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From a wolf walk for dogs to Harry Potter-inspired Quidditch matches, there’s lots of fun and free things to do around Greater Cincinnati this weekend.

Friday: Altered States, 6-8 p.m., Miller Gallery, 2715 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. Works by Rob Jefferson and Jonathan Queen. Exhibit continues through Nov. 23. 513-871-4420; www.millergallery.com.

Friday: Cincinnati-Style Shabbat, 6:15-8:30 p.m., Plum Street Temple, 720 Plum St., Downtown. Mix and mingle with Jewish YPs, 21-35 and their non-Jewish significant others while enjoying a Cincinnati-themed Shabbat dinner with Montgomery Inn, Graeters Ice Cream, Busken and more. Vegetarian and Kosher options available upon request. Ages 21 and up. Free. Registration required. 513-373-0300; www.jypaccess.org.

Friday: Dodgeball, 3:30 p.m., Chapin Memorial Library, 6517 Market St., Petersburg. Defend and dive in raucous rounds to see who be the last one standing. Snacks and prizes. Free. Registration required. 859-342-2665; www.bcpl.org.

Friday: Cooking the Books, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Boone County Cooperative Extension Service, 6028 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington. Adults fix dinner inspired by or found in a book. Followed by dinner and discussion of book. Family friendly. Free. 859-586-6101; www.ca.uky.edu/boone.

Friday: Live @ the Library: 113th Army Band Brass Quintet, 7 p.m., Scheben Branch Library, 8899 U.S. 42, Union. Variety of music, from classical to jazz, marches to rock. Free. 859-342-2665.

Saturday: Cincinnati and Soup, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Gourmet Galleria, Jungle Jim’s International Market, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. Meet author Cheri Brinkman and get autographed copies of books. Chat about Ruth Lyons, Paul Dixon and Bob Braun. Free. 513-674-6000; www.junglejims.com.

Saturday: Kids and Family Expo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road. More than 40 booths with children’s programs and after school enrichment programs. Guided tours of the center. Free. 513-229-8555; www.masonoh.org.

Saturday: Missy Griffin,11:30 a.m.-noon, Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley. Author discusses and signs “Gigi’s Window.” Free. 513-731-2665.

Saturday: Quidditch, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Heritage Oak Park, 5001 U.S. 42, Mason. Full contact, co-ed sport played in communities around the world. Founded in 2005 and inspired by the sport of the same name created by author J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter” series. Presented by International Quidditch Association. Dress for weather. Midwest RegionalsTournament. Qualifying rounds. Free. Through Nov. 11. 513-204-7046; www.ohioslargestplayground.com.

Saturday: Wolf Walk for Dogs, 2 p.m., Harbor, Winton Woods, 10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township. Walk around lake with canine companion. Test their knowledge of the canine world. Dogs must be on leash under six feet in length. Some bags for waste removal will be available. Free, vehicle permit required. 513-521-7275; www.greatparks.org.

Sunday: Bengals Shuttle Bus, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Keystone Bar & Grill, 313 Greenup St., Covington. Catch free ride to and from home games. Southbank Shuttle stops outside Keystone and runs every 15 minutes so fans can go to game and leave game whenever. Free. 859-261-6777.

Sunday: The New Horizons Piano Competition Winners’ Recital, 3 p.m., Cincinnati Christian University, 2700 Glenway Ave., East Price Hill. Winners from the competition will present two pieces of varied genres. Free parking on campus. Free. 513-244-8165; www.ccuniversity.edu.

Sunday: Sensory Sunday: Stories, Songs and Fun for You and Your Little One, 2-3 p.m., Gymboree, 6209 Snider Road, Mason. Playgroups feature popular Miss Meliss, who keeps babies and parents engaged and entertained with unique brand of fun. Includes snack. Free. Registration required. 513-703-3343; www.myshalomfamily.org.

Monday: Miami University Lecture Series, 8 p.m., Hall Auditorium, Miami University, Oxford. Rick Steves, public television host and author of more than 50 guidebooks including the travel skills handbook, “Europe through the Back Door,” will share lessons he’s learned from a lifetime of travel. Free, tickets required. 513-529-7592; www.units.muohio.edu/lecture/index.php.

Posted in: Community, Events, Health & Fitness, Mason Community Center |

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From bridal shows and swap meets to the Vinoklet Art Festival and Wine Tasting and Yoga Aid World Challenge Cincinnati, there’s lots of fun and free events happening across the Greater Cincinnati region this weekend. 

Saturday

Alabama Game Watch Party, 3:30-6 p.m., Firehouse Grill, 4785 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash. Join other Alabama alumni, fans and parents to cheer on the Tide for 2012 football season. Bring non-perishable food items to benefit the Freestore Foodbank. Free. 513-733-3473; www.bamacincinnati.com.

Bird Walks, 8 a.m., Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods, 4949 Tealtown Road, Union Township. Look for resident birds. Dress for weather and meet leader in Rowe Woods parking lot. Nonmembers pay daily admission, free for members. 513-831-1711; www.cincynature.org.

Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival, 7 a.m., A.J. Jolly Park, 100 Lakeview Drive, Alexandria. Races begin 8:15 a.m. “Paddling for the Pink.” Boat-racing event. Top teams and individual fundraisers will receive great prizes. Food vendors available. Live music throughout event. Benefits breast centers of St. Elizabeth and the Kentucky Thorough-breasts. $5400 per team; free spectators. 859-391-7020; www.p4ca.org.

Open House Week: Free Dance Classes, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Third Floor Studios, Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati, 3905 Eastern Ave., Linwood. With Ballet Theatre Midwest. Prospective students try trial classes and learn about unique programs. Free. 513-520-2334; www.ballettheatremidwest.com.

Step Up Cincinnati, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Washington Park, 1225 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Region’s largest student-planned, student-run day of service. Organized by UGIVE, non-profit organization on mission to catalyze, excite and empower next generation of volunteers. Free. Registration required. 513-791-0306, ext. 8023; www.stepupcincinnati.org.

Vinoklet Art Festival and Wine Tasting, noon-10 p.m. (1-7 p.m. Sunday), Vinoklet Winery and Restaurant, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township. Juried fine art and fine crafts for purchase, music, food, beer and award-winning wines. Tours available. Rain or shine. Grape-stomping contests Saturday. No coolers, food, drinks or tables. Ages 21 and up. Free. Through Sept. 9. 513-385-9309; www.vinokletwines.com.

Who Dey Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Meijer Hyde Park, 4825 Marburg Ave., Hyde Park. Tailgate party and entertainment. With Ben-Gal Cheerleaders and Who Dey!, Cincinnati Bengals mascot. Enter drawing to win tickets to a game. Free. 513-458-2400.

Sunday

Anderson Center Bridal Show, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 7850 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township. More than 30 wedding vendors to help plan your day. Register to win four-hour reception at center including dance floor and table linens. Free. 513-688-8400; www.andersoncenterevents.org.

Artworld, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park. Experience energy of creative, family-friendly space. Connects to Art Museum’s collections and special exhibitions through touchable objects, books, interactive displays and hands-on art making activities. Free. Through Aug. 31. 513-721-2787.

Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of Cincinnati’s Black Brigade, 5:30 p.m., Schmidlapp Event Lawn, Smale Riverfront Park, Mehring Way and Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Information booths. 5th Independent Battery of Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery fires cannon during ceremony and concert. Costumed interpreters portray prominent leaders in Cincinnati and country during Civil War. Food concessions available for purchase. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and food basket. Concert by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Free. 513-357-2604.

Cruise In/Car Show, 1-4 p.m., Atrium Family YMCA, 5750 Innovation Drive, Franklin. All antique, customs, street rods, vintage, classic and special interest vehicles regardless of year. Free registration, free food. Trophies awarded based on people’s choice. Includes music. Bring canned good for donation for local food pantry. Benefits LifeBridge Christian Church. Free. 513-505-2155.

GM Car Show and Swap Meet, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Open to Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, GMCs, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs: 30 classes with 70 awards. Rain or shine. Registration 9 a.m.-noon. $15 registration, $3 park entry; swap spaces: $10. 513-231-2797; www.eastgateclassicchevyclub.com.

Loveland Art Show, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Nisbet Park, 210 Railroad Ave., Loveland. More than 75 artists competing for awards totaling $2,000. Free. 513-683-1696; www.lovelandartscouncil.org.

Yoga Aid World Challenge Cincinnati, 2-3 p.m., Ault Park, 3600 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout. Worldwide yoga relay. Some 20,000 people in 20 countries united to raise funds. Benefits Yoga Aid. Free, pledges encouraged. Registration required to participate. 513-807-0658; www.yogaaid.com/usa/registernow.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: alabama game watch party, anderson center bridal show, artworld, bird walk, cincinnati, cincinnati black brigade, cruise in car show, entertainment, events, free, free dance classes, fun, gm car show and swap meet, kentucky dragon boat festival, step up cincinnati, vinoklet art festival and wine tasting, who dey saturday, yoga aid world challenge cincinnati

For a child, what’s better than a bathtub filled with foam? How about a huge swimming pool filled with foam?

Children at The Compass School in Deerfield Township got a chance to play in a pool full of foamy bubbles on Monday. The Enquirer’s Leigh Taylor was there to catch the soapy fun.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: children, deerfield township, foamtastic, fun, mason, pool, preschool, students, the compass school

Food, music and plenty of fun filled downtown over the Memorial Day weekend. Our photographers caught these Mason residents enjoying the festivities.

Saturday at Taste of Cincinnati at and around the Metromix Stage. Kyla Goure of Loveland, Sarah White of Mason, Elisa Soll of Hyde Park and Kaitlyn Stratton of Loveland.

Monday at the Taste of Cincinnati. Dionne Abernathy and Marcus Smith of Mason getting ready to go to the Metromix stage for the next set of music.

Monday at the Taste of Cincinnati. Gayle Stipe of Mason and Mike Dechellis of W. Chester.

Kendal Searer, 14, from Mason has Strawberries and Pound cake. from the Melting Pot of Cincinnati on the opening day of Taste of Cincinnati.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: food, fun, mason, memorial day, taste of cincinnati, weekend