3CDC Newsletter 02.20.25
Sausage, soccer, and chili...it’s shaping up to be a very Cincinnati-centric week downtown! This weekend, throw your crown in the ring to be named Bockfest Sausage Queen! Bockfest, Cincinnati’s annual celebration of spring and Over-the-Rhine’s brewing heritage, is right around the corner, but before we can tap the kegs and let the festivities start flowing, it’s tradition to select festival royalty. The renowned (and sometimes notorious) Bockfest Sausage Queen helps lead the Bockfest Parade by carrying a symbolic tray of Bockwurst. Preliminary rounds for the gender-neutral pageant wrap up this weekend with opportunities to compete tomorrow night at Arnold’s Bar & Grill and Saturday night at Voodoo Brew Pub. The winning "princess" from each round goes on to compete at the final round held on Bockfest Weekend. At each of the preliminary contests, guest judges and crowd participation will determine the best applicant based on personality, presence, and talent. Learn more about the beloved and quirky tradition and register to compete in the preliminaries online! Contestants must be at least 21 years old. The shows start at 8PM. Prost!
Get ready to show your shaa la-la la-la-la la la-la-love for the Orange and Blue because FC Cincinnati is back on the pitch at TQL Stadium Saturday night for the club’s home opener! The 2025 season is the tenth for FC Cincinnati and their seventh in Major League Soccer. Competition kicks off at 7:30PM against the New York Red Bulls. Tickets are still available to experience the match from the stands, but as always there’s a long list of downtown Pub Partners showing the game too, including Frankie's Sips and Savories, Queen City Exchange, and Rhinehaus!
The return of soccer means another fan-favorite community event is back in action too! FC Cincinnati Pre-Match at the Park returns to beautiful Washington Park in the heart of Over-the-Rhine Saturday starting at 4PM. Free family-friendly festivities will take over the park in celebration of every home match with activities including inflatables, face painting, live music, games and more. Drinks will be available for purchase from The Sherwin-Williams Porch and plenty of seating and heaters will be around the park to keep fans comfortable all pre-match long. FC Cincinnati Pre-Match is free and open to all, including dogs!
Starting Monday, Cincinnati’s most iconic dish will be on the menu for an entire week. As a long overdue homage to our city's food staple, Cincinnati Chili Week successfully launched in 2024, and now it’s back for a second helping to bring locals’ favorite chili menu items to the culinary forefront. We're talking 3-ways, 4-ways, juicy, light, coneys, chili cheese fries, chili dip, and more! The goal of Cincinnati Chili Week is to give people what they want—chili—and to showcase our collective love of delicious Cincinnati culture. Chili deals range from $5 to $7, and the specials can be found at hotspots all across the city, like Al’s Delicious Popcorn, Bru Burger Bar, and Nation Kitchen & Bar! Check out all the participating restaurants on the Chili Week website and let your mouth start watering.
