America’s River Roots Festival, a five-day celebration of Greater Cincinnati’s river city culture, is set to kick off in Northern Kentucky next week.
Running from Oct. 8 to 12, the festival will feature various activities at Ovation in Newport, including riverboat races, food and drink experiences and live music.
To celebrate the launch of America’s River Roots Festival on the Northern Kentucky side of the Ohio River, community leaders, sponsors, and partners will gather at Ovation for a kickoff ceremony on Oct. 8, starting at 10 a.m.
Speakers will include Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr., meetNKY CEO Julie Kirkpatrick, OneNKY Alliance CEO Bill Butler, Perfetti Van Melle North America CEO Sylvia Buxton, BB Riverboats Captain Alan Bernstein and Corporex CEO Bill Butler.
Ovation, part of the festival’s OneNKY Zone in Northern Kentucky, will host riverboat showdowns featuring the Belle of Louisville, Steamboat Natchez, Mary M. Miller, and Three Rivers Queen. The development’s riverfront Boardwalk will offer dining, craft beer, bourbon tastings and entertainment.
Programming highlights include:
- The B-Line Restaurant: Open-air dining with rotating menus from Northern Kentucky restaurants, available Thursday–Sunday.
- The B-Line Speakeasy Bar: Pop-up bar featuring regional bourbon and cocktails, Thursday–Sunday.
- Braxton Beer Garden: Regional craft beers, Thursday through Sunday.
- Kentucky Bourbon Experience: Ticketed bourbon tastings with stewards, daily from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Tickets available online.
- Perfetti Van Melle Sweet Spot: Candy samples, games, giveaways, and a photo-op Airheads balloon.
- Corporex Corridor: 8×8-foot birthday cake and public card to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and Corporex’s 60 years in business.
“Ovation has become a gateway to Northern Kentucky, making it a natural centerpiece for America’s River Roots in Newport,” Corporex President Brett Blackwell said in a news release. “As we mark 60 years of growth, Corporex is honored to contribute to a festival that celebrates innovation, community and our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
Additional activities include live music at Ovation’s High Note Rooftop Bar, a 700 WLW River Roots Radio broadcast from the Market Bar, and a performance by T-Pain at MegaCorp Pavilion on Oct. 11.
Paid, covered, and lit parking options are available at Ovation for festival attendees.