Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Sept. 1-3

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·6 min read
A view from Newport on the Levee as fireworks light up the Ohio River during the WEBN and Western & Southern Fireworks at Riverfest in 2022.
A view from Newport on the Levee as fireworks light up the Ohio River during the WEBN and Western & Southern Fireworks at Riverfest in 2022.

1. Riverfest, Western & Southern/WEBN Fireworks

Cincinnati's traditional end-of-summer bash is a daylong event along the Ohio River featuring a synchronized fireworks finale. It runs noon-10 p.m. Sunday along the Serpentine Wall, Downtown, and Festival Park, Newport. Admission is free. There are other places to view the fireworks as well. Here are a few spots:

  • River Fest West: Food, games and live music with Marsha Brady and Cincinnati Dancing Pigs.

    • Details: 4-10 p.m., Mount Echo Park, 251 Mount Echo Park Drive, East Price Hill. Free. Cincinnati-oh-gov.

  • Boom on the Bridge: Experience Riverfest and the fireworks up close. Live music with Naked Karate Girls. Ticket includes drink voucher, food voucher, dessert voucher and parking pass. Benefits Purple People Bridge Fund.

  • Riverfest on the Levee: Family-friendly event with live music, kids’ activities, roaming entertainment, restaurant and retailer specials, interactive pop-ups and more.

    • Details: 3-9 p.m., Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Free. Flat-rate parking $25. newportonthelevee.com.

  • All-inclusive Watch Party: Ticket includes reserved seat for fireworks, all-you-can-eat buffet including raw bar, carving station, appetizers and parking discount.

  • Big Boom at Beeline: Ticket includes priority view of fireworks, complimentary cocktail upon arrival, rotating DJs throughout the night. Seating is first come, first served.

    • Details: 5-10 p.m., Beeline, Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. $75. thebeelinebar.com.

  • Riverfest Fireworks Watch Party: Ticket includes appetizers, dinner, dessert and parking pass.

    • Details: 4:30-10 p.m., $125 outside deck table, $85 inside table. Buckhead Mountain Grill, 35 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue. 859-491-7333.

  • Labor Day Fireworks Buffet Dinner: Includes buffet with carving station, sushi, raw bar with snow crab legs and more.

    • Details: Chart House, 405 Riverboat Row, Newport. $145 includes fees, tax and gratuity. eventbrite.com.

  • Fireworks Viewing: Enjoy variety of food stations, unobstructed view of fireworks and free parking.

    • Details: 5-11 p.m., Metropolitan Club, 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Suite 1900, Covington. $50. eventbrite.com.

Full-armor jousting is one of the highlights of the Ohio Renaissance Festival, which takes place in the shire of Harveysburg from Sept. 2-Oct. 29.
Full-armor jousting is one of the highlights of the Ohio Renaissance Festival, which takes place in the shire of Harveysburg from Sept. 2-Oct. 29.

2. Ohio Renaissance Festival

Travel back in time at this 16th-century English village. Enjoy full-armor jousting tournaments, live entertainment, shopping, food, drinks and more.

Details: 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and Labor Day, 10542 E. State Route 73, Harveysburg. Runs Sept. 2-Oct. 29. Season pass $80. General admission $28, $10 ages 5-12. Renfestival.com.

Terror Town may look like an innocent Old West town with shops and restaurants, but evil lurks in the woods.
Terror Town may look like an innocent Old West town with shops and restaurants, but evil lurks in the woods.

3. Terror Town opening weekend

Halloween already? You bet. This Old West town boasts a haunted trail immersive experience tailored to the intensity level you want. You can opt for a realistic fright experience and nothing more. Level up to the gold bracelet option to be splattered and drenched in gore. The red bracelet option includes all of the above, plus signals your approval to be touched by actors. New this year is a Blue Skull experience (Sept. 8 and Oct. 12) that plunges you into a world of terror where you are the sole focus of the haunt. Blue Skull is ages 18-up only, other frights are 16-up.

Details: 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg. Runs Sept. 1-Nov. 4. $15-up. $150 season pass, Blue Skull $75-$180. Allhallowsevellc.com.

The cockpit of the B-29 Doc - a model which inspired George Lucas's design of the Millennium Falcon in "Star Wars" - is available for tours during Lunken Airport Days.
The cockpit of the B-29 Doc - a model which inspired George Lucas's design of the Millennium Falcon in "Star Wars" - is available for tours during Lunken Airport Days.

4. Lunken Airport Days

See military vehicles and classic cars, shop vendors and more. Register for B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides, ground and cockpit tours of B-29 Doc, one of only two B-29 Superfortress aircraft still airworthy and flying today.

Details: noon Saturday-Sunday, Lunken Airport, East End. Free admission and parking. Warbirds.clubexpress.com.

5. Buckeye Bigfoot Bash

Meet and greet with Turtleman from Animal Planet’s “Call of the Wildman” and the YouTube series “Turtleman’s Hunt for Bigfoot.” Enjoy flea market and craft vendors, petting zoo, pony rides, Bigfoot contests, giveaways and more.

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Buckeye Trading Post, 11294 State Route 50, North Bend. Free admission, field parking is $3.

The Reds take on the Cubbies this weekend at Great American Ball Park. On Sunday, fans receive a free poster of pitcher Hunter Greene, while supplies last.
The Reds take on the Cubbies this weekend at Great American Ball Park. On Sunday, fans receive a free poster of pitcher Hunter Greene, while supplies last.

6. Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies are in town this weekend. There's a doubleheader on Friday, a Reds tote bag giveaway on Saturday, and on Riverfest Sunday, it's a Hunter Greene poster giveaway.

Details: 1:10 and 6:40 p.m. Friday, 6:40 p.m. Saturday, 12:10 p.m. Sunday, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Runs Sept. 1-3. Reds.com.

7. Loveland Art Festival

Enjoy live music, beer, wine and food trucks while you browse and buy from 60 artists of painting, jewelry, fiber arts, pottery, mixed media crafts, photography and sculpture.

Details: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Whistle Stop Clay Works, 119 Harrison Ave., Loveland. Free admission. lovelandartfestival.com.

Maldoror: Surrealist Drawings and Prints by Czech artist Karel Demel opens Friday at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. Pictured: "Les Chants de Maldoror" etching, Karel Demel.
Maldoror: Surrealist Drawings and Prints by Czech artist Karel Demel opens Friday at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. Pictured: "Les Chants de Maldoror" etching, Karel Demel.

8. Maldoror: Surrealist Drawings and Prints by Karel Demel

See black and white drawings and color etchings from this renowned Czech artist. The works represent his surrealistic illustrations of the seminal book "Songs of Maldoror," written in the 1860s by influential French author Isidore Ducasse.

Details: Opening reception is 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Lindner Gallery, 6620 Montgomery Road. Free. kennedyarts.org.

Do you remember the Looney Tunes theme music? The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will be playing the themes from TV shows and cartoons from the 1950s through 1990s this weekend at Devou Park, Covington, and Tower Park, Fort Thomas.
Do you remember the Looney Tunes theme music? The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will be playing the themes from TV shows and cartoons from the 1950s through 1990s this weekend at Devou Park, Covington, and Tower Park, Fort Thomas.

9. Kentucky Symphony Orchestra: TV Guide

The KYSO plays television themes from the 1950s-1990s, and plenty of tunes from the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons. Bring folding chairs or blankets. On Saturday, Tank shuttle buses depart from Covington Catholic High School (1600 Dixie Highway, Park Hills) to Devou Park every half hour from 6-7:30 p.m. and return after the show. The show repeats Sunday in Fort Thomas.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Devou Park Bandshell, 1201 Park Drive, Covington. Free; shuttle costs $1 each way. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tower Park, 900 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. Free; limited parking. Kyso.org.

10. Liberty Home German Club Oktoberfest

Enjoy rides, games, live entertainment, German food and beer, stein-holding contest and more. There's a car show from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Details: 6-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Sunday, 2361 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Free parking onsite and at Oberson's Nursery (2389 Hamilton Cleves Road), with free shuttle. $5 admission, free ages under 14. facebook.com.

Party: A list of Oktoberfest celebrations in Cincinnati

Nostalgia reigns at the Tri-State Antiques Market, where all merchandise is required to be at least 30 years old and out of production. Pictured: metal lunch boxes from the 1960s and 1970s.
Nostalgia reigns at the Tri-State Antiques Market, where all merchandise is required to be at least 30 years old and out of production. Pictured: metal lunch boxes from the 1960s and 1970s.

Honorable mention: Shopping

  • Tri-State Antiques Market: Indiana’s largest monthly antiques and vintage-only market. More than 200 vendors.

    • Details: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway. Early bird admission 6 a.m. at no extra charge. $5 admission. Lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.

  • Art on Vine: Shop local from a number of artists and makers.

    • Details: noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Court Street Plaza, Court St., Downtown. Free admission. artonvinecincy.com.

  • West Side Market: This small business pop-up market showcases more than 100 local vendors, food trucks and offers family-friendly activities.

  • Ludlow Flea and Craft Fair: Shop clothing, antiques, food, oils, vinyl records, jewelry, arts and crafts, oddities and more.

    • Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Bircus Brewing Co., 322 Elm St., Ludlow. Free admission. facebook.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do this weekend in Cincinnati: Sept. 1-3