Big-name events, festivals coming up soon: April-June

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·6 min read

There is cause for celebration in and around the Greater Cincinnati area, as it appears most of our beloved springtime and early summer festivals and events are returning after two years of pandemic shutdowns and other obstacles. You'll find opening dates for area amusement parks and water parks, as well as the biggest and best festivals the region has to offer. Let's hope we continue to see more of our favorites as the year progresses, but for now, here is what the next few months have to offer.

Don't see your favorite listed? Send the info to calendar@cincinnati.com and we'll get it added.

April

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day (home opener)

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 12 vs. Cleveland Guardians.

  • Location: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown.

  • Information: Reds.com.

Cincinnati Reds Findlay Market Opening Day Parade

Cincinnati Winter Beer Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 1-2. (usually held in Jan)

  • Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown.

  • Information: cincybeerfest.com.

Cincy On Tap Beer Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 9.

  • Location: Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown.

  • Information: cincyontap.com.

Cincy Seltzer Fest

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 29-30.

  • Location: Fowling Warehouse, 2940 Highland Ave., Oakley.

  • Information: cincyticket.com.

Crafty Supermarket

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 16.

  • Location: Music Hall Ballroom, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

  • Information: craftysupermarket.com.

Flying Pig Marathon

Kings Island opens for the season on April 16.
Kings Island opens for the season on April 16.

Kings Island Amusement Park

  • Is it happening? Yes, open weekends starting April 16, daily May 18-Aug. 21.

  • Location: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason

  • Information: visitkingsisland.com.

This Time Tomorrow Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 6-10.

  • Location: Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, and other venues around the city.

  • Information: contemporaryartscenter.org.

Tunes & Blooms at the Zoo

  • Is it happening: Yes, 6 p.m. Thursdays in April.

  • Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale.

  • Information: cincinnatizoo.org.

April is Zoo Blooms time at the Cincinnati Zoo.
April is Zoo Blooms time at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Victory of Light Psychic Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 9-10.

  • Location: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road.

  • Information: bmse.net.

Zoo Blooms

  • Is it happening? Yes, April 1-30.

  • Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale.

  • Information: cincinnatizoo.org.

May

Appalachian Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 7-8.

  • Location: Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township.

  • Information: appalachianfestival.org.

Asian Food Fest

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 6-8.

  • Location: The Banks, Downtown.

  • Information: asianfoodfest.org.

Big River Get Down

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 20-21.

  • Location: RiversEdge Amphitheater, Hamilton.

  • Information: bigrivergetdown.com.

Buckeye BBQ Festival

Cincy Cinco Latin Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 7-8.

  • Location: Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown.

  • Information: cincy-cinco.com.

Coasterstock

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 20-21

  • Location: Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason.

  • Information: visitkingsisland.com.

Coney Island and Sunlite Pool

  • Is it happening? Yes, open May 28-Sept. 5.

  • Location: 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township.

  • Information: coneyislandpark.com.

Florence Y'alls Baseball Season

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 6 vs Lake Erie Crushers.

  • Location: Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence.

  • Information: florenceyalls.com.

Geo Fair

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 21-22

  • Location: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road.

  • Information: geofair.com.

International Wine Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 19-21.

  • Location: Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown.

  • Information: winefestival.com.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo attend the 136th Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo attend the 136th Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kentucky Derby

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 7.

  • Location: Churchill Downs, Louisville.

  • Information: churchilldowns.com.

Land of Illusion Aqua Adventures

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 28

  • Location: 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown

  • Information: landofillusion.com.

May Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 20-28.

  • Location: Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.

  • Information: mayfestival.com.

Real Taco Fest

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 14.

  • Location: Smale Riverfront Park, 166 W. Mehring Way, Downtown.

  • Information: realtacofest.com.

Soak City

  • Is it happening? Yes, opens May 28.

  • Location: 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason.

  • Information: visitkingsisland.com.

Smoke on the River BBQ Fest

The National Homecoming Festival

Taste of Cincinnati

After a two-year hiatus, Taste of Cincinnati returns in 2022. Pictured: The 39th annual Taste of Cincinnati on Fifth Street in 2017.
After a two-year hiatus, Taste of Cincinnati returns in 2022. Pictured: The 39th annual Taste of Cincinnati on Fifth Street in 2017.

Zoo Babies

  • Is it happening? Yes, May 1-31.

  • Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale.

  • Information: cincinnatizoo.org.

June

Anime Ohio

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 17-18.

  • Location: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road.

  • Information: animeohio.com.

Art in the Garden

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 4.

  • Location: Riverside Drive, Augusta.

  • Information: augustaky.com.

Arts and Crafts Fair

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 11-12.

  • Location: Hueston Woods State Park, Doty Pioneer Farm, 6924 Brown Road, Oxford.

  • Information: oxfordmuseumassociation.com.

Banana Split Festival

Bluegrass Music Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 4.

  • Location: Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township.

  • Information: vinokletwines.com.

Bunbury Festival

Celtic Fest Ohio

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 18.

  • Location: Renaissance Park, 10542 E. Ohio 73, Harveysburg.

  • Information: celticfestohio.com.

Cincinnati Pride Parade & Festival 

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 25.

  • Location: Sawyer Point Park, Downtown.

  • Information: cincinnatipride.org.

Cincinnati Fringe Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 3-18.

  • Location: Know Theater, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, plus video on demand, livestreaming and outdoor stages.

  • Information: cincyfringe.com.

Concours d’Elegance

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 12.

  • Location: Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout.

  • Information: ohioconcours.com.

East Row Garden Walk

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 4-5.

  • Location: Newport's East Row Historic District.

  • Information: eastrowgardenclub.org.

Geek Out

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 9-12.

  • Location: Hannon’s Camp America, College Corner.

  • Information: geekout-hca.com.

Hamilton Pride

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 4.

  • Location: Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton.

  • Information: hamiltonohiopride.com.

June in Olde Williamsburg

Juneteenth Festival

Juneteenth Parade

Jungle Jim’s International Craft Beer Festival 

  • Is it happening? All Jungle events currently on hold.

  • Information: junglejims.com.

Newport ItalianFest

Northern Kentucky Pride

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 5.

  • Location: MainStrasse Village and Goebel Park, Covington.

  • Information: nkypridecenter.org.

Ohio Valley Indigenous Music Festival

Panegyri Greek Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 24-26.

  • Location: 7000 Winton Road, Springfield Township.

  • Information: panegyri.com.

Rockin’ Taco Festival

Schuetzenfest

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 17-19.

  • Location: Kolping Center, 10235 W. Mill Road, Springfield Township.

  • Information: schuetzenfestcincy.com.

Schwabenfest

Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee

Summerfair

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 3-5.

  • Location: Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township.

  • Information: summerfair.org.

Taste of Newport

Tusculum Street Fest

Valley Vineyards Wine and Beer Festival

  • Is it happening? Yes, June 3-4.

  • Location: Valley Vineyards, 2276 E. Ohio 22 & 3, Morrow.

  • Information: valleyvineyards.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Things to do in Cincinnati: 2022 spring events, festivals