Taste of Cincinnati returns this weekend! Everything to know before chowing down

Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·7 min read

We hope you're hungry because it's almost time for Taste of Cincinnati.

The annual festival, which puts a spotlight on the city's vibrant culinary scene, returns to downtown Cincinnati on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27. It will feature a record-setting 85 vendors, including 28 restaurants, 33 food trucks, two caterers and more.

Founded in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati has been one of the most highly anticipated summer events for over four decades. It began as a one-day festival in Piatt Park, formerly known as Garfield Park. The celebration expanded to two days by 1981 and three days by 1988, eventually moving to Central Parkway, per its website.

By 2007, Taste of Cincinnati moved to Fifth Street, where it is taking place again this year. Approximately 550,000 people attend Taste of Cincinnati yearly, and organizers say it's one of the nation's largest and longest-running culinary arts festivals.

Are you heading downtown for the annual food festival? Here's what you should know before chowing down.

When is Taste of Cincinnati?

Taste of Cincinnati takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27.

Here are the hours:

  • Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Sunday, May 26: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Monday, May 27: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A Vietnamese Street Taco from Chino’s Street Food at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.
A Vietnamese Street Taco from Chino’s Street Food at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.

Where is Taste of Cincinnati?

The festival stretches across four blocks of Fifth Street, between Main Street and east of Sentinel Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Hillary Lake, senior account manager for Wordsworth Communications, told The Enquirer a full list of street closures for the festival will be announced Tuesday. Wordsworth Communications handles the public relations for Taste of Cincinnati.

3 Sisters Fried Bread from the Indigenous Chef food truck at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.
3 Sisters Fried Bread from the Indigenous Chef food truck at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.

How does Taste of Cincinnati work?

Taste of Cincinnati is a free-admission food festival featuring over 28 restaurants, 33 food trucks, two caterers and more. Most food is served in small portions so visitors can experience as much as possible.

In addition to the variety of food available, Taste of Cincinnati will have 50 live entertainment acts on five stages throughout the festival.

A view of The Taste dish from Trolley Donuts, which is donuts with vanilla drizzle, salted caramel drizzle, chocolate chips and crushed potato chips at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.
A view of The Taste dish from Trolley Donuts, which is donuts with vanilla drizzle, salted caramel drizzle, chocolate chips and crushed potato chips at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.

Here's the full music lineup:

Saturday, May 25 lineup

  • Floyd and the Walkmen: 11 a.m. at the main stage.

  • Brittany Marie: 11 a.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • The Timids: Noon at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Kyla Mainous: Noon at The Grove stage.

  • Coy Comer & The Wanderers: Noon at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • New Moon: 2 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Alex Salcido: 3 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • National Barks: 3 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • DJ Jay Downs: 3 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Hydrophonics: 3 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • Ma Crow and Co.: 4 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Buzz Bin: 4 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Marz Hall: 5 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • DJ Kay Lyke: 6 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Root Cellar Xtract: 6 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Dan Van Vechten: 6 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • Afrochine Presents: Yemi's Jazz Quintet: 7 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • Chris From Space: 7 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • 2nd Wind: 8 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Kevin McCoy Band: 8 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Queen City Silver Stars: 9 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • DJ Gerald Shell: 9 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Mikaylah Rose: 9 p.m. at The Grove stage.

Taste of Cincinnati 2024 takes place May 25-27.
Taste of Cincinnati 2024 takes place May 25-27.

Sunday, May 26 lineup

  • P. Ann Everson-Price and The All-Star Band: 11 a.m. at the main stage.

  • Shadwell: 11 a.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • DJ Kay Lyke: Noon at the DJ stage.

  • Maya Banatwala: Noon at The Grove stage.

  • Dust By Monday: Noon at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Green Light Morning: Noon at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Motel Faces: 2 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • DJ Gerald Shell: 3 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Saint Sterling: 3 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • Hilary Hahn: 3 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • Abandoned Malls of America: 3 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Ralph and The Rhythm Hounds: 3 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Howard Brothers Band: 4 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Sovereign Being: 5 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • DJ Mark Moore: 6 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Jonathan Cody White: 6 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • Matt St. George: 6 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • Mojo Blues Cats Band: 7 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • The Menus: 7 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Daniel Noel: 7 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Noah Smith: 8 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • DJ Diamond: 9 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Alex Salcido: 9 p.m. at the The Grove stage.

  • Jack Burton Overdrive: 9 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

A man dances to music at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.
A man dances to music at Taste of Cincinnati 2023.

Monday, May 27 lineup

  • The Sunburners: 11 a.m. at the main stage.

  • Mark Daniel Goodwin: 11 a.m. at The Grove stage.

  • DJ Gerald Shell: 11 a.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Tracy Walker and Friends: 11 a.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • Highly Likely: Noon at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • The Reckoneers: Noon at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • RTist: 2 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Daniel Berman: 2 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • Millie Oliver and The Missing Pieces: 2 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • School of Rock: 2 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Afrochine Presents: Yemi's Blues Outfit Ft. Bethany Witten and Eric Shepard: 3 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.

  • Tooth Lures a Fang: 4 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Aprinas Revolutionary Love: 5 p.m. at The Grove stage.

  • The Grove: 4 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

  • DJ Kay Lyke: 6 p.m. at the DJ stage.

  • Varner/Netherton Revival: 6 p.m. at the main stage.

  • Jamwave: 6 p.m. at the Fifth and Broadway stage.

  • Maurice Mattei and The Tempers: 6 p.m. at the Food Truck Zone stage.

Best of Taste 2024 restaurant winners

Side dish

  • Gold: Thai Express – Mango Salad.

Appetizer

  • Gold: Alley Baby – Wings.

  • Silver: Kabobske – Avocado Hummus.

  • Bronze: Chino's Street Food – Chino's Loaded Fries.

Entree

  • Gold: French Toast Heaven – Jerk Chicken & Grits.

  • Silver (two-way tie): Chino's Street Food – Marinated Chicken with Veggie Fried Rice. Pata Roja Taqueria – Birria Taco.

  • Bronze: Kabobske – Mediterranean Chicken Kebab Rice Bowl.

People eat Cheesecake from The Cheesecakery at Taste of Cincinnati 2023. The Cheesecakery's Oreo Cheesecake Cupcake won gold for Best of Taste desserts among restaurants for 2024.
People eat Cheesecake from The Cheesecakery at Taste of Cincinnati 2023. The Cheesecakery's Oreo Cheesecake Cupcake won gold for Best of Taste desserts among restaurants for 2024.

Dessert

  • Gold: The Cheesecakery Bakery – Oreo Cheesecake Cupcake.

  • Silver: Pompilio's Restaurant – Peanut Butter Fudge Cannoli with Milk Chocolate.

  • Bronze: French Toast Heaven – Bacon Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Bar.

Best of Taste Findlay Kitchen winners

Appetizer and side dish

  • Gold: Sen by Kiki – Ceviche.

  • Silver: Jay’s Nyam & Jam – Jerk Chicken Taco.

Entree

  • Gold: Jay’s Nyam & Jam – Jamaican Bowl.

  • Silver: Magnificent Morsels Catering – Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.

Dessert 

  • Gold: BanaSun Smoothie Bar – Acaí Bowl.

  • Silver: Chico’s Cheesecakes – Banana Pudding Cheesecake.

Dine-In Hawaiian took home the gold awards for best food truck side dish and appetizers at the 2024 Best of Taste of Cincinnati competition.
Dine-In Hawaiian took home the gold awards for best food truck side dish and appetizers at the 2024 Best of Taste of Cincinnati competition.

Best of Taste food truck winners

Side dish

  • Gold: Dine-In Hawaiian – Crab Bake.

  • Silver: Adena’s Beefstroll – Ma's Meatball.

  • Bronze: Nonstop Flavor – Jerk Chicken Cheesy Fries.

Appetizer

  • Gold: Dine-In Hawaiian – Panko Crusted Mac.

  • Silver: Wicked Hickory – Dirty South Shot.

  • Bronze: Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen – Seafood Nolchos.

Entree

  • Gold: Buffalo’s Best – Roast Beef on Weck.

  • Silver: Nonstop Flavor – Brown Stew Chicken Dinner.

  • Bronze: Red Sesame Korean BBQ – Yummy Bowl.

A view of the Black and White cupcake from the SugarSnap! Sweets in 2023. Its Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae won silver for Best of Taste food truck desserts in 2024.
A view of the Black and White cupcake from the SugarSnap! Sweets in 2023. Its Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae won silver for Best of Taste food truck desserts in 2024.

Dessert

  • Gold: Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen – Bourbon Peach Beignet.

  • Silver: SugarSnap! Sweets – Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae.

  • Bronze: Cc’s Empanadas – Churros.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Taste of Cincinnati 2024: Dates, location, Best of Taste winners, more