CINCINNATI — Say goodbye to 2018 in style with these great weekend events.
Food & Drink
BrewRiver Creole Kitchen Grand Opening: 4 p.m.-midnight Friday. BrewRiver Creole Kitchen, 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood. The wait is over and it's time to try some savory new dishes at the BrewRiver Creole Kitchen. Join BrewRiver's owner and staff as they celebrate the relocation and expansion of the former BrewRiver GastroPub. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Year's End Customer Appreciation Party: Noon-11:30 p.m. Saturday. Darkness Brewing, 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue. Free. Darkness Brewing has a full day of fun planned for all of its loyal customers. There will be $2 and $3 beers, $8 and $10 growler fills, $5 t-shirts and a few surprises while supplies last. SEA Cuisine Food Truck will serve lunch and dinner. Then starting at 8 p.m. there will be stand up comedy, karaoke and live art. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
New Year's Eve Parties: There are multiple opportunities to welcome the new year with family, friends and strangers Monday evening. While it may be too late to get entry into some, there will likely be a place or two in this comprehensive event guide where you'll be able to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new.
Community
Holiday Events: This is your last weekend to enjoy a host of annual holiday events in Greater Cincinnati. Displays such as the Holiday in Lights in Sharon Woods, the PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Winterfest at Kings Island will be turning off their holiday lights once the new year is rung in on Jan. 1. So, check out this holiday guide and see how many places you can visit before they are gone for another year.
Music & More
"Crystal" by Cirque Du Soleil: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. $65-$125. High-flying Cirque Du Soleil returns to US Bank Arena with a new show to close out the old year. "Crystal" follows the lead character through her exhilarating tale of self-discovery and imagination. usbankarena.com
Damon Williams: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. Funny Bone, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. $20-$50. 21 and older. Laugh 2018 out the door with the comedic stylings of Damon Williams. The comedian broke onto the national stage on BET in 1994, performed as the opening act for the "Kings of Comedy Tour" and has traveled the country ever since. liberty.funnybone.com
GWAR: 8 p.m. Friday. Bogart's, 2621 Short Vine St., Corryville. $19. Had enough holiday cheer? Then GWAR's performance may be the best alternative for you. The fully costumed heavy-metal band promises to deliver an out of this world show that's part of its tour promoting its latest album, "The Blood of Gods." www.bogarts.com
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets": 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $39-$105. Experience "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" on screen above the stage while the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performs John Williams’ unforgettable score to the movie. cincinnatisymphony.org
The Menus at Belterra Park: 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday. Belterra Park, 6301 Kellogg Road, Anderson Township. Free. Watch Cincinnati's legendary cover band, The Menus perform a free show at Stadium Sports Bar located inside the casino. For more information visit the event Facebook page. And if you can't make it to Belterra Saturday evening, The Menus will perform another free show from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday at Jack Casino. Tap here for details about Sunday's gig.
Chase Rice "Eyes On You Tour": 8 p.m. Sunday. Bogart's, 2621 Short Vine St., Corryville. $32. Country music maverick Chase Rice will bring his "Eyes On You Tour" to Bogart's Sunday night. www.bogarts.com
Rumpke Mountain Boys: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley. $15 advance; $20 day-of-show. Consider this a prelude to New Year's Eve. The Rumpke Mount Boys will perform with Arlo McKinley and Hot Brown Smackdown Sunday evening before returning to the 20th Century Theater for the annual New Year's Eve bash. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
