May in Cincinnati is an exciting time! Take this time to soak in the cooler spring temps with a visit to one of our city’s wonderful parks, enjoy a celebration or two (hello, Mom!), and enjoy some traditional city festivals like Taste of Cincinnati!
Enjoy this month long list of Things to Do in Cincinnati for the month of May:
May 2: Experience the Magic of Opera at Summit Park, 6:30-8pm. This lively and engaging performance is perfect for the whole family—whether you love timeless opera classics or an exciting mix of Broadway, jazz, pop, and more. Get ready for a thrilling evening of world-class music that will delight audiences of all ages. Bring your chairs and/or blanket. Free and open to the public.
May 3-4: The Cincy-Cinco Latino Festival will be at Fountain Square (Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-6pm). Featuring authentic Latino food with colorful and delicious flavors, they’ll have participating restaurants from Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, and more. Entertainment, music & dancing from almost two dozen of the most notable performers in the Midwest will fill downtown Cincinnati with family fun, folkloric performances, and in the evenings full of salsa dancing.
May 3: Growfest will be held at the Civic Garden Center. This annual event happens from 9am-3pm. Every dollar you spend goes to support core programs, including the Community Gardens program, Green Learning Station, school gardens and youth education, and our Hands-on Horticulture program.
May 3: Grab your hat and a mint julep ’cause it’s Kentucky Derby Day!
May 3: It’s Free Family Movie Night at Union Township Veteran’s Memorial Park.
May 3: It’s time for the Clay Alliance’s Spring Pottery Fair, 10am-4pm. You’ll find everything from mugs and dinnerware to one-of-a-kind art and garden pieces. Find them just one block west of the intersection of Woodburn Ave. and Madison Rd. with free parking immediately adjacent.
May 5: Washington Park hosts Jazz at the Park for the first time this season, 6-9pm. Come sip on your favorite drink and sway to the rhythm in one of Cincinnati’s most thriving jazz scenes. Jazz at the Park is a free event and no tickets are required.
May 10: Westside Market (showcasing over 100 local vendors, food trucks and offers family fun activities) opens for the 2025 season, 10am-3pm. Find it at the Westwood Town Hall.
May 9-11: Smoke on the River BBQ Fest will be at Newport’s Festival Park at the Levee on Riverboat Row. Enjoy some great food and live music along the banks of the Ohio River. Hours: Friday 5-11pm, Saturday 12-11pm, Sunday 12-9pm.
May 10-11: The annual Appalachian Festival will be at Coney Island. Enjoy hundreds of “down-home” crafts, non-stop music and storytelling, traditional dances, and lots of food.
May 10: It’s time for May Farm Fest at Gorman Heritage Farm, 9am-3pm. Celebrate the season of new growth on the farm with baby animal interactions, touch-a-tractor, farm scavenger hunt, education stations, face painting, craft vendors, food trucks, music and fun activities for all ages.
May 10: The O.F.F. Market makes its 2025 debut at Summit Park, 10am-4pm. The O.F.F. Market is a monthly marketplace that brings together small businesses, artisans, brewers, bakers, farmers and the like to provide a unique shopping experience that supports strong community connections and strives to grow a hearty local economy.
May 10: The Hamilton Flea, Hamilton’s first curated, urban artisan market, will be at Marcum Park from 10am to 4pm.
May 10: It’s time for the Loveland Food Truck Rally! This family friendly event features an assortment of food trucks, entertainment and live music, and more. Happening 12-8pm at the Shoppers Haven Center.
May 10: The Crafty Supermarket will be at Music Hall, 10am-4pm. Shop amongst 100 vendors in the ballroom! This show features handmade goods made by local, regional and national artists. The event is FREE to the public. They’ll have a live DJ, hands-on craft activities, local food and free swag bags for the first 100 shoppers.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11. Don’t miss our list of Things to Do for Mother’s Day!
May 11: Art on Vine will be at Washington Park, 12-6pm.
May 15: Rockin’ the Roebling kicks off its free summer music season on the Schmidlapp Lawn (adjacent to the Moerlein Lager House), 6-10pm. The band for May 15 is Floyd and the Walkmen. Bring a blanket or a chairs if you’d like. Food and beverages available onsite.
May 17: The 54th Annual Duveneck Art Show will be at George Rogers Clark Park in Covington, noon-5pm. Enjoy art, music, food trucks, and a great view!
May 17: The City Flea will be at Washington Park, 10am-4pm.
May 18: The Burlington Antique Show is at the Boone County (KY) Fairgrounds, 6am-2pm. Admission charged, parking is free. Rain or shine.
May 16: CityBeat’s Margarita Madness will be happening on the Purple People Bridge starting at 5:30pm. Sample local bars and restaurants margaritas and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Best Margarita. Tickets required.
May 16: Green Township hosts Movie in the Park featuring Inside Out 2 at Kuliga Park Pavilion.
May 16: Havana Night will be at Ault Park starting at 6-10pm. This exciting outdoor event will feature a live salsa band and an atmosphere full of energy and passion. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a beginner, there will be plenty of opportunities to show off your moves, or take part in a salsa dance class to learn the basics. Tickets required.
May 17-18: The Benton Farm Spring Craft Show will be happening at the farm. This is a juried craft show with 100+ vendors.
May 18: The Wyoming Art Show, a juried art show and competition, will be on the streets of Wyoming (Ohio) from 11am til 5pm.
May 22: It’s time for Rockin’ the Roebling, a free summer music event on the Schmidlapp Lawn (adjacent to the Moerlein Lager House), 6-10pm. The band for May 23 is Noah Smith. Bring a blanket or a chairs if you’d like. Food and beverages available onsite.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 27. Check out this list of
Memorial Day Celebrations in Cincinnati
May 24-26: Taste of Cincinnati returns for 2025! Started in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati is a Cincinnati culinary tradition that features more than 65 restaurants, food trucks and Findlay Market vendors.
May 27: Cinema at Washington Park opens for the summer season. May 27’s movie is Moana 2 and starts at 9pm.
May 30: Art After Dark will be happening at the Cincinnati Art Museum, 5-9pm. Free admission. RSVP not required. Please arrive early or consider taking an Uber/Lyft. Parking is limited.
May 30-June 1: Summerfair will be at Coney Island
May 30-June 1: Cincitalia! The Cincinnati Italian Festival will be celebrating all things Italian with delicious Italian food, wine, Italian music and plenty of fun and games for all ages.
May 29 – 31: Milford Frontier Days kicks off with a parade and festival on Thursday and moves on with a Maker’s Market, festival, live music and more.
Check Out These Ongoing Events for May:
The May Festival, the longest-running choral festival in North America, is May 17-25. The full Chorus returns to Music Hall’s stage for this joyful reunion of singers and lovers of song.
Zoo Babies is happening at the Cincinnati Zoo during the month of May. Watch their site and grounds for announcements of new babies to visit.
