12 Things To Do in Cincinnati This Weekend (Sept. 27-29)

Talk Low Music Festival

When: Sept. 24-29
Where: Various locations, including Woodward Theater, Over-the-Rhine; DSGN CLLCTV, Northside; and Contemporary Arts Center, Downtown
What: A five-day experimental music festival designed to create a unique context for deep listening.
Who: Whited Sepulchre Records
Why: Read CityBeat’s feature on the festival here.

2024 FotoFocus Biennial Opening Weekend Program

When: Sept. 26-28
Where: Various galleries, museums and other art institutions throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus. See the calendar here.
What: The launch of a month-long celebration of photography and lens-based art featuring over 100 exhibits and projects across 84 venues throughout the region.
Who: FotoFocus
Why: Each project is centered around the theme “backstories,” which aims to tell the broader story behind each piece of art. Read more about the Biennial in CityBeat’s article.

Halloween Haunt

When: Sept. 27-29
Where: Kings Island, Mason
What: Kings Island will transform into a spook-tacular wonderland filled with scare mazes and scare zones, plus live entertainment and costumed characters to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Who: Kings Island
Why: Halloween Haunt has been ranked as one of the best Halloween attractions in the United States by USA Today 10Best voters and JeffBet.

Camp Siegfried at Know Theatre

When: Sept. 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Know Theatre, Over-the-Rhine
What: The play, written by Bess Wohl, takes place in 1938 at a summer camp for far-right indoctrination, as two German-American teenagers fall in love.
Who: Know Theatre
Why: This show kicks off Know Theatre's first season under new artistic director Bridget Leak.

Butterflies & Brews

When: Sept. 27 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Groesbeck
What: Attendees will have a chance to become a scientist for a day at Great Parks' Butterflies & Brews event, where guests will have the opportunity to attach tiny tracking tags to butterflies to track their migration to Mexico.
Who: Great Parks
Why: HighGrain Brewing will also be serving up seasonal beers.

WHY? at Woodward Theater

When: Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: Woodward Theater, Over-the-Rhine
What: Cincinnati band WHY? is playing a show fresh off the release of their latest album, The Well I Fell Into.
Who: WHY?
Why: Read CityBeat's interview with WHY? frontman Yoni Wolf here.

Cincinnati Moon Festival

When: Sept. 28 from 3-8 p.m.
Where: Fountain Square, Downtown
What: A family-friendly festival that celebrates Cincinnati’s Asian community, their traditions and the arrival of the autumn harvest moon.
Who: GCCCEA and Vibe Cincinnati
Why: There will plenty of fun activities, delicious food, exhibits and live performances that will feature music and storytelling of Asian American experiences.

Country Applefest

When: Sept. 28 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sept. 29 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Warren County Fairgrounds, Lebanon
What: A fall festival featuring over 300 arts, crafts and food vendors and live entertainment — not to mention plenty of apples.
Who: Country Applefest Inc.
Why: It’s the perfect place to feel like a protagonist in a romantic fall Hallmark movie.

Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art

When: Sept. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: National Landmark Historic District, Madison, Indiana
What: Outdoor juried arts and crafts festival
Who: Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art
Why: The festival features 10 blocks full of exhibitors.

Celestial Sips at the Cincinnati Observatory

When: Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.
Where: Cincinnati Observatory, Mount Lookout
What: The Cincinnati Observatory is partnering with Rhinegeist Brewery to bring a sampling of beers, light bites and a raffle under the stars.
Who: Cincinnati Observatory
Why: This event serves as a fundraiser for the Cincinnati Observatory.

Fall Food Fest

When: Sept. 29 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine
What: A celebration of the harvest season where Findlay Market merchants prepare autumnal dishes using seasonal ingredients.
Who: Findlay Market
Why: Sample dozens of tasty fall treats to honor the deities of Pumpkin Spice season.

Mammoth Music & Arts Festival

When: Sept. 29 from 1-8 p.m.
Where: Sixth Street between Monmouth and Saratoga streets in Newport
What: The event will feature musical performances across a range of genres, from punk and hip-hop to Kentucky’s bluegrass and country roots. Additionally, interactive activities such as “The Jockey Club” — a punk rock trip down memory lane; The Bourbon Experience presented by New Riff Distilling; art vendors; street performers; and more will be available for participants.
Who: Mammoth Music & Arts Festival
Why: The festival will also offer a range of local food and drink options from restaurants and breweries, including 16 Lots, Newport Pizza Company, Shiners on the Levee and more.