It’s no secret that the center city boasts a seemingly endless number of things to see and do, for both visitors and locals alike. Moving about from one destination to the next will soon get easier when the Cincinnati Streetcar opens for service, but, for those able to do so, Red Bike serves as a perfect tool to check out as many places as possible.
By taking transit, walking or riding a bike, you can avoid the hassles of fighting traffic, looking and paying for parking, and can check your concerns about parking tickets or other hassles. Plus, it’s also a great way to get some exercise in the process.
To help promote such information, they partnered with US Digital Partners on a video to showcase just how convenient and enjoyable it can be to explore the center city by bike. And thanks to the continued expansion of Red Bike, you can now take it to go beyond Downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
Tri-State Trails is aiming to encourage the public to get outdoors with the Opening Day on the Trails Challenge – a seven week series of hikes, group bike rides, and other events on trails and in parks throughout the Cincinnati region.
The challenge starts with an event at Sawyer Point from 12pm to 5pm on Saturday, April 16, which is also Earth Day.
The Opening Day on the Trails Challenge is part of a national kickoff by the Rails-to-Trail Conservancy to promote the spring outdoor season. Running from mid-April to early June, the challenge overlaps with National Bike Month in May.
Little Miami Scenic Trail [Provided]
Information on the challenge can be found online at MeetMeOutdoors.com. Participants can register on the website, and sign up to receive email newsletters and social media alerts. A Trails Challenge Passport is also available for download. To participate, individuals and families attend group events, which are listed on a schedule included with the passport. Attendance at activities is logged on the passport, and those who attend at least one event are eligible to win a prize.
Organizers say that the challenge will conclude with an award ceremony on National Trails Day on June 4 at the Purple People Bridge. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a Nalgene water bottle and other items. A raffle will also be held to award prizes, donated by local businesses and Cincy Red Bike, to registered participants.
Tri-State Trails, a program of Green Umbrella, is the local host of the challenge, and is hoping it will encourage more people to get out and explore the region’s network of bike paths and trails.
Wade Johnston, Regional Trails Coordinator for Tri-State Trails, sees the event as an opportunity to showcase not only the many multimodal trails in the Cincinnati region, but also the hiking and mountain biking trails. Tri-State Trails has been told by the Rails to Trails Conservancy that the Challenge in the Cincinnati region is the largest and longest program of any opening day trail event in the United States.
Johnston told UrbanCincy that public support and usage of the region’s trail system is increasing, citing the Cincinnati Connects plan, and efforts to expand the Mill Creek Greenway, Ohio River Trail, and Wasson Way.
The Opening Day on the Trails event is supported by a $25,000 grant from Interact for Health. While this is the first year for this event in Cincinnati, it is intended to be an annual event in the future.
Green Umbrella’s Outdoor Event Series will continue through the summer with the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo on July 22 at Winton Woods Harbor, and the Great Outdoor Weekend on September 24 and 25 at a variety of locations around the Cincinnati area.
Comedy and beer will come together this weekend as Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha returns to Sawyer Point. Now in its fourth year, the event will feature 50 comedians on three stages, 80 beers, live music, and plenty of food.
This year’s comedic headliners are Bobcat Goldthwait (Friday) and Tim Wilson (Saturday). Organizers say that with a full schedule of comedians and live bands, there is bound to be something for everyone.
The event will feature a vast collection of craft beer including a wide assortment of Cincinnati-area beers like Christian Moerlein, Samuel Adams, Alltech (makers of the famous Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale), and Rivertown brewers. The food will also be local and offer up Italian, German, Cincinnati-style chili, and barbecue food options.
In addition to the stand-up comedy, food and beer, event-goers will be treated to live music from The SwimSuitModels on Friday, and the Stays in Vegas Band on Saturday.
The 2010 Cincinnati Brew Ha-Ha will run from 5pm to midnight on Friday, and 4pm to midnight on Saturday at Sawyer Point. Admission is free, allowing everyone to enjoy the comedy. To drink, guests must purchase a $5 wristband and tickets for $1 each. One ticket will get you a sample size of beer, and four tickets will get you a full serving.
Automobile parking will be available at Sawyer Point (map), but in the name of safety, Brew Ha-Ha may be the perfect event for utilizing Metro bus service. Free bicycle parking is also available for this event.
