Celebrate Olympic Season in Cincinnati

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I t’s time once again to cheer for Team USA and get overly invested in both your favorite sports and sports you’ve never heard of (I’m still not entirely sure what handball is) for the Summer Olympics. Plenty of Cincinnatians are competing in this year’s Games from soccer players like Rose Lavelle to swimmers like Carson Foster and even rowing coxswains like Nina Castanga. Want to find a place to get into the Olympic spirit and support athletes from the area? Here’s your guide!

Pre-Olympic Games Night at The Stretch

It’s (Olympic) game night at The Banks. On July 25, head to The Stretch for happy hour specials, themed cocktails, music, and games. If you want to drink on behalf of Team USA, try the Red Cocktail (Red Bull Red Edition Watermelon and cherry vodka), the White Cocktail (vodka, peach schnapps, sour mix, and Sprite), and/or the Blue Cocktail (blue Hawaiian Punch, orange vodka, and triple sec). When DJ Josh Gall lights the torch at 10 p.m., the games including flip cup, Connect 4, giant Jenga, Uno, and more will begin. Victors will win tickets to the Around the World Bar Crawl at The Banks in August. Thursday, July 25, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., The Stretch , 191 E. Freedom Way, downtown

Opening Ceremonies Viewing Party with the Alliance Française

Cincinnati’s premier French language learning institution is celebrating the Parisian Olympic Games. Attendees will gather at Le Bar A Boeuf to enjoy French fare while watching the Opening Ceremonies on the Seine. The event is free and appetizers will be provided by the Alliance Française de Cincinnati, but they request registration at af@afcincinnati.com to get a proper count. À votre santé! Friday, July 26, 2-5 p.m., Le Bar a Boeuf , 2200 Victory Parkway, East Walnut Hills

Opening Ceremony Kick-Off Party

Newport on the Levee is creating its own Olympic Village for the entirety of the Games. The fun begins with the Opening Ceremony Kick-Off Party at 5 p.m. on Friday. To immerse the Levee into the Olympic world, there will be an interactive Parade of Flags and ceremonial torch relay with local mascots like Rosie Red, Gary the Lion, and Gapper. There will also be international dance performances from the McGing Irish Dancers , Cultural Centere of India , and the Hellenic Dancers. Don’t forget to hit up Shiners on the Levee afterwards for a chance to win $150 in their Best American Costume Contest. Check the Olympic Village website for a full schedule of events. Friday, July 26, 5-10 p.m., Newport on the Levee , 1 Levee Way, Newport

Olympic Parents Night Out

If you have a kid who’d rather be in the Olympics than watch them, bring them to the Olympic themed Parents Night Out at Perfection Gymnastics School. Your Simone Biles-to-be will enjoy a night of gymnastics, games, crafts, and pizza, while you enjoy watching the Opening Ceremonies in peace. Drop-off is between 5:50-6:30 p.m. and pickup is 9:30-10. Pre-registration is required and costs $40 for the first kid (with an additional $25 for non-members of Perfection Gymnastics,) and $25 per each additional child. All children must be at least four years old and potty trained. Friday, July 26, 6-10 p.m., Perfection Gymnastics School , 5637 Union Center Dr., West Chester

Olympics @ MPH Brewing

MPH Brewing invites you to cheer on local athletes Rose Lavelle, Aubrey Kingsbury, and FCC center-back Miles Robinson as they represent team USA in Paris. This official watch party location for USMNT and USWNT will be showing all the games starting on Wednesday, July 24 at 3 p.m. with the men’s match against France. For USWNT fans, their first game will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 against Zambia. While watching the French matches why not try MPH’s house-brewed French Connection farmhouse ale or Napoleon’s Revenge Belgian tripel? Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, August 10, MPH Brewing , 7880 Remington Rd., Montgomery

Team USA Bar Crawl at the Levee

Head back to the Newport Olympic Village for a bar crawl benefitting Special Olympics of Campbell County . From 12-5 p.m., you’ll don red, white, and blue and drink your way around the many bars of the Levee. Special drinks will be offered like The Qualifier (Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka, blueberry-rosemary syrup, lime juice, and ginger beer) at Beeline , a Red, White, and Blue Slushie from 16 Lots , and the City Never Sleeps frozen espresso martini at The Buzz. There will also be complimentary swag, games at each bar, and raffle prizes. Registration is $10 and check-in begins at 11 a.m. at the Aquarium plaza. Saturday, July 27, 12-5 p.m., Newport on the Levee , 1 Levee Way, Newport

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