CINCINNATI — Pigs will fly, the zoo will celebrate its babies and people will party in the Queen City as horses run for roses this weekend.
COMMUNITY
Zoo Babies: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-May 31. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. $9-$16.50. Who doesn't love seeing little bundles of joy, weather they're covered in fur, feathers or scales? The best part of Zoo Babies is the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden doesn't charge extra for all of the oohs and aahs and squees it provides during the month of May. cincinnatizoo.org
Salsa on the Square: 7-10 p.m. Thursday. Foutain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. Salsa on the Square, an annual weekly warm-weather concert series returns to Fountain Square this Thursday. The event will feature Latin bands, local dance instructors, food and cold drinks each Thursday through Sept. 26. myfountainsquare.com
Oakley After Hours: 5-9 p.m. Friday. Oakley Square, 2980 Madison Road, Oakley. Free. The Oakley Community Council will host its first Oakley After Hours party of the season this Friday at the Geier Esplanade in Oakley Station. This fun, monthly community event includes live music, MadTree craft beer and family activities. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
The 21st Flying Pig Marathon: Friday-Sunday. Multiple locations, Downtown. Prices vary. The Flying Pig has grown into more than just a marathon. This weekend will be filled with events, starting with Friday's Fifty West Mile race from Longworth Hall to Mehring Way near the John A. Roebling Bridge. Festivities start back up Saturday morning with a 10K race at 8 a.m., followed by a 5K race, children's 26th mile, PigAbilities and Flying Fur events. The weekend culminates with the Flying Pig Marathon and Paycor Half Marathon, which both begin at 6:30 a.m. Sunday on Mehring Way near the Roebling Bridge. For those participating in any of the above events, the P&G Health and Fitness Expo runs from noon-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday in Halls A-C of the Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. The expo is where people will want to pick up race packets. flyingpigmarathon.com
May the Fourth Be With You: 5-11 p.m. Saturday. Brew House, 1047 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. Free. A brave band of local artists and Star Wars fans will once again gather at the Brew House for Episode IV of "May the Fourth: An Art Tribute Show" this Saturday. Each piece of Star Wars-inspired art by the more than two dozen artists will be available for purchase and on display until May 31. A portion of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the Force For Change charity. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Cincy-Cinco 2019: Noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. The Queen City's largest Latino cultural festival returns to Fountain Square this weekend. The 16th annual Cincy-Cinco Mucha Fiesta is a family-friendly event that will feature a children's area with a flower pot decorating station for Mother's Day, games, raffles, pinatas, cake and a parade of Cincinnati's favorite mascots. There will also be live musical performances by local Salsa bands, traditional dancing and a group of Hispanic children playing music on Sunday. "Tacopolis" also returns with a showcase of authentic eats from local Latino restaurants on the square. cincy-cinco.com
Food & Drink
Coppin's Courtyard + Walk Up Grand Opening: 5-9 p.m. Thursday. Coppin's at Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., Covington. Coppin's at Hotel Covington is planning a party in its courtyard to celebrate the return of outdoor cocktail sipping season. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Cinco de Mayo at Condado Tacos: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Condado Taco, 195 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Condado Tacos at the Banks is celebrating Cinco de Mayo all weekend with $1-off house margaritas, $20 house margaritas pitchers, $3 draft cerveza and$5 Mi Campo Reposado tequila shots. The restaurant will also give away five $100 gift cards each day. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Big Band & Bourbon: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday. La Salle High School, 3091 North Bend Road, Green Township. $50. Spend your Saturday evening celebrating the biggest annual event in the Bluegrass without crossing the Ohio River during La Salle High School's Big Band & Bourbon Derby Day event. The evening includes an open bar, dance floor, games and betting booths, a Velvet Smoke BBQ buffet dinner, Kentucky Derby viewing and music by the P&G Big Band and La Salle's jazz band. www.lasallehs.net
The Urban Derby Experience: 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Union Hall, 1311 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. $85 in advance; $100 at the door. The annual Urban Derby Experience offers a unique urban twist on the typical Kentucky Derby watch-party. This Saturday's experience will focus on the food, fashion and fun of the Derby. It will feature an open bar with beer provided by Rhinegeist, festive bourbon drinks and signature sangria cocktails by Revel Urban Winery. There will also be plenty of delicious eats and desserts. This year's Urban Derby will benefit the Elementz Youth Art Center in Over-the-Rhine, which fosters creative self-expression of Cincinnati's youth. elementz.regfox.com
Bakersfield OTR Buck's Badass Bash: Noon-10 p.m. Sunday. Parking Lot, 1202 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. This event was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday. Come out and enjoy music, food and fun in Over-the-Rhine on Sunday during Bakersfield OTR's 8th annual Buck's Badass Bash. Bakersfield's margaritas, beer and food, along with CityBird Tenders. There will also be street performers, a photobooth, CityFlea vendors and face painters on hand. The best part? The bash's benefits help fund the continued upkeep of Washington Park. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Music & More
"Dear Evan Hansen:" 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Tickets start at $35. "Dear Evan Hansen" is part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati series. The winner of six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, tells the story of Evan Hansen and the one thing he's always wanted, the chance to fit in. Performances of the musical at the Aronoff continue through Sunday, May 12. cincinnatiarts.org
An Evening with Nnedi Okorafor: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown. $5. Meet award-winning novelist Nnedi Okorafor during this very special event taking place at the Main Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Thursday evening. Okorafor writes African-based science fiction, fantasy and magical realism for children and adults. She has most recently authors the "Black Panther" Marvel comic and also authored a spin-off graphic novel, "Wakanda Forever." A book signing will follow Okorafor's presentation. foundation.cincinnatilibrary.org
The Mixtape Tour featuring NKOB: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $29.95-$159.95. Try not to get whiplash as you travel way back with New Kids on the Block, Salt N Pepa, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Naughty by Nature Thursday evening at U.S. Bank Arena. These classic late 1980s/early 1990s groups are in town for their 2019 Mixtape Tour. Ah, the memories that will be shared during this headline music event. usbankarena.com
Funny as Ish Comedy Tour: 8 p.m. Friday. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $56-$129. If hopping into the way-back machine with New Kids on the Block isn't your thing, how about going to U.S. Bank Arena Friday night for a good laugh? Comedian Mike Epps will share the stage with Rickey Smiley, DC Young Fly, Lavell Crawford and Sommore for the Funny as Ish Comedy Tour. usbankarena.com
Trifonov plays Beethoven's "Emperor:" 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $15 students; $15 first-timers; limited number of Pay What You Wish tickets. Guest pianist Daniil Trifonov will perform John Adams' "Tromba lontana," Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor," Arvo Pärt's "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" and Stravinsky's "Symphony in C." Conductor Louis Langrée will lead the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. cincinnatisymphony.org
