Every month Tour de Cincinnati creates a shortlist of notable events around Greater Cincinnati—large festivals, food weeks, entertainment, and ongoing series—to make sure you mark down these dates to keep in mind as you make plans in the coming weeks.
FOR MORE DETAILED WEEKEND RUNDOWN POSTS, CLICK HERE!
Here are several important dates for local events in September to get in your calendars now:
September 1–30
CancerFree KIDS 100 Mile Challenge
30-day fitness and fundraising challenge in the month of September to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Conquer the Challenge by completing 100 miles in September and raising $100 for CancerFree KIDS to fund life-saving childhood cancer research.
Register here
through September 13
HOMEARAMA
The Estates at Bothe Farms
The region’s top builders, designers, and craftsmen to create a one-of-a-kind showcase of dream homes.
September 5
Opening Day: Ohio Renaissance Festival
Renaissance Park
Lively shows, food and drink, and unique shops that transport you back in time to the days of knights and queens. Through November 1.
Weekends and Labor Day
Fall in Cincinnati 2026
Opening Night: Ensemble Theatre 2026–27 Season
Ensemble Theatre
September 5–27: Corner of the Sky: The Songs of Stephen Schwartz
September 6
32nd Annual Rubber Fuck Regatta
Ohio River
Buy a duck, feed a child. Every $5 duck you buy provides up to 30 meals for a child facing hunger in our area.
WEBN Fireworks and Riverfest
Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, 12p
Riverfest starts at noon, with local food vendors, live music, and fun activities for the whole family followed by the midwest’s largest fireworks display with music from WEBN (102.7) to accompany the fireworks show starting at 9:05p.
Free admission
September 7
Labor Day Picnic
Stricker’s Grove, 12–8p (rides close from 4 to 5 for dinner)
Stricker’s Grove is only open to the public four days a year. Food and alcohol available for purchase on-site. You can also bring your own food.
$22 admission (kids under 2 free) includes all rides all day, 18-hole mini golf, unlimited soft drinks
September 10
Opening Night: Know Theatre Season 29 (2026–27)
Know Theatre
September 10–26: Make Believe
September 10–13
166th Harvest Home Fair
Harvest Home Park (Cheviot)
“The Biggest Little Fair in Ohio” features the Harvest Home Parade on Thursday at 6p, rides and attractions, live music, cornhole tournament, art show, flower show, general exhibits, and so much more.
Thursday admission is free; Friday–Sunday adults are $5 and first responders, veterans, and children 12 and under free
September 11
Longworth-Anderson Series: Helado Negro
Memorial Hall, 8p
The LAS is a contemporary, multi-genre music series featuring Grammy Award-winning performers and bands, as well as a pre-concert reception with live local music, light bites, and beer & wine tastings from popular regional restaurants, craft beer brewers, and wine distributors.
Opening Night: The Dent Schoolhouse (Dent)
Weekends and all Thursdays in October; ghost tours Wednesdays in October
General admission starting at $22.99 (group pricing available), with options for fast pass and front of the line options also available (view ticketing options here). Through November 7.
Family friendly Lights On Tour is on Sunday, October 25, 4–6p
Lights Out Tour is Saturday, November 7 and 13, 7:30p–midnight
September 11, 18, 25
Glimpse at Elm Street Plaza
Elm Street Plaza, 6–8p
Get excited for BLINK! Control and become part of the art with a celebration of light, music, and public interactive art. Each night they’ll be creating a fully interactive projection mapping display on the fly incorporating live video, sound activation, laser light shows, and music.
Free admission
September 11–13
Art & Wine Festival
Vinoklet Winery
Live music, art vendors, food and wine.
Free admission and free parking at winery (while available). Parking and shuttles will also be available at Germania Society (Sat only).
September 11–26
Network
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Click here for more stage productions
September 12
Fall Native Plant Festival
Civic Garden Center, 9a–3p
A day of free educational sessions, live music, food and drinks, kids’ activities, and native plants from local growers (including CGC).
September 13
Bengals Season Opener
Week One: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Paycor Stadium, 1p
Open in Orange
Watch: FOX; Listen 700 WLW, ESPN 1530, 102.7 WEBN
September 15
Opening Night: Broadway in Cincinnati 2026–27 Season
Aronoff Center
September 15–27: The Great Gatsby
September 16–20
Cindependent Film Festival
Memorial Hall
Cincinnati’s home for independent filmmaking—a celebration of fearless storytelling, where indie films break boundaries and ignite creativity.
3-day VIP, 1-day VIP, and GA admission
September 17–20
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati 50th Anniversary
Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove
The nation’s largest Oktoberfest celebration returns to downtown, complete with the world’s largest chicken dance, Running of the Wieners, food, beer, live music and entertainment, and so much more.
Free admission
Family Friendly Guide to America’s Largest Oktoberfest
September 18
Cincy Block Party
2410 Gilbert Avenue, 6:30–11p
Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s annual block party, complete with returning host and mixologist Molly Wellman, Catalina Wine Mixer Band, and more.
Free admission
Opening Night: Cincinnati Ballet 2026–27 Season
September 18–27: The Kaplan New Works Series
Free and Low-Cost Events
Sensory Friendly Performances
September 18–20, 25–27, October 2–4
Luxe Living Home Tour
NKY
Explore eight luxury homes and along the way enter to win over $2,500 worth of luxury prizes. Preview party at Ovation Plaza on September 16.
September 19
Opening Day: Fall on the Farm
Blooms & Berries
Open daily from 9a–7p
Admission includes hayrides, Pumpkin Bounce Pad, corn maze, mini corn maze, low ropes course, play area, Barnyard 500 Trike Track, farm animals, Spookley, coffee trailer with coffee and espresso drinks, and more! The train ride requires an additional ticket. The Beer Garden is open on the weekends. Through November 1.
Online ticket purchase is required to attend Fall on the Farm. Click here for more information.
Leashed pets are allowed
More Fall Fun in Cincinnati
September 21–27
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
Nearly 60 participating restaurants
A unique celebration of culinary tourism featuring three-course meals around Greater Cincinnati for $26, $36, and $46. Benefiting Cincinnati Children’s.
September 24
10th Annual Brews for Brains
Braxton Covington, 6:30–9p
An evening of craft beer, food, music, and rooftop views in support of the Giving Voice Foundation, which provides free programs that bring connection, education, and support to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Tickets
September 24–27
Talk Low Music Festival 2026
Multiple Venues
Five days of experimental music from around the world to various venues across Downtown, Over-The-Rhine and Northside neighborhoods.
September 25
Halloween Haunt Opening Night
Kings Island (select nights through October 31)
Fully transformed park featuring scare mazes, scare zones, sinister live entertainment, and hundreds of horrifying creatures lurking in the fog, plus some of the most exhilarating night rides in the country. Additional attractions available for purchase. Intended for mature audiences and not recommended for ages under 13.
Check out the Fall in Cincinnati 2026 post for all things scares, tricks, and treats
September 26
Fairy Tale Festival
Glenwood Gardens, 9a–3p
Weekend filled with wonder and excitement designed especially for children, featuring fairy tale characters, real-life fairy, face painting, hair braiding, vendor booths, and food truck fare.
Tickets here
Mt. Airy TrailFest
Mt. Airy Forest (Oak Ridge Lodge), 12–4p
Free community festival celebrating the outdoors in Cincinnati, featuring live music, guided trail activities, local vendors and nonprofits, entertainment for children, and local food trucks and beer.
Free admission
September 27
Tricks and Treats Opening Day
Kings Island, 10a
Vibrant family-friendly event with fall festivities for all ages, including activities, trick-or-treating, live shows, rides, costume contests, and seasonal food and drinks. Open select days through November 1.
Included in daily admission
Looking for more detailed Weekend Rundown posts? Click here!
Header image: landscape image of rows of vines at Vinoklet Winery, which hosts the Art & Wine Festival September 5–7.
