With more than 90 events packed into one weekend, Macy’s Arts Sampler can seem a bit overwhelming.  Here are some suggested itineraries to suit every arts adventurer. For a complete schedule, click here or download the Macy’s Arts Sampler 2015 app.

Families with Wee Ones

Many Sampler events are fun for the whole family, but here are a few best bets for introducing your youngest kids to the wide world of art.

Saturday 
Family Music Time at Wyoming Fine Arts Center, 10:00 a.m. Madcap Puppets present “Twain’s Twisted Tales” at UC Clermont, 11:00 a.m. Irish Storytime at Irish Heritage Center of Greater  Cincinnati, 1:00 p.m.

The Fort Thomas Library’s line-up of Wild Carrot and their Roots band, CCM Youth Ballet, and ROKCincy’s “Hansel and Gretel” opera is perfect for curious preschoolers.

Sunday
Bring the little ones in costume to meet their favorite storybook characters and Reds mascots at 2:00 p.m. at Music Hall.  Then, stay for the short and fun “Fairytale Favorites” concert for a great first experience with ballet and classical music.


IMG_6513-3178307127-O

Families with Grade Schoolers

Stop by any of these venues for a few hours for music, dance, and lots of hands-on art-making activities for kids.

Saturday
Cincinnati Art Museum celebrates the opening of its new Rosenthal Education Center with scavenger hunts, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a whole lot more starting at Noon.

Art Academy of Cincinnati has theater, dance, an origami game show, and art-making for the whole family all day long.  

Families can make art together at Visionaries + Voices in Northside starting at 1:00 p.m.

Visit the Cold Spring, Fort Thomas, and Newport branches of the Campbell County public library for tribal rock music, recreational drumming, a one-man band, youth ballet, comic opera, and award-winning singer-songwriter Tracy Walker.

Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton, Wyoming Fine Arts Center, University of Cincinnati- Clermont, and Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington also have great programs for families running all day.

Sunday
Don’t know what to do with the kids on Sunday? We’ve got you covered. Music Hall is the place to be for families all day long with performances by MYCincinnati youth orchestra and My Nose Turns Red youth circus on the main-stage, face-painting, arts and crafts in the ballroom, a Storybook character and Reds Mascot Meet and Greet at 2:00 p.m. – kids are encouraged to visit in costume --, and a “Fairytale Favorites” concert by the Symphony, Opera, Ballet and May Festival sponsored by Dewey’s Pizza.  Did we mention Dewey’s Pizza is also providing free pizza samples starting at Noon? Parents can also pick up information on arts programs and summer camps for kids at the ArtsWave welcome table in the ballroom.

Young drummer at Elementz

Teens/Tweens

Saturday

Stop in at Ensemble Theater Cincinnati for a mask-making workshop at 10 or 11 a.m.
Get everyone moving with a free Hip Hop Dance class at Elementz starting at Noon.

Sunday

Teens and Tweens have their own space in Corbett Tower of Music Hall featuring performances by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Bach and Boombox with cellist Nat Chaikin, and a chance to make art with artists from Visionaries and Voices.

Young Professionals

Already planning to be Downtown for Bockfest?  Get some art to go with your beer.

Saturday
Explore Downtown with ArtWorks’ Spirit of OTR Mural Tours at Noon and 2:00 p.m. Meet at Coffee Emporium.

Think you have the moves? Jump into a free Hip Hop Dance class at Elementz starting at Noon.

Visit Manifest Gallery in Walnut Hills to see exhibitions of drawing and contemporary art.

Sunday
Try the self-guided tours at Music Hall and stop by the ballroom for the ArtsWave YP Meet and Greet to connect with other arts fans before seeing the joint concert with the Cincinnati Symphony, Ballet, Opera and May Festival at 3:00 p.m.

IMG_6572-3178320375-O

See the World  in One Saturday Afternoon

Experience arts and culture from around the world right here at home.

Fairfield Community Arts Center has an Eastern European small band, belly dancing with the Keshvar Project, and Ron Esposito and his singing bowls. Programs start at Noon.

In Downtown, you can try West African dance and drumming at the Lindner YMCA at noon.  Then head over to the Art Academy of Cincinnati for Indian dance, Chinese martial arts, and belly dancing.

IMG_6354-3178232025-O

Girlfriends’ Day Out

Grab your friends and do something a little different on Saturday.

Open writing circle with Women Writing for (a) Change in Silverton at 11:30 a.m. 

Artist demonstrations at the Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center, aka The Barn, in Mariemont at 2:00 p.m.

Mini dance class at Contemporary Dance Theater in College Hill start at 12:15 p.m.

Drive a little ways out of town and enjoy the amazing Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in Hamilton for free starting at 10:00 a.m.

Classical Music Lovers

Saturday
See the next generation of classical musicians at the Taft Museum of Art with demonstrations from local Suzuki piano and violin students and a mini-recital from a former Cincinnati World Piano competitor.

Catch a preview of Queen City Chamber Opera’s production of Mozart’s comic opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio” at Kennedy Heights Arts Center at 2:45 p.m.

Sunday
Head to Music Hall to see the MYCincinnati youth orchestra perform under the baton of Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell at Noon, and then enjoy the art throughout the building until the joint concert featuring the Cincinnati Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and May Festival at 3:00 p.m.

IMG_0034+%282%29-3127183014-O

Best for Everyone

Saturday
Join us for the Third Annual Greater Cincinnati Choral Consortium Sampler Concert featuring 13 of our region’s incredible choirs performing on the Memorial Hall stage including: Cincinnati Boychoir, Musica Sacra, Cincinnati Men’s Chorus, MUSE: Cincinnati Women’s Choir, COR Music Project, Young Professional’s Choral Collective and more.  Concert begins at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall.

Sunday
See the groups that call Music Hall home come together to perform “Fairytale Favorites” with selections from The Nutcracker, Hansel + Gretel, and even the witches from Macbeth.  This unique joint concert featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, and May Festival Chorus is something you’ll see only at Macy’s Arts Sampler.  Concert begins at 3:00 p.m. at Music Hall.