Cirque du Soleil: 'Corteo'
The dizzying beauty of Cirque du Soleil arrives at U.S. Bank Arena this weekend with six performances. "Corteo" tells the story of a joyous procession as imagined by a clown through acrobatics, theatrics and world-class stage design.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 3:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $53-$135. usbankarena.com
Zoo Babies
Help the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden welcome its newest bundles of joy this weekend. Six-foot-tall stork statues will guide you to all of the cutest babies throughout the zoo. Make sure to see them now through May 31; these little ones grow up way too fast.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Adults: $17 online or $19 at the gate; children and seniors: $12 online or $13 at the gate. cincinnatizoo.org
Salsa on the Square
Add a little spice to your life at this year's first Salsa on the Square on Thursday evening. The weekly dance event will kick off its 10th anniversary with tips from expert salsa dance instructors, skilled dancers, hot salsa bands and delicious food for sale on the square from Mazunte.
7-10 p.m. Thursday. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. salsaonthesquare.com
Lil Wayne
Cincinnati has experienced a string of great concerts in recent weeks. That trend will continue Friday night when Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Wayne performs at OTR Live. Lil Wayne has won five Grammys, including the 2008 Grammy for best rap album for "The Carter III." This show is a must-see for any fan of great music.
11 p.m. Friday. OTR Live, 209 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. $65 general admission; $90 VIP. Ages 21 and up. For more information visitthe event Facebook page.
May the Fourth events
Heads up, "Star Wars" fans: Punch your weekend into hyperspace with these May the Fourth events.
May the Fourth Art Show: Immerse yourself in the worlds of talented local artists when they display original "Star Wars"-inspired works at the "May the Fourth Be With You Episode III" art show Friday. The art will be displayed at the Brew House in Walnut Hills until June 5. Much of the work also will be available for purchase. Check out a photo gallery of the artwork on display here. Other Walnut Hills businesses also will host special events during the evening. 5-11 p.m. Friday. Brew House, 1047 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Cincinnati Reds 'Star Wars' Package – Celebrate the joys of "Star Wars" at Great American Ball Park when the Cincinnati Reds play the Miami Marlins on Friday. The team will give away Chewbacca bobbleheads to fans who purchased a "Star Wars" ticket package. 7:10 p.m. Friday. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. www.mlb.com
Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Parties
We'll hit the trifecta of fun on Saturday in the Queen City. Local bars, breweries, restaurants and Fountain Square will be hopping with Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby parties. Check out our party guide to help you decide which events to attend.
Johnny Gill
Get into a smooth groove with R&B legend Johnny Gill at Jack Casino. The Grammy Award-nominated singer and member of New Edition will perform at the casino's indoor event center.
8-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Jack Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Downtown. $35. Ages 21 and up. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Bill Maher
Expect some bite when comedian, author and Emmy-nominated TV star Bill Maher takes the stage Saturday at the Taft Theatre. The host of "Real Time with Bill Maher" will bring his biting insights on current events with laughter and his own brand of brutal honesty.
8 p.m. Saturday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $43-$125. tafttheatre.org
Flying Pig Marathon Weekend
Time flies and for the past 20 years so have pigs in the Queen City. Whether you're a runner, walker or spectator, organizers of the Flying Pig Marathon promise a lot of fun as the 26.2-mile race marks its 20th anniversary this weekend. Festivities will kick off 6-11 p.m Friday with a free concert; the Little Kings Mile race and afterparty at 8 p.m.; and the "PiggestRaffle Ever Pig Drop" at 9 p.m.
The party will continue at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Toyota 10K; the Sprint Family Fun Festival from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; and multiple races throughout the day, including the Flying Fur Run at 1:30 p.m.
It all leads up to the opening ceremonies for the 20th annual Flying Pig Marathon and half marathon at 6:15 a.m. Sunday in front of the Christian Moerlein Lager House. The Lager House also will host a viewing breakfast from 6-11 a.m. Sunday.
Friday-Sunday. Multiple events and locations. For more information visit www.flyingpigmarathon.com.
Bonus event #1: Taste of the Jungle
A trip to Jungle Jim's International Market is always an adventure. This Saturday a trip to the Eastgate location will be a safari, too. The market will host an all-ages, free event featuring the store's many departments offering food samples, raffles and kid-friendly activities.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Jungle Jim's International Market, 4450 Eastgate South Drive, Eastgate. junglejims.com
Bonus event #2: WestSide Market
Keep it local on Saturday when the WestSide Market hosts its first pop-up, outdoor event in the heart of Cheviot. The market will feature more than 50 local vendors, food trucks, baked goods, kid-friendly activities and craft beer from West Side Brewing throughout the day.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. WestSide Market, 3719 Harrison Ave., Cheviot. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
