MUSIC

Cincinnati Music Festival

Cincinnati, OHJULY3 DAYSFOUNDED 1962

WHY IT'S HERE

Founded in 1962 as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, one of the oldest continuously running music festivals in the country featuring R&B, soul, and hip-hop legends across three nights.

The Cincinnati Music Festival traces its origins to 1962, when it began as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival, making it one of the oldest continuously running music festivals in the United States. Held annually at Paycor Stadium, the festival features three nights of performances by R&B, soul, hip-hop, and jazz legends. Past lineups have included Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Earth Wind and Fire, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, the Isley Brothers, Janet Jackson, and New Edition. The festival has become a fixture on the calendar of Black music lovers across the Midwest and beyond, with multi-generational families traveling annually to attend.