14 Fun Things To Do in Cincinnati This September

By CityBeat Staff on Thu, Sep 5, 2024 at 1:31 pm

September is here, Cincinnati, and it finally feels like we can bid farewell to summer and welcome in autumn. There are a ton of fun things to do in Cincinnati this month to celebrate the beginning of fall, like music festivals ranging in genres from experimental to folk and rock and roll, Oktoberfests brimming with beer and German food and music and a variety of food festivals to get your in the pumpkin spice spirit. Keep scrolling to see just a handful of fun events happening throughout Greater Cincinnati this month.

If you're looking for even more to do every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to CityBeat readers.

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Photo: Aidan Mahoney

Ohio Renaissance Festival

When: Every Saturday and Sunday through October
Where: Renaissance Park, Waynesville
What: Don your capes and crowns for the ultimate fantasy cosplay experience. The park is modeled after a 16th-century village and the festival offers shows like juggling and jousting, vendors and artisans selling everything from jewelry to swords and plenty of ale and turkey legs to go around.
Who: Ohio Renaissance Festival
Why: The Renaissance Festival is where fantasy and history collide, plus where else are you going to get a turkey leg the size of your forearm?

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Photo: Cincinnati Arts Association

Mamma Mia! at the Aronoff Center for the Arts

When: Now through Sunday, Sept. 15
Where: Aronoff Center for the Arts, Downtown
What: This smash-hit musical is a classic tale of mother-daughter relationships, friendship and identity set to the hits of ABBA with the backdrop of a beautiful Greek island. The night before her wedding, a daughter sets out to find who her dad is among three men from her mother’s past.
Who: Broadway in Cincinnati
Why: Experience family drama that's not your own for a change.

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Photo: facebook.com/vinoklet

Vinoklet Art and Wine Festival

When: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 6-8
Where: Vinoklet Winery, Colerain Township
What: This 25th-annual event hosted by Vinoklet Winery features award-winning wine, live music and art and food vendors.
Who: Vinoklet Winery
Why: Spend your weekend indulging in good food and wine.

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Photo: Provided by meetNKY

Bourbon Baron Bash

When: Saturday, Sept. 7
Where: MegaCorp Pavilion
What: A night of bourbon from local distilleries and bluegrass and country music performances, including by award-winning performers Town Mountain and Kelly Willis.
Who: Party Source & The Cure Starts Now
Why: All the proceeds will go toward The Cure Starts Now to benefit pediatric brain cancer research.

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Photo: Provided by MEMI

Outlaw Music Festival

When: Wednesday, Sept. 11
Where: Riverbend Music Center
What: Music greats Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp take the stage for an unforgettable night of country, rock and folk music.
Who: Blackbird Presents, Live Nation & MEMI
Why: Where else are you going to see some of the most legendary musicians in one place?

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Photo: Michael Wilson

Whispering Beard Folk Festival

When: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 13-14
Where: Carriage House Farm, North Bend
What: A two-day folk music festival, featuring local folk favorites like Maria Carrelli, The Tillers (pictured) and Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle.
Who: Whispering Beard Folk Festival
Why: Spend the weekend just vibing with great music in the outdoors.

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Photo: facebook.com/newportoktoberfest

Oktoberfest Newport

When: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 13-15
Where: Newport Festival Park, Newport
What: A festival celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Germany and the German traditions of Cincinnati with food, music and community.
Who: Oktoberfest Newport
Why: You can never have enough Oktoberfest celebrations.

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Photo: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

When: Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 19-22
Where: Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove, The Banks
What: The biggest Oktoberfest celebration outside Munich.
Who: Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Why: Come for the beer and pretzels, stay for the wiener dog races, beer stein-hoisting competitions, lederhosen and dirndls, German music and the world’s biggest Chicken Dance.

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Photo: Provided by Kings Island

Halloween Haunt

When: Weekends through October, starting Friday, Sept. 20
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.

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Photo: Karl Otto

Talk Low Music Festival

When: Tuesday-Sunday, 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.

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Photo: Chip Thomas/Provided by FotoFocus

2024 FotoFocus Biennial

When: Opening weekend is Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 26-28, with programming throughout October
Where: Various galleries, museums and other art institutions throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus. See the calendar here.
What: 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.

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Photo: facebook.com/queensbakerycincy

Cincinnati Moon Festival

When: Saturday, Sept. 28
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.

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Photo: facebook.com/CountryAppleFest

Country Applefest

When: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 28-29
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.

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Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Fall Food Fest

When: Sunday, Sept. 29
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.

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