Video: Dancing lady stole the show at CMF
During an intermission of the opening night of the Cincinnati Music Festival, this woman stole the show with her dance moves.
Cara Owsley, Cincinnati Enquirer
It’s time to break out your dancing shoes because Cincinnati Music Festival is returning.
The annual festival, which is set to take over downtown Cincinnati from July 24-26, is featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, LL Cool J, Lucky Daye and more July 25-26. A celebration of hip-hop concert headlined by Scarface, Goodie Mob and more will also take place at Andrew J. Brady Music Center on July 24.
In the past, the music festival has been the largest annual weekend driver of tourism in the area, with several other events also occurring throughout the weekend that aim to capture the audience coming to the Queen City.
So are you heading downtown for the festival and various other events? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Cincinnati Music Festival?
Cincinnati Music Festival is a three-day music festival hosted annually at Andrew J. Brady Music Center and Paycor Stadium. It typically features a mix of old-school and up-and-coming R&B, jazz and hip-hop artists.
The event was founded in 1962 as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival.
2025 Cincinnati Music Festival lineup
Thursday, July 25 (at Andrew J. Brady Music Center)
- Scarface.
- Goodie Mob.
- Sugarhill Gang.
- Young MC.
Friday, July 26 (at Paycor Stadium)
- Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Anthony Hamilton.
- Jazmine Sullivan.
- PJ Morton.
- The Zapp Band featuring Dreion.
Saturday, July 27 (at Paycor Stadium)
- LL Cool J.
- Toni Braxton.
- Lucky Daye.
- 112.
- The Bar-Kays.
- Jubu.
- Ronald Isley.
- Joe.
- After 7.
- Dave Hollister.
- Raheem DeVaughn.
How to buy tickets for Cincinnati Music Festival 2025
Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster or by calling the festival office at 513-924-0900. Prices start at $86.
The festival’s office, located at 4027 Allston St. in Oakley, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Cincinnati Music Festival 2025 seating chart
Click here to see the 2025 Cincinnati Music Festival seating chart at Paycor Stadium.
What time do doors open for Cincinnati Music Festival?
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and the shows start at 7:30 pm. Festivities start a little earlier Saturday, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and the show starting at 7:15 p.m., per the festival’s website.
Where to park for Cincinnati Music Festival
For drivers, organizers recommend the following lots for parking:
- Fountain Square Garage: 520 Vine St.
- The former Enquirer Building Parking Garage: 312 Elm St.
- Third and Race Street Lot: Corner of Third and Race streets.
- Scripps Center Garage: 312 Walnut St.
- Third and Main Lot: 120 E. Third St.
- Queen City Square Parking Garage: 319-331 E. Fourth St.
- Western and Southern Garage: 310 Broadway St.
- Broadway Lot: 295 Broadway St.
- East Garage: 443 E. Pete Rose Way.
- Longworth Hall Lot: 700 W. Pete Rose Way.
- South Lot: 131 Madison St., Newport.
However, Red Bike stations are available around downtown for those who want to skip the traffic. The Connector, a free streetcar that stops throughout Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, operates 365 days a year and has extended service hours for select events.
The bus station on Fifth and Main is also not a far walk from the festival.
If you plan to use a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, be aware the increased number of people could mean a surge in prices or longer wait times.
Festival organizers ask people using rideshares to be dropped off and picked up on Second Street, just west of Race Street.
Cincinnati Music Festival bag policy 2025
Only clear bags smaller than 12x12x6 or small clutch purses smaller than 4.5×6.5 inches are permitted, according to the FAQs page on the festival’s website.
Prohibited bags include: backpacks, binocular cases, camera cases, clear backpacks larger than 12x12x6, tinted plastic bags, printed pattern plastic bags, non-clear fanny packs, purses larger than 4.5×6.5, seat cushions with pockets, oversized tote bags and mesh bags.
Lockers will be available at the venue for items that do not fit these guidelines, the website added.
Is Cincinnati Music Festival cashless?
Yes, Paycor Stadium is a cashless facility, meaning visitors can only use a credit card, debit card or mobile payment for all purchases. This includes all concession stands and retail locations. All roaming vendors will have mobile credit card devices to process cashless payments.
Visitors with cash can use one of the stadium’s cash-to-card kiosks. These kiosks allow users to upload funds onto a payment card without additional fees. The cards can be used anywhere, not just at the stadium.
The kiosks are in two locations: one on the north side of the stadium by Gate B, sections 120/122, and the other on the south side by Gate E, sections 148/149.
What else is going on during Cincinnati Music Festival weekend?
In addition to Cincinnati Music Festival, a variety of other events are taking place around the city throughout the weekend. Here’s a look.
- The Offspring Super Charged Worldwide in ’25: July 26 at 7 p.m. at Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township.
- Brett Young: Back to Basics World Tour: July 26 at 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton.
- Festival 513: July 25-26 in front of Paycor Stadium on Freedom Way and Elm Street.
- Black Music Walk of Fame 2025 Induction Ceremony: July 26 at noon next to Andrew J. Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown.
- 10th Anniversary Queen City 5K: July 26, starting at 8 a.m. on the west side of Paycor Stadium near Central Avenue and West Pete Rose Way.
- Glier’s Goettafest: July 24-25 from 5-11 p.m., July 26 from noon to 11 p.m. and July 27 from noon to 9 p.m. at Festival Park, Newport.
- Cincinnati Reds vs. Tampa Bay Rays: July 25 at 7:10 p.m., July 26 at 6:40 p.m. and July 27 at 1:40 p.m. at Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks.
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