CINCINNATI -- Soar with the performance of tenor Andrea Bocelli, find a rare craft beer at Rhinegeist, and sample some of the best food in the Queen City during the 15th annual Friends & Family SIDS Brunch this weekend.
Pete Yorn 'You & Me Solo Acoustic Tour': 8 p.m. Thursday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $30 advance; $35 day of show. Fan of longtime indie rocker Pete Yorn won't want to miss his intimate acoustic performance in the Taft Theatre's ballroom. This is a standing-only show. tafttheatre.org
RuPaul’s 'Drag Race – Werq the World Tour': 9 p.m. Thursday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $42.50-$153.75. Prepare for a colorful and lively performance when stars from "RuPaul's Drag Race" reality-television show takes the stage at the Aronoff's Procter & Gamble Hall. Season 10 winner Aquaria along with runner-ups Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, and Eureka and Season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen will perform. www.cincinnatiarts.org
Andrea Bocelli: 8 p.m. Friday. US Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Downtown. $79-$359. Legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli will raise the roof during his performance at US Bank Arena this Friday. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the May Festival Chorus will join the Grammy-nominated singer on stage for this very special event. usbankarena.com
Celtic Thunder 'X Tour': 8 p.m. Friday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $32.50-$54.50. The five-man phenomenon, Celtic Thunder, is visiting Cincinnati as part of its "X Tour." The group will perform new music from its new(ish) double CD "X," which was released in March. tafttheatre.org
Social Distortion: 8 p.m. Friday. Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Corryville. $39.50. Bask in some old-school punk rock when Social Distortion visits Bogart's this Friday. The band gained plenty of fame after their breakout 1983 hit "Mommy's Little Monster." www.bogarts.com
Comedian George Lopez: 8 p.m. Saturday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St. Downtown. $39-$69. George Lopez should be a familiar face to most people. The multi-talented comedian has hosted a late-night cable television talk show and starred in six seasons of the ABC sitcom named after him. And you'll definitely want to see Lopez again when he performs at the Taft. tafttheatre.org
The Heart of Don Quixote: 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $14-$107. Chase windmills this weekend when the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by Louis Langrée performs Telemann's "Don Quixote Suite" and Richard Strauss' "Don Quixote." Puerto Rican composer and CSO Principal Viola Christian Colberg will also perform his own "Viola Concerto." www.cincinnatisymphony.org
Black Bike Weekend: 7-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Multiple locations. The second annual Red Bike & Green Black Bike Weekend kicks off Friday with a bike party. The ride check-in starts at 7 p.m. with riders rolling out at 8 p.m. from 3494 Reading Road in Avondale. Saturday events include a morning ride starting at 9 a.m. from South Avondale Elementary School at 636 Prospect Place, followed by the 100 Blacks on Bikes Community Ride from the same location in the afternoon. Red Bike is providing 100 bikes for the later ride. There is a $5 fee to rent a bike at check-in, which begins at 1 p.m. There will also be a bike expo from noon-5 p.m. Saturday and an open bike shop event from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at MoBo Bicycle Co-Op, located at 1415 Knowlton St. in Northside. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
The City Flea: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Washington Park, 130 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. Let's cross our fingers and hope any rain headed our way ends early Saturday morning. If it does, the weather should be perfect for the first fall edition of the City Flea at Washington Park. The vendors at this monthly urban flea market sell unique local items that appeal to everyone. The park's craft beer deck should be open and food vendors present as well. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
Books by the Banks 2018: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. Free. Lovers of the written word, this event is for you. Books by the Banks returns to the Duke Energy Convention Center on Saturday. The annual book festival will feature national, regional and local authors and illustrators; book signings; panel discussions, and activities for the entire family to enjoy. More importantly, two of my favorite WCPO colleagues, reporter Lucy May and illustrator Kevin Necessary, will be signing copies of their children's book "My Friend Fiona" during the event. There will be a limited number of books for sale at the festival. You can also purchase the book online. booksbythebanks.org
Falling for Wiedemann Fall Festival: 4-11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; Noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Wiedemann's Fine Beer, 4811 Vine St., Saint Bernard. The finest of craft beers will be on tap this weekend during Wiedemann Brewing Co.'s inaugural fall festival. The three-day event will feature Wiedemann's full lineup of craft brews, plus guest taps with season beers from Brink, Fretboard, Listermann, Municipal Brew Works and Wooden Cask breweries. Bands will also perform each day of the festival. And Wiedemann's kitchen will kick off Saturday and Sunday festivities by serving kegs-n-eggs. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
HallowEve Brew Bash: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday. Ault Park Pavilion, 5090 Observatory Circle, Mount Lookout. $25. Halloween festivities are in full swing this weekend thanks to events like this one. For $25, enjoy 10 five-ounce craft beer tastings, enjoy a free performance by Gee Your Band Smells Terrific, and food available for purchase from Family Treats & Grill on Wheels. And make sure to come dressed up for the costume party portion of this event. www.aultparkac.org
Rhinegeist Rare Beer Fest 2018: Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Saturday. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $40 general admission; $65 VIP. Craft beer fans rejoice. Rare Beer Fest returns to the Rhinegeist taproom with two tasting sessions this weekend. The first session begins at noon and the second at 6 p.m. General admission to either session includes 10 five-ounce samples and a tasting notebook. VIP tickets include 10 five-ounce samples, a tasting notebook, commemorative festival glass, four additional tastings accompanied by food pairings and exclusive information sessions with various brewery reps. Approximately 50 breweries will be represented at the event. rhinegeist.com
15th annual Friends & Family SIDS Brunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, 3520 Central Parkway, Clifton. $75 adult; $45 young adult; $25 child. Indulge in some of the best culinary creations the Queen City has to offer while helping to end sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). More than 30 local restaurants, bars, food vendors and liquor outlets will cater the 15th annual Friends & Family SIDS Brunch benefiting the de Cavel Family SIDS Foundation. www.eatplaygive.net
Pet Sematary Halloween Pawty: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. The Righteous Room, 641 Walnut St., Downtown. 21 and up. Bring your pup to The Righteous Room for a dog-friendly Pet Sematary Halloween Pawty. The bar has teamed up with Urbana Cafe to create three specialty coffee cocktails. A dollar from each cocktail sold will be donated to the SPCA Cincinnati. There will also be a photo booth and pup costume contest. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
Fall Food Fest: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. $2-$20. Findlay Market will be a cornucopia of fall flavors when it hosts its annual Fall Food Fest this weekend. A long list of Findlay vendors will offer samples of seasonal treats throughout the day. The Biergarten will be open and debut a new bourbon cider cocktail. There will also be live music starting at 10:30 a.m. Food sampling tickets start at $2 for one ticket, $10 for six tickets, or $20 for 15 tickets. www.findlaymarket.org
