10-01-2025 10:51pm

America’s River Roots Festival Kicks Off America's 250th Birthday

Beth Callahan Editor

Story and photo courtesy of Game Day Communications

In just one week America’s River Roots Festival will bring the river to life with riverboat parades, bourbon tastings, artisan markets, regional cuisine and cultural showcases. America's River Roots is rolling out a packed schedule of events and experiences across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. From student-focused programming to 175+ riverboat cruises, beer and bourbon tastings to fireworks, the five-day celebration offers something for everyone.

Festival hours

Thursday 11 am–10 pm
Friday and Saturday 11 am–11 pm
Sunday 11 am–8 pm with fireworks to close

Riverboats

More than 175 cruises including brunch, lunch, dinner, sightseeing and themed experiences like History of the Queen City, Graeter’s Ice Cream, New Riff tastings, Mascot Mania, Character and Baseball History cruises

Cruises, which are at the heart of America's River Roots, will begin daily starting on Wednesday morning. The festival will welcome nine historic riverboats from seven iconic river cities—including:

Steamboat NATCHEZ (New Orleans)
Belle of Cincinnati and River Queen (Newport)
Belle of Louisville and Mary M. Miller (Louisville)
Belle of Memphis (Memphis)
Three Rivers Queen (Pittsburgh)
Anson & Betsey Northrup (St. Paul)
Celebration Belle (Moline, IL)

Each will bring their regional flavors and sound to the riverfront.

Signature moments:
- Opening parade of riverboats, Thursday, 2:30pm
- Riverboat races, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons
- Parade of Lights finale and fireworks, Sunday, 6–9pm

Music

Free community stages daily in Yeatman’s Cove, Schmidlapp Gardens and Newport with regional and local artists, Thursday-Sunday.

Signature moments:

Cincinnati Jazz All Stars, Thursday 6-7:30pm, Newport
Over the Rhine, Thursday 8:30-10pm, Yeatman's Cove
Band of Heathens, Friday, 9:30-11pm, Newport
Noah Wotherspoon, Saturday, 9:30-11pm, Newport
Zapp, Saturday, 9:30-11pm, Yeatman's Cove
Lauren Eylise, Sunday, 3-5pm, Yeatman's Cove

Cuisine

Dozens of vendors serving up local, regional and international flavors on both sides of the river

Kentucky Boardwalk at Ovation: featuring Braxton Bier Garden, B-Line restaurants and experiences, and the B-Line Speakeasy
Good ‘N’ Rooted Artisan Market: 50+ artisans and makers spanning the Purple People Bridge with crafts, packaged goods, apparel, jewelry and more
Kentucky Bourbon Experience: featuring ticketed tastings, the Merchant's Club Speakeasy and Bottle Shop & Bazaar, Riverboat Row
Craft Brewmaster Experience: 18 craft beer samplings and brewmaster ticketed tastings, Yeatman's Cove

Culture

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: Free admission Friday and Saturday, featuring a new exhibit and family activities
River Talks Daily Speaker Series (Wednesday–Sunday) covering civic leadership, arts, music and film featuring national and regional government leadership speaking on "Across the River, Across the Aisle," King records filmmaker Yemi Oyediran, spoken word poets, a Harriet Tubman play with Brandi Lasherri and more. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Sounds from the River educational performances, curated by Kathy Wade
Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame highlighting Cincinnati’s rich Black music legacy in this free, interactive, award-winning attraction
Freedom Journey App follows Underground Railroad stories of courage along the Ohio Riverin a GPS-mapped and historically accurate app.
The Riverwalk Trail app takes users on a the 3.2 mile walk connecting parks, cultural landmarks,and districts along the Ohio River with games & activities.
River Industry Exhibits, Newport
Ecology of the River exhibits, including Living Lands & Waters barge and ORSANCO Life Under the Water interactive displays
River Cities Travel Showcase, Yeatman’s Cove