Free Labor Day weekend activities

Labor Day is the last holiday of the season, which means summer is officially coming to an end. There are still lots of fun things for you and your family to enjoy during your long weekend, before the weather turns chilly and it’s too late!

The Freestore Foodbank’s 16th annual Rubber Duck Regatta is Sunday September 5 at Sawyer Point. Throughout the Regatta’s sixteen years, they have raised more than $4.5 million and last year alone $550,000 was raised to feed more than 2.2 million people in the Cincinnati area.
Ducks are $5 each (6 for $25) and can be purchased online here or at several Kroger locations within the Cincinnati area. The race kicks off at 3 p.m. and all proceeds go to the Freestore Foodbank. Get your ducks now for a chance to win a $1 million prize and a 2010 Honda Fit Sport (first place)!

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is having a 5k run and walk Sunday September 5, starting at 8 a.m. Runners will be able to enjoy the new course while admiring the beautiful gardens and exotic animal exhibits. Children ages 12 and under are free! Find out more here.

The 34th annual CarMax Riverfest on Sunday September 5 is a great place to be this Labor Day weekend! Riverfest starts at noon and goes on until approximately 11 p.m. There will be food, fun, family entertainment and of course the annual Fireworks show! Why not end your summer with a bang; winter will be here before you know it!

The Amazing Portable Circus is coming to Essex Studios on Monday, September 6 for a magic show! Admission is free for this fun and exciting performance by the Cincinnati-based company that will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. This event is perfect for all ages. For more information, call 513.921.5454 or visit their website.

The Labor Day Weekend Festival, held by St. Margaret Mary Church, will kick off on Friday, September 3, until Sunday, September 5. Bring your family out for a weekend full of festival games, rides, a $5,000 grand prize raffle (tickets are $5 each or 6 for $25), live music, good food, drinks and more!

Another festival taking place during the holiday weekend is the St. John Neumann Summer Festival, starting Friday, September 3. Want to try your luck at winning some cash? On Saturday, September 4, you can play in the Texas Hold’em tournament – that is, if you’re at least 21 years old of course! The festival is at 12191 Mill Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240 and you can call 513.742.0953 for more information.

Russian Fest, presented by St. George Russian Orthodox Church will take place at Loveland’s Nisbet Park on Saturday, September 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fest includes authentic Russian food, crafts, jewelry, live music, children’s activities and more! Admission is free, and all proceeds from purchasing items at the Fest will benefit St. George Russian Orthodox Church. For more information, call 513.831.1754

Do you have a fascination for automobiles? If so, Coney Island’s Cruise-A-Palooza will be your dream-come-true! On Saturday, September 4 from noon to 4 p.m. you can peruse hundreds of makes and models from all through the years. Attendance is free, but to gain access to Coney Island’s attractions it will cost extra. Have a car you’d like to show off? You can register your vehicle for $15 from 10 a.m. until noon and the registration fee will include two wristbands for Coney’s Classic Rides! Professional judges will award trophies to the top 50 cars on display! If you want to bring along your family and they aren’t as fond of vehicles as yourself, don’t worry – there will be tons of other activities going on, like games, prizes, live music and more! For more information, click here.

Fountain Square is offering a unique event on Saturday, September 4: the Guinness Oyster Festival! The event will begin at noon and end at 11 p.m. so you have plenty of time to enjoy delicious oysters as well as other food and drink options, while listening to live music by bands like the Unlucky Charms, Buckra and more! There will also be Celtic merchandise you can purchase, a create-your-own Bloody Mary bar and an oyster eating contest. Admission is free, but all food and drink have prices. For more information, click here.

Labor Day doesn’t only mark the end of summer, but also the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons! What better way to spend the long holiday weekend than by kicking back, relaxing and watching the game with your friends and family? The Bearcats’ first football game of the season is Saturday, September 4, when the Cincinnati Bearcats will play against Fresno State. You can catch the game on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. Want to make your football party extra-special? Disneyfamily.com has some fantastic ideas for “End Zone Edibles” that are easy to make and even easier to gobble up! Pick one or more of these easy dishes, then serve them at your party and your guests will never want to miss out on a chance to party at your house!