11 Fun, Family-Friendly Labor Day Weekend 2024 Activities in Cincinnati Ohio

11 Fun & Family-Friendly Adventures in Cincinnati Labor Day Weekend 2024

2024 is the 48th year that WEBN has put on the fireworks display that marks the end of summer.

This end-of-summer tradition takes place at Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove on the banks of the Ohio River. There is open seating on both sides of the river, and if you are familiar with the area, the gently rolling hills that are the Ohio Valley mean that there are plenty of great spots away from the river to view the fireworks, if you know where to look.

The annual Riverfest celebration that culminates with the Western & Southern/WEBN Fireworks is free to attend and officially kicks off Sunday, September 1, 2024. The party starts at noon and ends at 10 pm.

There is no admission charge, but with attendance on both sides of the river approaching half a million people, visitors are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day.

The Riverfest program offers endless fun with music, food, and family entertainment throughout the day, capped off by one of the largest pyrotechnic shows in the Midwest.

The fireworks display is synchronized to a soundtrack on WEBN (102.7 FM).

If you’re going to be in the Greater Cincinnati area over Labor Day weekend in 2024, you may be wondering how to spend your time before the fireworks begin.

Here are 11 ideas for fun and affordable things to do with your family in Cincinnati over Labor Day weekend this year.

1.Riverboat Cruise with Lunch

Cruises run throughout the day and are about 2 hours long.

Tickets start at $50/person.

Take your family on a relaxing round-trip cruise from Newport, Kentucky. Enjoy the scenery, learn about the history of the area, enjoy some banjo music, and partake in a fantastic meal in the skyline, watch the river go by, and enjoy a fantastic meal on this round-trip cruise from Newport.

They offer a variety of dinner cruises, but tickets sell out quickly for this outing. They have buffet meals and offer a fully stocked cash bar. There is no dress code, so feel free to enjoy the river in casual or formal wear.

Details here.

2.Cincinnati Zoo – 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220

Hours of Operation – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission runs from $11-26/person, depending on age. Children under age 3 are free.

Admission is reduced between 3-5 p.m. to $12-15/person.

Parking in the zoo lot is $10/vehicle.

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, click here.

3.Newport Aquarium - One Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071

Hours of General Admission

Friday August 30 – 10 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. (Closes at 5 p.m.)

Saturday August 31 – 9 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. (Closes at 8 p.m.)

Labor Day September 1 - 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. (Closes at 5 p.m.)

Admission costs vary depending on time of day and guest’s age but run $23 to 40 per person. There is no charge for children under 2.

Located directly across the river from Downtown Cincinnati, Newport Aquarium is located at the Newport Levee in Kentucky.

You can walk over sharks on the shark bridge, check out the octopus den, touch sting rays or tide pool creatures, and walk through an underwater tunnel that makes you feel immersed in the aquatic environment. There are lots of other fun activities for kids of all ages.

Learn more or purchase tickets here.

4.Highfield Discovery Garden – 10397 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215

Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Saturday: 9:30 am–5 pm
Sunday: Noon–5 pm

$6 per person
Under 2: Free

So that all families are able to enjoy this children’s garden, guests with a valid food assistance card can receive free admission to Highfield Discovery Garden on regular operating days.

This park is twelve acres of “whimsically designed spaces that inspire curiosity and exploration," according to their website.

The centerpiece of this park is a 25-foot Discovery Tree. It is quite easy for even very young children to navigate, and there are lots of little nooks for them to explore.

There are also seven smaller gardens, each with a unique theme.

There are lots of hidden gems and surprises to find as you go through the gardens, so keep your eyes open!

Highfield Discovery Garden is about a 20-minute drive north of downtown Cincinnati, so if you decide to take the family here during Labor Day weekend, you might want to plan this trip for Friday or Saturday so that you’re not rushed to get back downtown.

Additional information here.

5.The Cincinnati Fire Museum - 315 West Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Hours of Operation – Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am-2 pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

Admission -

Adults: $10

Seniors (65+): $9

Children (7–17): $8

Children (2-6): $5

Did you know that Cincinnati is the birthplace of professional firefighting? This museum tells its history in its many fine exhibits, audio-visual presentations, and scale model dioramas. This is a wonderful place to take the entire family.

Things to do here: Visit their Safe House and practice life-saving fire safety skills. Slide down the real firehouse pole! See what real firefighters look like wearing their protective gear. Run the lights and sirens in the pumper cab! Check out some of the oldest types of extant firefighting equipment.

You can find more information here.

6.The Escape Game - 28 West Freedom Way, Suite 300 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Hours of Operation – 7:30 am-midnight.

Admission is a little pricey at about $50/person, but be warned, some people report being addicted after this experience!

The Escape Game has five interactive adventures. Prison Break is said to be the most challenging. They also have rooms with these interesting titles: The Heist, Playground, Gold Rush, and one called Special Ops: Mystery Market.

Each escape room holds up to eight players except Playground, which can host up to twelve players. Smaller groups may be partnered with other groups.

All the games have unique themes, are highly immersive, and feature multiple rooms to escape from.

Duration: 1-2 hours

More information here.

7.FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s premier professional soccer team, FC Cincinnati, will be competing against CF Montreal at 7:30 pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

Ticket prices start at $21. Information on purchasing tickets can be found here.

FC Cincinnati is currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference, only five points behind Miami.

According to Cincinnati Magazine , FC Cincinnati was fifth in average attendance in 2023, second among teams with soccer-specific stadiums.

FC Cincinnati games are high-energy and exciting, so if you are looking for something fun to do with the family on Saturday evening before Labor Day, a visit to TQL stadium to watch the FCC won't disappoint!

8.The Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have had a crazy season with lots of ups and downs, but as of this writing, they are still in contention for a wild-card berth in the playoffs, so come cheer them on!

The Reds will be playing at home over the Labor Day weekend, so if you’re going to be in town for the whole weekend, you can catch a game on Friday (6:40 pm,) Saturday (7:15 pm,) Sunday (12:15 pm,) or Monday (4:10 p.m.)

Tickets start at $13/person and can be purchased here.

9.Lunken Airport Days – 700 Wilmer Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

Admission & Parking Are Free

Hours – Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm

Lunken Airport Days features the B-29 Doc, the B-17 (there are only four of these still flying!) and many other warbirds. If you are feeling truly adventurous, you can even book a flight on one of these old planes or on a helicopter.

Flights must be reserved prior to arrival. Tickets start at $350/person for 15 minutes, and spots on these flights typically fill quickly.

While you’re there, you can see military and civilian aircraft on display and check out flight simulators.

You can talk to pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. The program also features classic cars, free hot dogs, food vendors, the Living History Veterans Panel, and lots of kids' activities.

This is a fantastic way to have fun with the family while you sneak some history lessons in!

10.The Children’s Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center - 1301 Western Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45203

Hours of Operation

Thursday through Monday – 10 am-5 pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Admission – Ticket prices for admission to Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science and The Children's Museum

Adult – (Ages 13–59) $22.50

Senior (Ages 60+) - $15.50

Child (Ages 3–12) - $15.50

There are AAA and military discounts available, and other museum offerings and packages. Check here for all the details.

There are eight themed play areas so that kids of all ages can have hands-on fun while they learn. Two of these areas are specifically designed for preschool-aged children and younger. While the Children's Museum is designed for children up to age 10, the whole family can explore together.

Kids are encouraged to “climb, crawl, explore and learn about themselves and the world around them,” and with over 1,800 hours of programming each year,” (Source) they don’t need to find a trip to the museum boring!

The Children’s Museum is consistently ranked in the top ten children’s museums in the U.S., making this a destination must if you have time over Labor Day weekend.

11.Smale Riverfront Park- 100 W. Mehring Way Cincinnati, OH 45202

No admission charge

Located right along the Ohio River, Smale Riverfront Park is a beautiful, scenic park to check out. Smale Park has a playground area with climbing walls and slides, interactive musical sculptures, swings, and water features for splashing in and cooling off.

There is also a long winding walking trail with gorgeous landscaping and several swinging benches to sit on and enjoy the views of the river and the bridges.

This is a great spot to go with the family on Sunday if you don’t want to wander too far from where you’ll be viewing the fireworks.

The Grand Finale

And don’t forget to be back down to the Riverfront in plenty of time to catch the fireworks show! It starts at 9 p.m., and with attendance of a half million visitors along the banks of the river, the place does get crowded!

The show will go on, rain or shine (not during a thunderstorm, for obvious reasons,) so carry ponchos if it looks like there might be rain.

Because there are so many people at this event, there are rules that have been put in place to help keep everyone safe. It’s a good idea to be familiar with these before you head down to the riverfront.

You can find them here.

Final Thoughts

These activities offer a mix of fun, food, and experiences that you can only find in Cincinnati, but there are so many other activities to enjoy with your family over the Labor Day holiday in Cincinnati.

This list is just a start, but hopefully gives you some great ideas for planning your Labor Day weekend trip.

Whether you’ll be in town with your family for the weekend or the whole week, Cincinnati offers plenty to do. So, check out some of these activities, explore Cincinnati, enjoy the fireworks, and have a memorable Labor Day weekend!

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