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 July to get in your calendars now:
JULY 1–31
Disability Pride Month
Click here for a post about some great accessible activities and places around Cincinnati.
July 1–31
Read Around the Block
College Hill
Join the College Hill Forum for a month-long event celebrating reading. Visit Little Free Libraries, CHPL – College Hill Branch, and local bookstores to get stamps on your passport. There will be books, prizes, and events. Follow along with College Hill Forum and check back to the Weekend Rundown for events throughout the month.
through July 27
Cincinnati Opera 2025 Summer Festival
Music Hall
MainStage season enhanced by an expanded selection of Studio Sessions.
June 12 and 14: Rigoletto
June 17: Studio Sessions: Soul and Sound
June 26 and 28: Tosca
July 10: Studio Sessions with Anthony Clark Evans in Recital
July 17: Studio Sessions: From Avenue A to Broadway
July 23, 25, 26, 27: Fiddler on the Roof
July 3–5
Northside Rock N Roll Carnival
Hoffner Park
Three days of music, food and drink, craft vendors, and more, as well as the Fourth of July Parade at 12p on 7/4.
July 3–6
Queen City Rock Fest
Element Eatery
Performances by over a dozen School of Rock house bands. Hosted by School of Rock Cincinnati and NKY.
July 7–13
Cincinnati Burger Week
$7 and $8 burgers at restaurants around Greater Cincinnati.
July 11–12
Punkzilla Fest
Bellevue Pavilion
Punk rock festival featuring local and non-local punk bands. Two-day event with punk/punk adjacent music with vendors and food trucks.
July 11, 18
Brady Block Parties
July 11: Dunham Rec Center, 6:30p (concert at 7:45)
July 18: North Avondale Rec, 6:30p (concert at 7:45)
Music, art activations, activities for all ages, giveaways, and a variety of FREE food options from neighborhood vendors and food trucks, plus a popcorn and cotton candy machine. Featuring a CSO concert.
Free admission
July 13
Cincinnati Open Fan Fest
Washington Park, 9a–1p
Kick off a summer of tennis in Cincy with Fan Fest before the Cincinnati Open August 5–18. There will be the Wimbledon’s men’s championship on the big screen, local food trucks, entertainment, photo ops, and more.
Free admission
July 14–16
Black Tech Week
Aronoff Center
Bringing together founders, investors, and tech professionals for three days of networking, innovation, and thought leadership. Featuring keynote speaker Keke Palmer, who will share her journey from Hollywood stardom to building her own media empire.
July 18–19
Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo
Winton Woods Harbor
Now two days (9:30a–3p Friday and 10a–4p Saturday), there is something for guests of all ages to enjoy—from ziplining, archery, climbing, and disc golf to biking, boating, and fishing. There will be activities and programs, food trucks, live music, and more.
Free admission (with Motor Vehicle Permit)
July 18–19
The Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon & Skydiving Festival
Middletown
Up close with hot air balloons, Night Balloon Glow, car show, drone show, firework show, tethered balloon rides, plane rides, carnival rides.
$10 admission (ages 12 and under free)
July 19
AfriFest Cincy: Taste of Africa
Sawyer Point, 12–9p
Family-friendly festival featuring lively music, mcuisine, art, and captivating performances that showcase the vibrant heritage of the African Diaspora.
Free admission
July 19–August 3
Grand Carnivale
Kings Island
International festival and cultural event complete with live music, cultural crafts, lively activities, authentic cuisine, and more. Daily Spectacle of Color parade concludes with an end-of-night finale filled with fireworks, lasers, lights, and drones.
July 24–26
Cincinnati Music Festival
Thursday: a celebration of hip hop at Brady Music Center
Friday: Paycor Stadium, headlined by Earth, Wind, and Fire
Saturday: Paycor Stadium, headlined by, LL Cool J with special guest Toni Braxton, plus annual Black Music Walk of Fame induction ceremony at noon
July 24–27, July 31–August 3
Goettafest
Newport’s Festival Park at the Levee
A celebration of all things goetta featuring two weekends of Glier’s Goetta-inspired dishes, live music, and family fun.
Free admission
July 25
Access Night at the Opera: Fiddler on the Roof
Music Hall, 7:30p
Focus on accessibility, ensuring that audiences with diverse accessibility needs can have a fantastic night at the opera through the use of assistive technologies, including large print programs, braille programs, projected English translations, audio description, ASL, and so much more.
July 25–26
Spark in the Dark
Miami Whitewater Forest, 8–11p
Illuminate the night this summer with glow boat rentals, night hikes, and refreshments available for purchase.
July 30–August 24
Summermusik Festival
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
Three different concert experiences designed to provide something unique for everyone’s musical tastes. Concerts at multiple venues. Click the link above for schedule and details.
July 31
National Chili Dog Day
Have any questions or want specific recommendations about things to do? Just ask!
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