CINCINNATI -- This weekend, sleep will come at a premium -- there are just too many great things to do in this city.
Here's my Top 9 things to do this weekend. And remember, we want you to help us #UnlockCincinnati. While you're out and about this weekend, share photos and videos of the fun things you're doing using the hashtag #UnlockCincinnati on social media.
Oh, and don't worry -- you can get some sleep on Sunday night.
A Boy And His Guitar
There are many reasons to love Ed Sheeran. He can sing. He can write. He’s adorable in that redheaded British boy-next-door kind of way, and he’s besties with Taylor Swift (their duet “Everything Has Changed” still gets me all in my feelings). He and his acoustic guitar will be playing Riverbend with opener Christina Perri.
7:30 p.m. Thursday. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave. $39.50-$75. riverbend.org
Where’s My Lederhosen?
Is there anything bigger this weekend than Oktoberfest Zinzinnati? It's three days of German food, beer and fun, from the Running of the Wieners to the ever-popular Chicken Dance, led this year by Bengals great Ken Anderson. Here’s what you need to know before you go, plus tips for having a great time and food recommendations from WCPO Contributors Julie Niesen Gosdin and Anne David.
5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Fifth Street, Downtown, between Vine and Sentinel streets. Free admission. www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com
Even More Oktoberfest Fun
Just can’t get enough Oktoberfest? Head down to Moerlein Lager House’s Uberdrome, a Munich-style biergarten set up under a giant tent set up on the adjacent Schmidlapp Event Lawn. Christian Moerlein and Paulaner beers will be flowing all weekend, and there also will be plenty of German food to eat, German bands and more entertainment.
4 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Schmidlapp event lawn adjacent to the Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Free admission. For more details, go to the event’s Facebook page.
Clearly, It’s A Beer Kind Of Weekend
Fifty Fest, Fifty West Brewing Company’s annual celebration of beer, food and music, is even bigger and better this year. This year’s party brings together 25 breweries, 11 bands and great food from Fifty West’s executive chef John Tomain. Check out our guide to Fifty Fest. (Bonus: Here’s how you can get free VIP tickets that will score you free food, free beer and a VIP bathroom pass.)
Noon-midnight Saturday. Fifty West Brewing Co., 7668 Wooster Pike, Mariemont. $10 admission. fiftywestbrew.com
Holy Smokes Batman!
Expect to see a surplus of superheroes when the Cincinnati Comic Expo kicks off Friday at Duke Energy Convention Center. Adam West and Burt Ward, who played the original Robin and Batman in the 1960s TV camp classic "Batman," lead the list of notable faces scheduled to appear. There will be plenty to see, from fans in costume to comic artists to vendors selling all kinds of fun items. Make sure not to miss the annual Geek Prom on Friday night and the Cincinnati Zombie Walk on Saturday.
Friday-Sunday, event times and prices vary. For full schedule and ticket options, go to cincinnaticomicexpo.com.
Let’s All Go To The Movies
This weekend, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is going to the movies. On Friday and Sunday, the Pops will perform music from the American Film Institute’s Top 25 film scores, including classics such as “Gone With the Wind,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “The Godfather.” The biggest event, though, is Saturday, when the orchestra will play the soundtrack to “Back to the Future” in sync with a high-def screening of the movie, in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary. New music from composer Alan Silvestri has been added to the film’s score for this event.
- Music of the Movies: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. $10-$104. www.cincinnatisymphony.org
- Back to the Future: Live in Concert: 8 p.m. Saturday. Music Hall. $10-$108. www.cincinnatisymphony.org
A Jam For The Babies
The Bluegrass for Babies benefit concert returns to Sawyer Point on Saturday. The concert, which benefits Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, will feature music from local bands Hickory Robot and Comet Bluegrass All-Stars, as well as a performance by Cabinet, which Rolling Stone recently named one of the “Top 10 Country Artists You Need to Know in 2015.” There will be food from Eli’s BBQ, Mazunte and Dewey’s Pizza, as well as craft beer from MadTree and Mt. Carmel. (Note: In case there’s any question, the beer isn’t for the babies.)
3-9 p.m. Saturday. Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. Adults: $15 advance, $20 day of; children free. www.bluegrassforbabies.com
Happy Birthday, Mason!
The city of Mason is celebrating its 200th birthday with a bicentennial bash this weekend. There will be fireworks, free concerts, a parade and a festival featuring a bounce house, Ferris wheel, circus trapeze, and other rides and activities.
Friday-Saturday. For a full schedule of events, go to www.mason2015.org.
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Ahhh, there’s always so much hope and promise at the start of the football season. The Bengals will play their first home game of the regular season Sunday, taking on the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium. (Yes, football fans, Oktoberfest fans and comic fans -- there’s going to be a heckuva crowd Downtown this weekend.)
1 p.m. Sunday. Paul Brown Stadium, Downtown. $40-$270. www.ticketmaster.com
