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Top 9 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Sept. 21-24

Posted at 4:44 PM, Sep 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-23 08:16:16-04

Cincinnati Beer Run

Craft beer or bust. That is the theme of Friday's Cincinnati Beer Run. This non-competitive, non-timed event is a 2.5-mile loop that goes from Newport into Cincinnati and back. Runners and walkers ages 21 and up are invited to sample locally made craft beer every half-mile along the course. The run conveniently ends with an afterparty at Newport's Oktoberfest.

Starts at 7:20 p.m. Friday. Purple People Bridge, Riverboat Row, Newport. Ages 21 and up. $50. www.cincinnatibeerrun.com

Newport Oktoberfest

If beer drinking and athleticism isn't your thing, perhaps eating brats and sauerkraut while drinking beer is. You can watch the Cincinnati Beer Run as Newport kicks off its weekend-long Oktoberfest on Friday. The festival, held along Riverboat Row in front of Newport on the Levee, will be filled with drinks, traditional German-style food and entertainment. 

5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Festival Park, 1 Riverboat Row, Newport. cincinnatiusa.com/events/newport-oktoberfest 

Cincinnati Comic Expo

This weekend's Cincinnati Comic Expo is all about might and magic with appearances from "Star Wars," "Harry Potter" and "Princess Bride" stars. The Duke Energy Convention Center also will be brimming with vendors selling comic books, people in costumes, a "Star Wars"-themed section and pop culture memorabilia.

3-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. General admission ticket prices vary. cincinnaticomicexpo.com

CFTA Food Fest

Find a new favorite food truck during the fourth annual Cincinnati Food Truck Association Food Fest this Friday in Blue Ash. The festival will feature 33 food trucks, five beer booths and live music at Summit Park. Participating food trucks scheduled to attend the event include: Adena's Beefstroll; Bones Brothers Wings; C'est Cheese Food Truck; Chicken Mac Truck; Marty's Waffles; and Sweets & Meats BBQ.

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash. Free. cincinnatifoodtruckassociation.org

Cincinnati Food + Wine Classic

The Cincinnati Food + Wine Classic returns to Yeatman's Cove this weekend for a celebration of food and drink that showcases local, regional and national culinary stars. Now in its fourth year, the festival will include food and beverage pairings, more than two dozen chefs and an amazing array of ticketed programs, which WCPO contributing food writer Grace Yek conveniently detailed in a recent preview.

5-9:30 p.m. Friday; 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. $95-$330. www.cincinnatifoodandwineclassic.com

Arnold’s Music Festival

Arnold's Bar & Grill, along with West Sixth Brewing, is offering a free feast for your ears this Friday and Saturday. Six bands are lined up to play at Arnold's over both days. There also will be 12 beers on tap and no cover charge. The band lineup includes: the Part-time Gentlemen; Jim Casto and Dr. Hue; Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle; Moonshine Drive; Jake Speed and the Freddies; and Honey and Houston.

7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday; 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown. Free. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

MidPoint Music Festival

Another sonic feast taking place this weekend is the MidPoint Music Festival. The festival includes four venues inside the Taft Theatre and Cincinnati Masonic Center. Dozens of acts will perform Saturday and Sunday, leading up to the return of Cincinnati's own "Walk the Moon" after a brief hiatus. 

2 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday; 2:10-11:30 p.m. Sunday. Taft Theatre and Cincinnati Masonic Center, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown. Single-day passes: $65; weekend passes: $115; VIP tickets: $225. www.mpmf.com

Fifty Fest

Head to Fifty West Brewing this Saturday and enjoy Fifty Fest 2017. This year's festivities include more than 40 local craft beers and food vendors, along with 11 bands playing across three separate stages. You also can enter a raffle at $2 per ticket for the chance to win a custom Fifty Fest Fender Stratocaster.  

Noon-midnight Saturday. Fifty West Brewing Co., 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township. General admission: $7 advance, $10 day of event. www.fiftyfest.fiftywestbrew.com

Bluegrass for Babies benefit concert

There seems to be a musical theme to this weekend's list of recommended events, and this one will definitely strike a chord with some people. The Healthy Roots Foundation will host its ninth annual Bluegrass for Babies benefit concert Saturday in Eden Park. The concert benefits Cincinnati Children's infant and children health programs. Jake Speed & The Freddies, the Redemptioners, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars and Jennifer Ellis will perform. Dewey’s Pizza, MadTree Brewing and a variety of kid-friendly games and activities will be on-site as well.

3-9 p.m. Saturday. Seasongood Pavilion, 1600 Art Museum Drive, Mount Adams. $15 for adults in advance and $20 day of event; children admitted for free. www.healthyrootsfoundation.org

Bonus: Fire Up the Night

Coney Island Amusement Park will get lit Saturday night when countries from around the world participate in the park's annual fireworks competition. As an added bonus this year, you can enjoy a classic car show, Cruise-A-Palooza, live music inside an empty Sunlite pool and an interactive display of Japanese culture at Moonlite Pavilion before the fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. Entry to the park also includes access to Coney Island's rides, canoeing on Lake Como and mini golf.

4-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Coney Island Amusement Park, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. $25 per carload. www.coneyislandpark.com

Bonus: Halloween Haunt

The creepy and the kooky will invade Kings Island when the 11th annual Halloween Haunt returns to the amusement park every weekend starting Friday through Oct. 28. The haunt promises a ghoulishly good time with 10 haunted mazes, three outdoor scare zones, live stage shows and a cast of creepy characters roaming the park. And if those screams weren't enough, you can take a trip on roller coasters such as Banshee, Diamondback, the Beast and Mystic Timbers. Halloween Haunt takes place Friday and Saturday nights. The park is open for regular ride hours, without the haunt, from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. starting Sept. 30 and  11 a.m.-7 p.m. each Sunday starting Sept. 24 through Oct. 29.

6 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays and 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays through Oct. 28. Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Kings Island. $31.99 in advance. www.visitkingsisland.com