Things to Do in Cincinnati This Week – May 18–24, 2026
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Another week, another reason to be genuinely glad you live here. This week in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is stacked, and I mean that in the best possible way. Whether you’re looking for live music, world-class choral performances, a farm festival just across the river, or an excuse to eat your way through downtown, there is something happening every single day this week.
But honestly? What has me most excited about this particular week is how much is going on in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. As someone who is half asian (Filipino and Chinese), this month always feels personal to me, and seeing Cincinnati show up for it in such a real way, from community happy hours to game nights to a whole pregame block party before the FCC match, makes me genuinely proud to call this place home.
Oh, and Taste of Cincinnati starts Friday. Four days this year. I’ve already mapped out my strategy and I have zero regrets about it.
Here’s everything on our radar for May 18–24!
⭐ The One We’re Most Excited About
Taste of Cincinnati – May 22–25
Okay, if you’re not already planning your Taste of Cincinnati strategy, stop what you’re doing. The nation’s longest-running culinary arts festival is back on Fifth Street downtown — and this year it’s expanding to FOUR days for the first time ever. We’re talking 65+ vendors, 300+ menu items spanning everything from goetta to Greek to Hawaiian, three stages of live music, and the kind of electric downtown energy that only shows up a few times a year. Opening night is Thursday May 22 starting at 4pm, with full days Friday through Sunday. Admission is free — you just pay for the food (and you will want to pay for a lot of food).
📍 Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati (Main St. to Sentinel St.)
🕐 Thu 4–10pm · Fri–Sat 11am–11pm · Mon 11am–8pm
💰 Free admission; food and drinks individually priced
🔗 More info: https://tasteofcincinnati.com/
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Monday, May 18
An Evening with David Sedaris 📍 Aronoff Center for the Arts, Downtown Cincinnati 🕐 7:30 PM 💰 Tickets required If you’ve never seen David Sedaris live, this is your sign — the man is even funnier in person than on the page. One of America’s sharpest and most beloved humorists, Sedaris brings his deadpan, deeply personal storytelling to the Aronoff stage for one night only. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2179700469205683/
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 19
AAPI Game Night 📍 Tabletop Cincy, 4876 Union Centre Pavilion, Beckett Ridge 🕐 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 💰 Free (check event page to confirm) Tabletop Cincy and the Filipino American Association of Southern Ohio are teaming up for a game night featuring AAPI-themed and Asia-imported board games — a really fun way to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month while actually doing something. Open to all skill levels. 🔗 More info: https://www.aapiheritagecincy.com/events/game-night-2026
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 20
Petals in the Park Workshop 📍 (check bloomsbylo.com for exact location) 💰 Paid — see event page for pricing A floral workshop from Blooms by Lo held in a park setting — perfect if you’ve been looking for a creative, outdoorsy excuse to slow down midweek. Spots are limited so register ahead. 🔗 More info: https://bloomsbylo.com/collections/petalsinthepark
Wok Star Happy Hour: AAPI Young Professionals 📍 Braxton Brewing Co. taproom, 1910 Elm Street, Cincinnati (OTR) 🕐 (check event page for time) 💰 Free entry; drink specials including $1 off the Wokstar Asianati is throwing a happy hour in the Braxton taproom with DJ JIBBS spinning, food from Oriental Wok, and drink specials — a solid Wednesday night out that also happens to be a great way to connect with Cincinnati’s AAPI community during Heritage Month. 🔗 More info: https://www.aapiheritagecincy.com/events/wok-star-happy-hour-2026
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Thursday, May 21
Rockin’ the Roebling — Season Opener 📍 Schmidlapp Event Lawn, Smale Riverfront Park, Downtown Cincinnati 🕐 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM 💰 Free The beloved free outdoor concert series is back for another summer — and this is the first one of 2026. Grab your blanket or lawn chair, find a spot with a river view, and let the week melt away. A Cincinnati summer tradition that never gets old. 🔗 More info: https://365cincinnati.com/free-summer-concerts-cincinnati/
Salsa on the Square 📍 Fountain Square, Downtown Cincinnati 🕐 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM 💰 Free Live Latin bands, salsa and merengue dancing, and free dance lessons from local instructors — every Thursday through October. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just want to watch and sip something cold, Fountain Square delivers. 🔗 More info: https://www.visitcincy.com/events/
May Festival: “On Love and Lust” 📍 Music Hall, OTR 🕐 7:30 PM 💰 Tickets required Raw, rhythmic, and honestly not what you’d expect from a choral festival — this one features Cincinnati Ballet 2 dancers alongside the May Festival Chorus in a concert built around Stravinsky and Orff that explores ritual, desire, and movement. It sounds like a singular experience. 🔗 More info: https://mayfestival.com/2026
Wok Star Happy Hour: AAPI Young Professionals
📍 Braxton Brewing Co. taproom, 1910 Elm Street, Cincinnati (OTR) 🕐 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 💰 Free entry; $1 off the Wokstar + food from Oriental Wok Asianati is throwing a happy hour in the Braxton taproom with DJ JIBBS spinning and food from Oriental Wok. A great Wednesday night out that doubles as a genuinely fun way to connect with Cincinnati’s AAPI community during Heritage Month. 🔗 More info: https://www.aapiheritagecincy.com/events/wok-star-happy-hour-2026
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Friday, May 22
Taste of Cincinnati — Opening Night 📍 Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati (Main St. to Sentinel St.) 🕐 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM 💰 Free admission; food and drinks individually priced The nation’s longest-running culinary arts festival is back — and this year it’s going FOUR days for the first time. Opening night kicks off Thursday evening with 65+ vendors, 300+ menu items, three stages of live music, and the kind of crowd energy that makes you remember why you love this city. Go hungry. 🔗 More info: https://tasteofcincinnati.com/
Wine Tasting at Liquor City Turfway 📍 Liquor City Turfway, Florence, KY 🕐 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM 💰 (check event page for pricing) A laid-back wine tasting right here in Florence — a nice pre-weekend option if you want something low-key before the Taste of Cincinnati chaos kicks in. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1579656896666900/
LEGO Jurassic World: The Exhibition — Opens Today 📍 Cincinnati Museum Center, Queensgate 🕐 Check CMC website for hours 💰 Tickets required More than 50 massive dinosaurs built from over 6 million LEGO bricks — this new exhibit opens its doors today and runs through the summer. If you’ve got dino fans in your life (or you just ARE a dino fan), be one of the first to see it. 🔗 More info: https://www.visitcincy.com/event/lego-jurassic-world-the-exhibition/
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Saturday, May 23
FC Cincinnati AAPI PreMatch at Washington Park 📍 Washington Park, OTR 🕐 Before kickoff (7:30 PM game) 💰 Free You don’t need a match ticket to enjoy this — the pregame party at Washington Park is open to everyone. Live music, food trucks, vendors, inflatable soccer and the FCC slide. Kids and dogs welcome. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1634826891199488/
FC Cincinnati vs. Orlando City SC — AAPI Night 📍 TQL Stadium, Cincinnati 🕐 7:30 PM 💰 Tickets required FCC hosts Orlando City in what should be a great match — and this one comes with a whole pregame party. AAPI PreMatch at Washington Park starts before kickoff with live music, food trucks, vendors, inflatable games, and the FCC slide. A packed Saturday night with something for everyone. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1634826891199488/
ArtisanFest 513 📍 Washington Park, OTR 🕐 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM 💰 Free to attend A local artisan market at one of Cincinnati’s best outdoor spaces — expect handmade goods, local makers, and good vibes. A great morning stop before the city gets busy with Taste of Cincinnati and the FCC match later in the day. 🔗 More info: https://www.artisanfest513.org/upcoming-vendor-events
Taste of Cincinnati — Day 2 📍 Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati 🕐 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM 💰 Free admission The full-day Taste experience — this is the prime day to go if you want to hit all the stages and work your way through as many vendors as possible. Get there early for shorter lines, or come late for the concert energy. 🔗 More info: https://tasteofcincinnati.com/
May Festival: Porgy and Bess Finale 📍 Music Hall, OTR 🕐 7:30 PM 💰 Tickets required Festival Director Julia Bullock takes the stage herself as Bess in this deeply personal closing concert — pairing Gershwin’s iconic opera with works by William Grant Still and Leonard Bernstein. The evening closes with the traditional audience singalong of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” A once-in-a-while kind of night. 🔗 More info: https://mayfestival.com/2026
North by Northside (NXNS) — Day 1 📍 Northside neighborhood, Cincinnati (12 venues including Hoffner Park) 🕐 All day 💰 Free A walkable, neighborhood-wide music festival across 12 Northside venues — local and regional bands, community energy, and zero cost to attend. One of Cincinnati’s best-kept festival secrets. Check NorthsideRocks.com for the full lineup. 🔗 More info: https://northsiderocks.com/
Kentucky Strawberry Festival at Stepping Stone Farm 📍 Stepping Stone Farm, Kentucky 🕐 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM 💰 (check event page for details) Fresh strawberries, farm vibes, and a festival atmosphere just across the river — this one is a perfect NKY day trip pick for the weekend. A rare chance to celebrate what’s actually in season right now. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1576217663648023/
Things to Do in Cincinnati on Sunday, May 24
Kentucky Strawberry Festival at Stepping Stone Farm — Day 2 📍 Stepping Stone Farm, Kentucky 🕐 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM 💰 (check event page for details) One more day to get out to the farm for fresh strawberries and all the festival fun. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1576217663648023/
Dungeons & Dragons Sundays 📍 Urban Artifact, Cincinnati 🕐 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 💰 (check event page) Complete beginners welcome — this is a regular open D&D session at one of Cincinnati’s most character-filled craft breweries. Show up, grab a beer, and let someone else build the world for a few hours. 🔗 More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/790007226737948/
Taste of Cincinnati — Day 3 📍 Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati 🕐 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM 💰 Free admission The full-day Taste experience — this is the prime day to go if you want to hit all the stages and work your way through as many vendors as possible. Get there early for shorter lines, or come late for the concert energy. 🔗 More info: https://tasteofcincinnati.com/
🔄 Recurring & Ongoing
Things running all week, all month, or every weekend. Updated as things change.
Cincy Top 10 Sites & Bites City Tour · Daily, 10am · From $69/person Cincinnati’s top-rated food tour covers four neighborhoods, a streetcar ride, and tastings that hit all the classics, Belgian waffles, Cincinnati chili, goetta, Graeter’s ice cream, and more. A great way to see the city if you’re visiting for the first time (or want to play tourist for a day). Meets at Taste of Belgium at The Banks.
Covington Farmers Market · Every Saturday · 9am–1pm · Free Fresh local produce, vendors, and community vibes every Saturday morning through October. 📍 629 Washington St, Covington, KY
FSQ Eats – Fountain Square · Mon & Wed–Fri · 11am–1pm · Free to attend Local food trucks on the plaza in the heart of downtown. Check Street Food Finder for the daily lineup.
Live Music at Magnolia Rose · Every Friday · 6–8pm · Free Live music every Friday evening at this charming Hyde Park flower shop and garden boutique, a low-key, lovely way to end the week. 📍 4024 Plainville Rd, Cincinnati
Newport Farmers Market · Every Saturday · 9am–12pm · Free Locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, honey, eggs, flowers, and more, all KY Proud vendors. Selection changes with the season so there’s always something new to discover. 709 Monmouth St, Newport, KY
Pickleball Tuesdays · Every Tuesday · 6–8pm · Free Outdoor pickleball at Austinburg Neighborhood Park in Covington, all skill levels welcome, no registration required. Just show up with your paddle (or borrow one) and play.
Starlite Drive-In · Every Fri & Sat · Box office opens 7pm · From $6 Double features every weekend at Amelia’s beloved drive-in. Check the site for the weekly movie lineup.
Jazz at the Square – Fountain Square · Every Tuesday · 5–8pm · Free Live jazz from local acts every Tuesday night: May lineup includes the Evan Gidley Trio, Brooks Giles Quartet, Organized Gentlemen, and Marc Fields Sextet.
That’s everything on our radar for the week of May 18–24! Whether you’re crossing the river for strawberries at Stepping Stone Farm, dancing at Fountain Square, eating your way down Fifth Street, or celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Cincinnati’s incredible community events, there is no shortage of reasons to get out and explore this week. Drop a comment below and let us know what you’re checking out, we love hearing from you!
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Brie Allbritten is a big foodie and reluctant extrovert exploring Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky one meal, event, and hidden gem at a time, usually with her partner in tow. She writes about all of it at Cincy + NKY Wanderlust.
