Celebrate Hispanic heritage, German roots and the Harvest Home Fair while sipping wine, learning survival skills, rocking out and supporting the local film industry this weekend.
FOOD & DRINK
Hispanic Heritage Month Biergarten Bash: 4-8 p.m. Friday. Findlay Market Biergarten, Elm and West Elder streets, Over-the-Rhine. September is Hispanic Heritage Month and Findlay Market will celebrate all the wonderful Hispanic countries and cultures during this month's Biergarten Bash. The evening will feature beer from Rhinegeist and Christian Moerlein Brewing Co., music from DJ Andres Bautista, the Colombian Refajo cocktail, an arepa-making demonstration from the Arepa Place and dancing. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Covington Oktoberfest: 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Goebel Park, 501 Philadelphia St., Covington. Free. Many feared last year’s Oktoberfest in Mainstrasse Village was Covington’s last after the festival’s organizing association filed for bankruptcy. Worry no more! Lift a stein to Braxton Brewing Co. for stepping up to sponsor Covington’s Oktoberfest this year. There will be beer, music and food as always. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Art & Wine Festival: 6-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township. Free. Vinoklet Winery will celebrate 21 years of amazing festivals this weekend when its annual Art & Wine Festival returns to the vineyard. There will be wine tastings, food, live music, food booths, beer, dancing and shopping throughout all three days of this event. www.vinokletwines.com
A Taste of Harrison: 4-10 p.m. Saturday. The District, Harrison Avenue, Harrison. Free. The Taste of Harrison will return to the 100 and 200 blocks of Harrison Avenue with a full slate of delicious local eats, drinks and live music. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Wine Over Water 2019: 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday. Purple People Bridge, 1 Levee Way, Newport. $40-$500. Ages 21 and older only. Wine Over Water returns to the Purple People Bridge to help the Brighton Center’s mission of community outreach and helping women in need. This year’s fundraiser will feature local and international wines, food, live entertainment, great views and a new bourbon tasting booth provided by DEP's Fine Wine and Spirits. www.brightoncenter.com
For the Love of Food: A Free Foodie Fest: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. The Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District, alongside La Soupe, will host this wasted food prevention event, which will feature free food, water, music, games, education booths, cooking demonstrations and giveaways focused on food waste prevention. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
COMMUNITY
Harvest Home Fair: 6-10 p.m. Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Harvest Home Park, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot. The Harvest Home Fair is one of the biggest community events on the west side. This year’s event will be no different when the Harvest Home Parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Harrison and Frances avenues. When the parade ends at Harvest Home Park the four-day fair will begin. www.harvesthomefair.com
Nature After Hours: Survival Skills: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday. Cincinnati Nature Center, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford. $10. Unwind and learn as the Cincinnati Nature Center uncovers local, seasonal and surprising elements of nature. This event features light bites, lively conversation and hands-on activities while immersed in the beauty of the forest and the historic Groesbeck Lodge. This month’s Nature After Hours will include interactive games to test your mettle while investigating basic survival skills. www.cincynaturecenter.com
Rails Trails & Ales Street Festival: 4-11 p.m. Friday; 2-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Downtown Historic Loveland, Railroad Avenue, Loveland. Free. Celebrate the inaugural Rails, Trails & Ales Street Festival in Loveland this weekend. There will be live music, business district specials, dance demonstrations, wine tastings and craft brews each day. www.lovelandoh.gov
Terror Town Grand Opening: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m.-midnight Sunday. Terror Town, 1449 Greenbush Cobb Road, Williamsburg. $25-$40. How much horror can you handle? Terror Town, a new haunted festival, is taking over the Old West Fest fairgrounds starting this weekend. It will continue through the first weekend of November. This ghoulish playground will feature live music, food, drinks, live performances, an outdoor theater and interactive horror games. www.allhallowsevellc.com
Fall Fest: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. WestSide Market, 3719 Harrison Ave., Cheviot. Free. Enjoy a day of browsing the offerings of more than 100 local businesses, enjoying food trucks, fall-themed activities and fun for kids during the WestSide Market’s Fall Fest. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Film Cincinnati's Backlot Party: 6-11 p.m. Saturday. Waypoint Aviation, 4765 Airport Road, East End. $75 general admission; $175 VIP admission. Join Film Cincinnati for its annual fundraising event. This year's Backlot party is themed "Dead Carpet.” The party, which will be hosted in a hanger at Lunken Airport, is adding Halloween flair by inviting everyone to dress in their ghoulishly best attire. www.tickettailor.com
MUSIC & COMEDY
Midwest Funk Fest: 4-9 p.m. Friday. Newport Ultra Lounge, 120 E. Third St., Newport. $20-$250. The inaugural Midwest Funk Fest kicks off Friday in Newport with a music lineup featuring Slave, Young James Brown, Lit Funk Musik, Kevin Hilson and more. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Amos Lee: 8 p.m. Friday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $39.50-$89.50. Soulful singer and songwriter Amos Lee will perform songs from his latest album, “My New Moon,” on the Taft’s main stage. He will be joined by Madison Cunningham, a singer/songwriter inspired by artists such as Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. www.tafttheatre.org
Wale at COPA Lounge: 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday. COPA, 1133 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. $30-$50. Platinum rapper Wale will kick off the weekend when he performs in the newly opened COPA Lounge in Over-the-Rhine. www.copaotr.com
Rick Springfield: 7:30 p.m. Friday. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati. $23.50-$73. Award-winning 1980s pop icon Rick Springfield will bring his "Best in Show Summer Tour” featuring special guests Patty Smyth & Scandal and Greg Kihn to PNC Pavilion. Patrons who purchase tickets to the concert will be treated to a pre-show wine tasting, too. www.riverbend.org
Purple Party on the Rooftop: 6-10 p.m. Saturday. The Summit A Dolce Hotel, 5345 Medpace Way, Madisonville. $25-$225. Take in rooftop vibes during the Purple Party on the Rooftop’s "Vibin' En Violet” event. Radio Black and DJ Ghost will provide the music during this one-of-a-kind event. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
NKY Music Festival: Noon-8 p.m. Saturday. Devou Park Band Shell, 1 Bandshell Blvd., Covington. Free. The 10th annual NKY Music Festival will feature live music from BITS Band, The Head Gaskets, Andyman Hopkins, Chickenbone, The Yield, Shifted Fate and headliners Johnny Fink & the Intrusions. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
The Avett Brothers: 4:10 p.m. Saturday. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. $12-$117. The Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers will perform a live concert from the field Saturday after the Cincinnati Reds take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Americana group will take the stage about 20 minutes after the ballgame ends. Tickets to the game double as concert tickets. www.mlb.com
David Shaw's Big River Get Down: 2-11 p.m. Saturday. RiversEdge, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton. $38.40. Go down by the Great Miami River in Hamilton for a great day of music during David Shaw's Big River Get Down. The Revivalists, War & Treaty, Brent Cobb, Southern Avenue, Neal Francis and Chris Gelbuda will perform. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Brian Regan: 7 p.m. Sunday. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. $39.50-$65. End your weekend on a laugh with comedian Brian Regan at the Taft. “Vanity Fair” recently crowned Regan “the funniest stand-up alive.” www.tafttheatre.org
The Head and The Heart: 8 p.m. Sunday. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati. $23.50-$84.50. The Head and The Heart will roll into Riverbend to support their new album "Living Mirage.” The band will be joined by The Moondoggies. There will be a pre-show wine tasting, too! www.riverbend.org
THE ARTS
"Side by Side by Sondheim”: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $25. Get ready to laugh, cry and fall in love with lyrics that are heartbreakingly true to music that captures the soaring emotions of a generation. Cincinnati Music Theatre presents "Side by Side by Sondheim," a Tony Award-winning musical that is a perfect introduction to the work of a contemporary master and a must for die-hard fans. www.cincinnatiarts.org
“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” with live orchestra: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Tickets start at $25. I’ve got a great feeling about this event. Watch “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” as the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performs the original soundtrack composed by John Williams. www.cincinnatisymphony.org
Bellevue Art in the Park: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Bellevue Beach Park, 100 Ward Ave., Bellevue. Free. Bellevue's Art in the Park will showcase art from local and regional artists, goodies from local restaurants and a children arts and craft area for budding artists. For more information visit the event Facebook page.
Kaleidoscope featuring Leon Bridges: 9 p.m. Saturday. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. $53.74-$153.74. The Aronoff welcomes Grammy Award-winning singer Leon Bridges to Cincinnati for this special performance benefiting Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. Bridges' first strides as a soul-inspired R&B artist prompted comparisons to legends like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, so be prepared for a night of great music. www.cincinnatiarts.org
