Party in the Park

Overall, I had a fun time at my first Party in the Park. Enjoying a cold Sam Adams (or multiple!) on the Serpentine Wall, listening to music and feeling the breeze by the river was much needed on this 91 degree day.
I do wish, however, that there were more food options. Cincinnati has so many food trucks and street vendors that really should take advantage of this event and space.
Since we live in NKY, my sister and I parked at Newport on the Levee and walked across the Purple People Bridge. I highly recommend this! Only 2 dollars for three hours of parking in the garage and easy traffic.

Every Wednesday in the summer, they have a gathering of fun people who just want to be outside and listen to great music. Alcohol is always a great plus.
They are several vendors of beer and only 2 vendors of food. Just bring food and have a picnic! The first show this year wasn’t bad. Can’t wait to see how this year is going to be!

I’ve been going to Party in the Park for *ahem* years and look forward to this summer tradition. It is full of great people watching! The sponsoring radio station gives an indication of the crowd it draws in addition to the usual after work, singles and families.
They say it runs from 5 – 10 but the bands seem to stop playing around 9pm and they encourage the after party at Jefferson Hall. I believe you can pick up tickets from the station booth so you don’t have to pay cover.
16oz beers are $ 5. They are a little cheaper during happy hour, which this year (2012) runs from 5 – 6:30.
With the number of food trucks in this city, I don’t understand why the organizers don’t invite more or why the trucks don’t request to be here. There always seems to be an interest in the few, if any, food offerings (most people are coming from after work and drinking).

Party in the Park is a nice way to celebrate passing the middle of the week during the summer without spending a ton of money. You can get beer and Twisted Tea for a good price, and there are a couple food tents (pizza, hotdogs, sandwiches).
All of this takes place in the lovely Sawyer Point. You can stand around the cocktail tables or spread a blanket in the grass and watch the boats go by to the tunes of a cover band. The first few weeks of the spring, the party has been pretty small (rainy weather or too cold), but by the end of May, it’s in full force. This is a great activity for almost anyone– you’ll find a mix of families, young professionals, and a more mature crowd. Those with a boat can dock along the serpentine wall to hang out. Kids might enjoy the fact that the Otto Fountain park is up and running (screams of delight have been heard at all hours of the day).
There are a few things that would make Party in the Park a 4 in my book, which may or may not be possible depending on the kind of budget they have: 1) More drink options– I don’t really drink beer, and Twisted Tea is fine for like, half a cup then starts tasting a little gross 2) More food variety– how about some desserts and food options that won’t make me feel gross and or guilty? 3) Better bands. Since right now Party in the Park is basically in my front yard, my husband and I have suffered through some really awful cover music that has always been too loud.
Still, this is a really nice event that happens in Cincinnati that draws a nice, laid-​back crowd. Come and enjoy!

Being a hip, have a great time kind of lady and being a hip, have a great time MOM can be tricky to balance! Most of the time I can only be one or the other, but at Party in the Park I get to be both!
You can sit or stand if you forget to bring blankets and chairs (that was the busy, overworked Mom forgetting btw, the hip lady would never forget the small details) and enjoy the beautiful summer weather, while fun bands play on the stage, boats cruise by on the Ohio River, adults sip on cheap beverages, and kids run around being kids.
As the sun sets and the inhibitions go down with the sun, the adults join the kids already dancing up front and boogie their little hearts and legs out!
Sure, there was the adult pick up scene going on near the drink booths, but for the most part it was a great mix of families and party people and they jammed together nicely!
I’m looking forward to hopefully a great line-​up this year of bands and already making myself sticky notes to remember the blankets and snacks!

This past Wednesday I experienced my first ever Party in the Park.
I went with a few veteran party-​goers who knew the secret to making Party in the Park a cheap night out was to get there before 7pm, as Happy Hour lasts from 5:30−7 and drinks are $ 2 off. If you want to drink at the party you have to show your ID at the entrance to receive a wristband, which are free.
We got there right before 7 and were able to get beers for $ 3, the price later increased to $ 5. Our group nabbed a position on Serpentine Wall and hung out for awhile, watching the drunken antics of a woman attempting to hitch a ride on a docked boat full of men.
When our beers were gone we stopped by the Twisted Tea tent, which serves up half hard iced-​tea and half hard lemonade over ice for a refreshing treat.
Other than beverages, Party in the Park also features a Hooters tent that sells burgers and wings and fries for prices that aren’t inflated.
The party runs from 5:30−9pm every Wednesday night!

There’s a weird reciprocity between Party in the Park and Party at Sawyer Point. Each takes turn doing their own thing, but the end result means only negligible differences. Party in the Park takes place on Wednesdays during the summer (check their website for the complete hump day schedule) from 5:30 to 10:30 at Yeatman’s Cove.
The festivities kick off this year on April 23^rd. Sponsors Bud Light and Kiss 107 promise the best-​looking bartenders in town, UC’s national champion Dance Team. Feature musical acts include a slew of Cincinnati’s favorite cover bands, such as The Rusty Griswolds and Patsy’s Decline.
If you’re looking for a fun outdoor arena to help make it through the work week or an event to take the kids to without exposing them to too many of the harms of alcoholism, check out Party in the Park.