Airport

The closest airport is the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). It’s a 20 minute drive from the airport to downtown Cincinnati and Cincy Blues Fest.

Cincy Blues Fest

Cincy Blues Fest takes place at Schmidlapp Event Lawn at Smale Riverfront Park, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, near the Moerlein Lager House. 

These directions are to the Moerlein Lager House – Schmidlapp Event Lawn is right next to it

I-75 South
From southbound I-75, take the Fifth Street exit (a left exit). Proceed east on Fifth Street five blocks to Fifth and Walnut. Take a right onto Walnut and continue south three blocks to Second St. Take a left onto Second then a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way (one block). The Moerlein Lager House will be on your right.

I-71 South
From southbound I-71, take the exit for Downtown/Riverfront/Third Street. Bear right onto Third Street. Turn left at Walnut Street and proceed south one block to Second St. Take a left on Second St. continue one block to Joe Nuxhall Way. Take a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way; the Moerlein Lager House will be on your right.

I-71/I-75 North 
From northbound I-75/I-71, follow signs across the river. Take the Fifth Street exit and east on Fifth Street five blocks to Fifth and Walnut. Take a right onto Walnut and continue south three blocks to Second St. Take a left onto Second then a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way (one block). The Moerlein Lager House will be on your right.

I-471
Follow I-471 north over the bridge. Take the Third Street exit (6A) toward Downtown. From Third, turn left on Walnut Street and proceed south one block to Second St. Take a left on Second St. continue one block to Joe Nuxhall Way. Take a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way; the Moerlein Lager House will be on your right.

Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50) 
Westbound: Take the exit for Third Street/Downtown/Riverfront. left on Walnut Street and proceed south one block to Second St. Take a left on Second St. continue one block to Joe Nuxhall Way. Take a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way; the Moerlein Lager House will be on your right

Eastbound: Take the Fifth Street exit. Go straight (east) on Fifth St five blocks to Fifth and Walnut. Take a right onto Walnut and continue south three blocks to Second St. Take a left onto Second then a right onto Joe Nuxhall Way (one block). The Moerlein Lager House will be on your right.

Parking at The Moerlein Lager House 

• Central Riverfront Garage Parking with the best entrance into the Moerlein Lager House is just west of the facility on Mehring Way. Numerous entrances are available into this garage including, Second Street by Main, Joe Nuxhall Way, and Race, please follow the signs to the Event Lawn.
• Cincinnati Public Landing just East of the Moerlein Lager House located at 435 East Mehring Way. Parking is conditional – weather permitting at this location and no overnight parking allowed.
• Off- street metered parking is available throughout the Banks development and downtown, just north of second street.

TBA

Hotel Info

TBA

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Camping

Woodland Mound, Winton Woods, Eastfork State Park, Big Bone Lick

The Cincy Blues Fest is produced solely by volunteers.  Volunteering to work at Cincy Blues Fest is an excellent opportunity to help make our Fest a success!

Click here for volunteer signup. 

Setup	9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Setup	11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Tear down	11:00 pm – 12:30 am
Main Gate	2:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Main Gate	6:15 pm – 10:30 pm
Volunteer check-in	1:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Merchandise	2:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Merchandise	6:15 pm – 10:30 pm

What time does the festival start and end?

The gate opens at 2:00 pm. The Fest closes at 11:00pm. 

How can I purchase tickets?

Please see the Tickets section on this page (above). Tickets are available both in advance and on the day of the event.

If I purchased in advance where do I pick them up? 

Go to the main Fest entrance gate (next to the Moerlein Lager House).

If I won tickets in advance where do I pick them up? 

If you are a winner of Fest tickets from one of the radio or web contests these can be picked up at the main Fest entrance gate (next to Moerlein Lager House).

What I am allow to bring or not bring to Schmidlapp Event Lawn?

No coolers, bikes, pets, or lawn umbrellas are allowed in the event.  In case of rain, the use of personal handheld umbrellas is permitted.

You’re welcome to bring your own folding chairs and blankets.

How do I get to the festival?

Please see the Map/Directions And Parking section on this page (above).

Where do I park?

Please see the Map/Directions And Parking section on this page (above).

Is Schmidlapp Event Lawn handicap accessible?

Yes, Schmidlapp Event Lawn is an ADA compliant venue. You’ll need to provide your own wheel chair or scooter.

Is there food and drink available?

Food will available for purchase from booths from the Moerlein Lager House. The prices will vary according to the item.

Beer, wine, soft drinks and water will be available.

The food and drink booths will take cash.

When do beer and wine sales end?

Due to park rules, beer, wine and spirit ticket sales end at 10:00 PM, one hour before the festival closes.

Will there be commemorative festival merchandise available?

Yes, Blues Fest t-shirts will be available at the Cincy Blues Society merchandise booth.

Will I be able to meet festival performers and purchase their CDs?

Yes, artists will be available to greet their fans immediately after their performance, as well as having their CDs available for purchase at the Cincy Blues Society merchandise booth.

Are there ATMs available at the festival?

Yes, there is an ATM available located next to the Moerlein Lager House entrance.

Press/Media

MEDIA / PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT for the event can be made though the Fest Directors, Debby Manning and Thomas Thiem director@cincyblues.org.

Credentials
Please contact director@cincyblues.org for press credentials for any of our Blues Society events.

NOTE:  We reserve the right to issue credentials based on appropriate media coverage and availability – first come, first serve.

No parking passes are available for the press, so please plan accordingly.  Members of the media will be met at the main entrance gate and given an orientation of the Festival site, as well as provide any access needed during the Fest.

Sponsorship

If you’re interested in sponsoring or supporting the Cincy Blues Fest, please contact Debby Manning at director@cincyblues.org.

Artist Booking

Notice: 2022 is fully booked.

Artists are selected by the volunteer Cincy Blues Fest booking team. They take the information from numerous press kits and their experience at many live performances (locally and nationally) to determine who to invite to perform. Budget and scheduling considerations also come into play when booking for the Fest, but our booking team always seeks to bring a wide variety of blues artists to Cincinnati every summer.

If you’re interested in submitting your press kit for consideration for our 2023 festival, please contact our booking team: booking@cincyblues.org after the 2022 festival.

Vendors

Food vendors are fully booked for 2022.

Non-Food Vendors contact director@cincyblues.org for available space.

Previous Years Lineups

2020 and 2021 were postponed due Covid-19. The same lineup planned for 2020 will be presented in 2022.

1992 to 2018 are archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

How to see each year:
Go to this link: https://web.archive.org/web/20200104230955/https://cincybluesfest.org/2018-line-up/ This will take you to the 2018 lineup.

In your browser, change the web address from 2018 to 2017 and hit enter or return. This will allow you to see the 2017 lineup. Change the year to 2016 to see the 2016 lineup, and so on, back to 1992.

For 2019, go to this link:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210526204058/https://cincyblues.org/2019-line-up/

The Fest was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.

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Blue Ball Award

The Blue Ball Award of Lifetime Achievement is given to blues musicians or volunteers who have demonstrated a long track record of outstanding achievement in blues music.

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Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame

• Click the right or left side of the photo to move forward or back, or simply let the automated slide show run.
• Hover over the photo to pause it.
• Click the center of the photo to go to more information about the artist.

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