Grab a glass for the top 15 Cincinnati events this weekend

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·6 min read

1. Harvest Home Fair

This annual harvest celebration dates back to the 1860s. A parade kicks events off on Thursday. There's a 4H Youth Fair, art show competition, exhibits, games, rides, food, cornhole tournament, artisan market, pony rides and live music. On Thursday: Closer to Nine. Friday: Excalibur, Bronson Arroyo Band. Saturday: Jack Burton Overdrive, Carey Hunley, Danny Frazier Band. Sunday: Cuz’n Eddie, Acoustic Abuse.

Details: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Harvest Home Park, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot. $5 admission. Harvesthomefair.com.

2. Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park Opening Weekend

Experience six award-winning haunts for one price. Includes Phobia, Temple of Terror, Killer Klowns, Haunted Trail, Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate, and Dysphoria. The park boasts special theme weekends, and live music on Saturdays.

Details: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Runs Sept. 8-Oct. 28. $20 one attraction, $50 general, $75 fast pass. Landofillusion.com.

3. Covington Oktoberfest

Braxton Brewing presents this Oktoberfest celebration, where you can enjoy German culture, local food vendors, beer, art and live music.

Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Goebel Park, MainStrasse Village, 501 Philadelphia St., Covington. Free admission. Facebook.com.

Covington Oktoberfest returns to Goebel Park Sept. 8-10. The fest will have plenty of beer, food, music and German culture. Pictured: Adam Waring of Fort Wright and Kat of Cincinnati with mugs of Braxton beer.
Covington Oktoberfest returns to Goebel Park Sept. 8-10. The fest will have plenty of beer, food, music and German culture. Pictured: Adam Waring of Fort Wright and Kat of Cincinnati with mugs of Braxton beer.

4. Montage Fest

This family-friendly community collaborative features live bands, DJs, art, instructors, healers, craftsmen, brews and more. Enjoy art installations, workshops, vendors, food, crafts, holistic services and supporting all things local. Kids welcome until 9 p.m. each night.

Details: noon-2 a.m. Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday, Knox Joseph at OTR StillHouse, 2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine. $40 weekend, $25 per day, $12 ages 12-under. Eventbrite.com.

5. Cincinnati Vintage Motorcycle Rally

Hosted by Classic British Motorcycle Club, this bike show includes a swap meet, vendors, raffles, food trucks, live music, camping and more.

Details: 8 a.m. Friday-Sunday, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. $10 weekend, $7 daily, free ages 12-under. Cincybritishbikes.com.

Fairfield Auto Fest takes place this weekend at Village Green Park.
Fairfield Auto Fest takes place this weekend at Village Green Park.

6. Fairfield Auto Fest

Three days of car shows. Enjoy food trucks, drinks, entertainment, raffles and more. Live music: Friday: DV8. Saturday: The Belairs. Sunday: The McCartney Project. Sunday is the Aubrey Rose Foundation British Car Day.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, 3:30-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Village Green Park, Fairfield. fairfield-city.org.

The Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival takes place Sept. 8-10 at the vineyard in Colerain Township.
The Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival takes place Sept. 8-10 at the vineyard in Colerain Township.

7. Vinoklet Art & Wine Festival

Shop more than 40 art booths, enjoy live music each day, wine tastings, food booths and more. Free overflow parking with shuttle available at Germania Park.

Details: 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township. Free entry. Vinokletwines.com.

The world premiere of “Gaslight” by Steven Dietz, based on “Angel Street” by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Courtney Sale runs Sep. 8-24, 2023 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Produced in Partnership with Merrimack Repertory Theatre.
The world premiere of “Gaslight” by Steven Dietz, based on “Angel Street” by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Courtney Sale runs Sep. 8-24, 2023 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Produced in Partnership with Merrimack Repertory Theatre.

8. 'Gaslight'

In this turn-of-the-century Victorian thriller, a newlywed couple's perfect marriage devolves into something sinister.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Sept. 8-24. Cincyshakes.com.

9. 'What the Constitution Means to Me'

Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human new play, she embodies her teenage self in order to trace the founding document’s profound impact on not just her own life, but the past four generations of women in her family.

Details: 7 p.m., Ensemble Theatre, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Sept. 9-Oct. 1. Ensemblecincinnati.org.

10. Grainworks Music Fest

The West Chester brewery (and winner for the 2023 Cincinnati Favorite Beer bracket) celebrates its sixth birthday with a family-friendly indoor/outdoor music festival. Features exclusive beer tappings, food trucks and more. Entertainment includes Monte Lykins Band, Cassette Junkies, Brock & Jon Music Show, Dat Band, and on Sunday, a Bengals season opener watch party.

Details: 3 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Grainworks, 7790 Service Center Drive, West Chester. Free admission. grainworks.beer.

Lady A will perform a postgame show at Great American Ball Park after the Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals game on Sept. 9. Pictured from left: Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley.
Lady A will perform a postgame show at Great American Ball Park after the Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals game on Sept. 9. Pictured from left: Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley.

11. Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Fireworks Friday, post-game concert with Lady A on Saturday, and kids sticker sheet giveaway on Sunday.

Details: 6:40 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1:40 p.m. Sunday, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Reds.com.

12. Gathering of the Guilds

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, in partnership with nine local craft guilds, hosts this gathering, which showcases the variety of opportunities in craft education around the city. Live demonstrations of weaving, blacksmithing, printmaking, spinning, quilting, enameling, gemstone cutting, woodturning, glassmaking, art-book making and fabrication with clay.

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, 4870 Gray Road, Spring Grove Village. Free. Gotgcincy.org.

Paddling for the Pink, the Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival, is the only dragon boat festival in the world hosted and run by breast cancer survivors and supporters. The festival takes place Saturday at AJ Jolly Lake.
Paddling for the Pink, the Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival, is the only dragon boat festival in the world hosted and run by breast cancer survivors and supporters. The festival takes place Saturday at AJ Jolly Lake.

13. Paddling for the Pink: The Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival

This festival is hosted and run by breast cancer survivors and supporters. Teams of breast cancer survivors from all around the country compete and raise money for P4CA: Paddling for Cancer Awareness. Each team is comprised of 18 paddlers, who race 50-foot boats weighing over 4,000 pounds down the 250-meter course.

Details: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, AJ Jolly Park, 1501 Race Track Road, Alexandria. Free for spectators. P4ca.org.

14. Community street festivals

  • Still Smiling Fest: Enjoy music, art and fun, hosted by Cincy Nice. Lineup includes Flagboy Giz, Tonina, Tei Shi, Lauren Eylise, New Thousand & Friends, DJ Prymetime, DJ Tizie B, Mambo Combo, Leo Pastel, Siri Imani, Khari.

    • Details: 2-11 p.m. Saturday, Five Points Alley, Walnut Hills. Cashless event. $42, $28 advance. stillsmilingfest.com.

  • Queen of the Hills Street Festival: Enjoy food trucks, music, games and more.

    • Details: noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Cincinnati Scholar House, 929 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. Free. Eventbrite.com.

  • Second Sunday on Main: This month’s theme: Sustain on Main. Learn about sustainability in collaboration with Kroger.

    • Details: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Main St. between 12th and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine. Free. secondsundayonmain.org.

15. Shopping fun

  • The OFF Market: Monthly marketplace of small businesses, artisans, brewers, bakers, farmers and more.

    • Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Summit Park, 43435 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash. Free. theoffmarket.org.

  • ArtisanFest513: Celebrate small businesses and community animal shelters.

    • Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. eventbrite.com.

  • Native Plant Sale: Plants grown by the Cincinnati Zoo horticultural team for sale at reasonable prices.

    • Details: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Bowyer Farm, 2210 Mason-Montgomery Road, Lebanon. Advance registration required. Cincinnatizoo.org.

  • Cincinnati Music Book Show and Sale: Meet local and regional authors who have written books about Cincinnati music history. Co-presented by the Mercantile Library and its Rock & Read Music Book Discussion Group.

    • Details: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., Suite 1100, Downtown. Free admission. Mercantilelibrary.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 15 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Sept. 8-10