How to celebrate Cincinnati Music Festival, even without a ticket

Cincinnati Music Festival is back, from July 25-27, which means it's time to start making plans for the big weekend.

If you didn't manage to grab a ticket for the festival, don't worry. There are plenty of other ways to celebrate the occasion.

Here are events around town perfect for getting you into the spirit.

How to celebrate Cincinnati Music Festival without a ticket

Festival513

Scheduled to align with the dates of Cincinnati Music Festival, Festival513 is a gathering of vendors to supply festivalgoers with everything they need. It’ll feature more than 100 food and merchandise booths, and it’s free for all.

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Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame induction ceremony

The one-year anniversary celebration of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame coincides with Cincinnati Music Festival weekend. Inductees for 2024 include Randy Crawford, Shirley Murdock, Roger Troutman & Zapp and Donald Lawrence. Following the ceremony, Roger Troutman & Zapp will give a live performance. Attendance is free.

• Where: 25 Race St., Downtown.
• When: July 27, 12 p.m.

Vibe Marketplace

Cincinnati Music Festival activities will spill into the heart of Downtown at Vibe Marketplace, where minority-owned shops, vendors and artisans will sell goods. Free live music will be on-site at the Fifth Third Center Stage.

• Where: 520 Vine St., Downtown.
• When: July 25, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 26-27, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 28, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cincy Soul Food Fest: The Black Taste

Pair your love of R&B, soul and hip-hop music with some soul food. A variety of food trucks will set up shop at Fountain Square.

• Where: 520 Vine St., Downtown.
• When: July 27-28.

Queen City 5K

Looking to sprinkle some exercise into the weekend full of tunes? Vibe Cincinnati, Visit Cincy’s diversity, equity and inclusion arm, is holding a 5K race as part of its Cincinnati Music Festival weekend programming. The course starts near Paycor Stadium and runs along Smale Riverfront Park past Great American Ball Park and Heritage Bank Center. Registration is $40 for adults and $25 for children under 16 until July 26. Registration the day of the race is $45 for adults and $30 for children under 16.

• When: July 27, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Where: 1 Paycor Stadium, Downtown.

The Culture: Hip-Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century

The Cincinnati Art Museum curated an exhibition exploring hip-hop's cultural influence on contemporary society in honor of the art form's 50th anniversary. The museum exhibition runs for a few months, but admission is free during festival weekend.

• When: Free admission July 25-28.
• Where: 953 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills.

Groove Theory Cincy's R&B Day Party

Stick with the R&B theme at an event billed as the "best pre-game to Cincinnati Music Fest" at OTR Stillhouse. Find tickets at eventbrite.com.

• When: July 27, 1-6 p.m.
• Where: 2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine.

Grown & Sophisticated Mid-Day Cruise

Hop aboard and enjoy the Cincinnati Music Festival atmosphere on the Ohio River. Listen to a hip-hop and R&B DJ set while cruising down stream. An all white dress code is customary but not required. Find tickets at eventbrite.com.

• When: July 27, 2:30-5 p.m.
• Where: 101 Riverboat Row, Newport.

Jam out to a Cincinnati Music Festival playlist

Organizers curated a playlist on Spotify and YouTube with all the essential tunes to know going into the weekend. From smash hits to deep cuts, throw this on to get into the music festival spirit.