. “The DAV 5K event continues to spread our message to honor the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes throughout America. Your support helps us serve more veterans, at no cost to them, and allows veterans the opportunity to live their lives with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

There will also be a virtual ceremony on Saturday at 11 a.m. to celebrate participants of DAV 5K with special guest video tributes. The program will be live-streamed on DAV5K.org and facebook.com/DAV5K.

The DAV 5K is presented by DAV and supported by Humana and USAA. 

All Dressed Up

In case the scary movies on TV and all the candy at the grocery store weren’t a dead giveaway, Halloween is on Monday.

Whether you need a full-on get-up for a weekend party or a subtle costume for work, don’t panic. Cappel’s has everything – including sage advice – you need be ready no matter your plans.

Cappel’s Costume Annex
917 Race St.
(513) 621-9499
www.cappelsinc.com

Open Thursday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Mon, Oct. 31 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Ray Cappel began working with his father, William, when he was young boy and now has more than 50 years of experience in the retail industry. His wife, Stef, who has doctorate in education, has joined him in the family business.

In 1990, Ray and his cousin, Rich, bought the business from their dads, at which time they officially changed the name to Cappel’s Inc. The cousins continue to adapt to the ever-changing party needs of the community.

Though costumes and accessories are in the spotlight now, Cappel’s also has party decorations, silk flowers, tiaras, wedding supplies, novelties, and many hard to find products.

Scary Good

It’s one of our area’s top Halloween attractions and you only have a few more chances to enjoy the spooky goodness of Halloween Haunt at Kings Island.

Haunt kicked off Sept. 23, and Kings Island officials say roller coasters aren’t the only attractions conjuring up screams at the park.

Kings Island won “Top Terror” in 2018 and 2021. zombie

Halloween Haunt runs Friday and Saturday nights, plus select Sunday nights, through Oct. 29.

Photos provided by Kings Island.

The fully transformed park features six bone-chilling haunted mazes, four scare zones, three sinister live shows and some of the most hair-raising night rides on the planet.”

Once again, the park took top honors and placed first in USA Today and 10Best.com for the Top Ten winners of the best theme park Halloween event in the USA. Kings Island won “Top Terror” in 2018 and 2021.

Kings Island was nominated by a panel of theme park industry experts as one of the top 20 theme park Halloween events in the USA. creepy lady

And it’s not hard to see why. From sweets and treats to scares and plenty of spookiness, Kings Island brings it every year.

Kings Island was nominated by a panel of theme park industry experts as one of the top 20 theme park Halloween events in the USA.

Arriving 2023

But wait, there’s more! This week, Kings Island announced its newest themed area, Adventure Port, opening next year, with two new rides and coaster enhancements. 

Located between Coney Mall and Action Zone, the area will feature two new family rides and enhanced theming for Adventure Express, the park’s mine train family roller coaster. Additional improvements include a refresh of Hank’s Mexican Grill which will be renamed to Enrique’s. The current Bier Garten will be transformed into a portside Mercado, a favorite watering hole for tourists and explorers.

For more information go to visitkingsisland.com.

A Sense of Belonging

Cincinnatians love beer and are rightly proud of the role beer has played in the city’s history and revitalization.

Now, you be a part of that history. The Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CURC) has launched a membership program. Not only does membership support their work in preserving and celebrating the city’s brewing heritage, it also supports Over-the-Rhine’s continued growth and redevelopment. Members also get discounts on tours and merchandise.

“As a non-profit that has mostly been self-funded by giving tours and running special events like Bockfest, the past few years have been tough financially,” says Steve Hampton, executive director of the Brewery District CURC. “Not only for us but also our business partners in the neighborhood. A membership program allows us to connect (and reconnect) with people who support our mission of preserving and promoting our unique brewing heritage, and provides a win-win-win for them, our partners, and us.”

The Brewery District CURC protects and promotes Cincinnati’s unique brewing heritage, with an emphasis on preserving and restoring the city’s urban core, particularly in Over-the-Rhine.

“Your membership not only supports our non-profit and the work we do preserving and celebrating our brewing heritage, it supports a neighborhood continuing to grow and redevelop,” says Hampto. “Members get discounts from us on tours, merchandise, and special events while our partners in the neighborhood offer a variety of discounts and unique give-aways. Most importantly, it shows us that there is a demand for the work we do.”

Memberships begin at $25, but all members receive updates about future events with activity details and ways to sign up along with supporting the efforts of the Brewery District.

Interested in joining? Find out more!

---

TIER ONE MEMBER BENEFITS ($25)

Access to member exclusive events throughout the year and member pricing discounts at general public events requiring admission purchases. 

TIER TWO PARTNER BENEFITS ($75)

Includes Tier One benefits, plus a 10% discount on all Brewing Heritage Trail Tours and Merchandise, as well as special discounts with our partner businesses. Includes a unique discount code in your confirmation email, that you can use for 10% off all Brewing Heritage Trail Tours.

• Northern Row Brewery & Distillery: Free Northern Row T-shirt, just show them your membership card next time you stop by their taproom to claim your new shirt!

• Sam Adams Taproom: $2 off pints purchased inside the taproom, just show them your membership card and they will discount your beer!

• Moerlein Lager House: Free Moerlein Lager House Mug Club Membership excluding Annual Ceramic Stein. Receive all the benefits of the Moerlein Lager House Mug Club including special pricing on 23oz. Moerlein Draft Beers.

• Findlay Market: $1 off pints at both Jane’s and the Race Street Station Bars, located on either end of the market. Just show them your membership card and they will discount your beer! Not valid during Happy Hour, as beer are already half-off!

TIER THREE COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS

Includes Tier One & Two benefits, in addition to two tickets on any regular Brewing Heritage Trail tour, a $78 dollar value. Includes a unique discount code in your confirmation email, that you can use for 10% off all Brewing Heritage Trail Tours and an additional code for your two complimentary tour tickets! 

Track the Sun

This weekend, step into the epitome of a perfect Fall day at Gorman Heritage Farm in Evendale.

Gorman Farms Executive Director, Nicole Gunderman, introduces a few visitors to Jane, the chicken in the children’s garden.

The farm’s annual Sunflower Festival (also its biggest fundraiser) is this weekend.

If You Go

Gorman Farms Sunflower Festival
Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2
10 a.m. – 6 p.m,.

Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 3-17, $5 for adults 60+; Free for kids under 3.

Tickets and information.

Th festival offers live music, hayrides, pumpkins, craft vendors, food trucks, and you can meet the farm animals at the Farm Fun Education Station. Guests will also find mule-drawn carriage rides, High Grain Beer Garden and Cut-Your-Own sunflowers, at $2 per stem.

Gorman Heritage Farm members get in free but must register in advance because of the popularity of this event.

The Sunflower Festival is rain or shine, with the exception of dangerous weather.

Gorman Heritage Farm, originally founded in 1835 is a nonprofit farm with the mission to educate about agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and the environment.

Coming soon!
A Cincy People Show feature with more on Gorman Farms

Subscribe today so you don’t miss it!

That's a Flex

If You Go

Sliding into OM
Sunday, Sept. 25, 7:45 a.m.
Great American Ball Park

Register and find more information at reds.com/Yoga.

Though your chance to play centerfield for the Reds may have come and gone, you can still get a workout on the outfield grass.

On Sunday, “Sliding into Om” returns! This yoga event on the features instructors from The Yoga Bar conducting a one-hour yoga session for all abilities and ages on the outfield grass at the ballpark.

Fans have two packages to choose from

• $15: Includes yoga on the field and a View Level ticket to the 9/25 Reds vs. Brewers (1:40 p.m.) with a special recognition to all yogis during the seventh inning stretch

• $25: Includes an exclusive Reds yoga block plus all of the above

Registration and check-in begins at 7:45 a.m., with the yoga session the field starting at 8:30 a.m. Participants are invited for refreshments in the First Star Fan Zone after yoga.

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.

To the Stars

Late Summer/early Fall might be the best time to stargaze (in our opinion). So, why not stop by the Cincinnati Observatory?

On a sunny September afternoon, we chatted with the Observatory’s Astronomer, Dean Regas.

“Lighthouse of the Sky”

“The best thing is getting people really excited…a lot of people really like astronomy and love talking about the stars.We try to be as accessible as possible, make it as fun as possible.. And get people really fired up about seeing through telescopes!”

Regas tells us every day is different at the Observatory.

His main job at the facility is education, inspiring people as they look at the stars (many for the first time) through a telescope.

“We get wow, oohs and ahhs, those are the top three things people say here,” he says.

Besides the night sky, two of the biggest wow-factors are the massive telescopes. One is the oldest telescope in the United States.

“This is the most amazing scientific instrument…177 years old, made out of wood and brass,” Regas says. “Everything was handmade in Munich, Bavaria (then) shipped over to Cincinnati and it’s been in service since 1845.

To have people look through this telescope and think of all the generations of people who’ve looked through this telescope and see the stars, the planets, it’s just a joy,” says Regas.

We dig for the truth here at Cincinnati People to give you the answers to questions you’ve been pondering. So, we had to ask.. Do the telescopes have names? They do!

He says the 177-year-old telescope goes by “The Old One,” “The Wooden One,” and also the name of the Observatory’s founder, Mitchell. So, it’s also called “The Mitchell Telescope.”

The Observatory is looking for a new nickname for the telescope and you can suggest one! Just head to the link at the bottom of the page. Right now, they say none of the names have grabbed their interest just yet. So, you might be the lucky one who gives them the next nickname!

Wondering what’s happening this Fall at the observatory and when you can peek at the moon, the stars and the planets?

Dean says this time of the year is prime time for star gazing!

“Traditionally, September and October are our best weather months so you have the best chance of getting clear skies and looking through the telescopes,” says Regas. “We have some amazing stuff – Saturn has been up in the sky starting this month. You can see the rings and everything when you look through the telescope.. it looks so amazing! In October, we have Jupiter joining us…You can see stripes, moons, and sometimes even the red spot.”

There’s a lot of cool stuff happening in October, including looking at the moon on Oct. 1 and Jupiter Night on Oct. 7.

---

For additional info, classes and events at the Observatory, click here.

Birthday Boy

The Reds.

The Roebling Bridge.

Union Terminal.

Happy Birthday, Big Boy

In celebration of Big Boy's actual birthday, join the festivities on Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. at Frisch's Covington, 520 West Fifth St.

Fans can enjoy food and giveaways and see Big Boy jump out of a life-size cake. 

Now through Sunday, Sept. 11 you can buy one Frisch's Big Boy or Super Big Boy and get a second one for 75 cents.

InCincinnati has its share of icons, perhaps none more adorable and adored as Big Boy. This weekend, the beloved swoop-haired rascal is celebrating a BIG birthday.

All year long, Frisch’s has been celebrating its 75th anniversary, but event during the summer out have highlighted both Big Boy, the icon, and Big Boy, the sandwich.

The story starts in 1946, when David Frisch first tried a double-decker hamburger in California. He brought this culinary innovation to Cincinnati, swapped the Thousand Island dressing for tartar sauce, and in 1947 the Big Boy was born.

Big Boy has been busy leading up to his party. This week, he has picked up gifts from many of his dearest Cincinnati friends, including Gary from FC Cincinnati, Mr. Redlegs, the elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo, and everyone's favorite flying pig at the Flying Pig Marathon.

You still have time to download the Frisch's app between for a chance to win Big Boy's birthday gifts! All Frisch's locations will be handing out treats to kids on Sept. 9, including candy and a free kids menu item, while supplies last.