Cincinnati Entertainment

Cincinnati has a thriving nightlife which combines late night bars and clubs with the theatre and arts. Downtown is a hub of activity after dark, while the affluent Pill Hill is popular with those who have expensive tastes and enjoy fine dining. While the city is not renowned for its theatre and music, there is an excellent music and arts scene, with many plays being shown in venues across the city and many classical and contemporary music performances being given throughout the year.

Nightlife

Downtown Cincinnati is where the heart of the action is. You will find a complete mix of people including the after-work and theatre crowds as well as numerous tourists, students and sporting fans, who come to support their home side.

The area between Main Street and Liberty Street in the centre of the city is home to an abundance of art galleries and speciality stores selling antiques and other unusual items. It is a bustling area with a chilled-out atmosphere by day and a lively party atmosphere at night, mainly due to the number of nightclubs and late night bars here.

Pill Hill is popular with the arty crowd as there are many ethnic restaurants and a popular art-house theatre. Pill Hill is close to the university, and there are a number of bars offering discounts for students. It is however the trendy district and there are also many upmarket restaurants and bars lining the streets, which are suitable for those who are not worried about a tight budget.

Theatre and music

Cincinnati is not renowned for its theatre or its music scene, although there is a theatre downtown which shows contemporary plays and shows, and there is an art-house theatre in Pill Hill showing alternative performances.

The Music Hall in the city is an 1870s collection of spires and arched windows, and is said to have virtually-perfect acoustics. It is home to Cincinnati's operatic society as well as the Symphony Orchestra. The hall also hosts the May Festival of choral music. The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park can be found in Eden Park and showcases drama, musicals and comedies, with performances held throughout the year.

Festivals

Cincinnati has an event or festival taking place virtually every month of the year, ensuring visitors will enjoy some form of celebration. Among the highlights are:

• International Wine Festival is a chance to enjoy the extravaganza of different wines from across the globe. There are many samples on offer as well as information on the whole process and individual vineyards. A must-see for wine connoisseurs (March).
• May Festival is the longest running choral and orchestral event in the country. It is held over two successive weekends and offers performances by world-class opera singers, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the ever-popular Cincinnati Boys Choir (May).
• Coors Lite Jazz Festival is the biggest blues and jazz festival in the whole of the US. World-famous musicians attend and give one-off performances at selected venues across the city (July).
• Riverfest is held every year on Labour Day weekend. It is a favourite with everyone and celebrates the end of summer with fireworks and well-known musicians performing across the river (September).