The cost of tickets often make classical music inaccessible to people of lower income status. This summer there are a number of opportunities to bring social recreational activities and classical music together, and available to all people regardless of their financial situation.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will be playing at five different block parties across the Greater Cincinnati area, June 6th through August 1st. Each Block Party is FREE and open to the public. There will be pre-concert activities at each block party, including graffiti art, games for all ages, and local food trucks. The block parties will be held in the Downtown, West End, Price Hill, North Avondale, and Woodlawn Lincoln Heights.

The block parties will begin at 6 PM, with the concerts starting at 7:30 PM. The dates and locations of the block parties is as follows:

A Pride Month Block Party will be Thursday, June 6th, 2024, at The Andrew J Brady Music Center (outdoor stage), located at 25 Race Street. The block party will celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride. Local vendors, food trucks, activities and entertainment will be available. Sealed water bottles are allowed, but you can’t bring outside food into the venue. Also, lawn chairs and large umbrellas are not allowed at this venue, blankets instead are highly encouraged. The Pride Month Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The West End Block Party will be Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, at Ezzard Charles Park, located at 500 Ezzard Charles Drive. There will be a FREE cookout with a variety of food options, plus a popcorn and cotton candy machine, as well as music, art, and activities for all ages. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to join the party. The West End Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The Price Hill Block Party will be Sunday, July 14th, 2024, at the Dunham Recreation Center Complex, located at 4356 Dunham Lane. There will be a FREE cookout with a variety of food options, plus a popcorn and cotton candy machine, as well as music, art, and activities for all ages. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to join the party. The Price Hill Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The North Avondale Block Party will be Friday, July 19th, 2024 at the North Avondale Recreation Center Fields, located at 617 Clinton Springs Avenue. There will be a FREE cookout with a variety of food options, plus a popcorn and cotton candy machine, as well as music, art, and activities for all ages. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to join the party. The North Avondale Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The Woodlawn Lincoln Heights Block Party will be Thursday, August 1st, 2024, at the Woodlawn Community Center, located at 10050 Woodlawn Boulevard. There will be a FREE cookout with a variety of food options, plus a popcorn and cotton candy machine, as well as music, art, and activities for all ages. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coolers to join the party. The Bond Hill Woodlawn Lincoln Heights Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra also performs a number of livestreams, free to the public, which can be watched or listened to online. The upcoming programs and the performing artists involved in these livestreams can be viewed on their website. Engaging in social recreational activities has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. It is important to prioritize accessible and inclusive experiences like this.

You can find more social recreational resources by selecting the “Recreation” category tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.