Top 10 Cincinnati events this weekend: The food frenzy edition 🍟

Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati Enquirer
·6 min read

We have lots of festivals taking place this weekend, and food is the star. There are heritage festivals for our German and Italian ancestors, a festival dedicated to compassionate, plant-based living, and one highlighting one of early June's most delicious fruits. In addition, you'll find festivals showcasing dance, country music and classic cars.

Museum, art gallery and studio openings – plus a new curated art adventure – are sure to pique the interest of artsy types, while open-air shopping and several worthy charity events round out the weekend.

Here are the top 10 things to do in and around Cincinnati this weekend.

Strawberry shortcake is one of the showstoppers at the Shandon Strawberry Festival this weekend.
Strawberry shortcake is one of the showstoppers at the Shandon Strawberry Festival this weekend.

1. Shandon Old Fashioned Strawberry Festival

Fresh strawberries take center stage at this festival, but you'll also find more than 50 vendors of everything from antiques to country crafts, an antique tractor parade and show, a classic car show, traditional live Welsh harp music and a picnic-style supper.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 4782 Cincinnati Brookville Road, Shandon. Free admission. shandonchurch.com.

2. Newport Italianfest

Enjoy Italian food, inflatables, live entertainment and more all weekend long. Musical entertainment includes Pisa, Italy, native Moreno Fruzzetti and the high-energy jazz and swing of Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses.

Details: 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday, Festival Park, 1 Levee Way, Newport. Free admission. $10 wristband for play-all-day inflatables. italianfestnewport.com.

One of the highlights of Cincy Veg Fest is the vegan chili cook-off.
One of the highlights of Cincy Veg Fest is the vegan chili cook-off.

3. Cincy VegFest

Plant-based foods, yoga, music and compassionate living are cornerstones of this festival, which brings together chefs, musicians, authors, artists and animal lovers. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by Danielle Delaine of Herban Vegans and Ishmael Abdulrahman of Power Plant Kitchen, live music with MayaLou Banatwala and Nicholas Radina, and test your skills at the vegan chili cookoff.

Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Burnet Woods Bandstand, 280 Burnet Woods Drive, Corryville. Free admission. Cincyvegfest.com.

4. Schwabenfest

This German summer festival includes authentic food, music, entertainment, decorations and beer. Enjoy Oktoberfest chicken dinners on Friday, whole roasted beef dinners on Saturday and performances by the Donauschwaben dance groups each day.

Details: 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday, Donauschwaben Hall, 4290 Dry Ridge Road, Colerain Township. $5. cincydonau.com.

Concours d'Elegance takes place Sunday at Ault Park. Hosted by the Cincinnati Concours d’ Elegance Foundation, a nonprofit organization, all proceeds of the car show will benefit the Arthritis Foundation with a special focus on juvenile arthritis, according to the organization’s webpage.
Concours d'Elegance takes place Sunday at Ault Park. Hosted by the Cincinnati Concours d’ Elegance Foundation, a nonprofit organization, all proceeds of the car show will benefit the Arthritis Foundation with a special focus on juvenile arthritis, according to the organization’s webpage.

5. Concours d’Elegance

This is your chance to view 250 classic, vintage and exotic automobiles and motorcycles in one scenic location. Special displays this year include 75 years of Porsche, the 70th anniversary of the Corvette and the 85th anniversary of the Volkswagen Beetle. An art show highlights award-winning automobile fine artists from around the country, and there's also a craft beer garden. Parking is at Fifth Third Bank Madisonville Operations Center with free shuttle to/from show.

Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout. $35, $15 students with valid ID. Ohioconcours.com.

ArtAmplified fundraises for ArtWorks' artist programs, creative services and public art. Pictured: Part of ArtWorks mural series New Lines, curated by artists and youth apprentices to bring appreciation to Cincinnati's urban alleyway systems through street art styles and mediums.
ArtAmplified fundraises for ArtWorks' artist programs, creative services and public art. Pictured: Part of ArtWorks mural series New Lines, curated by artists and youth apprentices to bring appreciation to Cincinnati's urban alleyway systems through street art styles and mediums.

6. ArtAmplified: Curate Your Adventure

ArtWorks created this new roving festival, which takes place over the course of one day at three unique venues. It begins Sunday with ArtBrunch at Somerset and includes a garden yoga class, mimosas, coffee and a guest DJ. ArtParty follows at Alice, where you can experience a mural-inspired immersive dance party created by Brave Berlin, and the day ends with ArtDinner at Somerhaus, featuring a 3-course dinner by chef David Jackman, mural-inspired cocktails, live music and more.

Details: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Somerset (139 E. McMicken Ave.), 1-3 p.m. at Alice (1432 Main St.), 5-8 p.m. at Somerhaus (1415 Republic St.), Over-the-Rhine. Brunch at Somerset $50. ArtParty at Alice is free. ArtDinner at Somerhaus is $200. Artworkscincinnati.org.

Cincinnati Ballet's Bold Moves Festival takes place June 9-18 at Aronoff Center for the Arts.
Cincinnati Ballet's Bold Moves Festival takes place June 9-18 at Aronoff Center for the Arts.

7. Cincinnati Ballet: Bold Moves Festival

Cincinnati Ballet's season concludes with the Bold Moves Festival. The production showcases two diverse programs that explore the relationship between dance and humanity. The schedule is designed so you can experience both programs over two weeks. It features works from some of dance's most sought-after choreographers and includes guest artist Compania Irene Rodriguez.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday, Aronoff Center for the Arts. Runs June 9-18. $29-$129. cincinnatiarts.org.

Lebanon's own Blake Tyler headlines Saturday night's Country Music Festival.
Lebanon's own Blake Tyler headlines Saturday night's Country Music Festival.

8. Country Music Festival

This community festival hosted by the Lebanon Rotary Club spotlights local and Midwestern country music acts like 90 Proof Twang, Joe Stamm Band and Blake Tyler. You'll also find 4H animals, a family fun zone and a beer garden.

Details: 6-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Mulberry St. and Mechanic St., Lebanon. Free. Lebanoncountrymusicfestival.com.

Brazee Studios hosts an open house on Sunday for the public to view and purchase art. Pictured: Flower ornaments for sale at Brazee.
Brazee Studios hosts an open house on Sunday for the public to view and purchase art. Pictured: Flower ornaments for sale at Brazee.

9. Artsy openings

  • Masterworks for Nature: Birds Gone Wild: Features artwork inspired by nature and created by artists of Masterworks for Nature, including Charley Harper, Mary Louise Holt and John Ruthven.

    • Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Eisele Gallery, 6936 Madisonville Road, Mariemont. Exhibit runs June 9-July 1. Free admission.

  • Creating Connections: Self-Taught Artists in the Rosenthal Collection: Exhibition features artists recognized by the art world and museums, as well as those whose creative output remained obscure or known only to close associates.

    • Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Oct. 8, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Free. Cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

  • Summer is Here Open House: Meet studio artists working in paint, printmaking, paper, pastels, textiles, glass, wood and more when they open their doors to the general public to view and purchase one-of-a-kind pieces.

    • Details: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Brazee Studios, 4426 Brazee St., Oakley. Free admission and parking.

Charm at the Farm Vintage Market in Lebanon returns this weekend for its seventh year of open-air shopping.
Charm at the Farm Vintage Market in Lebanon returns this weekend for its seventh year of open-air shopping.

10. Charm at the Farm

Shop more than 110 vendors and boutiques with an eclectic mix of vintage and handmade items, repurposed furniture, jewelry, clothing, home décor and more at this open-air market.

Details: 4-8 p.m. Friday (VIP only $20); 9-11:30 a.m. (early bird $17) noon-4 p.m. Saturday ($12), 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday ($10), 4953 Bunnell Hill Road, Lebanon. Charmatthefarm.com.

Honorable mention: Putting the fun in fundraising

  • Red Legs Run: Walkers and runners of all ages take to the streets in this fun race, which benefits the Reds Community Fund. There's a 10K, 5K, one-mile run, and for kids 10 years old and younger, Gapper's Fun Run.

    • Details: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. $25-$55. reds.com.

  • Upstander 5K and Family Day & Volunteer Expo: Scenic route around historic Union Terminal and throughout the West End and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods. On Sunday, award-winning journalist Katie Couric serves as master of ceremonies for the Upstander Awards program, which features live music, art experiences and awards celebrating Cincinnati’s best and brightest upstanders.

    • Details: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday, Holocaust & Humanity Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Race is $35, awards banquet is $150 and includes admission to museums on Saturday. Holocaustandhumanity.org.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: June 9-11