Traffic watch: Foo Fighters, Cincinnati Music Festival to take over Downtown on Thursday

People planning to drive downtown Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon and evening should brace for traffic as thousands of fans converge on the riverfront for concerts.

Navigating the city may get hectic as the Foo Fighters perform in front of a sold-out crowd at Great American Ball Park and Cincinnati Music Festival holds its opening night at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center.

Rock band Foo Fighters are making a stop in Cincinnati for their "Everything Or Nothing At All" tour. The concert is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Music Festival kicks off with its hip-hop night on Thursday. Doors to the Andrew J. Brady Music Center open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.

The festival will continue into the weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Cincinnati Music Festival road closures

No streets are scheduled to close to accommodate the events on Thursday.

However, the city will shut down streets Friday and Saturday to make way for fans as they come and go. Motorists are advised to be cautious around the event and to seek alternate routes if possible.

According to the City of Cincinnati, the following streets will be closed on Friday and Saturday during the times listed below:

• Elm Street: Closed south of Second Street from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Race Street: Closed between Third Street and Second Street from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Race Street: Closed south of Second Street starting at 2 a.m. on Thursday.
• Rosa Parks Street: Closed south of Second Street at 2 a.m. on Thursday.
• Joe Nuxhall Way: Closed south of Second Street from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Freedom Way: Closed between Elm Street and Marian Spencer Way starting at 2 a.m. on Thursday until 9 p.m. Sunday.

The following streets will also close by 11 p.m. to allow attendees to exit the festival :

• Central Avenue: Southbound closed south of Seventh Street.
• Third Street: Eastbound closed east of Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.
• Walnut Street: Closed south of Third Street.
• Gest Street: Southbound closed south of Third Street.

Cincinnati Police Department officers will be on-site to ensure pedestrian and motorist safety.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Traffic watch: Foo Fighters, Cincinnati Music Festival to take over Downtown on Thursday