June Family Fun in Cincinnati & NKY {2018}

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This events post is presented in partnership with Panera Bread. We are grateful for their partnership in helping us provide this resource to local families.

This summer, take Panera Bread poolside! Panera offers #rapidpickup (even delivery at select locations), which makes it the perfect solution for eating well while enjoying a nice afternoon or evening at the pool. Simply place your order and grab it on the way or even better, find out if your local pool is within the delivery range and have them bring it to you.

Spend less time cooking this summer and more time as a family with Panera! 



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!

Island Wheel at Coney Island

May 26 – July 8
Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45228
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-8pm, Fridays & Saturdays: 11am-9pm
$5; $2.50 for Season Passholders

Take a ride on the largest Ferris wheel-style ride in North America at Coney Island. Enjoy a breathtaking view 155 feet above the Ohio River, both during the day, and at night.

Disney’s Aladdin 

May 29 – June 10
Aronoff Center
650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Various evening and matinee performances
Tickets start at $30

Discover a whole new world. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.

Summerfair at Coney Island   

June 1-3
Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45228
Friday: 2-8pm, Saturday: 10am-8pm, Sunday: 10am-5pm
$10, FREE ages 12 and under

Fine artists and craftspeople exhibit and sell their works. Music and entertainment. Food vendors. Free parking. Youth Arts Rocks area with art activities for children.

Astronomy Friday 

June 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29
Cincinnati Observatory Center
3489 Observatory Place, Cincinnati, OH 45208
8:30-10pm
$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.

Art in The Garden

June 2
Riverside Drive Augusta
116 Main Street, Augusta, KY 41002
10am-5pm
FREE

Showcases over 60 local and regional artists, live music, local cuisine and children’s activities, including Madcap Puppets. The Augusta Ferry brings cars and people across the Ohio River during the event, presenting a picturesque view of Augusta.

Great Parks Free Entry Days   

June 3
ALL Great Parks of Hamilton County
8am-8pm
FREE entry

Great Parks is celebrating special days with free entry for all into Great Parks! Guests can experience 78 miles of trails, over 17,500 acres of natural habitat and wildlife, lakes and river access, playgrounds, dog parks, golf courses and so much more.

National Fire Heritage Muster    

June 3
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
4521 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45232
10am-3pm
FREE

Antique fire truck collectors and active fire departments from area and across nation host fire equipment displays and demonstrations, fire paraphernalia flea market and tram tours.

Wednesdays in the Woods: Concert Series  

June 6, 13, 20, & 27
Burnet Woods – historic bandstand
3251 Brookline Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220
7-9pm
FREE, contributions encouraged

Come celebrate everything great about summer at our spirited series of 10 free weekly concerts. Good friends, good tunes, good food, good times with a variety of hands-on art making activities for the kids!

Smale Family Fun Day!  

June 7
Smale Riverfront Prak – Schmidlapp Event Lawn (next to Moerlein Lager House)
100 E. Ted Berry Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
10am-1pm
FREE

Join us for live music by Songs for Seeds and children’s play by MadCap Puppet. Free face painting, balloon artist, stilt walker, giant lawn games, clowns, and so much more!

Italianfest 

June 7-10
Festival Park Newport
Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071
Thursday: 5-11pm, Friday: 5-11:30pm, Saturday: 10am-11:30pm, Sunday: 12-9pm
FREE admission

Authentic Italian food and live Italian music performances.

Mt. Adams Cinema in the City: The Sandlot in Eden Park with Comet Bluegrass All-Stars   

June 8
Seasongood Pavilion
950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
7-11pm (Music starts at 7pm; Movie starts at dusk)
FREE

You’re killin’ me Smalls!
Join the Mt. Adams Civic Association for a FREE showing of The Sandlot in Eden Park with pre-film music provided by Comet Bluegrass All-Stars.
Fireside Pizza Walnut Hills and Streetpops will be on site! There will also be concessions, raffles, and activities for the kiddos. All ages! Free! Come out and enjoy a summer evening with your neighbors!

Schwabenfest

June 8 & 9
Donauschwaben Park
4290 Dry Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45252
Friday 6 pm- 12 am & Saturday 1 pm- 12 am
Admission fee

Come out to the Cincinnati Donauschwaben Society in Colerain Township and enjoy authentic German Bier and live music!

Pirates of the Ohio Cruise  

June 8 & 22
BB Riverboats
101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071
3-4:30pm
$25 for Adults & $20 for Children

Ahoy Mateys! Board the Captain’s boat for an afternoon cruise full of fun and games for the entire family. The kids will pick up their free pirate hat and eye patch before boarding this popular cruise on the Ohio River. Get your pirate tattoo or participate in one of our pirate games to see if anyone will have to “Walk the Plank”. See if you can use your treasure map to collect your bounty before the cruise pulls back into dock. Ever wonder why BB Riverboats flies the “Jolly Roger”? Listen to the Captain’s commentary as you cruise by all of the sights!

Princess Cruise  

June 9 & 23
BB Riverboats
101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071
12-2pm
$25 for Adults & $20 for Children

We respectfully request that all Royal Princesses join us for an enchanting afternoon aboard our Princess Cruise. Enjoy a unique cruise featuring a DJ, dancing and appearances by some of your favorite fairy tale princesses that we all love. Bring your “Little Princess” onboard and enjoy an afternoon that will truly be a “Royal” experience.

Sayler Park Sustains 

June 9
Nelson Sayler Memorial Park
Parkland Avenue and Monitor Street, Cincinnati, OH 45233
12-10pm
FREE

Sayler Park Sustains is a FREE, day-long, family-friendly event that highlights sustainability through live music and workshops, with kids’ activities, food trucks, local craft beer, and vendors in beautiful Nelson Sayler Memorial Park.

SummitFest  

June 9
Summit Park
4335 Glendale-Milford Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242
12-11pm
FREE

Features 3 big name country artists, beer and whiskey garden, food vendors, and family-friendly activities. Gates for SummitFest will open at noon. Kellie Pickler will perform at 4PM, Eli Young Band will take the stage at 6:30PM, and Chase Rice at 9PM. 

O.F.F. Market  

June 9
MadTree Taproom
3301 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209
10am-4pm
FREE admission

The O.F.F. Market is setting up shop inside MadTree Brewing! Artists, bakers, chefs, scavengers, mobile boutiques, and everything in between will be converging on MadTree Brewing for an exciting indoor market in the Barrel Warehouse.

Second Sunday on Main: Block Party Kick-off

June 10
Main Street
14th & Main Streets, Cincinnati, OH 45202
12-5pm
FREE admission

Street fair on Main featuring craft and food vendors, entertainment, demonstrations and more.

NKY Pride Festival

June 10
Goebel Park
Philadelphia Street between 5th & 6th, Covington, KY 41011
12-7pm
FREE

Community celebration for LGBTQIA+ residents of area. Live entertainment, food, drinks, vendors, games and more.

Opera in the Park 

June 10
Washington Park
1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
7:30pm
FREE

Celebrate Cincinnati Opera’s 98th Summer Festival with a magical evening of music in Washington Park! Join us in kicking off our 2018 season with a free outdoor concert in OTR. The evening will feature a selection of opera and musical theater favorites performed by stars of Cincinnati Opera’s 2018 season, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and the whole family, and enjoy an evening of opera under the setting sun.

MainStrasse Village Original Goettafest

June 15-17
MainStrasse Village
Main Street, Covington, KY 41011
Friday: 5-11:30pm, Saturday: 12-11:30pm, Sunday: 12-9pm
FREE admission

Goetta, arts and crafts, live music, entertainment, children’s activities.

The City Flea

June 16
Washington Park
1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
10am-4pm
FREE admission

The City Flea is Cincinnati’s original curated, urban flea market that takes place once a month at Washington Park and various other locations throughout the year. Since its conception in 2011 The Flea has seen dozens of vendors grow from hobby to full time business and it is with much pride that we consider ourselves not only a monthly market, but a small business incubator, community organization, and city advocate. The Flea is a place to keep your dollars local, support small business and experience YOUR city in a unique and engaging way. Our vendors range from vintage dealers to artisan pizza makers to plant studios. We have something for everyone.

Tusculum Street Fest   

June 16
Columbia Tusculum
Delta Avenue & Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226
2-10pm
FREE admission

Food, craft beer, live music, live art performances, kids crafts and more.

Bridge Folk Music & Arts Festival

June 16
Covington Landing
Rivercenter Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011
10am-11pm
FREE admission

Enjoy live music with 8 local, national and international music acts in genres spanning from Bluegrass to Folk to Jazz and Funk, as well as over 50 visual arts and artisan vendors, multiple food vendors, beer and other beverages. Activities for children and adults will be held throughout the day. 

The Lantern Fest

June 16
Kentucky Speedway
1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, KY 41086
5pm
$40-$65, $15 for kids ages 4-12

At Lantern Fest, thousands of revelers empowered with lanterns join together for one unforgettable nighttime spectacle. Before sundown, friends and families can enjoy food, live music, a stage show, princesses, face painting, s’mores, balloon artists and more. Then, when the time is just right… We will light the sky with our highest hopes and fondest dreams. 

Juneteenth Festival

June 16 & 17
Eden Park
950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Saturday: 12-9pm, Sunday: 2:30-6pm
FREE

Family festival celebrating end of American slavery. 2 stages of entertainment, food, history, kids’ area, shopping, live music and more.

Civil War Weekend 

June 16-17
Heritage Village Museum inside Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, OH 45241
Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 10am-3pm
$10; $7 children 5-11, FREE children under 4 and Members

Civil War Weekend at Heritage Village Museum brings re-enactor soldiers, citizens, and cavalry to the Village.  Each year’s event includes a daily battle.  Cavalry, artillery, infantry, and civilians from both sides of the conflict will be on hand to tell the story.  Meet Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, see living history scenarios in our 19th-century buildings, and participate in hands-on activities. 

3rd Sunday Fundays: Father’s Day 

June 17
Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
1-4pm
FREE

Celebrate dads this Funday! Meet the dads of the Taft collection, test your puzzle-solving skills at the Art Cart, and work with your dad (or other special adult) on a project to take home. Enjoy Sunrock Farm’s petting zoo from 1 to 2 p.m. Get into a party mood with a dance demonstration and workshop with Elementz, 2–3 p.m.

Pop-Up Play with Happen, Inc.  

June 17
Washington Park
1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
3-4:30pm
FREE

A handmade paper bowtie or necktie is the perfect Father’s Day gift! Design and make your own tie to wear and or give away. Don’t forget that it’s Father’s Day! This free interactive Happen activity is designed for children 6 to 10 year olds accompanied with an adult. All activities are first come first served while supplies last. 

Reds Day at The Zoo

June 18
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220
11:30am-12:30pm
General Admission Rates apply

Don’t miss an exclusive Q&A session from 11:30am – 12:30pm at the Wings of Wonder Theater with your favorite Reds players! Doors to the Ameritas Wings of Wonder Theater open at 11! Seats are first come first serve. Q&A starts at 11:30. Meet Cincinnati Reds’ mascots between 11 and 3!

Panegyri Greek Festival 

June 22-24
Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
7000 Winton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224
Friday: 5-11pm, Saturday: 3-11pm, Sunday: 1-8pm
$2, 12 and under FREE

Authentic Greek cuisine, pastries, music, dancing, raffles, games and amusement rides. Free parking at and shuttle from St. Xavier High School.

Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival

June 23
Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove
705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
11am-9pm
FREE

Two-hour parade with famous grand marshal, main festival with music, drag queens, beer and spirits, and Family Fun Zone.

Pops in the Park  

June 23
Miami Whitewater Forest
9001 Mt. Hope Road, Crosby Township, OH 45030
8:15pm
FREE

The Cincinnati Pops is coming to your neighborhood! Bring the whole family to beautiful Miami Whitewater for a night of symphonic fun.

Wump Mucket Puppets: Tales from Bucket Gulch

June 23
Campbell County Public Library – Cold Spring Branch
3920 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076
2-3pm
FREE (This event may require preregistration – (859)781-6166)

Brand new prairie tales from the make-believe town of Bucket Gulch.  Western themed fun with Jacqui the Jackalope along with cowpokes Coleman and Reg. The show is sure to get the audience hootin’ and hollerin’ with new original songs and silliness and a Tall Texas Tale or two! 

The Bluegrass Market at Burlington 

June 23 & 24
Boone County Fairgrounds
5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, KY 41005
Saturday: 10am-5pm & Sunday: 10am-4pm
$5, FREE kids 12 and under

The Bluegrass Market at Burlington is an “all things Kentucky and beyond” inspired open-air market for the entire family. Live music, kid activities, and a variety of delicious foods from around the area. A shopping experience for both ladies and gents, showcasing some of the best local small businesses, shops, crafters and artisans from the area.

Autism Family Exploration Day 

June 30
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.

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.

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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.

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