Memorial Day is past, the cool, rainy weather is pretty much over (for now), and it’s time to focus on summer arts and culture with a week filled with outdoor events.
Wednesday, May 27
Cincinnati Landmark Productions, “1776” | 7:30 p.m.,Warsaw Federal Incline Theater, Price Hill. 513-241-6550. DETAILS: To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Landmark presents the classic Tony-winning musical “1776” by Sherman Edwards, which retells the story of how John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin persuaded their fellow Founders to vote for independence. Through June 21.
Jazz in the Camp, Batucada Brazilian Jazz | 6:30 p.m. American Sign Museum, Camp Washington. 513-280-8181. DETAILS: This weekly summer music series, presented by Jazz Alive, kicks off with the rhythmic energy of Brazilian samba fused with jazz, featuring vocalist Kelly MacKenzie-Thurley and bassist Erwin Stuckey.
Thursday, May 28
Rockin’ the Roebling, Gina and Johnny | 6 p.m. Cincinnati Lager House, Smale Park. DETAILS: The band led by noted local blues musicians Gina McCann and Johnny Fink continues the 17-week summer riverfront series at the Schmidlapp Event Lawn in the shadow of the Roebling Bridge. Gina and Johnny, backed by bassist Mike Grosser, keyboardist Greg Amburgy and drummer Roger Bates, were semifinalists at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Sycamore Community Singers, The Anniversary Concert | 7:30 p.m. Sycamore Presbyterian Church, Symmes Twp. 513-683-0254. DETAILS: Founded in 2016 by retired choral music educator Linda Gartner, the Sycamore Community Singers present a 10th anniversary celebration concert led by Artistic Director Caleb Orr. The ensemble has not only performed throughout the area and has created a scholarship program for aspiring choral conductors, but has toured in Europe and has performed at Carnegie Hall.
Friday, May 29
Summerfair 2026 | Noon-7 p.m. Coney Island, Riverbend. 513-531-0050. DETAILS: Kicking off a busy arts/culture Friday, Summerfair, the region’s largest arts and craft festival, opens its three-day fair dedicated to supporting the arts in Greater Cincinnati. Started in 1968 by a group of Mt. Adams art enthusiasts, Summerfair has taken place in various venues, but has been a mainstay at Coney Island since 1985. Also 10 a.m.-7 p.m. May 30 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 31.
FotoFocus, “Big Tent” | 6-8 p.m. opening reception. FotoFocus Center, 228 East Liberty St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. DETAILS: FotoFocus inaugurates its new permanent home with an ambitious exhibition meant to reflect the spirit of America and its principles of democracy, creativity and diversity. Artist talk 1-5 p.m. May 30; exhibit continues through Aug. 22. (M&M’s next Mix & Mingle happy hour will take place there June 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)
Manifest Gallery, five new exhibits | 6-9 p.m. opening reception. Manifest Gallery, East Walnut Hills. 513-861-3638. DETAILS: Five, count ’em, five new exhibits open simultaneously at Manifest: its 22nd annual “Rites of Passage” survey of emerging artists; “Magnitude seven,” a collection of small works; “Subtractivity,” a show about reduction and removal; “Ouch!,” an exhibit exploring things that hurt, obviously; and “MAR Showcase,” featuring artists-in-residence Ryan Kerr and Megan Wolfkill. On display through June 26.
CincItalia Festival | 6 p.m.-midnight. Harvest Home Park, Cheviot. DETAILS: It’s all about celebrating Italian food and culture. Cheviot’s annual CincItalia Festival features plenty of food, drinks, games and live musical acts, including The Whammies, the Phil DeGreg Trio, Ray Massa’s EuroRhythms and, of course, the CincItalia Dancers from St. Catharine School and Parish. Also 3-11 p.m. May 30 and 1-8 p.m. May 31.
Saturday, May 30
Young Professionals Choral Collective, “Sing the Queen City” | 6 p.m.,Hilton Netherland Plaza, downtown. 513-601-8699. DETAILS: YPCC, an innovative, inclusive group that’s now the largest young professionals choral organization in the nation, concludes its 14th season in a gala concert “Sing the Queen City” with Queen City Cabaret, featuring a program of Broadway classics.
Sunday, May 31
Seven Hills Symphony, “Voices of America” | 3 p.m. Walnut Hills High School, Evanston. DETAILS: The all-volunteer community orchestra, conducted by Michael Patterson, celebrates American composers with a spring concert featuring Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1, plus works by George Gershwin and Margaret Bonds. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Monday, June 1
Jazz at the Park, Sophia Troyer | 6-9 p.m. The Porch, Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: Jazz bassist Sophia Troyer, a CCM student and SCPA graduate, is making a name for herself performing with various jazz groups at area venues such as Caffè Vivace, Radio Artifact, Hilton Netherland Plaza, Ghost Baby and more.
Strings on the Square, “2000s Rewind” | 6 p.m. Fountain Square, downtown. 513-621-4400. DETAILS: The Fountain Square folks keep filling the venue with innovative programming. For Monday evenings this summer, they’ve engaged the local ensemble StringSource to perform free concerts of pop music arranged for string quartet. The series opens with a program called “2000s Rewind,” and continues through the end of August with programs focused on a range of pop stars — Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish and more.
Tuesday, June 2
Jazz at the Square, John Zappa Quintet | 6 p.m. Fountain Square, downtown. 513-621-4400. DETAILS: Jazz trumpeter John Zappa, a noted educator, author and performer who has graced many area venues, brings his quintet to Fountain Square’s popular Tuesday evening jazz series.
Summer Cinema, “White Chicks” | 9 p.m. Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine. DETAILS: And now, for something completely different: Washington Park’s free summer movies-under-the-stars series, which opened last week with “Crazy Rich Asians,” moves on to the 2004 multiple Golden Raspberry Award nominee “White Chicks.” It’s a buddy-cop comedy in which Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans play FBI agents who don whiteface to go undercover as white women to foil a kidnapping plot.
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