18 Things to Do in Cincinnati This Week (July 31-Aug. 6)

WEDNESDAY 31

ONSTAGE: Girl in the Red Corner
Halo learns life in the MMA cage and outside of it are disturbingly similar in Know Theatre’s Girl in the Red Corner.Through Aug. 17. $10. Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: Dan R Winters

WEDNESDAY 31

GET INVOLVED: Bans Off My Body
Angry about the 22 reproductive health restrictions Ohio has passed since 2011, including the “Heartbeat Bill” voted into law earlier this year? Then come to this teach-in to hear from reproductive rights leaders. Panelists from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, NARAL Pro Choice Ohio, Young Activists Coalition and Cincinnati Black Pride will educate attendees and give them tips on how to resist these new laws. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Main Branch, 800 Vine St., Downtown.
Photo: Facebook event page

WEDNESDAY 31

EVENT: One Night One Craft: Sashiko Upcycling
Inspired by Saya Woolfalk’s exhibition, A Cabinet of Anticipation — featuring a fictional race of futuristic women who can “alter their genetic make-up and merge with the natural world” — the Contemporary Arts Center is hosting a craft night featuring sashiko, a traditional Japanese way of decorating and reinforcing clothing. The technique is characterized by little stitches done only with a needle and thread. The result resembles a quilted effect. No experience is necessary, and helpers will be there to assist you. While upcycling your old clothes, enjoy a cocktail from the new Fausto cafe. 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday. $10 members; $20 non-members. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown.
Photo: Facebook.com/CincyCAC

THURSDAY 01

EVENT: Glier’s Goettafest
Glier’s Goettafest has expanded its festivities at Newport’s Festival Park on the Levee to two weekends for the first time since the annual celebration began 18 years ago so you can enjoy one of our city’s most popular regional dishes twice as long. Attractions at Goettafest include two live music stages, a carnival-style dunk tank, face painting, speed pitch and more goetta than you could ever eat. Vendors cannot repeat what anyone else is making, so the variety of dishes includes everything from deep-fried goetta balls and goetta donut sandwiches to goetta nachos and goetta brownies. There’s also a novelty refrigerated goetta vending machine on-site in case you want to take goetta home. 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Festival Park, Newport on the Levee, Newport.
Photo: Holden Mathis

THURSDAY 01

COMEDY: Big Jay Oakerson
“Right before I started doing comedy, I was in community college in Philadelphia,” says comedian Big Jay Oakerson. “I had my niche: some guys are great athletes; some are a lady’s man. I was the funny guy.” He never gave performing much thought until he ran into an old friend from high school. “We started talking and she said she was disappointed in me. She always thought I’d end up doing comedy. By chance I was with my buddy the next day, buying sneakers, and I saw a comedy club that was having an open mic. I fell in love with it immediately.” Onstage these days, he’s much more of a storyteller who lets the audience guide him. “That’s what I sometimes advise younger comics to do,” he says. “Learn how to relate something to a room full of people and make them laugh.” 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday; 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday. $17-$47. Funny Bone Liberty, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township.
Photo via liberty.funnybone.com

THURSDAY 01

EVENT: Delhi Skirt Game
Started in 1978 as a fundraiser to help offset the medical expenses for a local child hurt in a bicycle accident, the Delhi Skirt Game has become a West Side tradition. Men — from the Athletic Association, Fire Department and other local orgs — dress in drag and play ball in the name of the neighborhood’s less fortunate. Party a day before the big event on Thursday with a tailgating party in the old Remke parking lot in the 5000 block of Delhi Pike. Then come watch the team play the 42nd annual Skirt game Friday and enjoy LaRosas’s, burgers, brats, beer and ice cream, plus a fireworks display. Tailgate 6-10 p.m. Thursday; Delhi Skirt Game 5-10 p.m. Friday. Free. Delhi Park, 5125 Foley Road, Delhi.
Photo via CityBeat Archive

THURSDAY 01

EVENT: World’s Longest Yard Sale
The World’s Longest Yard Sale is an annual event that stretches almost 700 miles along State Route 127, from Gadsden, Alabama to Addison, Michigan and straight through Greater Cincinnati. Locally, the 127 Yard Sale website has the Covered Bridge Antique Mall in Hamilton and the Northside Summer Market on Hoffner Street in Northside listed as “major vendor stops,” but expect plenty of people to be out throughout the weekend selling stuff in their yards. The aforementioned Northside Summer Market (northsidesummermarket.com) takes place 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-11 p.m. on Saturday and includes not only a community-wide yard sale, but also a Humble Monk beer garden, live music, public mural art and a cool-down station with a grill out, cold drinks and kids’ activities. World’s Longest Yard Sale Thursday-Sunday. Free admission.
Photo: Provided by the World’s Longest Yard Sale

FRIDAY 02

MUSIC: Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant brings their co-headlining tour with Beck to Riverbend. 6 p.m. Friday. $29.50-$200.50. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California.
Photo: Neil Krug

FRIDAY 02

MUSIC: Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan at Memorial Hall
Louisville, Kentucky-area native Joan Osborne made a huge splash in the mid ’90s with her major label debut, Relish, which produced one of the seminal hits of the era, “One of Us.” Osborne — whose varied musical output encompasses Rock, Blues, Soul and other Americana forms — hasn’t maintained as high of a mainstream profile in the years since her astronomical rise (which was preceded by years of DIY work and self-releases), but she has maintained a successful career that has included work with some cornerstone legends of popular music. In 2017, Osborne released a collection of her versions of songs by Bob Dylan, aptly titled Songs of Bob Dylan. With her signature soulful and earthy style and a willingness to toy with the original arrangements, Osborne offers a retrospective of the legendary singer/songwriter’s career. 8 p.m. Friday. $28-$45. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: Jeff Fasano

SATURDAY 03

MUSIC: Mac Sabbath
Mac Sabbath brings Drive Thru Metal to the Woodward Theater.8:30 p.m. Saturday. $16 advance; $20 day of show; under 21 pays $3 cash surcharge at the door. The Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Downtown.
Photo: Jeremy Saffer

SATURDAY 03

EVENT: UB40
UB40 brings Reggae to Riverfront Live. 8:30 p.m. Saturday. $25. Ages 16+. Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End.
Photo: Provided by UB40

SATURDAY 03

EVENT: Ohio River Paddlefest
If it floats your boat, come down to the nation’s largest paddling celebration. Now in its 18th year, the Ohio River Paddlefest is a nine-mile paddle on the Ohio River past downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The river will be closed to other traffic during this time. Paddlers can also sign up for the 4.2 mile Race to the Roebling. After the race, head to the Finish Line Festival and Conservation Expo with music, local beer, food trucks and info on protecting natural resources. All proceeds from the event will go toward Adventure Crew teens, an organization that helps connect city teens with nature. Rental boats may be available. 6 a.m. parking starts; 7 a.m. race; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Finish Line Festival. Tickets start at $55 for adults and $25 ages 4-17. Schmidt Recreation Complex, 2944 Humbert Ave., East End.
Photo: Brynn Weller Photography

SATURDAY 03

EVENT: WestSide Market
Eat, shop and support all things West Side. Located in the parking lot next to NYPD pizza, more than 90 vendors will set up their booths for you to peruse. Vendors include Root + Leaf, Truckshop, Queen City Revolt, Daisy Jane’s Flower Truck, La Orangette and streetpops. There is a free Plank Pilates pop-up event at 10:30 a.m.; sign up if you want to get a workout in first. Those that participate get a free drink ticket. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Free. Westside Market, 3719 Harrison Ave, Cheviot.
Photo: WestSide Market

SATURDAY 03

EVENT: CSO Look Around
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra embarks on its 125th season (it is one of only five orchestras in America to reach this milestone) with a collaborative celebration. More than 20 local ensembles — both music and dance groups — will be converging to create installations in Ziegler Park and Washington Park that inspire us to “see each other and our world through music.” With a title inspired by a poem from co-curator, activist and Triiibe member Siri Imani, the event begins with a musical procession from Ziegler Park to Washington Park featuring the likes of Pones Inc., Napoleon Maddox and the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus. Washington Park will be divided into Red, Yellow and Blue zones with multiple performances from Triiibe, the May Festival Chorus, Bi-Okoto, MUSE, Pride of Cincinnati and others; more than 600 artists are participating. The event is free and unticketed and there is no right or wrong way to experience it — the CSO invites you to choose your own adventure. Rain date is Sunday. 7 p.m. Saturday. Free. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine; Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: Facebook.com/PonesINC

SATURDAY 03

EVENT: Cincy Summer Beerfest
The 11th Cincy Summer Beerfest is moving from Great American Ball Park to Smale Riverfront Park. Over 90 breweries will contribute hundreds of craft beers to a single-day, two-session fest. Whether coming for the first or second half, there should be plenty of drinks, food, live music and a silent disco, but be prepared for some beers to run out faster than others. Admission includes 25 samples and a souvenir mug. Proceeds benefit the Big Joe Duskin Music Foundation, which helps music programs in underfunded elementary and junior high schools. Session One: 1:30-4:30 p.m.; Session Two: 8-11 p.m. Saturday. $40; $45 day of; $50 early admission; $55 day of early admission; $20 DD. Smale Riverfront Park, 166 W. Mehring Way, Downtown.
Photo: Chris Bowman Photography

SUNDAY 04

EVENT: Art on Vine
This monthly maker market takes over Fountain Square with more than 70 local vendors selling handmade goods and fine art. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown.
Photo via Facebook.com/ArtOnVine

SUNDAY 04

EVENT: August Tea Dance
Tea Dance Cincinnati hosts monthly Sunday afternoon dances created for the LGBTQ community and allies. August’s Tea Dance will take place in the Contemporary Arts Center, with music provided by DJ Thaddeus and cocktails for purchase. 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown.
Photo: Provided by Richard Cooke

SUNDAY 04

SPORTS: FC Cincinnati Fan Fest
Meet all your favorite Cincinnati soccer stars as FC Cincinnati hosts its first ever Fan Fest. The stadium-wide event has activities for all ages, not to mention concessions with family-friendly prices. Take a tour of the locker room, enjoy a game of FIFA on the video board, and watch a live broadcast of player interviews, among other activities. Does your kid have no soccer skills to speak of? Train him to be the little athlete you always wanted with the kid’s mini clinic, or just let him run around with a bubble soccer ball instead. 6-8 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Nippert Stadium, 2700 Bearcats Way, Clifton.
Photo: Provided by FC Cincinnati