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.
Here are several important dates for local events in April to get in your calendars now:
through April 17
Fish Fry Season
Most catholic churches serve some sort of Fish Fry fare on Fridays for the Lenten season, but I want to focus on the non-traditional Fish Fry—including places that host more standard Fish Fry events as well as restaurants serving up fried fish dishes on Fridays and even throughout the Lenten season. Click here for more.
April 1–30
Zoo Blooms
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 6–8:30p
Every spring, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden becomes the Cincinnati Botanical Garden & Zoo when it transforms into a magnificent explosion of color! As one of only two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio, the Cincinnati Zoo offers one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest.
April 1–30
Hats Off to Blood Donors
Hoxworth Blood Center
All blood and platelet donors who donate at any of Hoxworth’s seven Neighborhood Donor Centers and select mobile blood drives during the month of April will receive an exclusive Cincinnati Reds hat as a thank you.
April 1–May 31
Pitching for Platelets
All platelet donors that give 3 or more times from April 1 to May 31 will win a VIP experience at a Reds game in July. Each qualifying donor will receive:
- A ticket for the donor and a guest
- Free parking provided by SP+
- A chance to throw out the first pitch
- Special recognition during the game
- A visit from the Reds mascot(s)
- And more!
In partnership with the Cincinnati Reds.
April 3, 10, 17, 24
Tunes and Blooms
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 6–8:30p
See a collection of Cincinnati’s finest and most respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens.
April 3: Moonshine Drive, Pickin’ Pear
April 10: Gina and Johnny, Linus Tate Unplugged
April 17: Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge, The Laurelys
April 24: My Brother’s Keeper, ZOO
Free admission after 5p
April 4–August 24
Cycle Thru! The Art of the Bike
Cincinnati Art Museum
Spanning the 1860s to today, over 20 bicycles from The Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio, illustrate the design innovations—both functional and aesthetic—marking the vehicle’s development.
Ticketed. Free for members.
April 4–September 1
Barbie™: A Cultural Icon
Cincinnati Museum Center
Step back into your childhood and join us on a six-decade evolution and the making of a global phenomenon.
Exhibition ticket required
April 5–27
The Sound Inside
Ensemble Theatre
April 7–13
Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
$26, $36, $46, and $56 three course prix-fixe menus.
April 8–20
& Juliet
Aronoff Center
Broadway in Cincinnati
April 11–May 4
William Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
April 19
Opening Day
Kings Island
Two new attractions at Soak City will make their debut after the water park opens in May.
April 22
Earth Day
Keep your eye out for the Weekend Rundown on tourdecincinnati.com for more information about area events around Earth Day, including the 2025 Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Celebration at Summit Park from 12 to 5p. (Want this information sent directly to your inbox every week? Simply go to tourdecincinnati.com where you will be prompted to subscribe to the Weekend Rundown newsletter.)
How Shopping Local Benefits the Environment [via @linsinnati on Instagram]
Earth Day Tips Around the House [via @yourcincyhaven on Instagram]
April 24
Silent Movies Made Musical with The Mighty Wurlitzer
Music Hall, 7p
The return of the popular silent film concert series, featuring the iconic 1924 silent film Peter Pan, accompanied by acclaimed organist Brett Valliant on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
April 24–27
Art in Bloom
Cincinnati Art Museum
Floral artists from across the globe are selected to interpret artworks with bloom-inspired designs. The 2025 event will feature floral displays throughout the museum, interactive workshops, and exclusive programming designed to captivate and inspire.
April 24–27
Vintage Market Days Dayton-Cincinnati
Greene County Fairgrounds
In collaboration with Everything But the House
April 25–May 4
Disney’s Frozen Jr
Taft Theatre
The Children’s Theatre’s final production in Taft Theatre before they move home to the newly renovated Emery Theatre.
April 26
Indie Bookstore Day
IBD is a one-day celebration of indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April.
Indie bookstores are vital hubs of creativity and community and there are many unique ways that local bookstores and booksellers contribute to their communities. So for IBD and beyond, let’s celebrate them! Several area booksellers have an event to coincide with Indie Bookstore Day, so be sure to check out the Weekend Rundown on tourdecincinnati.com for more information about area events.
Click here to see the Reel posted in honor of 2024 Indie Bookstore Day.
April 26
Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting
ArtWorks Creative Campus (2429 Gilbert Avenue), 1–4p
Purpose-built arts center bringing all of ArtWorks together under one roof, including ArtPark, mural painting studios, gallery and event space, ArtWorks Think Tank, and five art studios.
April 26–27
14th Annual Asian Food Fest
Court Street Plaza
The region’s largest celebration of Asian food and culture, complete with Asian and Asian-inspired cuisines (over 60 vendors), crafts, beer, and entertainment.
April 27
LaSoupe’s Ladles NOT Landfills
MadTree Brewing, 4–6p
Family friendly event celebrating sustainable solutions to food waste. There will be interactive stations with partners from Cincinnati Zoo, Gorman Heritage Farm, Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, Hamilton County ReSource, and Queen City Commons, as well as rescued foods chef-crafted into delicious spreads.
Have any questions or want specific recommendations about things to do? Just ask!
