Top 10 things to do in Cincy this weekend: July 5-7
From music and art to just plain all-around fun, here's a look at the top 10 events happening in and around Cincinnati this weekend.
1. Paradise Music & Beer Festival
This free music and beer festival brings together a fun lineup of bands, craft vendors, food and beer, with plenty of activities for the whole family. Headliners are Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime on Friday, and Sneezy on Saturday. Other artists Friday include Hyryder: Grateful Dead Tribute, The Ries Brothers, The Quasi Kings. On Saturday, see Ernie Johnson From Detroit, This Must Be The Party: Talking Heads Tribute, Rockstead, Harold, and Ben Clonch & Friends. Beer selections include Braxton, Dead Low, Rhinegeist and Wandering Monsters.
Details: 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. VIP admission is $100 weekend, or $60 single day. VIP includes a souvenir cup, two 16 oz. beers per day, an official t-shirt, meet and greets with headliners, and a VIP viewing area by the stage. Facebook.com.
2. Northside Rock ‘n’ Roll Carnival
The Northside neighborhood throws a huge party each year in July, and everyone's invited. Yes, even you. The Fourth of July parade starts at 11 a.m. on July 4 and travels down Hamilton Avenue from Ashtree to Palm, and the festival kicks off at Hoffner Park at 1 p.m. There's a wealth of food, drinks and unique vendors, but the main draw is live music from 30 national, regional and local bands, including headliners Lung (Thursday), Paloma/Dance Party (Friday) and General Baxter (Saturday).
Details: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, Hoffner Park, Northside. Free. facebook.com.
3. Taps, Tastes & Tunes
This three-day festival showcases taps: Bombright Distributors, Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Leinenkugel's, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Madtree, and Coors, tastes: Mae's Country Cooking, El Rey Mexican, Crumbl Cookies, American Grill, Lil Taste of Soul, Wagwan Jerki and Lotus Street Food, and tunes: John Morgan headlines Thursday, Lit on Friday followed by fireworks, and on Saturday it's Nine Days, and The Smithereens with guest vocalist John Cowsill.
Details: noon-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Voice of America Park, 8070 Tylersville Road, West Chester. Free admission. cincyfests.com.
4. Independence Day Celebration
When a city is named Independence, you better believe it goes all out for the nation's birthday. You'll find rides, games, food, family-friendly activities and live music each day. Friday's festivities conclude with a Roman candle show at 10 p.m., and on Saturday the parade kicks things off at 3 p.m. from Summit View Academy (5006 Madison Pike) to Simon Kenton High School (11132 Madison Pike), and at 10 p.m. Vito's Fireworks light the sky.
Details: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Memorial Park, 2099 Jack Woods Parkway, Independence. Free; ride wristbands are $20-$25. facebook.com.
5. Voices from India: Social and Cultural Reflections
This exhibition of prints by Indian artists takes place simultaneously at two different art galleries: Off Ludlow Gallery in Clifton, and Kennedy Heights Arts Center in Kennedy Heights. Combined, the shows consist of 268 prints by 97 established and 50 young emerging Indian printmakers who use art as their voice to reflect their social and cultural reality.
Details: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Off Ludlow Gallery, 3408 Ormond Ave., Clifton; 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6846 Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights. Free.
6. Label*Less
Drew and Lea Lachey’s hit musical features a diverse cast of performers who bravely share their experiences on hot-button topics like racism, sexism, body positivity issues, and mental health struggles, set to a pop soundtrack with songs from Pink, Taylor Swift and more.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams. Runs July 6-19. $40. Labellessmusical.com.
7. Sunshine Sessions House Music Festival
Experience live DJs, local arts and crafts vendors, and food trucks at this fun daytime party. The music blends electronic beats with influences from soul, funk, jazz and disco, courtesy of this month's special guests DJ MES from Oakland, Nate FX from Lexington and Cincinnati talent Sean G, BLVK SHLD, and Blok Game.
Details: 2-9 p.m. Sunday, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. facebook.com.
8. Tri-State Antique Market
This market is a great source for collectors, renovators, decorators and those with an eye for the chic and unique to find vintage furnishings, decorative arts, jewelry, historical artifacts, architectural/industrial salvage and pop culture memorabilia. Early birds welcome during vendor set-up at 6 a.m.
Details: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg. Admission: $5. lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.
9. Ran So Far w/Blake Live Podcast
This wildly successful podcast by local comedians Ran Barnaclo and Blake Hammond has been described as "Britney Spears for men," and has garnered millions of views on Instagram. The pair are taking the podcast on tour, and this is your opportunity to catch it live. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is first come, first serve.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery. $16. gobananascomedy.com.
10. Air Power History Tour
Several historic warbirds will be available for tours and rides, including the B-29 Superfortress “Fifi,” a P-51 Mustang, T-6 Texan, PT-13 Stearman, and RC-45J Expeditor. Admission includes cockpit tours; flights must be booked separately.
Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, Lunken Airport, 262 Wilmer Ave., East End. Admission: $20, $10 ages 11-17, free ages 10-under. Airpowertour.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Top 10 things to do in Cincinnati July 5-7
