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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!

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⭐ 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. &