Top 15 Cincinnati events this weekend: Pretzels, tattoos, nostalgia, swimming and more

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·5 min read
Serving up some hot pretzels during the Germania Society of Cincinnati's Oktoberest.
Serving up some hot pretzels during the Germania Society of Cincinnati's Oktoberest.

1. Germania Society Oktoberfest

Enjoy German beer, food, three stages of live German music all weekend, contests, imported German merchandise, festival rides, and new this year is an armored combat tournament.

Details: 6-11 p.m. Friday, 2-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Germania Park, 3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain Township. Credit/debit only, no cash. $5, free ages 12-under and veterans with current ID. Free off-site parking at Pleasant Run Middle School, Vinoklet Winery, Mueller Roofing and Northwest High School. Germaniasociety.com/Oktoberfest.

2. 1940s Day

Immerse yourself in a celebration of the music, fashion, vehicles and people who shaped this pivotal decade. Includes live big band music, dancing, a classic car show, costume contest and more.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Cincymuseum.org.

3. Cincinnati Tattoo Arts Festival

Enjoy tattoo contests, seminars, browsing merchandise vendors and maybe even getting a little ink. Special guests include Verona Fink, Dana Brunson, Black Ink, Ink Master stars Kyle Dunbar, Big Jaz, Holli Marie, Elva Stefanie and Boneface, Trocon Talhouk and Charles Whitfield from VH1, and international artist Armando Munoz.

Details: 2-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. $40 3-day pass, $20 per day. Villainarts.com.

4. The Bill Keating Jr. Great Ohio River Swim

If swimming the Ohio River is on your bucket list, this 900-meter (half-mile) open-water swim gives both competitive and recreational swimmers the chance to swim from the Serpentine Wall to Kentucky and back. It's a fundraiser for Adventure Crew, a local nonprofit that connects city teens with nature and each other via outdoor adventures.

Details: 7-9:30 a.m. Sunday, Serpentine Wall, 613 Front St., Downtown. $45. greatohioriverswim.com.

The Cincinnati Disco Beer Run takes place Saturday at Hofbrauhaus in Newport.
The Cincinnati Disco Beer Run takes place Saturday at Hofbrauhaus in Newport.

5. Cincinnati Beer Run Disco

This 2.5-mile course offers specialty craft beer samples every half-mile and a 16-ounce beer upon completion. Post-race festivities include music, food and drinks. Participants receive themed beer glass and shirt.

Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Hofbrauhaus, 200 Third St., Newport. $35. active.com.

6. Final Friday

  • Art After Dark: R.I.P. Pablo: Commemorate the 50th anniversary of Picasso's death with free admission to Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds. Enjoy music from DJ Diamond. Cash bar and food for purchase. Reserve a timed ticket at the door.

  • Final Friday: Over 250 artists open studios to the public to view and purchase works.

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

7. Wish You Were Here

This juried photography exhibition features local artists' most loved vacation photograph and the story behind why it is important to them.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road. Runs Aug. 26-Oct. 28. Free. kennedyarts.org.

Springboro's ArtFest on Main is a juried art fair of more than 100 artists. It takes place Saturday.
Springboro's ArtFest on Main is a juried art fair of more than 100 artists. It takes place Saturday.

8. Artfest on Main

This juried fine arts festival features over 100 artists, kids' activities, live entertainment, craft beer and craft cocktails and more.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, S. Main St., Springboro. Free admission. artfestonmain.com.

9. Greater Cincinnati House & Outdoor Living Show

Chat with experts, see innovative displays and trends in design and products for kitchen, bath, roofing, home security, insulation, windows, exterior products and more.

Details: noon-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road. $5, free ages under 18. homeshowcenter.com.

"Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash" opens this weekend at Playhouse in the Park. The hit musical follows Cash’s early life, his career beginnings and his marriage to the love of his life, June Carter. Runs Aug. 26-Oct. 1.
"Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash" opens this weekend at Playhouse in the Park. The hit musical follows Cash’s early life, his career beginnings and his marriage to the love of his life, June Carter. Runs Aug. 26-Oct. 1.

10. 'Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash'

This hit musical follows Cash’s early life, his career beginnings and his marriage to the love of his life, June Carter.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Playhouse in the Park, Rouse Theatre, 962 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Runs Aug. 26-Oct. 1. Cincyplay.com.

11. 'Souvenir'

A tuneless, wealthy and eccentric socialite believes she is a great coloratura soprano, much to the merriment of those who attend her annual recitals. Her story is told through the eyes of her accompanist.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Lebanon Theatre Co., 10 S. Mechanic St. Runs Aug. 25-Sept. 3. Ltcplays.com.

12. Hops in the Hangar

This event is a fundraiser for Downtown Middletown Inc., a Heritage Ohio Main Street organization. Your ticket includes a souvenir tasting glass and 15 sampling tickets for more than 30 breweries and 90 craft beers. There are also food trucks, an air show, skydivers, hot air balloon rides and more. Ages 21-up.

Details: 5 p.m. Saturday, Middletown Regional Airport/Hook Field, 1707 Run Way, Middletown. $80 VIP, $65 general. hopsinthehangar.com.

Vintage cars and airplanes are on show Saturday at the Tri-State Warbird Museum.
Vintage cars and airplanes are on show Saturday at the Tri-State Warbird Museum.

13. Wings & Wheels

Check out classic cars and vintage aircraft, enjoy food, vendors, an aerial demo and more.

Details: noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Tri-State Warbird Museum, 4021 Borman Drive, Batavia. $25 vehicle registration, $7 admission. tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org.

The Sixth Annual Cincinnati Festival of Faiths takes place Sunday at Cintas Center.
The Sixth Annual Cincinnati Festival of Faiths takes place Sunday at Cintas Center.

14. Festival of Faiths

Celebrate community’s religious diversity. Includes cultural foods and merchandise, music, entertainment, games for all ages, 30 faith traditions and 13 world religions.

Details: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Cintas Center at Xavier University, 1624 Musketeer Drive, Evanston. Free admission. Equasion.org.

15. Shopping

  • First of Fall Fest: 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Boone County Fairground, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. This craft fair features more than 110 booths. Food truck, pet-friendly. $5 parking, free admission. Firstoffallfestival.com.

  • Mainstrasse Village Flea: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, George Steinford Park, Sixth St. Promenade, Covington. Free admission. Creativehousead.com.

  • Artisan Market: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Northern Row Brewery, 111 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine. Free admission. facebook.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 15 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Aug. 25-27