CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Music Festival is back this year after in-person shows were canceled due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
The festival weekend — which is full of tons of events — draws thousands of people to the region each year and has an economic impact of $107 million.
Concerts will take place at The Andrew J Brady Music Center on Thursday and at Paul Brown Stadium Friday and Saturday. Janet Jackson is set to headline Saturday, and there will also be music from Ari Lennox, Fantasia, Charlie Wilson and more.
Visit Cincy is also launching a new speaker series, the Vibe Speaker Series, that is taking place during the festival too.
In past years, the festival has drawn roughly 83,000 people each night, bringing in $107 million to the city. More than 90,000 tickets have already been sold this year.
"83,000 per night, is what we're looking at, which happened in 2017, 2018, 2019," said Jason Dunn, Visit Cincy's group vice president for diversity, equity & inclusion. "We believe the numbers will be bigger this year."
Many industries, including hospitality, took a hit during the years the festival was canceled because many benefit from the money the festival brings in.
“Hotels, we have transportation, you have people whom are doing entertainment,” he said. “You have bands and you have restaurants. You have persons who are buying clothes. You have folks who are just coming to get some ice cream.”
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Dunn said this year's festival will do more than just bring great music talent and entertainment to Cincinnati.
“I believe that this weekend is going to help restart, empower, encourage, inspire,” Dunn said. “But more importantly, bring people back together.”
The music festival isn't the only event bringing people together this weekend. Food trucks will line Fifth Street for Cincy Soul: The Black Taste, which highlights local Black-owned restaurants, as well as live music and events all weekend on Fountain Square.
"It is such a rush," Cincy Soul event coordinator Shawnise Lewis said. "It is a community coming together and it is powerful."
Festival 513 is also back for its 16th year.
"We have local and national stars and entertainers, and we also have merchants from all over the place," said Toilynn Onal Turner, event coordinator of Vibe Cincinnati.
Portions of Freedom way, Race Street, Rosa Parks Street and Ted Berry Way will be closed through 6 p.m. Sunday evening. Organizers said it's great to finally be back after the pandemic.
"Well, it's definitely time," Turner said. "We're more than ready to celebrate our region. We're more than happy to celebrate our local and national talent and celebrate African American culture in the midst of the city."
Cincinnati Music Festival tickets are still available online and can be purchased here. You can also check out the full list of events here.
