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.
Categories listed below include:
- Weekend Rundown
- Sporting Events
- New To Do
- Tickets and Registration
- Local news Roundup
You can also 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.]
November–January
Cheers to Saving Lives
A Hoxworth Blood Center initiative featuring blood drives at 20 area breweries and bars throughout the holiday season. Donors can save lives while earning a t-shirt, brewery discounts, and gift cards for their next visit. The first blood drive will be on November 2 with more dates running through November, December, and January.
Click here for the complete schedule and for more about the gift from each.
December 1–February 1
Holiday Lights Recycling
Great Parks
Keep holiday lights out of landfills and give them a new life. In partnership with Cohen Recycling.
Look for marked bins at six locations: Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Glenwood Gardens, Miami Whitewater Forest, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods, and Woodland Mound.
January
Honor the everyday heroes who donate blood and to inspire more people to join this lifesaving cause. As the sole provider of blood products to 30+ hospitals across Greater Cincinnati, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is calling on the community to make a New Year’s resolution that saves lives: donating blood twice a year.
To show their gratitude, all blood and platelet donors who give in January, at any of Hoxworth’s seven Neighborhood Donor Centers as well as select mobile blood drives, will receive a pair of exclusive Hoxworth sweat pant joggers.
January 6–February 26
Winter Discount Days
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Discounted admission courtesy of US Bank, with tickets for as little as $9 for adults and $6 for children on select days. Learn more about the winter-hardy animals at the Zoo and the natural adaptations that prepare them for the cold.
Read more: Winter in Cincinnati
through January 19
Discovering Ansel Adams
Cincinnati Art Museum
Exhibition ticket required. Free for members.
January 7–19
Les Misérables
Aronoff Center
The world’s most popular musical.
Dates to Know in Cincinnati: January
Friday
Opening Day: Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
A mother’s bravery. Her son’s legacy. “Let the world see what they did to my boy.” The heart-wrenching words spoken by Mamie Till-Mobley as she insisted upon an open casket for her 14-year-old son who was brutally murdered for whistling at a white woman in Money, Mississippi, in 1955, catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement in America. Through April 6, 2025.
Included in museum admission. Free for members and on Fifth Third Community Days.
January Pint Nights: Sonder Brewing
Jungle Jim’s Eastgate, 5–9p
After Glow: Adults-Only Festival of Lights Encore
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 5–10p
Experience the Festival of Lights in a relaxed, child-free atmosphere.
Included in Zoo admission; $18 for nonmembers and $10 for students
Saturday
Winter Bird Walk
Cincinnati Nature Center (Visitor Center), 9–10:30p
Casual walk to sharpen existing birding skills as the leaves are off the trees and birds are easier to spot. Beginners welcome. Binoculars encouraged.
Pre-registration required. Member adult free; nonmember adult $12 (includes daily admission)
Winter Hike Series: Winton Woods
Great Parks, 10a
Annual series of challenging and educational hikes, ranging from four to 5.5 miles, with informative stops to explore the parks’ natural history and unique features. All hikes last about two hours and conclude with soup, cookies and camaraderie. Additional dates: January 18, 25 and February 1, 8.
$10 registration (ages 5+)
Winter Hiking Challenge
French Park, 10a
With Adventure Crew. Inspired by the Scandinavian tradition of Friluftsliv (“open-air living”), the Winter Hiking Challenge invites you to explore the outdoors, stay active, and connect with a community of nature lovers. Remaining date: January 18
Free; register here
World Oddities Expo
Sharonville Convention Center, 11a–7p
World Oddities Expo’s first Cincinnati event; a traveling oddities expo complete with artists, vendors, performers, educators, and guest speakers.
Grand Opening
West Sixth Covington Haus, 12p
The first 100 guests through the door will get an exclusive Covington Haus ceramic stein. There will also be to-go deals and Covington Haus merch.
Telescope Recycle & Repair Fair
Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, 2–4p
Dean Regas, astronomy expert, will offer advice, minor repairs, and accept donations.
Reservation required
Check out the Tour de Cincinnati Shop Local Guide
Saturday and Sunday
Chili Fest Weekend
Findlay Market
Chili Fest tasting event, chili cook-off and Red Hot Rumble hot sauce competition between vendors.
Sunday
Backpacking Skills Series: Trip Planning & Gear
Winton Centre Auditorium at Winton Woods, 10a–12p
certified instructors will prepare you for what to expect when backpacking. Participants will walk away with new knowledge, outdoor professional tips and brand-new personal gear.
Full series available for purchase, including all five classes and a Great Parks beanie; register here
Weekly Sunday Drag Brunch
Bloom OTR, 11a–2p
Hosted by Jessica Dimon and music with DJ Charlee. Seating at 11, show at 11:30. Parties of more than four must book tickets together. Every Sunday.
18+; tickets here
Out in the Outdoors: Winter Walk & Reflection
Woodland Mount | Seasongood Nature Center, 1p
Take a hike and embrace the cold while walking the trails, reflecting on the past year, and preparing for the upcoming one.
Free
Pint Night Benefiting SAAP
MPH Brewing, 4–9p
$2 for every “SAAP beer sold and $1 for every other beer sold from 4 to 9 will be donated back to the rescue.
Meet the Bockfest Sausage Queens
Moerlein Lager House, 6p
Enjoy a royal family reunion with a beer, sausage, and chat with Sausage Queens and Princesses from past and present.
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
Free
Sports
Cincinnati Bearcats MBB vs. Kansas
Fifth Third Arena
Saturday at 2p
Wear White
Watch: ESPN+; Listen 700 WLW
Cincinnati Bearcats WBB @ UCF
Saturday at 2p
Watch: ESPN+; Listen: FOX 1360
Xavier Musketeers WBB vs. St. John’s
Cintas Center
Saturday at 2p
Xavier Musketeers MBB @ DePaul
Saturday at 4p
Watch: FS1; Listen: 55 KRC
Events are subject to change or cancellation. Please click on the link for more information.
New To Do
Mercantile Library
414 Walnut Street
Reopened in the historic Mercantile Building after a $5.3 million renovation.
Breadsmith Bellevue
315 Fairfield Avenue
Artisan scratch breads.
Braxton Union
8901 US 42 Hwy
Taproom and green space featuring food by Dewey’s Pizza and Graeter’s Ice Cream.
Mellotone Beer Project
1429 Race Street
Taproom and kitchen in the former Taft’s Ale House space, serving scratch-made modern American dishes.
Alien Records OTR
1207 Vine Street
Buy/sell; specializing in vinyl LPs
Well Made Vintage
341 W Fourth Street
ArtWorks’ Hannan ArtPark
2429 Gilbert Avenue (Walnut Hills)
ArtWorks’ new gathering space.
Italianette Maineville
15 E Foster Maineville Road
Locations in Silverton, College Hill, and now Maineville.
Generations Vintage
4019 Hamilton Avenue
Catch-A-Fire Pizza College Hill
5920 Hamilton Avenue
Catch-A-Fire’s fourth location. Others include Blue Ash, Lebanon, and Westwood.
Carmelo’s
434 Madison Avenue (Covington)
Quintessential Italian American dishes
Biscuit Love
1602 Pleasant Street (OTR), open daily 7a–3p
Breakfast and lunch favorites with a twist centered around its biscuits
HighGrain Lunch Combo
Both locations (Silverton and Brentwood), 11a–2p, Monday through Friday
Get a sandwich or wrap, side, and non-alcoholic drink for $12.
ArtsWave App
One stop location for Cincinnati arts, entertainment, sports, and more.
Tickets and Registration for Future Events
Winter Hiking Challenge
January 18, 10a (various locations)
With Adventure Crew. Inspired by the Scandinavian tradition of Friluftsliv (“open-air living”), the Winter Hiking Challenge invites you to explore the outdoors, stay active, and connect with a community of nature lovers.
Free; register here
2025 Chili Cook-Off Participant Registration
Findlay Market, January 11
During Chili Fest weekend, the Chili Cook-Off is open to the public to 20 participants. Must use a minimum of three ingredients sourced from Findlay Market.
Registration is $10; apply here
Cincy Winter Beerfest
Cintas Center, February 1, 12p and 6:30p
Sample hundreds of local and regional craft beers, as well as craft wineries and distilleries.
Tickets
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Mainstage 2024–25 Season
Taft Theatre
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat (February 15–24)
Disney’s Frozen Jr (April 25–May 4)
Cincy Wine Fest
Freestore Foodbank, March 6–8
Sip on wine (more than 800from around the globe) and support more than 30 local nonprofits.
Tickets
22 of the Best Bakeries Across the US Right Now [nytimes.com]
2024 Year in Review: Cincinnati’s Culinary Rise Continues [citybeat.com]
Bygone Bests From the Class of 2000 [cincinnatimagazine.com]
Cincinnati Named Among the Most Arts-Vibrant Cities in the US [cincinnati.com]
Class of 2000s Most Likely to Succeed [cincinnatimagazine.com]
Esquire Names Cincinnati Spot on Best New Restaurants in America List [cincinnati.com]
Get Comfy This Winter with These 7 Library Fireplaces [chpl.org]
The Hottest New Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars of 2024 (Part One) [citybeat.com]
The Hottest New Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars of 2024 (Part Two) [citybeat.com]
Kaitlin Kirchner Gets Confidence From Her Colorful Wardrobe [cincinnatimagazine.com]
OpenTable Names Six Ohio restaurants on its Top 100 List—All From Cincinnati (Again) [cincinnati.com]
Photos: Greater Cincinnati’s Near-Record-Breaking Snow Day [citybeat.com]
Summerfair Cincinnati’s Poster Design Contest Now Open (through January 11) [citybeat.com]
