25+ Things to do in Cincinnati This January

Can you believe it’s 2024 already?! We can’t predict what this year will hold but we certainly can tell you how great January is going to be!

coffee mug wrapped in a scarf as the title image for our January Things to Do list for Cincinnati

Here’s to January fun in Cincinnati!

Please be sure to double check that your event is still happening before heading out the door.

January 6: Cyclones Hockey / Throwback Night! Throwback Night features $2 hot dogs, soda, and beer. Bring a new or gently loved stuffed bear to throw on the ice after the Cyclones first goal. All animals will be given to the Cincinnati Police Department.

January 6: Winter Hike Series hosted by Great Parks of Hamilton County. With challenging hikes ranging from 4-5.5 miles that are held at different parks each week, it’s the perfect time to come together with old friends and new friends alike. Sign up for one hike, several or the whole series!

January 12-14: Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs. The annual KOI Cavalcade of Customs Car Show brings hundreds of the coolest custom cars, hotrods, motorcycles, trucks, and more to the floors of the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati, OH.

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January 8 (thru March 8) : Penguin Days. Enjoy discounted zoo admission every day! Every weekend, guests can watch penguins, polar bears and even elephants enjoy the winter weather in their own way during a variety of animal enrichment activities. It must be below 50 degrees for the penguins to walk. See the Zoo’s site (link above) for the Animal Encounters schedule.

January 14: Head to Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve for Winter Woodland: Bringing the Outside In, 11am-3pm. Step out of the cold and into a cozy winter woodland scene right in Ellenwood Nature Barn. Make a craft, enjoy an indoor scavenger hunt and warm up from the winter weather by a log fire. Free (vehicle pass required for Great Parks).

January 13: Winter Hike Series hosted by Great Parks of Hamilton County. With challenging hikes ranging from 4-5.5 miles that are held at different parks each week, it’s the perfect time to come together with old friends and new friends alike. Sign up for one hike, several or the whole series!

Use our list for a hot chocolate tour! 5 Places that Serve Hot Chocolate in Cincinnati (#2 was our favorite)

January 14: Art on Vine returns to Rhinegeist, noon to 6pm. Up to 70 Local artists displaying and selling fine arts and handmade goods.

January 14: Head to Findlay Market for Chili Fest, 10am-4pm. Warm up and enjoy a spicy market event sampling chili and other chili-themed foods from our participating vendors around the market. Tickets required.

January 15: The 2024 King Legacy Celebration will take place at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Enjoy a morning of music, dance, and reflection in celebration of the life and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tickets required.

2017 BLINK projection at National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center during BLINK

January 17: Museum Selfie Day. Around the globe, thousands of people will be pulling out their smartphones and showing the world their museum discoveries during National #MuseumSelfie Day.

January 17: Beer and Crumbl Cookie Pairing at Taft’s Ale House, 5-8pm. With your ticket, you’ll get a flight of 4 different beers, each perfectly paired with a fresh cookie. Each ticket is good for a one hour time slot. This is a self-guided pairing. Upon entering, you’ll be handed your pairing worksheet, brews and cookies. Dive in with friends to discover your favorites and take as little or a much times as you want exploring and comparing flavors. Ticket required.

January 19-21  Cincinnati Travel, Sports, and Boat Show will be at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Browse through the exhibition and see everything from boats, fishing, travel & tourism, powersports & adventure sports.

January 20-21: Maple Syrup Making and Guided Sap Collecting Hikes in the Sugarbush (Cincinnati Nature Center), 10am-3pm. Experience the process of producing liquid gold from maple sap. Bask in the warmth of the evaporator and its maple-scented steam. Drop by the Outdoor Learning Center and join in an interactive sap collecting maple hike. Hikes start at the sugar house (Outdoor Learning Center). Pre-registration is required.

January 19-21: Greater Cincinnati Remodeling Expo returns to the Sharonville Convention Center. The Remodeling Expo is a comprehensive two-weekend expo filled with innovative displays showcasing the latest trends in design and product offerings. In addition to exploring the highest quality displays, you will have the opportunity to talk directly with local experts and get the advice you need to help you with your home improvement projects. 

January 19: The Secret Life of Stars will be at Cincinnati Parks’ Wolff Planetarium (Burnet Woods), 7-8pm. From nebulas and novae to star formation and more, this show has it all!  Programs are open to adults and children ages 5 and older accompanied by an adult.  Fee:  $5.00 per person.  Reservations required. Seating is limited.

January 20: Madcap Puppets – The Wizard of Oz is happening at Memorial Hall, 12pm and 2pm. This is a free show but tickets are required.

January 20: Winter Hike Series hosted by Great Parks of Hamilton County. With challenging hikes ranging from 4-5.5 miles that are held at different parks each week, it’s the perfect time to come together with old friends and new friends alike. Sign up for one hike, several or the whole series!

January 24: CANdle Making Class at Taft Brewpourium, 6-8pm. Make a one of a kind CANdle in a Taft’s beer can! In addition to the class, your ticket gets you a free welcome beer. Tickets required.

January 24-28:  Cincinnati Travel, Sports, and Boat Show will be at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Browse through the exhibition and see everything from boats, fishing, travel & tourism, powersports & adventure sports.

January 25: Full Moon Walk: Wolf Moon at Rowe Woods, 7:30-9pm. Hit the trails at night and enjoy the full moon and natural history readings. Full Moon Walks provide rare opportunities to hike Nature Center trails when they’re normally closed. Registration required.

January 26-28: Greater Cincinnati Remodeling Expo returns to the Sharonville Convention Center. The Remodeling Expo is a comprehensive two-weekend expo filled with innovative displays showcasing the latest trends in design and product offerings. In addition to exploring the highest quality displays, you will have the opportunity to talk directly with local experts and get the advice you need to help you with your home improvement projects. 

Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati Art Museum

January 26: Art After Dark returns for 2024. Stay tuned for details.

January 27: American Sign Museum’s Sign Crafting Saturday. Explore the skills needed to become an expert sign maker. Play with different materials each month as you learn about different elements of sign making. 1-3pm.

January 27: It’s the third annual Benken Houseplant Expo! Enjoy expert speaker presentations (free), make-and-take workshops (pricing and registration details at the link), and 20% off all in-store houseplant purchases.

January 27: Madcap Puppets presents “Annie Oakley’s Wild West Show” at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. Tickets required.

January 27: Winter Hike Series hosted by Great Parks of Hamilton County. With challenging hikes ranging from 4-5.5 miles that are held at different parks each week, it’s the perfect time to come together with old friends and new friends alike. Sign up for one hike, several or the whole series!

January 28: Tools of the Sugarhouse at Cincinnati Nature Center,11am-noon. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the maple syrup evaporator and sugaring tools like skimmers, filters, and thermometers. Registration required.

January ???: Burns Night Celebration at Nicholson’s / The Backstage Event Center, 6-10pm. Party like it’s 1759! Join in for live Celtic music, dancing, whiskey, poetry, the Cincinnati Highland Dancers, bagpipers, and a rollicking good time at the annual celebration of Scotland’s beloved poet, Robert Burns!


All events were accurate at the time of this posting but things do happen and events do occasionally get canceled or postponed. You should always double check with the event source before you head out the door. Links for each event are provided so that you can be sure the date is still accurate before you head out.

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About the Author
Bridgett Raffenberg
My name is Bridgett Raffenberg and I am the creator of 365Cincinnati. I've been uncovering and sharing all of the best things to do in Cincinnati since 2010. I enjoy exploring new spots, discovering local events, and meeting the people who call Cincinnati home!