Just because the kids are back in school doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun and adventures! September is full of some awesome events, including a multitude of festivals all over the region. And lately the weather has been gorgeous, so it’s a perfect time to get outdoors and have some fun. Check out this HUGE list of events going on around town and start planning your September family fun!
Family Friendly Things to Do in Cincinnati & NKY {September 2015}
September 1 – 6 ~
Augusta Heritage Days September 4-6 2nd Street & Park Street Free Visit the 43rd Annual Heritage Days Festival in Augusta, Kentucky. It is sponsored by the Augusta Rotary Club as well as many other local businesses and individuals. This festival boasts traditional games and a hometown feel. For more information contact Allison Parker at 716-515-8019 or the Augusta Tourism Office at 606-756-2183.
Incline District Street Fair Saturday, September 5th 3001 Price Ave Cincinnati, OH 45204 A collection of local artisan vendors in support of the community. www.facebook.com/InclineDistrictStreetFair
September 7 – 13 ~
First Friday Fractals September 11, 2015 7:00 – 8:00pm Drake Planetarium Norwood High School $10 First Friday Fractals is the spectacular, award-winning, full-dome planetarium show that takes viewers on a tour of the fractals in nature and zooms through infinitely complex mathematical fractals. Featuring original music, the show is both educational and highly entertaining, and suitable for audiences 3 and up.
MainStrasse Village Oktoberfest September 11, 12, 13 406 West 6th St, Covington KY 41011 Oktoberfest brings a little bit of Germany to MainStrasse Village. Arts/crafts, music, food, an amusement midway and a Kidnerplatz for the smaller festival goers. Enjoy the festival atmosphere, the old world architecture and the shops and restaurants that make up MainStasse Village. www.mainstrasse.org
Preparing for Night ~ At the Cincinnati Nature Center: Friday, September 11 & Saturday, September 12 5-10 pm Discover the secret sights and sounds of nature at night at this fun-filled family event! Bring a flashlight and visit interactive stations along the trails featuring animals and insects that make use of the cover of darkness. While you’re there, enjoy food trucks, live music and FREE ice cream!
St. Barbara Church Rocktoberfest ~ September 11 (6 pm -midnight), 12 (5 pm to midnight) and 13 (noon to 8 pm) St. Barbara Church 4042 Turkeyfoot Road, Erlanger, KY 41018 Friday night enjoy music by The Remains, Saturday nights, Gee Your Band Smells Terrific, and Sunday is family day with a grilled chicken dinner and all the sides and dessert for only $7.50. Plus Sunday is also “Tailgate Sunday” Bengals games on big screen televisions. Sunday is an all-day ride ticket.
Fire & Safety Weekend In recognition of Patriot Day, Newport Aquarium will offer free admission to first responders during Fire & Safety Weekend, Sept. 11-13. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, state troopers, correction officers, 911 dispatchers and other professionals involved in law enforcement, investigations and emergency response can receive free admission by presenting their professional credential, along with a valid government-issued photo ID, at the Newport Aquarium ticket window. Also during Fire & Safety Weekend, family members and friends who accompany police, firefighters and first responders at the Newport Aquarium ticket window can receive discounts of $3 off adult and $2 off child (ages 2-12) admission. Family and friends must be present at the time the first responder orders their ticket in order to receive the Fire & Safety Weekend discount.
St. Clement Festival and Pig Roast ~ September 11, 12 and 13 Vine Street Park, 4700 Burnet Avenue Great Food, Roast Pig Saturday and Sunday, Live Entertainment every night, rides, Sports Bar, one of the Largest Bid n Buy booths around, and much, much more. http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/
BB Riverboats Super Hero Cruise ~ Saturday September 12th, Boarding Time: 11:00am Sailing Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm ATTENTION ALL POTENTIAL SUPER HEROES! BB Riverboats requests your presence for this 2 hour cruise complete with official Super Hero Training. Bring the whole family to learn the ins and outs of being a Super Hero and test out your skills as you learn them. After you have mastered your special powers, show them off on the dance floor as we throw a DJ Dance Party with all the Super Heroes! Visit the BB Riverboats website for all the details: http://www.bbriverboats.com/super_hero_cruise.html
Hofbräuhaus Newport Oktoberfest Sept 12-13 12noon-11pm Hofbräuhaus Newport FREE Come celebrate Oktoberfest with Hofbräuhaus Newport. Circus Acts, Kids Events, Adult Contests like Stein Holding, Keg Tossing and more.
How To Festival Sept. 12, 2015 Kenton County Public Library Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger Free Ever wished you could stilt walk, juggle, play the drums, ride a unicycle, grill the perfect steak, use a 3D printer, self-publish a novel, change a tire, read palms, caber toss, change an air filter or do perfect Halloween makeup? You can learn all of that and more at the How To Festival. This free event is for the whole family!
Horse Daze 2015 Sept 12th from 11am till 4pm Sebald Park, Middletown – Sponsored by MetroParks of Butler County Park and Butler County’s Chapter of the Ohio Horsemen’s Council. It’s a day dedicated to kids and families having the opportunity to ride a horse, learn about horses and participate in horse related games – all at no charge.
Second Saturday Street Faire Sept. 12, 2015 Waynesville, OH Waynesville Merchants Association is hosting the Second Saturday Street Faire on the second Saturday of June from 10am-5pm. The festival includes booths where artists, crafters, and authors display and sell their creations. Over forty artisans will feature everything from woodworking to fiber arts. A Photography Contest is free to enter to compete for cash prizes. Krafty Kids Market is a great place for young artisans ages 7-16 to sell their creations. There will be a free Book Swap and a Cruise-In as well as local entertainment www.secondsaturdaystreetfaire.com
Art in the Park September 12, 11 am – 5 pm www.ShopBellevueKY.com Bellevue Beach Park Free! Art in the Park is a delightful community event that brings together artists and craftspeople from all over the region— and it’s been expanded this year to feature published authors of children’s books as well. Visitors delight in activities such as children’s activities, live music by local musicians, dance performances, food and drinks from local independent restaurants. All of this fun takes place in a charming park with a play ground along the Ohio River.
September 14 – 20 ~
Welcome Back Homeschoolers Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1-2:30 pm Kenton County Public Library www.kentonlibrary.org/events Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger free Welcome the new school year with a focus on resources that are available at the Kenton County Public Library to students. This is also a chance for parents to meet one another.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati presented by Samuel Adams, is September 18-20, 2015 in downtown Zinzinnati. First held in 1976, the event has grown to be America’s largest Oktoberfest with nearly 600,000 people attending each year. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati showcases Southwest Ohio’s rich German heritage, as well as tasty samples of German-style music, food and beer. Popular attractions include the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, Running of the Wiener Dogs, World Brat Eating Championship, Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Contest and more.
Art Around Towne September 18, 2015 Towne Center Fort Thomas, KY We are excited to announce the Art Around Towne event in the beautiful Towne Center District spanning the cross sections of Highlands Ave and North Fort Thomas Avenue to the City Building in Fort Thomas, KY! Every third Friday from June through September, Fort Thomas businesses’ will open their doors to the community to celebrate in the cultural arts. As you walk from business-to-business and vendor booth-to-booth, all of your senses will be engaged in great art, artisan creations, art demonstrations, food, music and entertainment along the art hop route that makes this the place to turn your Friday night into great fun and memories! www.artaroundtowneft.com
Bluegrass For Babies Bluegrass — On Saturday, September 19, Bluegrass for Babies, a family-friendly bluegrass concert presented by the Healthy Roots Foundation, returns to Sawyer Point from 3-9pm. Bluegrass for Babies will feature performances by two of the region’s top bluegrass bands, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars and Hickory Robot, with a headline show by the nationally noted bluegrass band Cabinet and a special children’s performance by Jennifer Ellis Music. The fundraising event will feature interactive games and activities for children of all ages as well as craft beer, and food by Green BEAN Delivery, Eli’s Barbeque, Mazunte, and Dewey’s Pizza. Bluegrass for Babies tickets and donations help support infant and children’s health through organizations including Cradle Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Center for the Prevention of Preterm Birth. Adult tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate; Children 12 and under are free. www.bluegrassforbabies.com for more info & tickets.
Springdale ComeUnity Bash September 19, 2015 3pm- 9pm City of Springdale www.springdale.org/goplay Springdale Community Center Free Join your neighbors and friends in the community for a full day of wholesome family fun and entertainment at the Springdale ComeUnity Bash on Saturday, September 19. The day features an abundance of family friendly activities throughout the afternoon including a climbing wall, petting zoo and games for all ages, all free of charge. Local service groups and organizations will have food and refreshments available for purchase. A series of three local bands will perform on stage on field #4 with music to appeal to a wide range of taste. As dusk falls and the final band performs you can sit back and enjoy a dazzling balloon glow. Colorful tethered hot air balloons will light up the night sky for your enjoyment.
Ludlow River Pirate Day Sept. 19, 2015. Noon – ?? NKy Fencing Academy, Second Sight Spirits, and Wynners Cup Cafe 301 Elm St, Ludlow, KY 41016 Free event. Raffles, games, prizes Avast, me hearties! Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day in Ludlow! Test ye pirate skills to become a certified Ludlow River Pirate. Be ye Cap’n or Scallywag? Pass treacherous trials includin’ sword skills, rum barrel rollin’ and walkin’ the plank to receive ye official city certificate and pirate ranking. A raffle will be held to benefit the Barth Syndrome Foundation with prizes includin’ a Second Sight rum pack and a beginning’ fencing class from the Northern Kentucky Fencing Academy! Costumes be encouraged. This event is for all ages. Come out and have ye some pirate fun!
Fall Craft and Vendor Show September 19 2015 1313 State Route 131 Milford OH 45150 Come enjoy the fun at the fall craft show! Enjoy handmade crafts, jewelry, wood items, specialty foods and more! Plus, shop at all the local vendors. Www.hometowncraftshows.com
The City Flea September 19 / Washington Park 10a-4p The City Flea is one of the most interesting and unique markets around. Check out the works of awesome crafters and vendors while chowing at the food trucks and listening to fine tunes by the DJ. Take the whole family! Read more in this post: The City Flea
Family Class: Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes September 19, 2015 | 10:30 am – Noon Civic Garden Center 2715 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45219 $5 Let your imagination soar as you collect curious garden objects and construct a place for magical fairies and gnomes to live. We will provide some craft supplies and natural objects. Participants are encouraged to bring additional items from home to enhance their projects!
Sharing the Harvest Fall Fest Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 am-4 pm Kenton County Public Library 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger free Celebrate autumn with food, crafts, hayrides, music and much more. Co-sponsored by the Guardians of Hope.
Farmer Jason and the Chicken Rodeo Saturday, Sept. 19, 1-3 p.m. Kenton County Public Library 1992 Walton Nicholson Road, Independence Free Emmy Award winner Farmer Jason returns for a high energy farm life performance. The chicken rodeo follows immediately after the show. Ages 0-12 and a caregiver.
Fall Harvest Festival September 19, 2015 10 am-5 pm September 20, 2015 12 pm-5 pm Heritage Village Museum inside Sharon Woods Park 11450 Lebanon Road Cincinnati OH 45241 $8 adults, $5 kids 5-11 Autumn will be arriving soon and that means family fun during the Heritage Village Museum Fall Harvest Festival. Visitors will enjoy wagon rides, doughnut eating contests, pumpkin painting, and much more! Our historic 19th Century Village will be open for touring, along with cooking and cider pressing demonstrations.
Coupon Clippers Sunday, Sept. 20, 2-4 pm Kenton County Public Library www.kentonlibrary.org/events 502 Scott Blvd, Covington Free We will be clipping coupons, exhanging coupons and sharing tips and tricks for both regular and e-couponing. Bring your coupon flyers if you have them. This event is for everyone.
September 21 – 30 ~
HomeSpun: Check it Out Mon, Sept. 21, 1:30-2:30 pm Kenton County Public Library 502 Scott Blvd, Covington free Home school families and those curious about home schooling are invited to an informational session about library services and resources. Participate in a library scavenger hunt, make a craft and enjoy refreshments.
St. Vincent Ferrer Fall Fest September 25, 26, 27 – 7754 Montgomery road Great Food, Bands and Rides, Bid n Buy Silent Auction, Kids Corner and a Grand Raffle svfchurch.org/festival
DevouGrass September 26 – 1700 Montague Rd. Covington, KY 41011 DevouGrass is a daylong festival of Music, Artisan Craft Vendors, Children’s Activities and Performances, and Food Trucks located in beautiful Devou Park. Check our website for exciting new additions to this year’s fest as it grows closer. All proceeds will benefit The Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. www.devougrass.com
Central Kentucky Craft Festival September 26 Owen County Fairgrounds in Owenton, KY ~ Lots of handmade items, perfect location. 1 hour or less from Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati.
Newport Aquarium Presents Sharks Saturday, Sept. 26, 2-3 pm Kenton County Public Library 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger Free See and touch live sharks, including epaulette sharks, bamboo sharks and a coral catshark! The Wave Foundation of the Newport Aquarium brings in its Mobile Shark Cart to discuss how they live and thrive.
BB Riverboats Princess Cruise ~ Saturday September 26th, Boarding: 11:00am Sailing: 12:00pm – 2pm We respectfully request that all Royal Princesses come aboard for an enchanting afternoon with your favorite fairy tale princesses aboard our Princess Cruise. On select Saturdays this summer, enjoy a unique cruise featuring a DJ, dancing and some of the memorable princesses that we all love. Bring your “Little Princess” onboard and enjoy an afternoon that will truly be a “Royal” experience. Visit the BB Riverboats website for all the details: http://www.bbriverboats.com/index.html
Parent’s Night Out September 26, 2015 | 6-8:30p Paint and Bake Ceramics 3972 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 $30 + tax Drop off your little painter for some fun while you take the night off! For just $30 your little painter will get a ceramic piece, a craft, pizza and drink, games, and more! Ages 6+ are welcome. Call us at 859-415-1909 to register your child today. Hurry, spaces are limited!
Fall Festival September 26, 2015 12:00pm-4:00pm Kenton Elementary PTA http://www.kentonpta.com/pta-events/ Kenton Elementary School $6 wristband for games – additional cost for raffles, food and bigger games PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year includes games, bounce house/slide, food, and raffles. Great chance for kids, teachers, and parents to get to know each other and have fun! Opportunities are available to serve in all areas of the event.
Wilmington Oktoberfest ~ September 26, 2015; 3pm-11pm St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Wilmington Ohio free Oktoberfest is a family /community celebration that blends a time-honored German festival with the vitality and charm of small-town America. Oktoberfest features traditional German polka, as well as various other styles of music. Come hungry, and sample a variety of authentic German foods. Test your skills at one of many games of chance, Monte Carlo tournaments, kids games, or new Video Game Truck. Also new this year is a “Cruise-in Car Show” and a 5K race. Wilmington Oktoberfest is presented by the Knights of Columbus #3369 with proceeds going to the Wilmington City Schools Foundation.
Great Outdoor Weekend ~ September 26 and 27 Greater Cincinnati Have an adventure and try something new! Great Outdoor Weekend has kayaking, hiking, fishing, tagging butterflies, bird banding, archery, climbing, etc to make the nation’s largest outdoor recreation and nature education sampler. These events are free and great for family outings! The weekend is full of more than 150 activities and programs, hosted at 50 different sites across the Tri State area. Check out this post about Great Outdoor Weekend.
Musical Chairs World Record Attempt Sept 26, 2015 | 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Newport Oktoberfest www.MusicalChairsUSA.com Newport on the Levee $5 “”Sit for a Cure”” in world’s largest game of musical chairs. Official Guinness World Record attempt. Event open to individuals ages 10 and older, as well as school, corporate, and non-corporate teams. There is also kid’s competition for ages 9 and under. Benefits: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Registration required. Convenient parking is readily available in Levee’s garage for nominal daily fee. Valet, bus, bike and metered parking are also available.
Art Off Pike – On Sunday, September 27 from 11am – 5pm Renaissance Covington will host Covington’s 11th annual Art Off Pike urban arts festival. Held on 7th Street in Covington, between Washington and Madison, Art Off Pike will feature performance art, art installations, local food and drink, live music, and will showcase the work of more than 60 local and regional artists and creatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to view and shop a wide selection of works and styles, ranging from photography and ceramics to paintings, sculpture, and jewelry. Art Off Pike is free to attend and will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit www.artoffpike.org.
Ongoing Events in September ~
Old West Festival ~ Grab your cowboy boots and mosey on over to the eighth annual Old West Festival. The western-themed festival rolls back in town for another season of boot stompin’ family fun on weekends – September 12 through October 18, 2015. The Old West Festival transports visitors to a historic American era, the Wild West. Guests can pan for gold, explore the authentic old west town, belly up to the Saloon and much more. Tickets to the Old West Festival are $12 general admission; $6 for children ages 6 to 12; and children under 6 are free. Parking is FREE. The Old West Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is located at 1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd between Mt. Orab and Williamsburg, Ohio just off St. Rt. 32. For more information, visit www.oldwestfestival.com
Fall on the Farm ~ Sept. 19- Oct. 31 Blooms and Berries www.fallonthefarm.com 9669 S. St. Rt. 48 Loveland, Ohio $7-$10 Experience Fall on the Farm Take a hayride to a pumpkin patch, get lost in the 7-acre corn maze or a smaller kids corn maze, explore the play area, and see farm animals including cows, miniature donkeys, goats, chickens and more . Don’t miss the piles of pumpkins, beautiful mums, apple cider and other Fall favorites. Save money and beat the crowds by visiting early in the season or on weekdays.
Cyrano de Bergerac at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company ~ Introduce your child to theatre with this swashbuckling, family friendly production of Cyrano de Bergerac! Performances of “Cyrano de Bergerac” are scheduled from September 11- October 3, 2015 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. There is no performance on Sunday Sep. 13. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$35 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$39 on Fridays and Saturdays.To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online atwww.cincyshakes.com. Read more about the show in this post on Family Friendly Cincinnati.
Yoga at the Northside Farmers Market Every Wednesday in September, 5:45pm-6:45pm Northside Farmers Market http://www.northsidefm.org/free-yoga-classes.html Hoffner Park, 4101 Hamilton Ave Free! Get healthy at the Northside Farmers Market with our free yoga classes each week, 5:45pm-6:45pm. Enjoy the park, pick up healthy foods, and learn some yoga moves in our hour-long classes taught by Deborah Jordan. Classes are free, but donations are appreciated.
Motown The Musical presented by Broadway in Cincinnati is showing now through September 20th at the Aronoff Center. This is a great way to learn more about the rich music history surrounding Berry Gordy and Motown Records. You will want to sing and dance throughout the show! Visit Broadway in Cincinnati for ticket information and showtimes. The show has minimal adult language and references.
Visit the Nina & the Pinta replica ships on Riverboat Row in Newport September 10 – 20. Visit www.TheNina.com for all the details!
Ohio Renaissance Festival ~ September 5th– October 25th, 2015 • Saturdays, Sundays, & Labor Day Monday • 10:30am – 6:00pm http://www.renfestival.com/
The Kaplan New Works Series Friday, September 11 – September 19th. Visit the Cincinnati Ballet website for dates and times of shows. Jarson-Kaplan Theater at The Aronoff Center for the Arts Tickets Start at $55 Choreography: Ma Cong, Adam Hougland, Viktor Plotnikov, Gabriel Gaffney Smith The Kaplan New Works Series returns to be performed, for the second time in its new home at the Aronoff Center in the beautiful Jarson-Kaplan Theater, allowing access to a larger audience while maintaining the intimate environment you have grown to know and love during this series. New Works remains committed to innovation and the celebration of choreographers while showcasing the dancers and spotlighting their strength, athleticism and diversity. This year New Works features three world premieres and one Cincinnati premiere. Long-time collaborator Adam Hougland introduces a brand new solo piece, marking his sixth world premiere for Cincinnati Ballet. Boston choreographer Viktor Plotnikov will use video technology to discover a visual union of movement and projection. Ma Cong, Resident Choreographer at Tulsa Ballet, began his training with the Beijing Dance Academy and has danced the work of all the acclaimed choreographers today such as Balanchine, Forsythe, Kylián, McMillan and more. Renaissance man Gabriel Gaffney Smith, a composer and choreographer/dancer with BalletMet Columbus, presents the Cincinnati premiere, a pas de deux set to his own original musical composition.
Dining Outdoors ~ The mild temps of late summer and early fall make it the perfect time to go out to eat and eat OUTSIDE! Check out our list of Outdoor Dining in Cincinnati & NKY for new places to check out!
The Cincinnati Reds are back in town, and you can watch their games for FREE on the big screens at Fountain Square! Visit the Fountain Square website for more details
Farmer’s Markets: Just because summer vacation is over doesn’t mean the Farmers Markets have stopped! Some even run year round! We have a HUGE list of local Farmer’s Markets you can check out: Farmer’s Markets in Cincinnati & NKY ~ cook fresh, cook local!
