Sports, arts, theatre, live music, adorable pets, vintage furniture—whatever you’re trying to see this weekend, Cincinnati’s got you covered.
If you’re looking for even more to do every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar, which is free to use if you have something planned that you’d like to advertise to CityBeat readers.
FC Cincinnati Home Opener vs. Atlanta United FC
Saturday, February 21, TQL Stadium, West End, 4:45 pm
FC Cincinnati is back in action. Their home opener this Saturday should prove to be a spectacle, especially with their new kit and new concessions menu, which you can learn more about by clicking here.
Shucked! at the Aronoff Center
February 18-February 22, Aronoff Center, downtown
Shucked is the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award–winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”) and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.
20th Century Cincinnati Vintage Modern Expo
February 20-22, Sharonville Convention Center, Sharonville
The 20th Century Cincinnati Vintage Modern Expo (20CC) will commemorate its
31st anniversary from February 20–22, 2026, at the Sharonville Convention Center. This esteemed event, recognized as the longest-running vintage modern show in the United States and the largest in the Midwest, attracts collectors and enthusiasts from across the nation. 20CC spans over 40,000 square feet and features more than 70 dealers showcasing an array of vintage modern furniture, lighting, art, ceramics, jewelry, fashion, and décor, encompassing styles from mid-century modern to postmodern movements such as Brutalist and Memphis.
February 21-22, Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, Hamilton, 12-5 pm
My Furry Valentine (MFV), the region’s largest pet adoption event, returns for its
milestone 15th year on Saturday, February 21st and Sunday, February 22nd at Spooky Nook
Sports Champion Mill. General admission runs from 12–5 p.m. both days, with Early Bird Hours on Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Through a grant from the Give Them Ten movement, cat adoptions will be just $25.
The mega-adoption event brings together dozens of animal shelters and rescue groups, showcasing nearly 1,000 adoptable animals under one roof and helping hundreds find new homes each year. In addition, dozens of satellite locations across the region will host adoption events throughout the Official “Pet Adoption Weekend” in the City of Cincinnati and City of Hamilton, offering many hundreds more animals the chance to be adopted.
Secret Base Cinema: “Top of the Heap” at the Esquire Theatre
Saturday, February 21, Esquire Theatre, Clifton, 7:30 p.m.
Join Secret Base Cinema and the Esquire Theatre for a special screening of the 1972 cult classic Top of the Heap with the director, Christopher St. John. Tickets are available through the Esquire website. Saturday, February 21st, the director will introduce his film along with a Q&A to follow after the film. Autographs will also be welcome for those that are interested. Do not miss this extremely rare opportunity to see and hear the director’s vision and mindset behind the making of the movie.
Jarrod Lawson at Ludlow Garage
Friday, February 20, Ludlow Garage, Clifton, 6 p.m.
R&B crooner Jarrod Lawson is touring in Cincinnati this weekend at the Ludlow Garage. Known for his rich, multi-layered vocal harmonies and lush, atmospheric keyboards, Lawson’s music delivers a tender meditation on acceptance and emotional release. He is known for his sophisticated blend of soul, jazz, and R&B, which has earned international acclaim—including from Michelle Obama, who publicly named him as an artist she was listening to and called him “this young jazz, blue-eyed soul kid.”
Paloozanoire’s “FACES: Don’t Get It Twisted – Untangling a Textured Legacy”
Friday, February 20, Contemporary Arts Center, downtown, 5-8 p.m.
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in downtown Cincinnati welcomes the fourth installment of Paloozanoire and its mission to celebrate, uplift, and illuminate the talent of diverse artists from across the nation with the opening of “Faces: Don’t Get it Twisted –Untangling a Textured Legacy” on Friday, Feb. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. For the fourth installment of this exhibition, Paloozanoire focuses on artists who use their work to shed light on the storytelling traditions surrounding textured and ethnic hair across generations and its enduring impact worldwide.
“Faces” highlights works by Stephanie Amon, Nate Austin, Jonae Boatwright, Marquest Cathcart, Blessing Chidera, Yann Couedor, Nyzere Dillon, Asia Estelle, Peyton Euria, Chibuike Ifedilichukwau, Kid Kardiac, Eddy Ochieng, Petie Parker, Reggie Singleton, STU, and Kyra Watkins. The exhibition will be open through March 22, in the 4th floor gallery of the CAC.
Cincinnati Coffee Festival’s Espresso Martini Tasting
Friday, February 20, The Banks, downtown, 6-9 p.m.
Coffee meets cocktail hour during the Cincinnati Coffee Festival’s Espresso Martini Tasting crawl on Friday, Feb. 20 at The Banks, benefiting the Ohio River Foundation. For $20, guests can sample espresso martinis at each stop, and enjoy drink and food specials along the way. The crawl runs from 5:30–8:00 p.m. and includes tastings at E+O Kitchen, Red Leprechaun and Taste of Belgium, with participants free to start anywhere and move at their own pace.
6th Annual Voices of Freedom: “Dig and Be Dug in Return”
Saturday, February 21, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Kennedy Heights, 7:30 p.m.
For the sixth year, Juneteenth Cincinnati and Kennedy Heights Arts Center
are teaming up to present Voices of Freedom, a visual and performing arts series examining
Black history from a contemporary perspective, from January 31 to April 11, 2026.
Inspired by the closing lines of Langston Hughes’ Motto, “Dig and Be Dug In Return” this Saturday is an ode to Black expression, community, and collective healing. This curated performance honors the ways we gather, create, and care for one another as we work to break generational cycles and reclaim joy. Rooted in the sounds of Jazz, Soul, and R&B, the experience invites audiences into a space where vulnerability, resilience, and celebration coexist. Featuring performances by The Josh Strange Quartet, Camille Jones, DJ Rah D, and Daniel Noel.
Cincinnati Home & Garden Show 2026
February 20–22 and February 27–March 1, 2026, First Financial Center, downtown
The 56th annual Cincinnati Home + Garden Show returns over the next two weekends to the newly renovated First Financial Center featuring 350+ home improvement, kitchen and bath, outdoor living, landscaping and gardening experts, all under one roof. This massive show is the region’s largest and includes immersive garden experiences and home improvement inspiration galore. Attendees will discover the latest trends, score exclusive show-only discounts, and gain expert advice by connecting directly with industry professionals.
Local interior design, real estate, DIY, remodeling, gardening, horticulture and nature experts from local organizations including the non-profits Cincinnati Nature Center and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati will host engaging, educational sessions. Celebrity Guest Craig Conover from Bravo’s hit reality series Southern Charm will speak February 27 and 28, offering special pillow giveaways, meet-and-greets and more. Guests can also enter to win pillows for a year from Craig’s popular brand, Sewing Down South.