Prime 5 issues to do in Cincinnati this weekend: Might 27-29

1. Taste of Cincinnati

One of the nation’s largest street festivals returns for the first time since 2019 with the largest selection of restaurants and food trucks in its history. It’s the perfect opportunity to try a number of different eateries and dishes in one place. You’ll find 36 restaurants and 18 food trucks participating, with more than 300 menu items available, most of which fall in the $4-$8 price range.

There’s also lots of live entertainment. You’ll find four different stages with local music from 36 different musical acts, including many in partnership with Cincinnati Music Accelerator, an entrepreneurship program for musicians, DJs, producers and recording artists: Stages are located at the beer garden at First Financial Plaza, the beer garden at P&G Gardens, the Taste of Findlay Market and the Rhinegeist Food Truck Alley. 

Taste of Cincinnati is free to attend and takes place from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday along Fifth Street from Main Street to the ramps of I-71 and Columbia Parkway, Downtown. tasteofcincinnati.com. 

Picks:10 dishes our food writer can’t wait to try at Taste of Cincinnati

Taste 2022: We’ve got the full food menu right here 🍜

Before you go:Everything you need to know about Taste of Cincinnati

2. “Tiny Beautiful Things”

Ensemble Theatre closes its 2021-2022 season with the regional premiere dramedy “Tiny Beautiful Things.” The play follows the relationships between a struggling writer who takes over the unpaid, anonymous position of an advice columnist named Sugar, and the real-life readers who pour out their hearts to her. At first unsure of herself, she finds a way to weave her own life experiences together to help those seeking guidance for obstacles large and small. 

Based on the book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, the play is brilliantly adapted to the stage by Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and stars Connan Morrissey as Sugar, with Michael G. Bath, Kearston Hawkins-Johnson and Taha Mandviwala as the letter writers. The show previews at 7 p.m. Saturday, with the official opening at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 1. It runs through June 25. Tickets start at $35, $28 for students. Ensemble Theatre is located at 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. ensemblecincinnati.org.

All the things:Your guide to Memorial Day weekend in Cincinnati

3. Hippie Art Yard Sale Fest

Leave the negativity and bad vibes at home and soak up two days and nights of peace, love and kindness at Hippie Art Yard Sale Fest, happening this weekend in Falmouth. With a nod to the merrymaking atmosphere of old school Grateful Dead shows, HAYS Fest features more than 40 local art vendors, food vendors and two stages of music and other performing talent such as fire performances and other circus-type acts. You can also enjoy yoga and meditation sessions, live art demonstrations and, in true hippie fashion, there is even a sound-healing gazebo featuring 18 Tibetan singing bowls. Evenings culminate in performances from 10 of the area’s best local circus performers and fire spinners, after which those not camping overnight will need to leave the grounds. 

This is a festival of two halves. During the day, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly crafts and activities, and there’s a separate family camping section with a playground and kid-friendly movies projected each night for families planning to spend the weekend. After 10 p.m., campers ages 18-up can enjoy a rave-cave immersive experience with more than 10 local DJs throwing down a wide variety of electronic dance music and hip-hop beats.

Daytime admission is $15 per car, per day and $25 per RV, per day. Camping is available for an additional charge per adult, $30 for one night, $40 for both nights, ages 18-under free with a paying adult. HAYS Fest opens its doors at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Laurel Bend, 86 Oldham Drive, Falmouth. eventbrite.com. 

4. USO Big Band Swing Dance

If you love cutting a rug, put on your dancing shoes and head out to Coney Island’s Moonlight Pavilion Saturday evening for the USO Big Band Swing Dance. You can show off your moves, from the Lindy Hop to the Charleston, as the Tom Daugherty Orchestra’s Swing Canteen plays the hits of the 1930s and 1940s. There are prizes for best period dress and authentic uniforms, and you can enter to win a ride in a B-17 WWII Bomber. 

Sponsored by Cincinnati Warbirds, the dance also features a ceremony honoring local veterans, and there are refreshments and a cash bar. It takes place from 6-10 p.m. Saturday and tickets cost $20 at the door, $15 in advance. Coney Island is located at 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. coneyislandpark.com.

5. Water-related fun

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and that means water parks and splash parks are opening. Here’s a rundown of water-related fun opening Saturday.

Beat the heat! ☀️:Cincinnati water parks splash back to life this weekend

Aqua Adventures at Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Water park features inflatable water slide and a Wibit Adventure Zone on its lake. landofillusion.com.

Parky’s Ark Wet Playground at Winton Woods, 10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township. Winton Woods is a 2,555-acre park that features this children’s water play area. greatparks.org. 

Parky’s Wetland Adventure at Woodland Mound, 8250 Old Kellogg Road, Anderson Township. Woodland Mound is a 1,066-acre park that features this children’s water play area. greatparks.org.

Sharon Woods Harbor Playground, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Harbor is a hub of the 730-acre Sharon Woods Park. Features a children’s water play area with spray-grounds. greatparks.org. 

Soak City at Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Features wave pool, tube slides, water slides and flumes, thrill rides, surfing simulator, spray-ground area for kids and more. visitkingsisland.com.

Sunlite Water Adventure at Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Features Sunlite Pool, water slides, a floating obstacle course, interactive play stations, dive pool and more. coneyislandpark.com.

Veterans Pool at Veterans Memorial Park, 26 Caroline Ave., Newport. Only public pool in Campbell County. newportky.gov.

Wake Nation Water Park, 201 Joe Nuxhall Way, Fairfield. Features a floating playground and cable park for wakeboarding. Offers wakeboard and summer camp programs. wakenation.com.

Honorable mention: The Candy Race

Who doesn’t love candy? My waistline, but never mind. The sweetest, most deliciously fun, family-friendly 5K in the city takes place Saturday at Sawyer Point Park, Downtown. The Little Jelly Tot Dash starts at 8:30 a.m. with the 5K run/walk stepping off shortly afterward. All participants receive a colorful T-shirt, a finisher’s medal, custom bib number, candy packet and race photos. It’s $35, $25 for kids and benefits Dragonfly Foundation. thecandyrace.com.

Honorable mention: Wiedemann Mile & Chug-a-Lug Relay Races

Another race this weekend is the Wiedemann Mile & Chug-a-Lug Relay. The Wiedemann Mile is a one-mile test of strategic speed and pacing that follows the bed of the historic Miami & Erie Canal, starting and ending at the Wiedemann Beer Garden (4811 Vine St., St. Bernard). The Chug-a-Lug Relay is for teams of four ages 21-up, with members running and chugging beer at the same time. Best overall time wins. There’s also a kids’ fun run with prizes for all participants. The races start at noon Saturday and cost $25 to enter, which includes a drink of choice and a WiedieWurst on a bun. Proceeds benefit the St. Bernard-Ludlow Grove Historical Society. Register: mile.wiedemannbeer.com.