Taste of Cincinnati 2025: Everything to know before you stuff your face

The annual festival, which puts a spotlight on the city's vibrant culinary scene, returns to downtown Cincinnati on Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. It will feature roughly 76 vendors, including local restaurants, Findlay Kitchen start-ups and food trucks.

Taste of Cincinnati takes place Memorial Day weekend in downtown Cincinnati.

Founded in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati has been one of the most highly anticipated summer events for over four decades. It began as a one-day festival in Piatt Park, formerly known as Garfield Park. The celebration expanded to two days by 1981 and three days by 1988, eventually moving to Central Parkway, per its website.

By 2007, Taste of Cincinnati moved to Fifth Street, where it is taking place again this year. Approximately 550,000 people attend Taste of Cincinnati yearly, and organizers say it's one of the nation's largest and longest-running culinary arts festivals.

Are you heading Downtown for the annual food festival? Here's what you should know before you stuff your face.

When is Taste of Cincinnati?

Taste of Cincinnati takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26. 

Here are the hours:

• Saturday, May 24: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Monday, May 26: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where is Taste of Cincinnati?

The festival stretches across four blocks of Fifth Street, between Main Street and east of Sentinel Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Taste of Cincinnati takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26.

Several streets around downtown Cincinnati will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, and reopen by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 27. Visit tasteofcincinnati.com/info to see a full list of street closures for the festival.

Taste of Cincinnati map

Ready to chow down at Taste of Cincinnati, but unsure of where to begin? Start with the Taste of Cincinnati map, at tasteofcincinnati.com/info/event-map, which divides the festival into two zones, a food truck zone and a Findlay Market zone. There is also an unnamed general festival area that runs from Main Street to Sentinel Street.

How does Taste of Cincinnati work?

Taste of Cincinnati is a free-admission food festival featuring over 76 vendors, including local restaurants, Findlay Kitchen start-ups and food trucks. Most dishes are served in small portions so visitors can experience as much as possible.

In addition to the variety of food available, Taste of Cincinnati will have 30 live entertainment acts across three stages throughout the festival.

Here's the full music lineup:

Saturday, May 24 lineup

• Stacey Bell: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• P. Ann Everson-Price and the All-Star Band: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the main stage.
• Tracy Walker: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Matt St. George: 1-2:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Ingrid Rachel Project:1:30-3:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Coy Comer & the Wanderers: 3-4:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Shadwell: 3-5 p.m. at the Findlay Market Stage.
• The Reckoneers: 4-7:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Sami Riggs: 5-6:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Lydia Shae: 7-8:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Mojo Blues Cat Band: 7-10 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Buzz Bin: 8-11 p.m. at the main stage.
• Easy Mark and Those Moving Targets: 9-11 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.

Sunday, May 25 lineup

• Chandler Carter: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Luke Windland: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• The Front Rose: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Ruby Vileos: 1-2:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• The Sunburners: 2-4:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Hydrophonics: 3-5 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Ricky Nye INC: 3-6 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• 2-22s: 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Soul Shadow: 5-7:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• New Royals: 7-10 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Varner/Netherton Revival: 8-11 p.m. at the main stage.
• Imanii Productions: 8-11 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.

In addition to the variety of food available, Taste of Cincinnati will have 30 live entertainment acts across three stages throughout the festival.

Monday, May 26 lineup

• Courtney & Nick Acoustic: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Sarah Gorak: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Brittany Marie: 1-2:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• School of Rock: 2-4:30 p.m. at the main stage.
• Maria, etc: 3-4:30 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Jess Lamb: 3-6 p.m. at the Findlay Market stage.
• Michelle Robinson Band: 5-8 p.m. at the main stage.
• Mall Witch: 5-6 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.
• Juan Electro: 6:30-8 p.m. at the food truck zone stage.

Best of Taste 2025 restaurant winners

Appetizer/side dish 

• Gold: Hankering Southern Kitchen – Fried Green Tomatoes.
• Silver: Kabobske – Street Corn Hummus and Seasoned Pita Chips.
• Bronze: Alfio’s Buon Chio – Korean Pork BBQ Empanada.

The Braised Short Ribs over Gnocchi from Alfio’s Buon Chio.

Entree

• Gold: Alfio’s Buon Chio – Braised Short Ribs over Gnocchi.
• Silver: Lobsta Bakes of Main – Pan Seared Lump Crab Cakes.
• Bronze: Hankering Southern Kitchen – Smoked Carolina Street Tacos.

Pan Seared Lump Crab Cakes from Lobsta Bakes of Main.

Dessert

• Gold: The Cheesecakery – Black Raspberry Chip Cheesecake.
• Silver: Pompillio’s – Tiramisu Cookes and Cream Cannoli.
• Bronze: Taste of Belgium – Lemon Poppyseed Waffle.

Peanut Butter Fudge Cannoli with Milk Chocolate from Pompilio's Restaurant at Taste of Cincinnati 2024.

Best of Taste 2025 Findlay Kitchen winners

Appetizer/side dish 

• Gold: Honey Child Pops – Peach Thyme Soda.
• Silver: Jay’s Nyam & Jam – Jerk Chicken Wings with Pineapple Jerk Sauce.
• Bronze: Magnificent Morsels – Shrimp & Grits.

Entree 

• Gold: Jay’s Nyam & Jam – Jerk Chicken “Jamaican” Bowl.
• Silver: Yee Mama – Chicken & Basil Handmade Wonton.
• Bronze: Sabor Alaniz – Chicken Taquitos.

Dessert 

• Gold: Walkerbar – Judgy Jenn Ice Cream. 
• Silver: Olive Tree – Mixed Baklava.
• Bronze: Dojo Gelato – Gooey Butter Cake Gelato.

Best of Taste 2025 food truck winners

Appetizer/side dish 

• Gold: Dine-In Hawaiian – Ono Hash.
• Silver: Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen – Mutha Clucka.
• Bronze: Twisted Greek – Deep Fried Feta.

Entree  

• Gold: Twisted Greek – Hera’s Garden Gyro.
• Silver: Quite Frankly – Pumba.
• Bronze: Fifty West Brewing Co. – Classic Burger.

Dessert  

• Gold: SugarSnap! Sweet Treats – Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae.
• Silver: Eliza Jane’s Mobile Bake Shop – Peach Cobbler Blondie Sundae.
• Bronze: Davis Cookie Collection – Strawberry Crunch Sundae.

Sweet treats found at Taste of Cincinnati 2024.