April Family Fun in Cincinnati & NKY {2018}

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Zoo Blooms 

April 1-30
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Daily 10am-5pm
FREE with Zoo admission

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will transform into a magnificent explosion of color when Zoo Blooms kicks off this spring. The zoo promises to be a palette of artistic color with a combination of more than 80,000 tulips. As one of only two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio, the Cincinnati Zoo offers one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest. Dubbed “Tulip Mania,” Zoo Blooms will also feature more than one million daffodils, hyacinths, flowering tress, shrubs and other spring bulbs exploding with color.

Findlay Market Opening Day Parade 

April 2
Findlay Market
1801 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12pm
FREE admission

Since 1920, this parade has made its way from Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine through the streets of downtown each spring to kick off the Cincinnati Reds baseball season. Bring a chair and some noise makers and make a party of it at either Washington Park or Fountain Square as the parade passes by. The celebration continues throughout the day at Fountain Square with concessions and watching the game on the big screen. Show your Reds pride or be wowed by everyone else’s and join in the fun!

Opening Day Parade Party 

April 2
Washington Park
1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11am-4pm
FREE admission

Join us as we honor Cincinnati’s favorite tradition with a fun-filled Opening Day Parade Celebration in Washington Park! Festivities begin Monday, April 2, at 11:00am with fun games and live music. The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade kicks off at noon and will pass by Washington Park on Race Street as it makes its way through the city. Be sure to get there early for prime seating! The sidewalk fills up quickly! Stick around after the procession for even more music, family-friendly activities, cold beverages, and delicious food options. Additionally, the Southwest Porch Bar will be selling beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks and water all day!

Astronomy Friday 

April 2, 9, 16, & 23
Cincinnati Observatory Center
3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208
8-9:30pm
$7, $5 ages under 18; FREE for Observatory members; Please call 513.321.5186 for reservations

In awe with the beauty of the night sky? Have questions about the Universe? This is where you can get the answers. Astronomy Fridays include short presentations on a wide variety of topics and plenty of time for your astro questions. Tour of the Cincinnati Observatory, which as a National Historic Landmark played an important role in the history of Cincinnati and our nation. Once dark, we will view the Moon, planets and deep space treasures through the historic 1845 telescope. (The program is held rain or shine; telescope viewing if clear skies). The topics and the night sky change week-to-week/month-to-month so you can visit often to hear and see something new.

REC Reads 

Wednesdays
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11:30am-12pm
FREE

Bring your toddlers or preschoolers to the Rosenthal Education Center for a morning of art-themed storybooks, songs, and sensory activities. This 30 minute program will get your little one excited about art in a fun and interactive way.

Taft Jr.: All Things Nature 

April 5
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11:15am-12:15pm$10 non-members in advance (includes Museum admission), $12 day of program, FREE for Taft member; Information & registration: [email protected] or (513)684-4517.

Spring is in the air at the Taft! Hear a story about the life of a tree, look for the different kinds of plant life in a painting, and create a nature artwork in the Taft’s garden.


Make & Take Workshops: Wine Bottle Succulent Gardens

April 5 & 7
Delhi Flower and Garden Center
6282 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Township, OH 45044
2pm or 6pm, depending on the class
Prices vary by the activity and the plants you include.

This is nothing short of brilliant. This “make & take” workshop combines the simple beauty of succulents (which we love because of how easy they are to care for!) with the repurposing of old wine bottles (which we love because – well wine… but also because repurposing is good for the Earth!) This sounds like a great excuse to get together with your girlfriends and spend some time recharging those batteries. The icing on the cake is being able to walk away with this unique planter that will make the perfect conversation piece for your summer table.


Tunes & Blooms

April 5, 12, 19, & 26
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220
5-9pm
FREE admission after 5pm; Parking $10

See a collection of Cincinnati’s finest and most respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens. On Thursdays during Tunes & Blooms admission is free after 5pm! Why tip-toe through the tulips when you can rock the garden?

Family Series: Beauty & The Beast 

April 6-8
Cincinnati Ballet
1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214
Various day and evening performances
Tickets start at $20

Beautiful dance, vibrant costumes and engaging narration give new exhilaration to this beloved family-friendly fairytale. Featuring the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company and students of the Otto M. Budig Academy, this cherished production about finding true love is sure to delight people of all ages and quickly become a new family tradition!

Family First Saturdays: Under The Big Top 

April 7
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12-4pm
FREE

Designed with the whole family in mind! Performances, artist demonstrations, storytelling, scavenger hunts, tours, and hands-on art making activities are just the start of the fun for the whole family. There’s a different theme each month, so be sure to come to everyone, and bring your best friends! Come take part in our Circus during this month’s Family First. Lions, tigers, bears, oh my!

Family Performance Series: Rapunzel 

April 7  (Various other dates, times, and locations through May 20
Oxford Community Arts Center
10 S. College Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056
2-3m
FREE; recommended for ages 4 and up

Presented by Cincinnati Playhouse. Young Rapunzel lives in a tower with her overprotective grandmother, safe from the dangers of the world. As her curiosity about the outside grows, Rapunzel meets Rafi, a local boy whose friendship finally gives her the courage to be free.

Linton PB&J Concert: Madcap Music-Making: The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk 

April 7
Heritage Presbyterian Church in Mason
6546 S. Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040
10-10:45am & 11:30am-12:15pm
$6 for an individual ticket (child or adult); $20 for a Flexible Ticket Book (4 tickets)

April 17
Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church
6474 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230
10-10:45am & 11:30am-12:15pm
$6 for an individual ticket (child or adult); $20 for a Flexible Ticket Book (4 tickets)

April 21
Pilgrim United Church of Christ – West Side Location
4418 Bridgetown, Road, Cincinnati, OH 45211
10-10:45am & 11:30am-12:15pm
$6 for an individual ticket (child or adult); $20 for a Flexible Ticket Book (4 tickets)

The violin, cello, piano and Madcap Puppets tell the story of Jack and the Beanstalk through the music of Schubert! Don’t miss the music, storytelling, and warm & fuzzy fun!

Monster Jam Triple Threat Series 

April 7 & 8
U.S. Bank Arena
100 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Saturday 1pm & 7pm, Sunday 1pm
$16.50-$71.50

Witness monster trucks push their limits in a larger-than-life spectacle for all ages.

Mary Poppins Jr.: The Musical presented by the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

March 7-8 & 13-15
Taft Theatre
317 E. Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Various Performances
$10-$30

The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft.

Second Sunday Family Showtime: BAILA! Kids Latino Dances 

April 8
Clifton Cultural Arts Center
3711 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220
2-3pm
FREE for kids, $5 for adults

Presented by Cincinnati Baila! Dance Academy. Prepare to be delighted with a taste of everything our Hispanic heritage has to offer! You will see folkloric dancing, merengue, flamenco, and Sonora bronco rhythms.

The King and I 

April 10-22
Aronoff Center
650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Various evening and matinee performances
Tickets start at $30

Two worlds collide in the Lincoln Center Theater production of this “breathtaking and exquisite” (The New York Times) musical, directed by Bartlett Sher. One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s finest works, THE KING AND I boasts a score that features such beloved classics as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” and “Something Wonderful.” Presented by Broadway in Cincinnati.
Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.


Make & Take Workshops: Spring Porch Pot Planting

April 12, 14, 19 & 21
Delhi Flower and Garden Center
6282 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Township, OH 45044
2pm or 6pm, depending on the class
Prices vary by the activity and the plants you include.

Eventually, the weather WILL decide to move past the snow and chill and when it does, it will be nice to have some color and LIFE outside on the porch with you. We love the simplicity of these “make & take” spring workshops because not only do you get to leave with something pretty, but for those who were not blessed with a green thumb, you get to utilized the experts at the garden center to help you create the perfect porch masterpiece.


Sensory Story Time 

April 11 & 25
Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore
3094 Madison Road, Oakley, OH 45209
2:30-3pm
$5 per child; designed for ages 18 months to 3 years; preregistration is required due to limited space

Join our friend Miss Jesika for stories and fun sensory play!

ROKCINCY presents: Trip Jones and the Case of the Missing Music 

April 14
Boone County Pulblic Library – Scheben Branch
8899 U.S. 42, Union, KY 41091
2pm
FREE

Help solve the mystery of the Diva’s missing music in this choose-your-own-adventure opera.

3rd Sunday Fundays: Wacky Art 

April 15
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
1-4pm
FREE

Join us for a wacky day this funday! Solve art puzzles at the Art Cart, and find new and silly ways to look at the Taft’s artworks. Sculpt your own Dr. Seuss-inspired character to take home, and at 2 p.m., The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati on Tour will get you in a crazy mood with a performance of Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. Stop by the petting zoo at 3 p.m. and meet a kangaroo from Honey Hill Farm.

Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Celebration 

April 21
Blue Ash Summit Park
4335 Glendale-Milford Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
12-5pm
FREE

Theme is Local Food with activities surrounding home gardening, local foods and composting.

Spring in Early Cincinnati: An 1803 Muster & Social 

April 21 & 22
Heritage Village Museum
11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH 45241
Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm
$10 adults, $6 kids ages 5-11, under 5 and members FREE

Before the war of 1812, militia musters were not just for drilling—they were social opportunities for men and women alike. Linigle’s Company of Ohio Militia, the First Regiment of Rifles, and the Second Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Militia will join Heritage Village Museum for an 1803 event that will include drilling, civilian demonstrations, tea, and hands-on activities. Come and celebrate the year Ohio became a state!

Earth Day OTR 

April 22
Washington Park
Cincinnati, OH 45202
12pm-5pm
FREE

3CDC in partnership with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful will be offering a fun filled day of eco-friendly activities and vendors on the park. The event will feature live music, food and drink, eco-friendly products & goods for purchase, and a range of activities for both children and adults.

Family Festival: Topsy Turvy Houses 

April 28
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12-3pm
FREE

The artist Glenn Kaino turns magical illusions into art! We’ll be creating some illusions of our own with the help of a special magician from Cincinnati Circus. Join us as we experiment with invisible paint, construct large mosaics out of playing cards and design magic wands inspired by Kaino’s Wands Bygone series. The Mini Microcinema will be joining us from 1:00-2:00pm with a collection of illusion inspired short films for children playing in the UnMuseum.

Autism Family Exploration Day 

April 28
Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
9-11am
FREE

This program is designed for families with children who have autism or other developmental disabilities to discover the art museum in a comfortable environment. Each month we explore different galleries through multisensory learning centers, led by specially trained docents. Be sure to stop by the Rosenthal Education Center to participate in an all-ability art making activity.

Lollipops Family Concert: Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead 

April 28
Cincinnati Music Hall
1241 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
10:30am, Fun Zone starts at 9:30am; Accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: This performance is American Sign Language interpreted.
$15 adults, $10 kids

Whodunnit?! Join the Inspector for a fun and musical murder mystery that introduces young audiences to the instruments of the Orchestra. Experience instrument demonstrations, crafts and more at the pre-concert Family Fun Zone. Doors open at 9:30 AM!
Lollipops concerts are a fun, interactive, and engaging way to introduce kids ages 2-9 to classical music. Programs are selected specifically to delight young audiences, and attendees are encouraged to arrive before the concert to play in our Family Fun Zone. Lollipops concerts are a great way to spark your child’s love for music at an early age.

15th Annual Health Expo 

April 28
Washington Park
Cincinnati, OH 45202
10am-5pm
FREE and open to the public

Join the Center for Closing the Health Gap at our 15th Annual Health Expo! This all-ages event will feature FREE health screenings, fun fitness activities and games, food, exhibitors, and entertainment.

ArtsWave Days 

Through April 21
Multiple Venues around Cincinnati
FREE

Each Saturday from February 3rd through April 21st, ArtWave Days will feature a set of curated events with a different theme, focus and venue. Visit website for information on time and venue.

International Butterfly Show: Butterflies of Madagascar 

Through June 16
Krohn Conservatory
1501 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
10am-5pm daily
$7, $4 ages 5-17, FREE ages 4 and under

The 2018 Butterfly Show “The Butterflies of Madagascar” celebrates the exotic flora, fauna, and extraordinary landscape of this unique African country. Giant baobab trees, remarkable stone forests, and illustrious lemurs of Madagascar set the stage for the thousands of bright, beautiful butterflies flying amidst the striking collection of fiery orange bidens, vivid red celosia, purple salvia, and punches of lime green ipomoea! Help us celebrate the vibrant life of the “Island of Rainbows” and the Butterflies of Madagascar!

 

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Lisa Springer
I am a native Cincinnatian, born and raised on the West Side and currently settled across the river in Northern Kentucky. I’m a former Highlander, Bearcat, Falcon, and Fulbright Scholar. My greatest challenge hitherto is the one I love the most: being a Mom to an energetic eight-year-old boy. When not working full-time at one of the city’s great hospitals, I’m trying to fit in all there is to do in this wonderful city – and there is certainly A LOT to do! As one who loves to read, I am an advocate for the public library and go multiple times a week. You can often find me at Music Hall enjoying the ballet, opera, and orchestra. I am an introvert, a bit of a foodie, an NPR listener, a pessimist who likes to think she’s a realist, a middle child, an ex-wife and amicable co-parent, a fiancée, and much, much more. I feel lucky to have grown up in Cincinnati and to be raising my own child in this wonderful city.

2 COMMENTS

  1. This is a great resource list! We always have customers ask about events and things to do in the city {especially if they have kids}! Wish I would’ve found this earlier this month!

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