Summer is in full swing and Cincy has so many things to do to keep your mind off the heat! From flea markets to Bengals football to live music and food festivals, and markets, enjoy the best of summer in Cincy. Check out this list of the very best things to do in Cincinnati this August and check out the full Cincinnati events calendar for even more.
Free things to do in August in Cincinnati
Salsa on the Square
Salsa on the Square (Thursdays): This free weekly event at Fountain Square in Cincy features live local and regional Latin bands specializing in the latest Latin moves. Join the two large dance classes that are sure to help you sizzle on the dance floor. Plenty of food and drinks are available for all the hungry dancers.
Friday Flow (Fridays): Washington Park’s free R&B series features a new local or national artist each week. Come early because this is the park’s best-attended music event.
Shakespeare in the Park–Comedy of Errors (Various dates in August): Catch this free performance of one of Shakespeare’s most famous works at a wide variety of parks throughout the Cincy and Northern KY area.
Art After Dark: Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds (8/25): Enjoy Picasso’s first exhibit dedicated to his relationship to landscapes on August 25 from 5-9 p.m. Hosted by the Cincinnati Art Museum, this event is free and features entertainment, food, and drinks available for purchase.
Cinema at Ziegler Park (8/2: You’ve Got Mail, 8/9: TBA, 8/16: Jurassic Park, 8/23: E.T., 8/30: Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade): Bring your picnic baskets, blankets, and sleeping bags to enjoy free movie nights under the stars.
August family-friendly things to do in Cincy
Black Family Reunion
35th Annual Black Family Reunion (8/17-21): Get ready for four days of live music, food, a skating rink, cooking demonstrations, one of the largest parades in the city, a retail market, and much more!
First Flowers featuring Dinosaurs (8/1-10/22): Visit the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park to learn more about prehistoric plants and the living ancestors of the first flowering plants on Earth.
Youth Soccer Night FC Cincinnati 2 vs. New York City FC 2 (8/27): Watch FC Cincinnati 2 as they return to TQL for an exciting match against NYC FC II. The evening also features a family-fun sporting event with a variety of activities before, during, and after the match including soccer challenges, face painting, balloon artists, and a FIFA station.
Trammel Fossil Park: Explore this Sharonville park and discover fossils from more than 440 million years ago. There’s lots to see and do including a fabulous hiking trail with a hilltop view of Cincy. Admission is free.
Sporting and outdoor events in August in Cincy
Red Bull Flutag (photo: Red Bull)
Ohio River Paddlefest (8/5): More than 2,000 participants travel up nine miles of the Ohio River through Cincy/NoKY in canoes, kayaks, and all sorts of human-powered crafts. Don’t miss the largest paddling celebrations in the U.S.
Cincinnati Reds (8/4, 8/5): Reds take on the Washington Nationals at Great American Ballpark. Enjoy an epic fireworks show after the game on Friday, August 4.
Pre-Season Games: Cincinnati Bengals (8/11): Come out and get a sneak peek at this year’s Cincy Bengals as they take on the Green Bay Packers in this pre-season opening game.
Red Bull Flutag (8/12): Meaning “fly day” in German, watch teams of wild engineers and fearless flying pilots launch their creative makeshift machines off a 27-foot-tall flight deck constructed in the Ohio River! Cincinnati is the only Flugtag event that's being held in the United States this year.
2023 LWS Open at Idlewild (8/11-8/13): Make plans to attend the 23rd stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour at one of the nation’s most challenging courses at Idlewild in Burlington, KY. This event will test the best.
Fun Cincinnati festivals in August
Washington Park (Photo: Byron Photography)
August Summer Music Fest in Alt Park (8/17): Take part in this 20+ Cincy tradition and support the park in a fun way by enjoying the sounds of local musicians. Proceeds from food and drink sales benefit the park.
Indian Film Festival Cincinnati (8/17-8/20): This three-day fest embraces the spirit of local talent and creativity from a variety of Ohio filmmakers.
Jazz at the Park (Mondays through 10/30): Local and regional jazz acts showcase the finest of Cincy’s rich jazz experience at this free concert at Washington Park Porch.
Voices of America Country Music Fest (8/10-13): Four days of live performance in West Chester for this gathering of country music’s legendary performers and the hottest new starts.
Foodie events in Cincy this August
Goetta Fest
Glier’s Goettafest (8/3-8/6): The free, final weekend features a “celebration of all things goetta” plus live music and lots of fun for the whole family and the Cincy area goetta groupies.
Summer Sips–Vodka, Gin, and Tequila Tasting Event (8/4): This tantalizing tasting fundraiser to support Ault Park features 7 one-ounce tastings from more than 40 clear and infused vodkas, gins, and tequilas. There are plenty of mixers to concoct your own signature drink and plenty of snacks. Live music and local food trucks are on hand to complete the evening.
Great Inland Seafood Festival (8/10-8/13): Don’t miss four days of live music, cold beverages, and a delicious sampling of seafood at Newport on the Levee in NKY. This fan-favorite food fest features a large variety of menu items from local restaurants and food vendors.
Walnut Hills Food & Drink Tour (8/19): Explore one of Cincy’s oldest and most eclectic neighborhoods one bite at a time. Taste samples from local eateries and taste local craft beers during this three-hour tour.
Shopping in Cincy in August
City Flea
Flea in the Fort (8/6): This free, handmade artisan craft show inside the Tower Park in Fort Thomas, KY, features more than 70 local vendors. Spend the day wandering through more than 70 local makers’ booths while enjoying snacks from local food trucks and drinks from Kentucky’s West Sixth Brewery. snacking from local food trucks
City Flea (8/12): Don’t miss this monthly flea, vintage, and maker’s market in Cincy’s Washington Park. A local favorite since 2011, this curated urban shopping extravaganza helps keep your dollars local and supports small businesses along the way. You’ll find everything from pimento cheese to pottery and lots more.
O.F.F. Market (8/12): This monthly market brings Cincy’s small businesses, artisans, bakers, farmers, brewers, and more to this unique shopping experience at Summit Park. There are plenty of activities for everyone with multiple playgrounds, fishing ponds, bars and restaurants, and walking trails nearby.
Looking for even more things to do in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky during August, check out our full Cincy events calendar for an updated and complete list of everything happening in the area. Start planning your visit to Cincy now!
