CORRECTION: An earlier entry reported the Cincinnati Reds would host a special screening of "The Sandlot" at Great American Ball Park following the team's 7:10 p.m. Friday game against the Chicago Cubs. The date of the screening was incorrectly shared in a press release provided by the movie's distributor. The Reds provided the correct date for the free movie screening. The team will screen "The Sandlot" on Friday, Sept. 14 at the ballpark. The movie's director David Mickey Evan will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Friday's game.
Mainstrasse Maifest
There is no clearer sign that festival season has arrived than the Mainstrasse Maifest, which is the first major event held in Covington's Mainstrasse Village every year. Maifest features food, beer, crafts and entertainment the entire weekend. New to the 39th annual event will be a bungee cord flight attraction located near the railroad overpass at Sixth Street.
5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Mainstrasse Village, 63 Main St., Covington. Free. www.mainstrasse.org
I Hear Music in the Air
Spend a weekend being both entertained and uplifted at the "I Hear Music in the Air" gospel conference. The weekend will begin Friday evening with a concert by gospel singer Tasha Cobb-Leonard and special guests Lexi, "Sunday Best" winner Joshua Rogers, Morris Mingo and the One Voice Ensemble. Festivities will continue Saturday throughout Greater Cincinnati at Cove 51 and the Word of Deliverance Church. The conference concludes Sunday with the IHM Legends Ball at the Sharonville Convention Center. Each event is individually priced.
Concert: 8 p.m. Friday. Inspiration Baptist Church, 11450 Sebring Drive, Forest Park. $30-$50. For Saturday and Sunday event details and pricing visit ihearmusicintheair.com.
Midwest Regional Sweet & Natural Fest
The festival celebrates ethnic beauty, culture and community. The day will include music, an AfroSwag Fashion Show, Cultural Market Place, product swaps and vendors.
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir Spring Concert
Celebrate 35 years of music and social justice activism on Saturday with Muse Cincinnati's Women's Choir's spring concert at Memorial Hall. The celebration will present commissioned works and musical arrangements, an Enduring Spirit Award presentation honoring the late Maureen Wood and the premiere of a newly commissioned piece created and performed by Siri Imani, a local poet and activist.
2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $10-$20. www.memorialhallotr.com
Zoo La La
Line up a babysitter and leave the kids at home before heading to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on Friday evening. Zoo La La is an age-21-and-up event in the zoo's Africa area that features live entertainment, food from local restaurants, cocktails, a raffle and animal encounters. The mission of the evening is to raise money for the Living Classroom Education Fund, which provides free field trips to schools in need.
7-11 p.m. Friday. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. $100-$150. cincinnatizoo.org
Buckeye BBQ Fest
The Buckeye BBQ Fest has something for everyone: 15 barbecue vendors, 99 kegs of beer, sweet treats and classic cars on display. There will be blues bands playing live music, a kids zone with bouncy rides all weekend and a petting zoo from noon-9 p.m. Saturday. Buckle up and plan to make a trip to West Chester this weekend.
5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 pm. Saturday. The Square at Union Center, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester. $5; free for children under 12. www.buckeyebbqfest.org
Coasterstock
Who is ready to ride this weekend? The fourth annual Coasterstock will take place Friday and Saturday at Kings Island. This is the perfect event for roller coaster fanatics, giving them the chance for exclusive morning and night ride sessions on rides such as the Beast, Banshee, Diamondback and Mystic Timbers. There also will be behind-the-scenes experience, unlimited digital photos and guest speakers during Coasterstock. The event includes two-day admission to Kings Island, unlimited soft drinks, free parking, an event lanyard, a T-shirt and meals in the park's Picnic Grove.
8 a.m.-midnight Friday; 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. $41 for Kings Island Gold and Cedar Fair Platinum pass holders; $81 for non-Gold and Platinum pass holders. www.visitkingsisland.com
May Festival
May Festival is definitely not to be confused with the Mainstrasse Maifest. The musical extravaganza returns to Music Hall with a special Friday evening performance of Verdi's "Requiem" with conductor Eun Sun Kim. The festival will continue Saturday and Sunday with concerts, followed by performances on May 25-26.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $15-$99. www.mayfestival.com
OTR 5K: A Summer Celebration
The OTR 5K Summer Celebration is one of my favorite events at Washington Park. The party will begin Friday with a neighborhood celebration and pick back up Saturday morning with a 3.2-mile run/walk and the first City Flea of the summer season, which begins at 10 a.m. There also will be a kids race, live music, drinks and food.
4-10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. washingtonpark.org
The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour
It's hard to not recognize actor and comedian Kevin Hart. The animated Hart has appeared in dozens of hit movies such as the 2017 reboot of "Jumanji" with Dwayne Johnson, wrote a New York Times best-selling memoir and sold out venues around the world during his stand-up comedy tours. He will bring his humor to U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday. Go for a guaranteed good laugh.
7 p.m. Saturday. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $39-$129. usbankarena.com
