Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: July 28-30

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read
Glier’s Goettafest returns to Newport this weekend and next weekend.
Glier’s Goettafest returns to Newport this weekend and next weekend.

Greater Cincinnati's love affair with festivals kicks it up a notch this weekend with five different festivals, including three unique (and delicious) food-centric fests. We also have three new plays opening this weekend, and since it's the end of the month, the artsy crowd will be out and about celebrating Final Friday.

1. Glier’s Goettafest

Two weekends of goetta goodness, celebrating the Queen City's beloved regional delicacy. Enjoy games, live entertainment and lots and lots of goetta. Runs July 27-30 and Aug. 3-6.

Details: 5-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday, Festival Park, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Free admission. goetta.com/goettafest.

Curry chicken with jollof rice, a flavorful and spicy West African dish, is one of the options you may encounter at AfriFest: A Taste of Africa, taking place this weekend.
Curry chicken with jollof rice, a flavorful and spicy West African dish, is one of the options you may encounter at AfriFest: A Taste of Africa, taking place this weekend.

2. AfriFest Cincy: Taste of Africa

Celebrates and showcases African culture, food, entertainment, games and other fun activities.

Details: noon-8 p.m. Saturday, Burnet Woods, 3298 Clifton Ave., Corryville. Free admission. myapnet.org.

Koularakia, a traditional twisted coffee cookie, is one of the pastries offered at GreekFest in Middletown, taking place this weekend.
Koularakia, a traditional twisted coffee cookie, is one of the pastries offered at GreekFest in Middletown, taking place this weekend.

3. GreekFest

Enjoy Greek treats in a family-friendly environment at this small but mighty festival. Homemade pastries can be ordered in advance for pickup on the day.

Details: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2500 Grand Ave., Middletown. facebook.com/MiddletownGreekFest.

DangerWheel takes place in Pendleton this weekend.
DangerWheel takes place in Pendleton this weekend.

4. DangerWheel

Adult downhill Big Wheel races find teams of three competing against others in a bracket-style tournament.

Details: 2-8:30 p.m. Saturday, 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton. Free for spectators. dangerwheel.com.

5. SharonFest

Food, drinks and family fun that includes inflatables for the kids. Live music with Audio Graffiti and The Whammies on Friday. On Saturday, it’s Stagger Lee, and The Menus. Family Fest from 5-6 p.m. Saturday.

Details: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 5 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Gower Park, 10990 Thornview Drive, Sharonville. Free admission. facebook.com/sharonfestsummerfest.

6. 'Guys and Dolls'

This musical comedy follows a rowdy bunch of gamblers and showgirls in bustling 1950s Manhattan.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, The Carnegie, 1028 Scott St., Covington. Runs July 29-Aug. 18. $30-$40. thecarnegie.com.

7. Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'

This classic boasts all the glamour, intrigue and suspense of the celebrated novel, with a healthy dose of humor to quicken the pace.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Anderson Center Theatre, 7850 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township. Runs July 28-Aug. 5. beechmontplayers.org.

8. 'Murder Room'

Murder mystery farce follows gold digger Mavis and her lover, who plot to kill Mavis' wealthy husband.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, The Drama Workshop, 3716 Glenmore Ave., Cheviot. Runs July 28-Aug. 13. thedramaworkshop.org.

Artist Amelia Key elevates and transforms ordinary objects into beautiful creations by composing collections of everyday ephemera into artworks. This assortment of pieces that creatively incorporate waste materials to highlight their impact on daily life and the environment will be exhibited at Matter Matters in the ArtWorks V2 Gallery from July 28 to September 15.

9. Matter Matters

Artist-in-residence Amelia Key led eight teen and young adult artists exploring sculptural solutions that transform and elevate the mundane objects of everyday life. Runs July 28-Sept. 15.

Details: 5-7 p.m., ArtWorks V2 Gallery, 929 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. Free. Reservations: artworkscincinnati.org.

Cincinnati Art Museum's monthly Art After Dark event is a chance to see the current special exhibitions for free. This month you can view Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds.
Cincinnati Art Museum's monthly Art After Dark event is a chance to see the current special exhibitions for free. This month you can view Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds.

10. Art After Dark: Viva España

Immerse yourself in Spanish culture and experience the Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds special exhibit.

Details: 5-9 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Free. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

Pendleton Art Center hosts an open house on the final Friday of each month.
Pendleton Art Center hosts an open house on the final Friday of each month.

Honorable mention: Final Friday

Over 250 artists open studios to the public to view and purchase works. Artist of the month: Mike Svach, studio 107.

Details: 5-9 p.m., Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St., Pendleton. Free admission. Valet parking available at the door for $10. 513-421-4339; pendletonartcenter.com.

The Contemporary Arts Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, celebrates its 20th birthday this year. On the final Friday of each month, you can join CAC docents for a guided tour of exhibitions at both the CAC and 21c Museum Hotel next door.
The Contemporary Arts Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, celebrates its 20th birthday this year. On the final Friday of each month, you can join CAC docents for a guided tour of exhibitions at both the CAC and 21c Museum Hotel next door.

Honorable mention: CAC@21C

Half-hour guided tour of 21C galleries followed by half-hour tour of CAC exhibitions. Complimentary Metropole cocktail included.

Details: 6 p.m., 21C Museum Hotel, Walnut Street, Downtown. Free. Cincycac.org/21c-cac.

Honorable mention: Seana Higgins Exhibition

Art opening and CSO happy hour featuring the MOTR String Quartet.

Details: 4-7 p.m. Friday, MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. motrpub.com.

Bassist Brooke Dickson and The Regrettes play a free show Friday night on Fountain Square.
Bassist Brooke Dickson and The Regrettes play a free show Friday night on Fountain Square.

Honorable mention: Indie Friday: The Regrettes

Los Angeles garage punk riot grrrl band The Regrettes have released three studio albums on Warner Bros. Records. They play a free show as part of Fountain Square's Indie Friday Series.

Details: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

Kids can meet strolling fairies, wizards, knights and more at the Great Parks Fairy Tale Festival, taking place July 29 at the Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens.
Kids can meet strolling fairies, wizards, knights and more at the Great Parks Fairy Tale Festival, taking place July 29 at the Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens.

Honorable mention: Great Parks Fairy Tale Festival

Kids’ favorite fairy tales come to life with a Madcap Puppets show, magical crafts, strolling fairies, wizards, knights and more. Food truck on site.

Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Highfield Discovery Garden, Glenwood Gardens, 10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn. $12 per person.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: July 28-30