3CDC Newsletter 08.14.25
Cool news for a hot summer day: Downtown Cincinnati’s winter season festivities are expanding in a major way! This year, downtown's beloved ice rink is moving from Fountain Square to the brand-new Elm Street Plaza — a 2.5-acre outdoor park next to the Convention Center, which is currently undergoing a $264 million renovation. Opening in mid-November, Elm Street Plaza will level up our Queen City cheer, offering a bigger rink, cozy igloos, firepits, and an upgraded WGU Warming Tent. Blending modern amenities and experiences with special community events and traditions, the new ice rink is the perfect spot for winter fun, with rentals available for parties and corporate events, plus festive programming running through February. Don’t worry — Fountain Square fun isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s getting a winter-inspired glow-up of its own! A new oversized heated tent called Winterhaus will host daily events, happy hours, coworking, and private rentals. And yes, favorite traditions like Duke Energy’s Light Up the Square and YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Downtown Dazzle will still shine bright alongside enhanced holiday décor and the iconic Duke Energy Tree at Fountain Square. Learn more about the magic in store for downtown, and get to know Elm Street Plaza today!
You don't have to wait for winter to make lasting memories downtown — this week is packed with vibrant community events! The 37th annual Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion is back and enlivening the city today through Sunday! The “Everlasting Endurance” themed festival features thoughtfully curated, family-friendly event experiences across Cincinnati, including speakers and performers, neighborhood Olympics, historic tours, a beat battle, and more. At Sawyer Point, the timeless talents of Midnight Star take to the festival stage on Saturday night at 5PM, and acclaimed gospel artist Fred Hammond closes out the weekend on Sunday evening. All Black Family Reunion events are free to attend. Check out all the festival details online today!
Our Cincinnati Reds are swinging back into action. Starting Friday night, they are battling it out against the Milwaukee Brewers all weekend long at Great American Ball Park! The path to the MLB playoffs is still open for the home team, but with a tough schedule on the horizon, support from fans means more than ever. In the stands, fans can enjoy more than a fantastic show on the field. Weekend promotionsinclude Jerry Garcia t-shirt and floppy hat giveaways, a chance to run the bases, and, of course, Fireworks Friday. Game times vary. Score your tickets today!
Tuesday night, oom-pah--pop up to North OTR for the official Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Kick Off! America's largest Oktoberfest is taking over the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom from 4 to 7PM and prosting to good times ahead this festival season. Join in for an evening of stein hoisting competitions, Bavarian music, epic giveaways, and the release of the 2025 Rookwood Pottery Stein. Whether you're a die-hard Oktoberfest fan or just in it for the beer and brats, there’s something for everyone. Costumes aren't required, but it never hurts to get in the Oktoberfest spirit!
