Cincinnati is known for its weekly Catholic festivals and the integral part they play, not only in raising money for the local parishes, but as a social meeting place among each of the churches.  One of these festivals is the CincItalia, representing the St. Catherine of Siena Parish on the west side, which takes place at the Harvest Home Park each year.

The festivities began on Friday with an Adult-Only Carnevale celebration.  Lasting from 6PM until midnight, the Italian food and wine flowed abundantly.  This year, the Rusty Griswolds would perform on opening night, drawing large crowds to hear their favorite 80’s tunes.

I made my first stop at Gregorios to try the Arancini ($5), a Sicilian dish, made of rice with meat and cheese in the center, coated in bread crumbs and then fried.   With a crisp outside and cheese-filled middle, this would only be the start of my Italian feast.

There were over 12 food stalls serving everything from Fried Calamari to Penne Pasta, hot dogs to pizza.  A large selection of desserts included Italian favorites such as gelatos, ice and cannolis.

The Beer Garden was packed, but I was able to find a place to sit after waiting in the short line for a Prosecco.

The Rusty Griswolds were preparing for their first set as a large crowd began to gather near the stage.  This band has been a local favorite in the early 1980’s when they were known as Free Reins.  Having won a local rock station band contest, they performed for a few years until the band took a short hiatus.  Reconvening in the late 90’s, the band changed their name to the Rusty Griswolds and bring large crowds to the venues where they perform.

With an amazing selection of Italian food, drinks and desserts, phenomenal 80’s music from the Rusty Griswolds, the CincItalia is one of the best Catholic festivals to attend each year.

Have you visited the CincItalia Festival or do you have a favorite Catholic festival in Cincinnati?  I would love to hear about your experience or recommendations on where to visit next!  Many Thanks and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

CincItalia
Harvest Home Park
3961 North Bend Road
Cheviot, OH  45211
Telephone:   513 661 0651

Where to Stay:

Holiday Inn Express West
5505 Rybolt Street
Cincinnati, OH 45248
Telephone: 513 574 6000

Where to Eat:

CincItalia
Harvest Home Park
3961 North Bend Road
Cheviot, OH  45211
Telephone:   513 661 0651

I recommend the arancini, stromboli, prosecco and limoncello.

More of My Favorite Places to Eat: 

• Skyline Chili:  My go-to meal at Skyline is the 4-way chili with onion served with oyster crackers and hot sauce.  I always pick up two York peppermint patties after cashing out.  Cincinnati chili is a beef based sauce served over spaghetti noodles and cheese.  Additional toppings include onions and beans.
• LaRosa’s Pizza:  A local chain pizzeria, this Sicilian style pie is made with a sweet crust and sauce.  My favorite menu item is the Caprese pesto Flatbread Pizza.
• Graeter’s Ice Cream:  It’s the French Pot process that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so decadent and rich.  Towards the end of the process, they pour chocolate into the mix creating large chunks of yummy goodness.
• Montgomery Inn BBQ:  Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience.  Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals.  Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
• Glier’s Goetta:  While it looks like a slab of corn beef hash, this breakfast staple is made of sausage and oats, cooked until crispy.  Most breakfast restaurants carry it as a side, especially the local cafes and diners.
• BonBonerie:  One of the most decadent pastry shops in Cincinnati, their rich confections are absolutely amazing.

Where to Drink:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 421 2337

Books to Read: 

• Eligible:  A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
• Running, by J.T. Cooper
• Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
• Beloved, by Toni Morrison
• Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
• Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper

Photo Guide for Cincinnati (as provided by Chris Thompson on FourSquare):

• The John A Roebling Suspension Bridge
  • Pick a spot near the Covington pier and shoot north toward the Cincinnati skyline.  Shoot at sunset and underexpose by a few stops to get the lights just right.
  • The new lights on the bridge create excellent stars when you photograph them using a narrow aperture (~f/16 and above) on your camera. That means you’ll need a longer exposure (and thus a tripod).
• General James Taylor Park
  • Shoot from the top of the flag pole mound to get more building reflections in your shot. Shoot at sunset or sunrise for great lighting.
• Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
  • Arrive first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up
• The Fountain at Fountain Square
  • For great photos of the fountain: set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (2-5 seconds) to capture the running water. Get Carew or the colored lights above Rock Bottom in the background.
• Fountain Square (look for reflections in puddles)
• Celestial Restaurant in Mount Adams – The restaurant is now closed, but you may still be able to use the parking lot.
• Carew Tower Observation Deck
  • Provides some neat photos of the highways snaking around the city. Set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure to get moving car trails. It’s only open at sunset a few days each year.
• Engine Company 46, 2733 Erie Avenue (at Michigan), Cincinnati
  • One of the most beautiful historic firehouses in all of Cincinnati. The firefighters here are used to having their photo taken while they work. Ask nicely and you can get some cool shots.
• Cincinnati Observatory Center
• Krohn Conservatory
• Great American Ball Park
  • Shoot the front of the stadium around sunset to get a nice color blue in the sky. Get one of the player statues in your shot for extra effect.
• Devou Park
  • The overlook next to the Drees pavilion affords a great view of the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunrise or sunset for the best lighting. Underexpose slightly to get the city lights just right.
• Newport Central Catholic for fireworks
  • Shoot the Riverfest fireworks from this location. Bring a long lens and a tripod. You’ll want a long-ish exposure (5-10 seconds) to capture the bursts, but make sure the skyline isn’t overexposed.
• Riverfront Park
  • The colorful fountains make a great subject, but you need to use a relatively fast shutter speed (>1/20 or so) to catch the lights before they change color, leaving your pic with plain white lights.
• American Sign Museum
  • Be sure to bring a tripod to capture all the signs. Manual white balance is the way to go, because there are so many crazy colors of lights that your camera won’t know how to react.