Things to Do in Cincinnati This Week – May 25–31
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This might be one of the best weeks on the Cincinnati events calendar I’ve seen in a while, and I am not being dramatic about it. We’ve got the final day of Taste of Cincinnati on Memorial Day, a beautiful thread of AAPI Heritage Month events running all week long (as someone who’s half-Asian, this one hits especially close to home), multiple film screenings, Art After Dark, Summerfair, CincItalia, the Cincy Fringe Festival kicking off, Reds games with fireworks and bobbleheads, Florence Y’alls theme nights, I could keep going. This week truly has something for everyone, and if you’re not already building your calendar around it, let this be your sign. Here’s everything on our radar for May 25–31!
⭐ The One We’re Most Excited About
Crazy Rich Asians (2018) – AAPI Month Series
Look, I could have picked any number of things from this week’s incredibly stacked lineup — but honestly? There’s something so joyful about seeing Crazy Rich Asians on the big screen as part of the Esquire/Kenwood AAPI Heritage Month film series. This movie is pure fun, it’s gorgeous, it’s romantic, and it celebrates Asian culture in the most lavish way possible. As someone who’s half-Asian, AAPI Heritage Month always feels personal, and this week the city is genuinely going all-out — between the film series, the Asianati meetup, the Sisterhood event, and the Freedom Center panel on Sunday, there is so much to celebrate. Start with this one on Thursday and work your way through the week.
📍 Kenwood Theatre, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets at the box office / Kenwood Theatre website 🔗 https://www.kenwoodtheatre.com/movie/crazy-rich-asians-2018
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day)
Taste of Cincinnati – Final Day 📍 Fifth Street, Downtown Cincinnati, OH 🕐 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM 🎟️ Free admission
The nation’s longest-running culinary festival wraps up its 2026 run today, and honestly, Memorial Day is a fantastic time to go — the vibe is relaxed, the crowds are still pumped, and there are always great deals as vendors wind things down. Eat your way through Fifth Street one last time before it packs up for another year. 🔗 https://tasteofcincinnati.com/
Ghost in the Shell (1995) – AAPI Month Series 📍 Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 7:30 PM 🎟️ Tickets at Esquire Theatre box office
Kick off the Esquire’s AAPI Heritage Month film series with this stunning 1995 anime classic — a cyborg policewoman tracking a powerful hacker called the Puppet Master in a future Tokyo. Showing in dubbed English. A perfect date night for anyone who’s ever wanted to see a certified cinema classic on the big screen. 🔗 https://www.esquiretheatre.com/aapi-month-series/
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, May 27
The Office Themed Trivia Night 📍 Braxton Brewing Company Union, Union, KY 🕐 7:30 PM 🎟️ Free to play | Braxton gift cards on the line
Round up your branch, channel your inner Dwight, and get yourselves to Braxton Union for an evening of Office-themed trivia. Cold beers, good company, and prizes for whoever’s been paying the most attention during all those rewatches. This one is over the bridge in Union, KY — worth the drive if The Office is your thing. 🔗 https://www.facebook.com/events/3461743994001140/
Asianati Meetup at CM Chicken 📍 CM Chicken Hyde Park, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 🎟️ $5 + Eventbrite fees | Tickets required (space limited to 50)
Join the Asianati community for a meetup at the brand new CM Chicken in Hyde Park — Korean fried chicken, classic Korean games, trivia, prizes, and good people celebrating AAPI Heritage Month together. Your $5 ticket includes an appetizer flight, a non-alcoholic drink, and 10% off your food order. Grab your spot early; this one will sell out. 🔗 https://www.aapiheritagecincy.com/events/asianati-meetup-at-cm-chicken-2026
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Thursday, May 28
AAPI Sisterhood Meetup 📍 AfterLife, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 🎟️ Free admission
Hosted by AfterLife and The Sip Club, this one’s designed for Asian women to connect, make friends, do crafts, have drinks, and just exist around people who get it. No agenda. No pressure. Just good energy and community — which is exactly what AAPI Heritage Month should feel like. 🔗 https://www.aapiheritagecincy.com/events/aapi-sisterhood-meetup-2026
Crazy Rich Asians (2018) – AAPI Month Series 📍 Kenwood Theatre, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 7:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets at Kenwood Theatre box office
Rachel Chu meets Nick Young’s entire world in Singapore — and it is spectacular. This is part of the Esquire/Kenwood AAPI Heritage Month film series and genuinely one of the most fun movies to see on a big screen with a crowd. Romantic, funny, and visually stunning. 🔗 https://www.kenwoodtheatre.com/movie/crazy-rich-asians-2018
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Friday, May 29
Memories of Murder (2003) – AAPI Month Series 📍 Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 7:30 PM 🎟️ Tickets at Esquire Theatre box office
Bong Joon Ho’s riveting crime thriller about South Korea’s first documented serial killer investigation — based on true events and showing with Korean subtitles. This is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and it’s incredible on a big screen. A must for any film lover. 🔗 https://www.esquiretheatre.com/aapi-month-series/
Art After Dark: Queer Art Fest 📍 Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM 🎟️ Free | No registration required
Kick off Pride month at the Cincinnati Art Museum with this edition of Art After Dark — LGBTQ+ artists, vendors, drag performers, trivia with CAM’s Lavender Menace staff group, and DJ Syimone spinning all night. Cash bars and food available from the Terrace Café and Carl’s Deli. Parking is limited, so arrive early or rideshare in. A genuinely excellent free night out. 🔗 https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/events-programs/adults/art-after-dark/
Summerfair 2026 – Opening Day 📍 Coney Island, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 Friday–Sunday (times vary) 🎟️ Tickets via Eventbrite
One of Greater Cincinnati’s most beloved annual arts fairs opens its doors this weekend at Coney Island, celebrating 59 years of supporting artists in the region. Browse the work of local, regional, and national artists across multiple mediums and take home something that’ll actually last. Worth a visit on any of the three days. 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerfair-2026-tickets-1975338848671
CincItalia Festival – Opening Night (Adults Only 21+) 📍 Harvest Home Park, Cheviot, OH 🕐 6:00 PM – Midnight 🎟️ Free admission
The Cincinnati Italian Festival kicks off Friday night with an adults-only opener — great Italian food, live music, and the kind of neighborhood festival energy that’s hard to replicate. Located at Harvest Home Park at 3961 N Bend Rd. Saturday and Sunday are open to all ages. 🔗 https://cincitalia.org/
Cincy Fringe Festival – Opening Weekend 📍 Know Theatre & various OTR venues, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 Various showtimes — check the festival calendar 🎟️ Single tickets available; Flex Passes and All-Access Passes also available
Cincinnati’s summer theatre party kicks off this weekend with 35+ unique productions from local, national, and international indie theatre artists. Shows run through the first two weeks of June across multiple OTR venues. Free Late Night programming at 10 PM every night. Grab the program guide and start planning your lineup — there is a LOT going on. 🔗 https://cincyfringe.com/
Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves + Post-Game Fireworks 📍 Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 6:40 PM 🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster or the Reds website
The Reds open a three-game home series against the Braves tonight, and they’re sending fans home happy with post-game fireworks. A Friday night ballgame with fireworks is hard to beat — especially when summer is just kicking off. 🔗 https://www.mlb.com/reds
Florence Y’alls vs. Schaumburg Boomers – Wizards & Wands Night 📍 Thomas More Stadium, Florence, KY 🕐 First pitch TBD — check the Y’alls website 🎟️ Tickets via the Florence Y’alls website
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this is your Friday night. The Y’alls are going full Wizards & Wands for their series opener against the Schaumburg Boomers — minor league baseball at its most fun, right here in NKY. 🔗 https://www.florenceyalls.com/
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Saturday, May 30
Lion (2016) – AAPI Month Series 📍 Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 4:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets at Esquire Theatre box office
A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost and is adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, he uses Google Earth to search for his birth family. Based on a true story and genuinely devastating in the best way — one of those movies that stays with you. Part of the Esquire’s AAPI Heritage Month film series. 🔗 https://www.esquiretheatre.com/aapi-month-series/
Ja Rule Live 📍 Hard Rock Cincinnati Ballroom, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 8:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster
It’s murda. Ja Rule is taking over the Hard Rock Ballroom Saturday night for what should be a legitimately fun late-night show. If you grew up listening to early 2000s hip-hop and R&B, this one’s going to hit different. Get tickets early — this venue books fast. 🔗 https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/16006465F940EC2B
Summerfair 2026 📍 Coney Island, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 Saturday & Sunday (times vary) 🎟️ Tickets via Eventbrite
Day two of Summerfair at Coney Island. Browse the work of local and national artists, grab something to eat, and spend a few hours supporting the arts in Cincinnati. Open all weekend. 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerfair-2026-tickets-1975338848671
CincItalia Festival 📍 Harvest Home Park, Cheviot, OH 🕐 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM 🎟️ Free admission
Day two of the Cincinnati Italian Festival opens up to all ages — more Italian food, more live music, more good vibes. A great family-friendly (and date night-friendly) option on the west side this weekend. 🔗 https://cincitalia.org/
Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves – Spencer Steer Bobblehead 📍 Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 7:15 PM 🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster or the Reds website
Another Reds-Braves matchup, and tonight fans get a Spencer Steer bobblehead. Arrive early if you want yours — giveaways tend to go fast. Pair it with the Friday fireworks experience and you’ve got a solid two-night baseball run. 🔗 https://www.mlb.com/reds
Florence Y’alls vs. Schaumburg Boomers – Grateful Dead Night 📍 Thomas More Stadium, Florence, KY 🕐 First pitch TBD — check the Y’alls website 🎟️ Tickets via the Florence Y’alls website
The Y’alls are doing Grateful Dead Night, which means the vibes will be immaculate and the tie-dye will be abundant. Minor league baseball + themed nights is genuinely one of the best entertainment deals in the region. 🔗 https://www.florenceyalls.com/
Things to Do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Sunday, May 31
Art as Activism: Voices Creating Change – Panel Discussion 📍 National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM 🎟️ Free, thanks to Fifth Third Foundation
A genuinely compelling panel conversation presented in partnership with the Creative Asian Society — featuring sculptor Tom Tsuchiya, artist and SOS ART founder Saad Ghosn, and mandala artist Radha Lakshmi, moderated by the Freedom Center’s VP of Education. The discussion explores art as a catalyst for justice, memory, and social transformation. A perfect closing note for an AAPI Heritage Month-rich week. Free admission. 🔗 https://freedomcenter.org/voice/event/art-as-activism-panel/
CincItalia Festival – Final Day 📍 Harvest Home Park, Cheviot, OH 🕐 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM 🎟️ Free admission
The final afternoon of the Cincinnati Italian Festival. Come hungry, come ready for live music, and come for a genuinely lovely Sunday afternoon on the west side before the weekend wraps up. 🔗 https://cincitalia.org/
Summerfair 2026 – Final Day 📍 Coney Island, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 Sunday (times vary — check Eventbrite) 🎟️ Tickets via Eventbrite
Last chance to catch Summerfair this year. If you didn’t make it Friday or Saturday, get yourself to Coney Island before it closes out — 59 years of Cincinnati arts history, all in one weekend. 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerfair-2026-tickets-1975338848671
Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves – Run the Bases Day 📍 Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH 🕐 1:40 PM 🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster or the Reds website
Sunday afternoon baseball wraps up the Reds-Braves series, and kids get to run the bases after the game. A matinee at GABP is always a great call — lower prices, no school night concerns, and a perfect way to close out the long weekend. 🔗 https://www.mlb.com/reds
Florence Y’alls vs. Schaumburg Boomers – Family + Bark in the Park 📍 Thomas More Stadium, Florence, KY 🕐 First pitch TBD — check the Y’alls website 🎟️ Tickets via the Florence Y’alls website
Sunday is Family Day AND Bark in the Park at Thomas More Stadium — bring the whole crew, including the dog. Minor league baseball, NKY-style, is one of those things that’s genuinely underrated by people who haven’t tried it yet. Grab tickets and make a day of it. 🔗 https://www.florenceyalls.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 25–31! Honestly, this is one of those weeks where you could fill every single evening and still feel like you missed something, which is exactly the kind of problem I like having. Whether you’re catching a film at the Esquire, eating your weight at CincItalia, watching fireworks at Great American Ball Park, or crossing the river for a Y’alls theme night in NKY, there’s no shortage of things to do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky 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.
