Music festivals in Cincinnati 2024 are a great way to experience the region while enjoying arts, culinary and the vibrant music scene. Every year Cincinnati festivals continue to grow and draw bigger & bigger names!
Regardless of the genre – there’s a music festival for you in this incredible city. So get out your calendar and start planning your visit to these events in the city.
And check out my guides on Festival Hydration Backpacks, Festival Camping Packing List, Festival Shoes, and Festival Gadgets to help you make the most of your time!
Top 9 Cincinnati Music Festivals
1) Cincinatti Music Festival 2024
Credit: Cincinatti Music Festival
When: July 25-27, 2024
Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
https://www.cincymusicfestival.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiMusicFestival
“Originally called the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival when it was first held in 1962, the Macy’s Music Festival has grown and evolved into a spectacular two-day event on Cincinnati’s riverfront. Starting out as an all-jazz concert, it has evolved and grown into a two-day festival featuring great music from the hottest stars in R&B, jazz, soul, and hip-hop, as well as up and coming artists. Past performers include Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert, Patti Labelle, New Edition, Earth Wind and Fire, Lakeside, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and many others.
By the year 2000, the festival was the largest of its kind in the United States, drawing more than 50,000 people annually from all across the country. The festival has been held at various sites through its 50 year history, including French Lick Indiana, the Carthage Fairgrounds, and the Hamilton County Fairgrounds before landing at its current home in Paul Brown Stadium on Cincinnati’s river front. “
2) Bunbury Music Festival
When: TBC, 2024
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
https://www.facebook.com/bunburyfestival
3-day, multi-stage music festival at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove in Cincinnati, OH
“In past years, Bunbury Music Festival, which takes place along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati throughout Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, has hosted top artists including Post Malone, Jack White, MUSE, Tom Petty, Ice Cube, Florence and the Machine, Snoop Dogg, and more. Bunbury Music Festival boasts three main stages, one side stage and one acoustic stage.”
3) Cincinnati Fringe Festival 2024
When: May 31-June 15, 2024
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatifringefestival/
“The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati as our final event of each season. All year-round Know Theatre staff work on the Festival. We also bring in part-time staffers and hundreds of volunteers to help make the magic happen.
A 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, film, dance, and everything between — that’s Kinda WEIRD. Like YOU! Heading into our 19th year, Cincy Fringe (as it’s succinctly known) presents over 200 performances of 40+ theatre productions each May and June, plus art galleries, screenings, concerts, workshops, classes, and nightly parties.”
4) Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival
When: June 9-18, 2024
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio
http://www.juneteenthcincinnati.org/
“Cincinnati’s Juneteenth tradition began in 1988 as a neighborhood festival in Kennedy Heights–attracting some 1500 participants to Daniel Drake Park. Over the years, the annual Festival has continued to reflect its origins in a racially integrated community, with both multi-racial organization and attendance.
In the following years the Festival has thrived. Festival features have included such diverse, family-centered (and free!) activities as traditional storytelling, magic acts, sack races, sweet potato pie bake-off, music (blues, African drumming & dancing, gospel, jazz, reggae, etc.).”
5) Cincinnati Pride Parade & Festival
When: June 22, 2024
Where: Sawyer Point, Cincinnati, Ohio
https://www.cincinnatipride.org/
https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatipride
“It was the spring of 1973 in Cincinnati. The Reds were starting the season that would see them finish first place in the National League West with a 99-63 record; TV’s “The Brady Bunch” had filmed their annual vacation episode at the newly opened Kings Island in Mason and a group of GLBT men and women gathered on Fountain Square to march for gay rights awareness.
This was all happening as the modern gay rights movement was in its early stages; growing out of the protest momentum in the wake of a raid of The Stonewall, a club in New York City in 1969.
From that first march and celebration, Cincinnati Pride has grown to include a week-long celebration of our GLBT diversity. Over the years, Cincinnati Pride has taken on several forms and names as a dedicated group of individuals and local GLBT organizations would take part in shaping its growth. There were tough times along the way and our local pride efforts would mirror those struggles seen across the nation and the world as we stood for acceptance and equality. The movement would face challenges from HIV, AIDS to marriage equality and “don’t ask, don’t tell” along the way.
6) Winter Jam Festival
Credit: Winter Jam Festival
When: March 24, 2024
Where: Truist Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
https://www.facebook.com/winterjam
“Since its formation by NewSong in 1995, The Winter Jam Tour has featured many of the top names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Skillet, Hillsong UNITED, Crowder, Lauren Daigle, Newsboys and more! The tour has also been a launching pad for great artists such as for KING & COUNTRY, Francesca Battistelli, and Sidewalk Prophets.
When you attend a Winter Jam event, you can count on ministry being the main focus. From a single concert in Greenville to the largest annual tour in the world, God has continued to bless Winter Jam, so we are excited to continue to be a part of what He is doing and look forward to what He is going to do in the future!”
7) Night Nation Run Music Festival
When: TBC, 2024
Where: Coney Island Amusement Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
https://nightnationrun.com/cincinnati/
https://www.facebook.com/NightNationRun/
Celebrate Life. Celebrate friends and family. Celebrate Music. Run with the Night Nation!
“The Night Nation Run is the World’s 1st Running Music Festival an ultimate blend of a Music Festival and a Fun Run. Experience a music filled course with Live DJs, Light Shows, Bubble Zones, Neon and Black Lights. Cross the finish line into an Epic Main Stage After Party featuring Top Headliner DJs. Enjoy a once in a lifetime running experience as we Light Up The Night together! To date over 1 million people across the World have become a member of the Night Nation!”
8) Riverbend Music Center Concerts
When: Various dates throughout 2024
Where: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
For music lovers in Cincinnati, there’s always something to look forward to at the Riverbend Music Center!
9) Cincy Blues Fest
When: July, 2024
Where: Village Green Park, Cincinnati
www.cincyblues.org/cincy-blues-fest/
“Come and join us for a day of top notch entertainment at our new location, Fairfield’s Village Green Park, just north of Cincinnati. Cincy Blues Society and Fairfield Parks and Recreation have teamed up to present a stellar lineup of Award Winning National and International Blues Artists. Experience the power and soulful emotion of blues music in a beautiful outdoor park setting. There are plenty of grassy and shady areas to enjoy the Fest. In other words, be prepared to get your groove on and boogie!”
Am I missing any Cincinnati festivals in 2024?
If you’ve heard of any cool festivals, events, or concerts that deserve a place on this list, be sure to reach out!
I’d love to keep my list of music festivals in Cincinnati as up to date as possible!
Looking for more cool festivals in the USA?
Check out some of my favorite posts below for more incredible live-music events and festivals around the world!
- Top 11 Music Festivals in Georgia
- 37 California Music Festivals That’ll Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- Top 20 San Diego Music Festivals | The Ultimate SD Festival Bucket List
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in Texas To Experience Before You Die
- The Top 25 Music Festivals in Arizona To Experience Before You Die
- The Best 25 Music Festivals in Florida To Experience Before You Die
- The 13 Best Music Festivals in New York to Experience Before You Die
- The Top 10 Music Festivals in Colorado To Experience Before You Die
- Top 21 Music Festivals in Las Vegas To Experience Before You Die
- 15 Epic Music Festivals in Michigan To Experience Before You Die
- 20 Vancouver Music Festivals To Add To Your Bucket List
- Top 10 Music Festivals in Arkansas For Your Bucket List
- Top 12 Music Festivals in Wisconsin For Your Bucket List
- Top 10 Music Festivals in Missouri For Your Bucket List
- Top 10 Music Festivals in New Jersey
- Top 10 Music Festivals in Maryland
