Block Parties with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, June through July, FREE admission.

The symphony orchestra is a cultural institution that enriches our lives through its beautiful music and the talent of its performers. However, the cost of tickets and the elitist reputation of classical music often make it inaccessible to people of lower income status. It is crucial that the symphony orchestra, and other social recreational activities, be made available to all people regardless of their financial situation. Engaging in social and recreational activities has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Therefore, it is important that we work towards creating a society that prioritizes accessible and inclusive cultural experiences.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will be playing at five different block parties across the Greater Cincinnati area, June 18 through July 26. 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 West End, The Banks, Price Hill, Evanston, East Walnut Hills, and Bond Hill.

The block parties will generally begin at 5:30 pm, with the concerts starting at 7:30pm. The last block party of the season will be in Bond Hill, and start a half hour earlier, however, commencing at 5pm, with concert at 7pm. The dates and locations of the block parties is as follows:

The West End Block Party will be Sunday, June 18th, 2023, at Ezzard Charles Park, located at 500 Ezzard Charles Drive. The block party will feature Detroit-raised recording artist, bassist, and composer Endea Owens, featuring music from Stevie Wonder and more. 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.

A Pride Month Block Party will be Thursday, June 29th, 2023, at The Andrew J Brady Music Center (outdoor stage), located at 25 Race Street. The block party will celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride. 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 Price Hill Block Party will be Sunday, July 9th, 2023, at the Dunham Recreation Center Complex, located at 4356 Dunham Lane. The block party will feature a variety of Latine music in tribute to Price Hill’s Latine community. 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 Evanston East Walnut Hills Block Party will be Saturday, June 15th, 2023 at the Owl’s Nest Park (Fairfax Road), located at 1984 Madison Road. The block party will celebrate the Evanston neighborhood, King Records and the “Queens of King Records”, highlighting a rich history of music making and the women who brought that music to life. The Evanston East Walnut Hills Block Party Program, including a play list, pre-concert activities and the performing artists to be in attendance, can be viewed online.

The Bond Hill Block Party will be Wednesday, July 26th, 2023, at the Corinthian Baptist Church, located at 1920 Tennessee Avenue. The block party will be Jazz themed. The Bond Hill 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.

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