Flowering Garden

I’ll admit it.

When I hear the words “immersive experience,” I’m a little skeptical.

Will it actually be immersive? Or is it just a room with a projector?

“Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” surprised me.

Located downtown at the Immersive Hub on Fourth Street, it’s much more than a collection of paintings on the wall. It walks you through Vincent van Gogh’s life, his inspirations and the stories behind some of his most recognizable works before culminating in a 360-degree projection show that surrounds you with his art. The newest Cincinnati edition also includes several interactive rooms, two virtual reality experiences and an “Infinite Sunflower” room that's made for photos.

The highlight for me was the walking VR experience.

Instead of simply putting on a headset and watching a movie, you’re actually moving through Van Gogh's world. It starts in an art gallery, then you step through portals to places special to Van Gogh as he narrates. You wander the streets of Arles, you see the tiny bedroom he made famous in his paintings, and finally, find yourself on a rooftop looking at the sky that inspired his “Starry Night.” It’s easily the most memorable part of the exhibit.

Learning about the man behind the famous paintings (and ear mutilation) was also interesting. Van Gogh died at just 37 years old, yet created more than 2,000 works of art. Many believe he was also color blind, which is why his paintings were so vibrant. And while we might all recognize his famous “Sunflowers” painting, it was actually one in a series that became one of his defining subjects, symbolizing gratitude, friendship and hope. The new “Infinite Sunflower” room is a fun nod to those iconic paintings and one of the exhibit's most Instagram-worthy stops.

There’s also an interactive art gallery where you can make your own Van Gogh-inspired art and a gift shop where you can grab something to remember your experience.

You don't need to be an art expert to enjoy this. In fact, it's better if you're not. The projections, music and storytelling make Van Gogh's work approachable in a way that feels more like stepping into a movie than walking through a museum.

If you're looking for a different kind of date night, something to do before dinner downtown, a family outing – or just an excuse to spend an hour surrounded by beauty, add this one to your to-do list.

 – Kathrine Nero

Go with the Flow

With one pass, you can experience a year of compelling Black arts experiences across jazz, theater, visual art and opera.

The 2026–27 lineup ArtsWave Flow series begins Sept. 10, as Grammy winners Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves celebrate the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth with a performance at the Aronoff Center.

The performance will be a live experience of the new album, “Dedicated to You,” from Marsalis and Reeves that that pays tribute to Coltrane. The album features the acclaimed saxophonist and his quartet performing with the great vocalist. Together they offer new renditions of the six standards that appeared on the 1963 Impulse album “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman,” as well as additional instrumental performances of compositions from Coltrane’s canon, to create an exquisite homage.

The ArtsWave Flow Pass

The pass for four events is available now. The cost is $195 and includes reserved seating and a Flow Social.

Flow Passes are on sale at artswave.org/flow.

“Flow gives people a way to experience some of the best Black artistry in the country, right here in Cincinnati, and to be part of growing it,” says Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave. “There’s nothing else like it in the region: one pass, moving across four of Cincinnati’s stages, with Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the Taft Museum of Art and Cincinnati Opera all bringing a piece of this season together. That kind of partnership is how you build a real, lasting audience for Black artistry, and that’s how we build a more vibrant and connected region for everyone.”

Each Flow Pass event opens with a Flow Social, a reception with food, drinks and conversation among Flow Pass Holders, artists and community leaders, before the main performance begins. The four events run from September 2026 through June 2027 and are presented in partnership with Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the Taft Museum of Art and Cincinnati Opera, each already producing the work that Flow is built around.

2026–27 Season at a Glance

All events include a themed Pass holder-only ‘Flow Social’ with food, drinks and light bites.

Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 — Aronoff Center, Procter & Gamble Hall.

September 2026 marks the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth. The Branford Marsalis Quartet and five-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves revisit Coltrane’s landmark 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman on a new world tour. Presented by the Cincinnati Arts Association.

“The African Company Presents Richard III”
Thursday, Feb.11, 2027 — Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

Written by Carlyle Brown, the play tells the true story of an all-Black theatre troupe in 1821 that staged Shakespeare on its own terms while a rival white theater mounted a competing production blocks away, turning performance itself into an act of defiance.

Robert S. Duncanson Experience at the Taft Museum of Art
Spring 2027, date to be announced — Taft Museum of Art.

An intimate exploration of Robert S. Duncanson’s legacy with Taft curators, centered on murals recognized as among the most significant pre-Civil War domestic artworks in the country. Hosted jointly with the Taft Museum’s Duncanson Society.

“John Lewis: Good Trouble” (World Premiere)
Friday, June 18, 2027 — Music Hall, Springer Auditorium.

Presented as part of Cincinnati Opera’s Black Opera Project, this new opera by composer Maria Thompson Corley follows John Lewis from a young civil rights leader to elder statesman, driven by his belief in what he called “the Beloved Community.” The production features bass Morris Robinson, a Cincinnati Opera Artistic Advisor.

Flow Pass Holders join a growing community built around one goal: helping Black artistry find and keep a larger audience in Cincinnati.

Flow’s 2026–27 season also arrives during ArtsWave’s centennial year, ahead of the organization’s 100 Days of Arts programming in spring 2027; Flow Pass Holders will receive bonus offers and special invitations tied to that celebration. Flow is presented by Fifth Third Bank, with support from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Triversity and additional regional sponsors.

Choosing Sides

Step right up to be amazed at The American Sign Museum!

“Freaks & Sideshows: American Circus Banners 1920 – 1970,” on view through Oct. 4, explores the people behind the banners – both the signpainters and the performers – with a look at the sensational and sometimes exploitative nature of the circus.

Collector Talk: Dave Walker
Thursday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.
$5 for Members | $25 for Non-Members

Meet the man behind the banners of “Freaks & Sideshows,” as collector Dave Walker talks about the stories of the performers captured in these larger-than-life banners.

American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth St.

More at www.americansignmuseum.org.

Often more thrilling than the acts they promoted, circus banners enticed audiences to wander through the strange and wild side of life through bold colors and designs. Visitors will be amazed by more than 25 banners that were seen in midways across the country from the Roaring Twenties through the 1970s. The banners now take center stage to showcase a unique form of advertisement in the

The special exhibition will be on view during the Museum’s normal hours of operation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibition is included Museum admission. 

Additional programs inspired by the exhibition will take place during the course of the show including a talk with Dave Waller, the collector who loaned the banners for the exhibition. Guided tours of the museum are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 and 2 p.m., with neon demonstrations available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Showing His Mettle

Photo: Tina Gutierrez

“When I started making fine art in my late 40s, I wondered if anyone would ever care about the work I was creating,” says Paul Kroner, a Cincinnati sculptor. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I’d be included in an international exhibition in New York City.”

This weekend, Kroner’s work will be part of the 40th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition Collective Exhibition at Agora Gallery.

Selected from a competitive international pool of  submissions, the Chelsea International brings together contemporary artists from around the world and offers a platform for emerging and established artists to present their work in one of New York City’s leading gallery districts.

Three of Kroner’s bronze sculptures will be featured in the international juried exhibition,
on view Aug. 1–15, in Manhattan’s Chelsea arts district.

“There is incredible art being made all over the world–including here in Cincinnati–but New York is still widely regarded as the mecca of the art world,” says Kroner. “Being juried into this competition in New York feels not only like an honor and a thrill, but also an affirmation of the time, effort, and expense I've invested in my work. It's also a tremendous motivator to keep creating.”

One of the pieces in the Chelsea show was also one of the works Kroner submitted to Summerfair Cincinnati for their Awards for Individual Artists. This past November, Kroner’s works were included in the the “Summerfair Select” exhibition at the Weston Art Gallery.

He noted some similarities between the two shows.

“It was both surprising and deeply meaningful – a real honor and confirmation that my work was being recognized and appreciated by a jury of respected art professionals,” says Kroner. “The financial award (from Summerfair) was also incredibly valuable because it went right back into my studio practice, helping me afford to create new bronze sculptures, which is an expensive process.”

The three sculptures selected for the Chelsea exhibition each represent a different point along the way. While they vary in subject and approach, Kroner says they are connected by a fascination with form, unexpected associations, and the simple joy of discovering where an idea might lead.

“My hope is that they reward close looking and leave room for viewers to bring their own experiences and interpretations,” he says.

Too Gourd to be True

Tickets and Information

Timed tickets are required for “Yayoi Kusama: All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” due to the artist’s popularity and the fully immersive nature of the installation. The general public and CAM Members must have a timed ticket to enter the exhibition.

When you are inside:

• You will have 1.5 minutes to experience the work inside the room. The doors will be closed.

• A gallery attendant will always be present in the room, and they will handle access to the door.

• Please anticipate changes in light, sound, and reflective elements. Some visitors may find the changes in sensory input disorienting.

• Expect to spend up to 30 minutes, total, in the exhibition (including queuing and viewing the Kusama prints and paintings).

The Cincinnati Art Museum has a new Yayoi Kusama exhibition, blending her famous infinity rooms and signature dotted pumpkins into one incredible experience.

“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” is a completely immersive experience that only allows two people in at a time. Upon entry into the small installation, guests are greeted with a world of repetition and whimsy as Kusama's cheerful glowing pumpkins are replicated in all directions by the surrounding infinity room. The result is something both endless and intimate as visitors view themselves duplicated alongside the endless rows of dotted gourds. 

“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” draws on Kusama’s seminal pumpkin room, “Mirror Room (Pumpkin)” (1991), which was shown in the Japanese Pavilion at the 1993 Biennale Arte in Venice.

I was lucky to view this exhibition right when it opened and was completely mesmerized by the experience. As someone who suffers from claustrophobia, I was a bit worried going in, but the infinity mirrors expanded the space and I forgot that I was essentially in a big box. I could've stayed in that beautiful room for hours, but each group of two is only allotted one minute and thirty seconds inside the experience. Though a minute and a half sounds incredibly brief, time truly seems to stand still once that door clicked shut behind us. Surrounded by that endless, glowing sea of yellow and black, we were offered a fleeting but completely unforgettable escape from reality. 

If you have the chance to visit the Cincinnati Art Museum while this installation is on display, I cannot recommend it enough. Just be sure to put your phone down for at least part of your time and savor every single second. It’s a surreal, dotted dream you won't want to wake up from.

A few notes about the experience:

• Guests are asked to attach their phones to a lanyard provided by the museum

• All other belongings are to be left in the provided cubbies

• There is a parking spot outside the installation for strollers and mobility devices

The exhibition continues through Oct. 18 and is a ticketed experience.

“Yayoi Kusama: All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” is on loan from the Dallas Museum of Art.

– Shae Combs

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“Yayoi Kusama: All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” is presented by P&G, Bank of America and the Martha H. Ragland Exhibition Fund. Additional support provided by Berkley One, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Everything But The House, the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust and Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation. The installation is on loan from the Dallas Museum of Art.

Moments of Truth

Truth & Inspiration Artist Showcase

Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Welcome remarks at 10 a.m.
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.

Free and open to the public, including museum admission

More at artswave.org/truth.

ArtsWave, the region’s engine for the arts, will open the sixth annual Truth & Inspiration Artist Showcase on Saturday, July 18, at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), 44 E. Sixth St. The event is free and open to the public. For one day, the community can experience the opening of the visual art exhibition, watch live performances and film screenings, and meet the artists behind the work. Thanks to ArtsWave’s partnership with the CAC, guests can also explore the entire museum at no cost.

The showcase is the public culmination of ArtsWave’s Inspire Artist Grants, a program now in its sixth year that awarded $204,700 this cycle to 24 artists creating new work exploring themes of truth and inspiration. Since 2020, ArtsWave has invested more than $1 million in local artists through the program, funding projects across film, music, poetry, performance, visual art, fashion and installation. Local artist and mentor Michael Thompson returns as curator, working with the cohort throughout the year to bring their projects to the public.

“This cohort represents the breadth of artists in our region and brings together emerging and national talent under a single roof,” said Thompson. “We have creatives working in film, performance, music, fine art and socially-based practices. This variety makes the showcase unique and gives our community access to the individuals who are helping to shape the story and culture of our city.”

This year’s showcase also marks the first-ever awarding of the tt stern-enzi Memorial Grant, a new honor supporting emerging artists of color working in film. The inaugural award will be presented Friday evening at a private artists reception, with tt stern-enzi’s widow on hand to help present it.

The visual art exhibition will remain on view at the CAC for two months following the opening, but July 18 is the only day to experience the showcase in full. Programming runs from 10 a.m. and includes spoken word, dance, film screenings and live music, with artists on hand throughout the day to talk about their work and the stories behind it.

“The arts are how a community understands itself,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave President and CEO. “On July 18, twenty four artists are giving Cincinnati a chance to see itself more clearly and it’s free and open to everyone. Elevating this work to the whole community is core to how ArtsWave and our partners are building a more vibrant and connected region.”

The Truth and Inspiration Showcase is made possible through partnerships with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Media are invited to attend, interview participating artists and capture the showcase live. A full schedule of performances and screenings is available on the ArtsWave App and at artswave.org/truth.

Get in Step

The merry little details

When: July 20 at 12:01 a.m. through July 26 at 11:59 p.m.
Offer: Buy one ticket, get one half off
How: Visit cballet.org or call the Cincinnati Ballet Box Office at 513-621-5282

The BOGO50 offer is good for up to four tickets per transaction on select performances and seats in Zones 1–4. Premium seating and Zone 5 are excluded. Fees apply. The offer cannot be combined with other promotions and does not apply to previously purchased tickets. Tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged.

Yes, it’s hot. So what better time to think about dancing snowflakes?

Cincinnati Ballet’s annual Nutcracker in July Sale returns July 20–26, giving holiday planners, ballet lovers and anyone ready for a break from the summer heat the chance to save on select performances of “The Nutcracker,” presented by Sheakley Family.

During the limited-time sale, you can buy one ticket and get a second ticket half off. Consider it your reward for thinking about December while everyone else is still trying to remember where they left the sunscreen.

For generations of Cincinnati families, the holiday season isn’t the same without The Nutcracker. Music Hall transforms into a winter wonderland filled with dancing snowflakes, mischievous mice, dazzling costumes and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy. For some families, it’s a tradition passed from one generation to the next. For others, this December will be the year they experience the magic for the first time.

Either way, July is a surprisingly good time to make those holiday plans.

Buying tickets now means more time to choose the performance and seats that work best for your family. It also means one less thing to squeeze between decorating, shopping, school concerts, office parties and everything else that somehow lands on the December calendar.

The sale is also a good excuse to gather your favorite people. Plan a family outing, surprise the grandparents, start a new tradition with friends or give yourself an early holiday gift. The mice, snowflakes and Sugar Plum Fairy will take care of the rest.

The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. July 26, and tickets are expected to move quickly.

So crank up the air conditioning, cue the holiday playlist and get December handled before July melts away.

Community Values

Price Hill Will music class, June 2026.

ArtsWave FY2027 Sustaining Impact Grants 

1001 Colors (ArtWorks) — $185,000
American Legacy Theatre — $15,000
ArtsConnect — $18,000
Behringer-Crawford Museum — $30,250
Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre — $37,950
Cincinnati Art Museum — $1,285,000
Cincinnati Ballet — $810,000
Cincinnati Boychoir — $45,000
Cincinnati Landmark Productions — $104,600
Cincinnati Opera — $683,850
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park — $1,060,000
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company — $206,200
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra — $2,300,000
Cincinnati Youth Choir — $44,500
Cindependent Film Festival with LADD — $21,500
Clifton Cultural Arts Center — $36,800
Contemporary Arts Center — $285,600
Elementz Hip Hop Cultural Art Center — $45,000
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati — $154,400
Fitton Center for Creative Arts — $86,250
Kennedy Heights Arts Center — $45,300
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra — $40,050
Know Theatre of Cincinnati — $41,000
Learning Through Art, Inc. — $46,000
Linton Chamber Music — $23,800
May Festival — $230,228
MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir — $7,500
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center — $41,000
My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus — $14,000
Oxford Community Arts Center — $25,500
Pones — $11,000
Price Hill Will — $70,000
Professional Artistic Research Projects — $32,100
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park — $56,000
Q-Kidz Dance — $10,000
Queen City Opera — $10,000
Queen City Performing Arts Organization — $10,000
Summermusik (CCO) — $45,000
Taft Museum of Art — $295,000
The Carnegie — $84,000
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati — $250,000
The Well/A Mindful Moment — $13,000
Visionaries and Voices — $48,400
Wave Pool — $20,000
Wyoming Fine Arts Center — $37,500
Young Professionals Choral Collective — $10,000

Total: $8,971,278

From world premieres at Cincinnati Opera to gallery talks at the Contemporary Arts Center and dance classes at Pones, Cincinnati offers a wealth of arts experiences thanks to a long-standing tradition of community arts support.

“For 100 years, our region has come together to support its arts,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO. “What we raise through our campaign each year goes right back into the community. These 46 organizations, and the people they reach, are what that investment looks like in practice. Every gift becomes support that keeps our region vibrant and connected.”

The ArtsWave Board of Trustees approved $8,971,278 in Sustaining Impact grants to 46 local arts organizations last week, launching a new three-year funding cycle for FY2027-2029. The grants are funded by the recently concluded 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign, and mark the first Sustaining Impact Grant cycle heading into ArtsWave’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

Sustaining Impact grants are ArtsWave’s largest and most consistent form of support, providing multi-year operating funding that helps arts and cultural organizations maintain financial stability, leading to more consistent community impact. The program anchors ArtsWave's grantmaking and represents the majority of its annual grant distributions.

ArtsWave invites organizations to apply for Sustaining Impact funding based on their meeting a set of criteria, including a primary mission dedicated to arts and cultural programming, nonprofit status of at least five or ten years depending on budget size, a history of ArtsWave funding and sound financial health, among other requirements.

A total of 58 volunteer community members, drawn from business, civic and arts leadership across the region, reviewed and scored applications. A formula that relates the score to percentages of operating budget, adjusted for available dollars, determines how much funding each organization receives, with proof of community impact weighted the highest.

“Our community volunteer review process is central to how ArtsWave operates,” said Debbie Hayes, ArtsWave board chair and president and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Fifty-eight community members devoted a significant amount of time evaluating these applications based on the established criteria in a fully transparent process. Those thoughtful recommendations are what the Board acted on. That kind of community ownership and investment is what has carried us thus far and what will carry us successfully into our second century of impact.”

The FY2027-2029 cohort includes Q-Kidz Dance, a first-time recipient, and Wave Pool, which returns to the program after a two-year absence.

First and Foremost

Just 12 years younger than the nation, Cincinnati has been at the center of sweeping changes and pioneering innovations that have influenced the region, the country, and the world.

The Centinel of the North-Western Territory

The Centinel of the North-Western Territory, established in 1793 by William E. McGuffey (yes, the “McGuffey Readers” guy) was the first newspaper in Ohio and one of the earliest newspapers in the Midwest.

Edited by William Maxwell, a Revolutionary soldier, who moved west after the war. It was the first printing of record in what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin – the Old Northwest Territory – and was published weekly until 1796, when Maxwell sold the paper.

The Centinel earned a reputation for reliability and became an influential voice in local journalism, contributing to community engagement.

Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell’s story begins on Eighth Street between Walnut and Main– not far from the plaque honoring her on the YWCA building. Blackwell, her mother, and sisters opened The Cincinnati English and French Academy for Young Ladies in their home as a way to support themselves. A dying friend’s comment – that she would have received better care from a female physician – inspired Blackwell to apply to medical school.

She enrolled at Geneva Medical College and in 1849 became the first American woman to earn a medical degree, training nurses for Union hospitals during the Civil War. Blackwell also championed social justice and women’s rights, advocating for equal access to education.

Today, women make up more than half of all U.S. medical school enrollees – a milestone that traces its roots directly to the doors Blackwell forced open more than 175 years ago. Her legacy endures in every woman who has practiced or aspired to practice medicine.

Ingalls Building

If you are walking around the corner of Fourth and Vine streets, you may overlook the Ingalls Building – the world’s first reinforced concrete skyscraper.

Standing 16 stories tall,  the building helped cement the acceptance of high-rise concrete construction across the United States. When Melville E. Ingalls first proposed the idea to city officials, the skepticism ran high –  the tallest building at the time stood just six stories. It took two years to secure the permit, but in 1903 the building was completed and became an instant landmark. His pioneering efforts helped establish the viability of concrete for large, multi-level buildings.

Now a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, the building serves as a reminder that Cincinnati has long punched above its weight in shaping American innovation – and that sometimes the most transformative ideas come wrapped in the most unassuming facades.

Fire Museum

The Cincinnati Fire Museum is more than just an educational building – it stands as a reminder of the long history of firefighting in Cincinnati.

The city made history in 1853 when it established the nation’s first paid, professional fire department by law. The department’s organizational model became a blueprint adopted by cities across the country, cementing Cincinnati’s place as a pioneer in the technological and administrative development of the American fire service. The museum opened in 1980 with a mission to honor the history of the first volunteers, the first paid professionals and the modern firefighter, while also teaching visitors the importance of fire safety. Its interactive exhibit, the Safe House, empowers guests with hands-on fire safety education set inside a model home environment.

As one of the most prominent and prosperous American cities in the mid-1800s – and home to Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose observations and experiences inspired “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” a novel that transformed the country – Cincinnati played a pivotal role in the Civil War. That history is commemorated throughout the city.

Lincoln Statue in Lytle Park

In 1913, Charles P. Taft – brother of former U.S. president William Howard Taft – commissioned sculptor George Gray Bernard to create a statue of Abraham Lincoln, honoring the man who led the nation through the Civil War.

What set Bernard’s work apart from other Lincoln sculptures was his use of a life mask of Lincoln rather than relying on decades-old photographs. Nonetheless, the statue drew sharp criticism over its portrayal of Lincoln,

That Lincoln continues to inspire public art, political debate and civic pride more than 160 years after his assassination speaks to the enduring power of his presidency and the values he represented.

Black Brigade Monument

In 1862, the Black Brigade of Cincinnati became the first organized African American group employed for military duty in the Civil War, mobilized to protect Cincinnati from Confederate forces.

When members first sought to volunteer, city officials dismissed them, saying it was not their war to fight. On Sept. 4, General Lew Wallace appointed Judge William Martin Dickson to lead the African American men, removing them from the mistreatment they had faced at the hands of the police. Many of the men voluntarily returned to serve under Judge Dickson, marching across the river under the National flag, digging rifle pits, clearing trees, and building forts, magazines, and roads.

The Black Brigade disbanded Sept. 20, but many members went on to serve honorably in the Union Army — some enlisting in the renowned 54th Massachusetts Regiment. In 2012, a memorial was erected at Smale Riverfront Park to honor the brigade’s impact on Cincinnati and the nation. Their service helped lay the groundwork fro the full racial integration of the U.S. military — a milestone not officially achieved until President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in 1948, more than 80 years later.

The Freedom Center

Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center draws visitors from across the country seeking to understand the true meaning of inclusive freedom through different artifacts and exhibits.

Since opening in 2004, the Freedom Center has told the stories of heroes from the Underground Railroad through the present day. Its location on the Ohio River carries deep historical significance —  the very banks where many enslaved people took their first steps on free soil after escaping through the Underground Railroad. Through thought-provoking exhibits, programming and films, the Freedom Center sparks dialogue around freedom, the denial of freedom, systemic racism, implicit bias and modern-day enslavement. For students, educators and first-time visitors alike, the Freedom Center offers a tangible connection to a chapter of American history that textbooks alone cannot fully convey.

It makes it a resource not just for Cincinnati, but for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the country’s past and its ongoing story.

– Ella Tabor

Built to Last

As we move into the semiquincentennial – and we should absolutely take every chance we can to use that word while we can – we should all enjoy a bit of Cincinnati history.

From politics to industry to the arts, Cincinnati has long held a place in the national conversation, inspiring generations to aim higher and go farther.

Steamboat Monument
E. Mehring Way and Broadway

Cincinnati’s history is tied to the Ohio River, from the flatboats of the 1700s to the river industry that propelled the city’s growth in the 19th century, leading the city to become one of the major steamboat capitals of America.  

This history is honored by the the National Steamboat Monument at Sawyer Point. Thie bold, musical, and mist-filled homage to its steamboat legacy. Unveiled in 2002 and designed by sound-sculpture architect Christopher Janney, the monument combines steel, steam, and sound in a way that’s more interactive art installation than a static memorial.

Music Hall
1241 Elm St.

This iconic building is home to the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and May Festival.

Music Hall is a historic landmark, originally created to be a convention center, and quickly became a space for a multitude of activities, including sporting events, exhibits, and circuses, among other things. Internationally acclaimed artists continued to visit the venue, establishing its reputation for incredible music. The hall closed for renovations during 2016-17, and has been thriving in the blooming OTR neighborhood.

Music Hall continues to change innovate, as it is home this Summer to Cincinnati Opera’s inaugural production in the Black Opera Project, “Lalovavi,” and as a focal point of BLINK, the nation’s largest public art event.

Rhinegeist
1910 Elm St.

By the mid-1800s, 36 breweries produced more than 30 million gallons of beer in Cincinnati, much of it served in the 1,800 saloons that were open by 1890. The brewing heritage runs deep – literally, with lagering tunnels dug underneath the breweries and still open for tours.

That spirit is kept alive today in a number of revived local breweries, including Rhinegeist. Meaning “Spirit of the Rhine,” this craft brewery and cidery is housed in the historic site of the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company. Moerlein was the largest Cincinnati brewery of the 19th century, so Rhinegeist is both preserving and carrying on the city’s great beer traditions.

Neil Armstrong

The first man who walked on the moon is immortalized on a mural located on Fifth Third Bank Headquarters along Walnut Street.

Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, attended Purdue University, and became a naval aviator from 1949 to 1952. He later earned a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California as well as honorary doctorates from several universities. Armstrong left NASA in August 1971 to become professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, a post he held until 1979. He was decorated by 17 countries and received numerous special honors.

William Howard Taft Birthplace 
2038 Auburn Ave.

Located in Mount Auburn, the birthplace and childhood home of William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The site features two main buildings – Taft’s family home, restored to look as it did during William’s childhood and the Visitor Center.

William Howard Taft National Historic Site preserves the birthplace and boyhood home of William Howard Taft, the nation's 27th President and 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The site was established in 1969 to give visitors an understanding of the environment that shaped Taft's character and philosophy. We encourage visitors to explore the stories and articles listed on this page to learn more about the "Gentle Giant" and the Cincinnati area in which he grew up.

Statue of James A. Garfield
Piatt Park, 801-811 Vine St

Ohio native, U.S. Army general, U.S. Representative, and the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield took the oath of office in March 1881, was shot by an assassin in July and died in September. Cincinnati-born sculptor Charles Henry Niehaus paid tribute to Garfield, designing the statue in 1883 for its placement in Piatt Park, the city’s oldest park.

Statue of William Henry Harrison (

Joining Garfield’s statue is one honoring William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States and the first of eight American presidents from Ohio. Sculpted and designed by Louis T. Rebisso of the Cincinnati School of Art, the statue was unveiled in Piatt Park on May 30, 1986 and is the only equestrian statue in Cincinnati.

– Ella Sander

Making a Spectacle

“Artrageous”
Emery Theatre, 1112 Walnut St.

Friday, June 26, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 2 p.m.

Tickets start at just $30, visit thechildrenstheatre.com

Looking for a family outing that’s anything but ordinary? The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) invites audiences of all ages to experience “Artrageous.”

“‘Artrageous’ is pure joy,” said Kim Kern, president and CEO of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. “It’s colorful, interactive, and full of surprises.”

“Artrageous” is a five-star, internationally touring sensation that transforms the stage into an immersive experience and vibrant celebration of music, art, and creativity.

This one-of-a-kind performance experience feels like a rock concert meets a live painting event. Featuring a troupe of world-class artists, musicians, singers, and performers, “Artrageous” combines live music, action painting, choreography, and audience participation into a fast-paced multimedia spectacle that turns the artistic process into live entertainment.

The fun doesn't stop on the stage. Audience members may find themselves joining the troupe under the spotlight, discovering surprises throughout the performance, along with an opportunity to win a painting valued at $25,000 just by being there. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite DIY “Artrageous”-inspired costumes to participate in the Costume Contest, and the first 100 attendees at each performance will receive a complimentary Adventure Kit.

Whether you're a budding artist, music lover, or simply looking for a fresh way to spend time together this summer, “Artrageous” offers an unforgettable experience that celebrates imagination, self-expression, and the joy of creating something together.

“Summer is the perfect time for families to try something new and create memories together,” said Kern. “It's exactly the kind of experience families will remember long after summer ends.”

Forever Free

Run the Block: Juneteenth Unity Run/Walk

Friday, June 19, 6 –9 p.m.
Esoteric Brewing Co.
918 E McMillan St., Cincinnati

6:30 p.m. Welcome and stretch
6:45 p.m.  Run/walk starts

After the fun at the Freedom Center ends, head to Walnut Hills for the Juneteenth Unity Run/Walk. The route features a 1.8 Mile loop and 1.4 Mile walking loop in Walnut Hills. Afterparty features DJ AQ, fitness challenges, raffle prizes, and Black-owned businesses.

Sponsored by Tri-State Running, Pig Works, and Hoka

FREE event, participants are asked to RSVP here.

In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a Federal holiday. But since June 19, 1866 – the first anniversary of the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston to announce the end of slavery – “Jubilee Day” has been commemorated with community celebrations.

True to the spirit of those earliest Juneteenth celebrations, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center welcomes everyone to join the Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, food trucks and a Community Market, with activities spilling out onto Freedom Way.

The day begins with Opal’s Walk for Freedom, commemorating the advocacy of Dr. Opal Lee – the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” – to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Guests will also enjoy free museum admission thanks to the Fifth Third Foundation. They can experience drop-in programming centered around the theme “What does Afro-futurism mean to you?” and give back through the Juneteenth Blood Drive with Hoxworth Blood Center.

The current exhibit at the Freedom Center, “Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey” immerses visitors in the legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®, the Grammy-Award winning world-renowned ensemble group that introduced African American spirituals to the world.

This exhibit not only honors the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ historic contributions and their roles as ambassadors of Fisk University, a historically Black university, but it also emphasizes their lasting influence on American music and culture. Jubilation! celebrates their work as pioneers who used music as a tool for resilience, empowerment, and social change.

Performances throughout the day feature 2nd Wind Band, DJ Vader, Ijo Ugo Performing Arts, Skate Downtown Cincy and DJ Arie. Guests will find family-friendly fun with Indigo Hippo, Black Lit Books, The Gaskins Foundation, and Cincinnati Metro, plus free screenings of “Afrofantastic: The Transformative World of Afrofuturism” and “Space is the Place.” Cincinnati Observatory will be onsite with a Pop-Up Planetarium!

Newly added to this year’s Juneteenth lineup is a special panel discussion featuring cast members from “Disney’s The Lion King,” at the Aronoff Center through July 5 as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Broadway in Cincinnati series.

This unique conversation will explore the power of storytelling, representation and cultural legacy through one of the most celebrated productions in theatrical history. Panelists will share insights from their experiences in the production and reflect on themes that resonate deeply with Juneteenth.

For a full list of event at the Freedom Center visit freedomcenter.org/voice/event/juneteenth-jubilee-2026.

Sense of Place

“From free concerts at a historic rail site in Ludlow to arts programming woven into a Covington farmers market, these initiatives are building vibrant, connected communities and making culture within reach for everyone. We're grateful for MeetNKY's partnership in making this work possible,” said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave.

Family poses after participating in a performance at Sparks in the Park in Covington with Circus Mojo, a 2025 grantee.

Photo:The Center for Great Neighborhoods

This week, ArtsWave and MeetNKY awarded $60,000 through nine Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking grants to support arts and cultural heritage projects across Northern Kentucky. The grants, part of an ongoing strategic partnership between the two organizations, fund community-driven initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods, celebrate cultural identity and drive economic vitality throughout the region.

2026-27 Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grants

African Women Alliance
Creative Roots: A Heritage Skills Workshop

Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre
Afrika On The Move: Expanding Cultural Connections & Community Wellbeing

Infinite Hills Productions, Inc.
The Rail Sessions

Pones
Ride with an Artist Day

Queer Kentucky, Inc.
NKY Anthology Print Magazine

ReNewport
The Orchard Project

Southbank Shakespeare
Southbank Shakespeare Summer Season

The Center for Great Neighborhoods
Arts at the Market

Urban Appalachian Community Coalition
UACC Place Keepers – Woven Branches Project

“These nine projects reflect what creative placemaking does at its best, it roots the arts in the neighborhoods where people already live, work and gather,” said Kintner.

Funded projects will take place between June 1, 2026 and May 31, 2027, spanning Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.

The grant program supports nonprofit organizations proposing arts-driven initiatives that contribute to community development across Northern Kentucky, aligned with ArtsWave's Blueprint for Collective Action.

Projects include a traveling African cultural festival and wellness initiative, a live music series activating Ludlow's historic Railfan Tower, arts experiences aboard TANK bus routes, expanded free Shakespeare performances throughout Northern Kentucky and creative programming at the Covington Farmers Market. Projects also include hands-on African cultural heritage workshops, a print anthology highlighting Northern Kentucky's LGBTQ+ arts community, continued transformation of Newport's Orchard Street corridor through public art and events, and a collaborative project engaging young adults in exploring Appalachian heritage through visual art and storytelling.

“Arts and culture are central to how people experience and connect with Northern Kentucky,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of MeetNKY. “These projects energize public spaces, reflect the character of our communities and make Northern Kentucky a more compelling place to live and visit. We're proud to support this work alongside ArtsWave.”

In Your Feelings

Salome
June 18 and 20, 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street

Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann
Based on the play by Oscar Wilde

Sung in German with projected English translations

Lalovavi
Thursday, July 9 and July 11, 7:30 p.m,

Music by Kevin Day 
Libretto by Tifara Brown

Sung in English and Tut* with projected English lyrics and translation

Carmen
July 25, 29 and 31, 7:30 p.m.
August 2, 3 p.m.

Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac

Sung in French with projected English translations

Orpheus and Euridice
July 28, 8 p.m.
Wilks Studio, Music Hall

Music and text by Ricky Ian Gordon

Sung in English with projected lyrics

Tickets and info at www.cincinnatiopera.org

If your only experience with opera is what you’ve seen in Warner Brothers cartoons, I urge you to give Cincinnati Opera a try this summer.

It will be at once what you’ve seen Bugs Bunny perform and all-together something new.

Opera is BIG and it is explores all the big themes – love (obviously), death (so many deaths), revenge (though often “he had it coming”) and joy (no, really).

These are also all the things that make us human and shape how we see our world, in ways both mundane and grand.

There is an old adage in musical theater that when you can’t talk about how you feel, you sing. Opera is all singing.

You may not know a single word of Italian, but when Madame Butterfly sings her final aria you will still cry. Her expression of sadness over the loss of her child and the many (many) tragedies in her life transcend any language barrier and speak to universal truths.

Like any good summer blockbuster, Cincinnati Opera features plenty of action, monumental characters and an unforgettable score.

The season begins next week with “Salome,” based on the play by Oscar Wilde and music by Richard Strauss, who you might know from “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

The opera is a mix of political intrigue, sex, and chaos – all the things things you’re scrolling to on Netflix. “Salome” is described as a fever dream of obsession, power, and prophecy, where every glance is loaded, and no desire is without cost.

Maybe sci fi is more your thing? What if I said you could experience the world of “Blank Panther” on the stage of Music Hall.

This is the promise of “Lalovavi.”

The author and her husband, post-opera, post- crying.

Set 400 years into the future, “Lalovavi” is an Afrofuturist adventure that follows Persephone, the youngest daughter of the ruler of Atlas, the city formerly known as Atlanta. Expect secret identities, betrayal, and a road trip on the way to discovering one’s destiny.

“Lalovavi” is a world premiere and the first production of The Black Opera Project, a bold initiative shaping a more expansive future for opera, rooted in artistry, legacy, and the power of stories that deserve to be seen and heard. Each story is designed to uplift, inspire, and resonate profoundly.

Created by award-winning composer Kevin Day and writer and performance poet Tifara Brown, “Lalovavi” is a massive production, with sets and costumes to rival a Marvel movie.

Wrapping up the season is a classic, transporting “Carmen” to Havana. This epic tale of love and rivalry doesn’t really end well for anyone, but the story and music – some of which you’ll recognize from “The Bad News Bears” – have enthralled audiences for more than 150 years. This is your chance to find out why!

The season also includes Ricky Ian Gordon’s new retelling of “Orpheus and Euridice,” one of the all-time saddest love stories. The myth is a cautionary tale to don’t look back, and Gordon infuses the opera with longing, loss, and ultimately acceptance.

One question I often is “Do you need to get dressed up for the opera?”

I do, and you most certainly can. In our hyper-casual society, it’s fun to break out a sparkly dress or a bow tie. But it’s also summer in Cincinnati, so that moisture-wicking shirt makes a lot of sense.

Cincinnati Opera is very much come as you are, just as long as you make sure to get there.

– Tricia Suit

One of the Family

Photo: Tasha Pinelo

Saturday, June 13
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.

Tickets:
General Admission: $15 Child Ticket (Ages 3-18); $30 Adult Ticket
(CAC Members receive a $10 discount)
Children 2 and under are free!

Discount code: ArtfulCincy (case sensitive) for
$10 off General Admission tickets for Adults!

VIP Admission
$40 VIP Ticket adds open bar, including brunch-themed cocktails, to General Admission experience

Host/Hostess Package
$250 package includes two VIP tickets plus recognition on CAC’s website and social media channels

Tickets and additional information are available at cincycac.org/artful.

Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) has long been a place to explore the world – and our own creativity – through art and ideas. With Artful Adventure, even the smallest visitors will have that chance.

“Last year’s inaugural Artful Adventure confirmed something we’ve long believed at CAC – families are looking for meaningful ways to experience art and community together,” says Carolyn Hefner, chief of external affairs with CAC. “We saw children and adults engaging side-by-side, creating, exploring exhibitions, and making memories in spaces can often be perceived as primarily for adults.It’s also a wonderful way to introduce new families to CAC while raising support for the programs the serve thousands of young people each year.”

All proceeds from Artful Adventure support CAC’s mission to remain a lab for understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us through the creation and experience of all contemporary art forms.

“CAC serves more than 14,000 learners annually through educational programming, school partnerships, and hands-on art experiences,” says Hefner. “A family-friendly fundraiser is a natural extension of that work because it allows families to experience firsthand the creativity, curiosity, and connection that contemporary art can inspire.”

This fun-filled day combines fan-favorite CAC Family Fest experiences with special artist activations, collaborative art projects, food, music, and interactive gallery experiences throughout the museum.

Highlights include

• Clay Ghost Making with current CAC-exhibiting artist Michael Stillion

• Collaborative printing with local artists Jon Flannery and Joe Walsh of Take a Moment Studios

• Artist interactions with CAC Artist-in-Residence Micah Mickles

• Storytime with Zaza Scents

• Gallery ghost hunts through the exhibition “Michael Stillion: And then it was flowers”

• Post-It Poetry inspired by the exhibition “Gee Horton: Chapter 4, In Another Lifetime”

• A giant collaborative Blue Tape Mural

• Artful City community-building installations

• A family dance party with DJ Nat Jones

• Little Fox face painting

• Interactive playscape experiences for younger guests

Photo: Tasha Pinelo

“One of the biggest highlights is the opportunity to experience CAC as and interactive playground for creativity,” says Hefner. “Families can participate in hands-on art activations throughout the building, explore current exhibitions, and engage with artists and creative partners from across the community.

Guests can also enjoy light brunch bites from Magnificent Morsels, Munch! Midnight + Brunch, and others, along with beverages from Rhinegeist, and more. Urbana Café will be open throughout the day for coffee and treats for purchase.

The atmosphere is playful, energetic, and uniquely CAC. For many families, it’s a chance to make lasting memories while supporting an institution that believes art should be accessible to everyone.

“We love that Artful Adventure removes the idea that fundraising events need to be formal or adult-focused,” says Hefner. “Instead, it invites multiple generations across our community to engage together while supporting programs that ensure young people throughout the region have access to the arts.”

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All proceeds from Artful Adventure support CAC’s mission to remain a lab for understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us through the creation and experience of all contemporary art forms.

Artful Adventure is sponsored by Corrie Loeffler + Adam Turer, Carolyn + Cody Hefner, and Shannon + John Morris

A Day in the Sun

Summerfair Cincinnati
Friday, May 29, 12 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

One-day tickets are $10, multi-day tickets are $15. Children 12 and under admitted free.

Tickets for one day or multi-day admission are availalbe at summerfair.org.

Summerfair Cincinnati marks its 59th year, returning to Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., May 39–31, with more than 340 juried artists.

“Coney Island looks spectacular!” says Jayne Utter, Summerfair’s managing director. “The park area where Summerfair is held is beautiful. Our footprint is mostly the same as previous years.”

Which means visitors will be seeing the best of the best!

The artists represent 12 categories: photography, painting, drawing/printmaking, wood, metal, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fibers, leather, jewelry and 2D/3D mixed media. Along with artwork, Summerfair features a slate of regional performers as well as its Gourmet Arts area with unique food and drink.

“You will be able to find great art is every category and every price point from all over the country,” says Jayne Utter, Summerfair’s managing director. “Even Rhode Island is represented this year!”

What started as a small art fair’s salute to the opening of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park has grown into one of the oldest continuous art fairs in the country, drawing more than 20,000 art enthusiasts to see and purchase the works of artists from across the United States. Summerfair is listed in the top 50 America’s Best Art Fairs and one of the top five Best Midwest Art Fairs by Art Fair Calendar.com.

Music at Summerfair

Saturday, May 31

12 p.m. Aprina Johnson
1 p.m.   Boutique
2 p.m.   The 3 Micks
3 p.m.   Chris Collier & The Full Band
4 p.m.   Silver Strings
5 p.m.   The Cheryl & Shorty Show
6 p.m.   Jam Grass Duo

Sunday, June 1

11 a.m.  Eric Wurzelbacher & Brandon Coleman
12 p.m.  The Faux Frenchmen
1 p.m.    The Amador Sisters
2 p.m.    Farm Report
3 p.m.    Wild Carrot
4 p.m.    Tracy Walker (

During its history, Summerfair has given more than $2 million to the regional arts community. A non-profit 501(c)3 arts organization, proceeds from Summerfair Cincinnati provide award, scholarship and exhibit opportunities to a variety of emerging (high school and college), individual (working professional) artists and local/regional small and mid-sized arts organizations. 

This year, along with Summerfair T-shirts, totes, and other merch, you’ll find a new collaboration with The Cincy Hat, created by Bengals center, Ted Karras. The Cincy Hat Summerfair collection includes two limited-edition hats that will help support artists and arts organizations in the region. Each hat pairs the iconic Cincy Hat logo with Summerfair’s signature bright and vibrant colors.

Karras helped officially launch The Cincy Hat Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education and infrastructure for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Cincinnati area, in October 2024. The initiative further established his long-lasting commitment to supporting adults with IDD, which first became widely publicized in 2022 when he began selling his fan-favorite Cincy Hat to benefit Village of Merici, a living community and service provider based in his hometown of Indianapolis.

The hats will be for sale for $35 at the Summerfair information booth. This joint fundraiser will support Summerfair’s mission to support artists and arts organizations in the region and Cincy’s Hat’s mission to provide housing and educational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Also available exclusively at Summerfair, a new light lager from HighGrain Brewing feauring artwork from this year’s commemorative Summerfair poster by local artist Rich Blandford.

“Our weather is going to be perfect!” says Utter. “Come enjoy a day or the entire weekend with us. There will be local entertainment Saturday and Sunday. Our food court will be full of many choices. There is a youth arts area where the kids can be creative. Then there is all the fabulous art, so you can shop for gifts or yourself – we’ll never judge you!”

Outside Interests

Cincy Fringe, officially the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, promises “real theatre handmade by real people.”

Cincy Fringe returns for its 23rd year with an outrageous assortment of one-hour, live performances created and performed by independent theatre artists in pop-up venues all over OTR.

Queer Appalachia: “Early Bird,” “Appalachian Songcatcher,” “Transcendent”),

Reclaiming Catholicism: “Unreconciled,” “Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s" Roadside Revue Presents The Saints”)

Reimagined Masculinity: “FRONTIER So Far, Good... Girl?,” “PAPA”

Celebrations of Life and the Destigmatization of Grief: “Pato Y Muerte,” ‘Memento Holly,” “This Will Only Ever Happen Once,” “Homesick”

Horror and Revenge: “Bloody Fairytales,” “The Mad Women’s Ball,” “Locusta’s Assassins,” “A Hollywood Horror Story”

Musicals: “BOMB! An FBI Musical,” “Private Equity! The Musical,” “The Saints.”

See a full schedule of all shows and get tickets at cincyfringe.com/

From Friday, May 29 to Saturday, June 13, the festival unleashes a whirlwind of wholly original theatre and experimental performance from more than 35 independent local, national, and international theatre artists.

Katie Hartman, now in her fifth year as producer of the Cincy Fringe, is excited to dive into this year’s festival, which though all new and different, do have some recurring subject matter.

“Prevalent themes that are running through the festival include queer Appalachia, reclaiming Catholicism, reimagined masculinity, celebrations of life and the destigmatization of grief, a healthy dose of horror and revenge and more musicals than we’ve had at any one festival in a long time,” says Hartman.

A 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, dance, puppetry, and everything in between, Cincy Fringe showcases everything that is glorious about being human – to be daring, honest and imperfect – all performed in intimate pop-up venues. Audiences can expect the unexpected as churches, storefronts, street corners, and so much more are transformed and imbued with live performance - all within the heart of OTR.

“The Cincy Fringe is really special,” says Katie Hartman, now in her fifth year as producer of the Cincy Fringe. “It’s famous for being a festival where artists and patrons mix and mingle in the Know Theatre’s Underground Bar. Every night, after seeing a wild variety of shows from a wide array of artists, folks meet there and talk about all the art they just saw and the party just keeps going. It’s a joyful and generous place where people get to show up as their favorite self; we’re so excited to welcome folks into that experience.”

This year the festival carries the torch of creative community care and radical self-expression with a Primary Lineup of 25 production, featuring new work from 13 local creators, 10 productions from across the U.S., and two international artists from Canada and Australia. With 21 world premieres, 13 regional premieres, and 10 producing companies that have never-been-seen in Cincinnati, adventurous audiences are guaranteed an experience of a brave and unabashed creative community that can’t be had anywhere else.

With more than 160 ticketed events, free Kids Fringe programming on weekend afternoons, a full Saturday of back-to-back ASL-interpreted shows, and a different, free, Late Night event every night at 10 p.m., the Cincy Fringe is Cincinnati’s Summer Theatre Party.

“Fringe Late Night is where we get to know each other. It’s where friendships are made.”

— Katie Hartman, producer of Cincy Fringe

Each night of the festival, audiences can enjoy a different, free, themed event in the Know Theatre Underground Cabaret & Bar. These include pitches for new shows, puppetry, gay spelling be, and Fringe Olympics, all culminating in the “Picks of the Fringe” awards.

“Fringe Late Night is something that really sets our festival apart from any other theatre festival on the continent,” says Harteman. “Every night at 10 p.m. in the Know Theatre Underground, the distinction between artist and patron blurs and folks get to come together and connect. We laugh, we dance, we sing karaoke, we ride Segways, we play DnD, and we talk about experiences in the theatre that we’ve witnessed or been a part of that have changed the way we think about life and art and the people that we love.”

Big Shoes to Fill

Photos: Andy Dobson

Eric Appleby (bass, keyboards, toy piano, tap) was a co-founder, publisher, and designer of “Forklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking & Light Industrial Safety.” He has designed poetry books and chaps for authors including Dean Young, Charles Wright, Paul Violi, Chad Sweeney, Adam Fell, Russell Dillon, and Matt Hart. A graduate of Ball State University, he works as a Computer Whisperer Marketing Hack for a regional wholesaler. He plays in the bands Nevernew, 7 Speed Vortex, and TRAVEL.

Nick Barrows (narrator) is the host of the Inhailer Radio's programs, “Kinda Early” and “In.Local.” He is a vocalist in the bands Jack Burton Overdrive and Hare Hunter Field. He has been performing poetry for more than 25 years, from Kaldi’s Coffee House to Word of Mouth at MOTR Pub. His words have appeared in “Forklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking, & Light Industrial Safety” and several Aurore Press anthologies.

Jane Carver (keyboardist, vocals), a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, she is an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University. Her artistic practice includes fabrication in wood, ceramics, metal, plastics, and found objects, drawing, photography, set design and construction, as well as writing, music composition, and production.

Matt Hart (vocals, guitar) was a co-founder of “Forklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking, & Light Industrial Safety” and editor-in-chief from 1994–2019. The head of creative writing at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and faculty mentor in the PNCA/Willamette University Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA Program, his awards include a Pushcart Prize, a grant from The Shifting Foundation, and fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Hart’s music has been featured on MTV and in major motion pictures, including Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats.” He plays in the post-punk/indie rock bands Nevernew and Travel.

Jay Reynolds (multi-instrumentalist) has been playing woodwinds since he was 12 years old and he’s loved every minute of it. A graduate in saxophone studies from both the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy and The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. From playing as a session musician alongside artists like Bootsy Collins, to touring with bands like 10-time Grammy Award winners Asleep At The Wheel, he has played either sax, flute, or clarinet in literally every style of music.

Christian Schmit (percussion and sound effect specialist) is a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1994 and has a master of fine arts from the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at U.C. – DAAP’s School of Art and AAC. His work has featured in exhibitions in venues including Eva G. Farris Art Gallery at Thomas More College, the Carnegie Arts Center, Wave Pool, and Weston Art Gallery. His work is represented in numerous private collections.

(Note: For the purposes of his story, a “Shoe” can be a poem, a musical composition, or a performer. Just go with it.)

Founded in the late ’90s by longtime collaborators Eric Appleby and Matt Hart, The 50 Shoes are a mix of spoken-word poetry, genre-defying music, dance performance, and visual art.

On Friday, for the first time in more than 20 years, The 50 Shoes are reuniting for a one-night-only performance at the Weston Art Gallery.

Michael Goodson, director of the Weston Art Gallery, has begun to bring in more performances including the Mark Lomax Quartet playing John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” in honor of its 60th anniversary and Puzzle of Light playing a set including massive sound sculptures.

“Hart’s poetry was suggested to me as I spoke to people about including writers and poets to the programming,” says Goodson “Our first conversation made it clear that we had similar interests in music as well. The 50 Shoes seemed a clear interstitial moment between punk and poetry. It also seemed to be an interesting portal into Cincy’s historied punk and alternative scene.”

Hart and Appleby have played in bands together – punk and otherwise – for more than 30 years, and also published “Forklift, Ohio: A Journal of Poetry, Cooking, & Light Industrial Safety,” for 20 years. The other band members – Jane Carver, Jay Reynolds, and Christian Schmit – have played with both Hart and Appleby in other bands, as well as in numerous other musical projects on their own. (See sidebar.)

“We’ve all known each other for decades, and it's fun doing something out-of-the-ordinary, which is itself beyond-out-of-the-ordinary,” says Hart.

The origin story of The 50 Shoes dates back to a discussion about the artistic process between Hart and Schmit, a visual artist and Shoes’ percussionist.

Schmit recounted his thoughts about drawing the perfect shoe. Even if he got it right the first time, he still needed to erase and re-draw the shoe another 49 times because as an artist he wanted to try every idea.

Inspired by that concept and tribulation, Hart wrote 50 short poems that, he says, were all trying to do the same thing but couldn’t. Then Appleby, in a spirit of collaboration – and, admittedly, a bit of one-upmanship – decided to set each poem to music.

“It's been fascinating, sometimes humbling, to try on these pieces we originally wrote and performed in our 20s, and wear them at our current age,” says Appleby. “A Shoes performance always felt precarious – if only by the numbers – doing 35 pieces, trading off among a dozen instruments, and each one a different mood, style, or genre.”

Every performance includes a recitation of the poem by Hart before exploding into a song – melodic, noisy, jangly, shanty – composed by Appleby.

The musical elements include Schmit’s hand-assembled percussion rig, tap dancing, toy piano, accordion, saxophone, bass, and guitar. The players often switch instruments and on occasion abandon them completely.

“As with all art, these pieces are significantly a record of their own making, and each performance of them is a demonstration of the process,” says Hart. “The pieces are in many ways still alive, evolving moment to moment.”

While poetry and music can be often solitary endeavors, a group of dedicated musicians and friends, contributed music and sounds to Appleby’s original concepts. Through improvisation and, of course, trial and error, the Shoes created the final songs the audience hears.

“The words of a Shoe often don’t ‘make sense’ in any conventional way, so what follows their recitation is our best effort at making sense, illuminating, underlining, erasing, re-drawing, or transforming them,” says Appleby. “It’s a bit like that old saw that in musical theater – when itts too much to say, you sing; and when it's too much to sing, you dance. But with the Shoes, we try to do all of these at once, or in rapid succession. Also, there’s one where Christian actually plays a saw.”

– Tricia Suit

Stranger Things

“The House on Watch Hill”
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
1127 Vine Street

Friday, May 22
Meet the Inspiration!

6:45 p.m.: Pre-show photo opportunities for media only
7:30 p.m.: Performance

Immediately following the show: Exclusive talkback with cast members and the real-life inspirations for the show

Performances continue through May 31, 2026
Tuesday – Saturday, 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunda,t 2:00 pm

Tickets and information at ensemblecincinnati.org

Inspired by true events, “The House on Watch Hill” now playing at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati tells the true story of a group of local teenagers who set out to create an unforgettable haunted house experience.

At this Friday’s performance the audience will have the unique opportunity to meet the actual people whose lives inspired the production!

The evening includes pre-show photo opportunities and a special post-show talkback featuring the real-life inspirations alongside members of the cast.

It’s a rare opportunity to learng behind-the-scenes insight into the real memories and experiences that inspired the story onstage.

“The House on Watch Hill” by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, the Tony-nominated creators of “Bandstand,” closes Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s (ETC) 40th anniversary season with this regional premiere. Pulsing with original ‘80s-inspired music, this thrilling new musical is full of nostalgia, heart, and a touch of the supernatural. Playing through May 31, the show is directed by D. Lynn Meyers, ETC’s Producing Artistic Director, and Dee Anne Bryll.

“Do you remember a summer when you thought everything was possible?” asks Meyers. “This show is about the stripping away all the layers of who we’ve become and going back to a time when we were still growing, still dreaming, and still hoping things come to fruition. It’s based on a true and local story about the life of one of its creators, Richard Oberacker, and the summer that changed his life. What a brave and beautiful opportunity to share his story. The concept of this story would be considered completely outrageous if it wasn’t true. And the music? It’s intoxicating. Once you jump in, the rhythm just keeps going throughout the whole piece. These songs could have been hits of the ‘80s had they been written during that time.” 

“The House on Watch Hill” follows a group of teen misfits in the summer of 1984 who set out to build the ultimate haunted house in their Cincinnati suburb. Led by 14-year-old horror buff Patrick, their project stirs up fears far more real than any ghost story. Set to an original ’80s-inspired soundtrack and steeped in Cold War anxiety and latchkey freedom, this coming-of-age story is funny, moving, and maybe just a little spooky. A must-see for fans of “Stranger Things,’ “The Goonies”, and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, “The House on Watch Hill” captures the bittersweet moment between childhood and growing up—when you’re old enough to know the world is scary but brave enough to face it anyway.

The cast includes Jason Collins (Adult 1), Julianne Ferreira da Silva (Jennifer), Wesley Akio Geary (Paul), Adrian Graff (Patrick), Jordyn Amani Jones (Joy), Morgan Lindell (Kristin), Sara Mackie (Adult 2), Gavin Poronsky (Tim), and Tommy Sanders (Jason).

Best Foot Forward

Give yourself a breather during this long weekend to enjoy movement and explore nature in Eden Park.

Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Parks Foundation, and Cincinnati Parks are collaborating on a community event on Saturday, May 23 that includes a free Cincinnati Ballet performance and a guided wellness experience at the Seasongood Pavilion.

Before the performance, guests are invited for optional guided wellness walk led by Dr. Barbara Walker of the Osher Center at 4 p.m., following the performance with Derek Scacchetti with Urban Rangers at 7 p.m., or explore the self-guided route around Mirror Lake and Tom Jones Commons at their own pace. Along the way, interactive signage with QR codes will demonstrate ballet-inspired movements for participants to try themselves before experiencing the Ballet performance at 5:30 p.m.

The event is a gift to the community from The Women’s Committee of Cincinnati Parks in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Featuring a special performance by the Cincinnati Ballet Academy Professional Training Division at Seasongood Pavilion, the evening will celebrate the connection between wellness, creativity and the outdoors through dance, walking and guided conversation as part of the award-winning Cincinnati Parks + Rec for Wellness, an initiative powered by the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Parks + Rec for Wellness is a free, citywide initiative supported by Cincinnati Parks Foundation in partnership with Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Recreation Commission along with many community organizations. The program connects people to nature, movement and community through free experiences in Cincinnati Parks. This interactive experience is designed to encourage movement, play and connection while bringing together wellness, public art and performance in one of Cincinnati’s most iconic parks.

From dance and nature to movement and mindfulness, this evening is designed to celebrate the many ways Cincinnati Parks can bring people together.