Tour de Cincinnati

This Weekend in Cincinnati: November 17–19

in partnership with

and heard every Friday on the Weekend Rundown with JonJon and Friends on

Tour de Cincinnati does the research for fun things to do around the city so you don’t have to! Check out the list below for goings on ranging from markets and live music, to brewery fun and food events. Events are subject to change or cancellation. Be sure to click on their respective links for more information.

Be sure to listen to the Weekend Rundown with JonJon on Kiss107 every Friday. If you are unable to tune in on the radio, you can listen to Kiss on the iHeartRadio app or you can listen live here.

[If a link is broken, feel free to reach out for information.]

Friday

Pyramid Hill Lights Opening Day
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park (Tuesday–Thursday, 6–9p and Friday–Sunday, 6–10p)
One million lights, scenic displays, and installations by local artists, all experienced from the comfort of your car. Through December 31. 
Admission is $25 per carload ($15 per carload for members)

PNC Festival of Lights Opening Day
Cincinnati Zoo (Sunday–Thursday until 9p; Friday and Saturday until 10p; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas)
Come early for the animals; stay for the lights as the zoo is transformed into a “Wild Wonderland” for the 41st annual Festival of Lights, featuring 4 million LED lights, five Fiona Fairies in Fairyland, blacklight puppet show, the spectacular Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, and snacks at one of two S’mores-n-More stands. Through January 7.
Included with zoo admission

Click here to read more about Holiday Events in Cincinnati

ComedySportz Cincinnati Match
Madcap Education Center, 8p
Comedy as a sport! Two teams compete for your laughs and points; you decide who wins. All ages.

Friday and Saturday

Grand Opening
Third Eye Brewing Hamilton
Opening day will be November 17 with the grand opening celebration taking place on November 18. They will be serving pizza onsite.

Friday–Sunday

Holiday Shopping Expo
Lawrenceburg Event Center
Weekend of shopping from a selection of boutiques, crafters, upcycled and repurposed goods, specialty stores, local business, and more. Local group performances, wine tasting, and door prizes.

Mustardseed Market
Clermont County Fairgrounds
Greater Cincinnati’s newest upscale shopping market  featuring 100+ talented makers, vintage curators, and specialty artisans spread throughout three heated barns for a unique and festive family friendly shopping experience.

North Pole Express Opening Weekend
LM&M Railroad
Experience the wonder of the holiday season by journeying down the train tracks of Warren County, Ohio. Passengers spend time with Santa and his elves on the one hour and 15 minute festive train ride. Additional dates: November 25–26; December 1–3, 7–10, 12–23.
Coach Class seats starting at $30

Saturday

Christmas at the Junction Opening Day
EnterTrainment Junction (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Fun Christmas Displays, as well as visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Through January 2.
Admission included with Do-It-All ticket

The OFF Market Holiday Market
Summit Park, 10a–4p
Shopping, ice skating, and beer.

Holiday Market
Cincinnati Art Museum, 11a–5p
Local artists and artisans in one convenient shopping experience, as well as 10% off unique art-inspired gifts from the Gift Shop (members receive 20% off). Complimentary gift wrap is included.

Inked
Rhinegeist, 12p
Live tattoos in the taproom; unique Ink variants on tap, in bottles, and in limited edition cans; limited edition Ink merch; food from Empanadas Box.

Woman-Owned Business Crawl
OTR, 12–4p
Start with your map and wristband in the registration area, then visit woman-owned and woman-led businesses on the map, enjoying beverages and light bites along the way.
Tickets here ($20)

Light Up the Levee
Newport on the Levee, 3–7p
A full lineup of festive fun, including live music, fireworks, and a visit from Santa Claus, as well as the lighting of their 50-foot tree.

Lights Up Liberty Center 
Liberty Center, 4p
Holiday parade followed by lighting of the tree in The Park.

Saturday and Sunday

Grand Opening
Gold Star Western Hills
Enjoy a free cheese coney with any regular Pepsi purchase Saturday and Sunday (dine in, carryout, or drive thru).

Holiday Bazaar
Queen City Clay
Handmade ceramics and gifts.

Holiday Open House
Rookwood Pottery
Complimentary behind-the-scenes tours to experience the magic behind the creation of some of your favorite Rookwood pieces.

Totally Thomas Weekend
Krohn Conservatory
Their tracks will get an upgrade this weekend with many new faces from the beloved series, Thomas and Friends, as well as a Steamies and Diesels scavenger hunt, Thomas Wooden Railway play area, Motorized Toy Train Display, Character Photo Props, Thomas Trivia, and more!

Sunday

Fifth Third Community Days
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Enjoy free admission to the Freedom Center on the fifth and third Sundays of every month.

The Christmas Ranch Opening Day
Open daily November 19–December 23 (closed Thanksgiving)
Walk-through experience with lights, shops, bonfires, and train and wagon rides.
$37 per car load, $47 per oversized van (10+ visitors), no buses or RVs, free parking; save $5 when you make reservations online

Mount Adams Walking Tour
Meet at Mount Adams Bar and Grill, 1p
Guided walking tour of Cincinnati’s first suburb given by knowledgeable residents of Mount Adams. Tours every Sunday May through October.

Red Dog’s 3rd Annual Holiday Mutt Market
The Summit Hotel, 1–4p
Support 20+ local pet businesses and meet adorable dogs from Cincinnati Animal CARE. Bring supplies for the adoptable pets and place them under the Giving Tree. There will be a cash bar with hot cocoa and light bites. Event is for dogs and dog people.

Ongoing

Union Terminal Rotunda Tours
Cincinnati Museum Center
Fridays at 1:30p, 2:30p, and 3:30p
Saturdays at 11:30a, 12:30p, and 1:30p
Sundays at 12:30p, 1:30p, and 2:30p

Sports

Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Thursday Night Football
Thursday at 8:15p
Watch: ABC; Listen ESPN 1530, 102.7 WEBN, 700 WLW

Xavier Musketeers MBB @ Washington Huskies
Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Saturday at 12a
Watch: ESPN2

Xavier Musketeers WBB vs. Bowling Green Falcons
Cintas Center
Saturday at 2p
Watch: FloSports

UC Bearcats MBB vs. NKU Norse
Fifth Third Arena
Sunday at 2p
Watch: ESPN+

UC Bearcats WBB @ Toledo Rockets
Sunday at 2p
Watch: ESPN+

Events are subject to change or cancellation. Please click on the link for more information.

10 Restaurants Y’all Need to Try in Florence [cincinnati.com]

Frank Fayne’s Fatal Shot Echoed Through the Decades in OTR [cincinnatimagazine.com]

Taft’s Ale House in Over-the-Rhine to Close Permanently [citybeat.com]

These 10 Restaurants Are Doing All the Thanksgiving Cooking This Year [cincinnatimagazine.com]