Newport on the Levee to Transform into Olympic Village for 2024 Olympics

The 2024 Olympics in Paris starts Friday with opening ceremonies. While the home of the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées will see all the glamor and grandeur and host the best athletes in the world for the next two weeks, Northern Kentucky is undergoing an Olympic transformation of its own for the event.

Newport on the Levee will turn itself into a stateside Olympic Village for the duration of the Olympics. From July 26 to Aug. 11, the mixed-use entertainment hub will host a variety of Olympic-themed events and programming to immerse the Cincinnati area in the experience.

To kick everything off, the Levee will host its Opening Ceremony Party on Friday starting at 5 p.m. Attendees can expect a ceremonial torch relay with local mascots; an interactive parade of flags; an international dance showcase featuring the McGing Irish Dancers, Cultural Centre of India and the Hellenic Dancers; a DJ; and more. On Saturday, there will be a Team USA bar crawl from noon to 5 p.m. to benefit Special Olympics of Campbell County.

Here are some of the events planned throughout the Olympics:

Velocity eSports: Throughout the Games, Velocity will offer a specialty bronze, silver and gold medal menu with three curated burger options and craft cocktails. Buy the Gold Medal Burger and receive a complimentary 30-minute game card. There will also be photo opportunities available in the bowling alley and arcade.

Best American Costume Contest at Shiners (Friday, July 26): The best-dressed guest will take home a $150 cash prize.

Olympic-themed trivia at Wooden Cask (Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m.)

Olympic-themed class at Wellness on the Levee (Wednesday, July 31 from 6-7 p.m.)

Best Ribbon Floor Routine (Thursday, Aug. 1): First place wins $150 in cash, second place gets $50 in cash and third place goes home with a $50 gift card.

The Going for Gold Party at Beeline (Friday, Aug. 9): There will be gold-themed activations and giveaways, and guests are encouraged to dress in gold. Beeline will also be offering a special cocktail, The Qualifier (Ketel One Botanical Cucumber & Mint Vodka, blueberry-rosemary syrup, lime juice and ginger beer) throughout the Olympics.

Toga Party and DJ at Bridgeview Box Park (Saturday, Aug. 10 from 8 p.m. to midnight)

You can find a full list of events and more information here . All events are free to attend. The Levee will also broadcast all major Olympic events on the screens in The Gallery and Plaza.

Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way, Newport. More info: newportonthelevee.com .