Events
Featured
Learn to Play Roller Derby
Come roll with Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby and get a taste of what it takes to be a roller derby athlete! Get started with forward + backward rolling, safe falls, effective stops, transitions, beginner contact drills and more!
All skill levels welcome. Gear (Helmet, Elbow Pads, Wrist Guards, Knee Pads) strongly encouraged, but not required.
Upcoming Dates:
9/26 from 5-6pm followed by Cincy Rec Fest Kickoff Skate Party
10/17 from 5-6pm followed by Halloween Skate with CRG
What to Expect at Junior Roller Derby 101 Instructional Sessions:
Participants at the Riverfront 101 instructional sessions can expect CJRD coach-led, 1-hour sessions that will be low to no contact and include cover basic roller derby instruction, including but not limited to beginner drills, how to fall safely, rules of the track, safety and more!
What to Wear?: Participants are strongly encouraged to attend with quad-style skates (in-lines and high-top skates are discouraged, however will not be turned away), helmet, elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards. A mouthguard is optional.
Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby Website: CJRD - Home
About CJRD: CJRD is Cincinnati's first junior roller derby team. The organization was founded in 2011 by retired Cincinnati Rollergirls Lauren (Miss Print) Bishop and Kathy (Panterrorize) Kissing, who wanted to bring the competitive, full-contact sport of flat track roller derby to all ages in the Cincinnati-area.The team is currently made up of beginner to advanced all gender skaters between the ages of 7 to 17. The organization is all volunteer run, including coaches who are current and former adult skaters. CJRD is a proud member of the Junior Roller Derby Association.
BLINK Skate Bar
Serving up cold drinks and smooth moves each night of BLINK beneath the Roebling Bridge at Smale Park Oct 8-11 from 7-11pm each night. We’ll light the place up with a special installation that brings the Riverfront Rink vibes to Smale Park. We’ll have the music - bring your own skates, invite your friends, and join us for a spectacular BLINK at the Riverfront.
Volunteer with us! We need skaters & bar tenders (21 & up please)
CPF's Hats Off Luncheon
Join us at Smale Riverfront Park for the 20th Annual Hats Off Luncheon - Cincinnati Parks Foundation’s largest fundraiser for our city parks! Learn more and get tickets on the Hats Off site.
Learn to Play Roller Derby
Come roll with Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby and get a taste of what it takes to be a roller derby athlete! Get started with forward + backward rolling, safe falls, effective stops, transitions, beginner contact drills and more!
All skill levels welcome. Gear (Helmet, Elbow Pads, Wrist Guards, Knee Pads) strongly encouraged, but not required.
Upcoming Dates:
9/26 from 5-6pm followed by Cincy Rec Fest Kickoff Skate Party
10/17 from 5-6pm followed by Halloween Skate with CRG
What to Expect at Junior Roller Derby 101 Instructional Sessions:
Participants at the Riverfront 101 instructional sessions can expect CJRD coach-led, 1-hour sessions that will be low to no contact and include cover basic roller derby instruction, including but not limited to beginner drills, how to fall safely, rules of the track, safety and more!
What to Wear?: Participants are strongly encouraged to attend with quad-style skates (in-lines and high-top skates are discouraged, however will not be turned away), helmet, elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards. A mouthguard is optional.
Cincinnati Junior Roller Derby Website: CJRD - Home
About CJRD: CJRD is Cincinnati's first junior roller derby team. The organization was founded in 2011 by retired Cincinnati Rollergirls Lauren (Miss Print) Bishop and Kathy (Panterrorize) Kissing, who wanted to bring the competitive, full-contact sport of flat track roller derby to all ages in the Cincinnati-area.The team is currently made up of beginner to advanced all gender skaters between the ages of 7 to 17. The organization is all volunteer run, including coaches who are current and former adult skaters. CJRD is a proud member of the Junior Roller Derby Association.
Cincy Rec Fest
Rec Fest Cincinnati brings more than 16 niche sports together at Sawyer Point for an afternoon of games, demonstrations and hands-on activities. In partnership with Cincinnati Parks, the event will feature a trail of sports stretching from the Serpentine Wall to the pickleball courts, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore new sports, learn from local athletes and test your skills. Visit each teaching station to learn the basics, participate in friendly drills and join recreational and competitive games. Sports include team handball, korfball, tennis, pickleball, rugby, Aussie football, fishing, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, Gaelic football, broomball, women’s football, esports, orienteering, roller skating and cricket, with more sports joining the lineup.
Food trucks and music will keep the fun going throughout the day. Gather the whole family, discover a new favorite activity and experience the wide variety of sports and recreation happening across Greater Cincinnati at Rec Fest Cincinnati.
Space Invasion Skate with DJ Flava
Get into the groove with DJ Flava at Second Saturday Skate Nights! We’ll be bringing the energy at the Riverfront Rink with a mix of House, R&B and Hip hop skating music to keep you moving. The last half of the session the rink will split by age. FREE admission, FREE rental skates. Light concessions available.
The Sawyer Point Riverfront Rink just between the pickle ball courts and Montgomery Inn.
925 Riverside Dr. Cincinnati Ohio 45202
This monthly series is FREE thanks to support from Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Parks Foundation.
Riverfront Social Skate: Funk Rebellion
Dress to impress at this 70s era theme party hosted by No Effxrt Skate Crew on August 14th from 7-10PM during the Midwest Black Family Reunion at Sawyer Point’s Riverfront Skating Rink.
Sunset Skate with JJ & the Mood
JJ & The Mood Bring Cincinnati's Next Great Dance Party to the Riverfront
There are bands that invite you to listen. JJ & The Mood invites you to groove.
Cincinnati native Jack Sjogren, along with local producer Joey Joesph, has spent the last several years building one of the Midwest's most compelling indie dance catalogs. Drawing inspiration from disco, funk, post-punk, and new wave, JJ's songs balance polished production with genuine emotional weight. The result feels timeless without sounding nostalgic.
National audiences have taken notice. Their music has appeared in global campaigns for Apple and Uber, landed on Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists, earned recognition from KCRW as Today's Top Tune, and received praise from publications including Under the Radar, METAL Magazine, V13, Celebmix, and EARMILK.
Now they're bringing that momentum home.
On Saturday, August 8, JJ & The Mood performs live at the Riverfront Skating Rink before taking over the turntables for a special DJ set as part of On Point Music Festival. Expect soaring hooks, deep grooves, and the rare kind of performance where a concert gradually becomes a dance party.
Whether you're skating, dancing, or watching the sunset over the Ohio River, this is one of the festival's signature performances.
About On Point Music Festival
On Point Music Festival celebrates Cincinnati's thriving independent music community while activating one of the city's most iconic public spaces. Set throughout Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove, the free festival pairs nationally touring artists, rising local talent, skating, food, and community programming into a weekend built around new music discovery, independent artists, and shared experience. It reflects Cincinnati's long tradition of public music festivals while creating new opportunities for audiences to experience the city's next generation of artists.
On Point Music Festival Skate
On Point Music Fest brings together Cincinnati's hottest bands for one unforgettable weekend! August 7th and 8th at Sawyer Point come see electrifying performances. Experience two nights of live music plus roller skating, beach volleyball, and pickleball. All activities are open to all levels.
At the Skating Rink:
August 7: DJ Flava 7-10pm
August 8: JJ & the Mood 7-10pm
Get Down to Sawyer Point and see what's On Point.
No cover charge, free skate rentals, all ages!
Reggae Night with DJ D Marsh
Learn to Slow Walk on Roller Skates
Royalty the Dreamgirl will lead a 45 minute long workshop teaching Slow Walk style skating and build up into a few small routines. Beginner-friendly and loads of fun - All ages welcome!
Skate to Reggae and Afrobeats
with DJ D Marsh
Disability Pride Adult Skate
Join Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services and Skate Downtown Cincy to celebrate Disability Pride month with a FREE adult skate party - all wheels welcome!
This event is for adults 18 and older who are eligible for HCDDS services.
Paid and free parking is available nearby. Metro Access users can pull into the Bicentennial Commons lot, 799 E. Pete Rose Way, for free drop off. Volunteers will be there to guide people to rink.
PRIDE Stride
Join us Saturday, June 27 for Pride Stride 2026, a celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, joy, and connection on wheels. Whether you're a seasoned skater, first-time roller, dancer, artist, or cheerleader from the sidelines, there's something for everyone.
Event Schedule
🎨 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Art Making with the Taft Museum of Art
🛼 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Skate Choreography with the Cincy SociaLights
👑 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pride Stride Roller Drag featuring Crystal Cavalli, Rayven Valentino, and Evelyn Everything
🧘 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Pilates with JoAnna Hortillosa
💃 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Dance Workshop with Sarah Spurling
Throughout the day, enjoy:
🎧 DJ sets
🛼 Roller skating
🏓 Table tennis
🌽 Cornhole
🛍️ Local artists & vendors Roebling Books, Kareem Simpson, Anderson Crafts
🌈 Pride-themed activities
☀️ Beautiful riverfront views
📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
⏰ 12 PM - 6 PM
📍 Riverfront Rink at Sawyer Point
907 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, OH
Pride Stride celebrates what makes Cincinnati special: community, creativity, movement, and belonging. Bring your friends, your family, your skates, your pride flags, and your best energy for an unforgettable day on the riverfront.
Roll Bounce Skate Anthem Night with DJ Stride and Ohio Stride Workshop with Ghost
Join Chris “Ghost” Landrum — 3x Icy Hot Champion, SBA Champiom (Stride Battle Association) and President of Underground Skate Party — for an exciting session focused on the basic fundamentals, history, and foundations of striding.
Whether you are brand new to skating or looking to sharpen your stride technique, this workshop will provide a fun and educational experience centered around rhythm, culture, movement, and the rich history behind stride skating. Participants will learn foundational footwork, timing, flow, and key concepts that have helped shape the stride community across the country.
Come out, skate, learn, and experience the culture firsthand!
This workshop is free - skates included.
6pm Workshop - Ohio Stride
7-10pm Skate with DJ Stride
Catch a breeze and vibe at the Riverfront Skating Rink! Sunset Skate is a festival-style celebration of summer with DJ sets, roller skating, table tennis, cornhole, and a rotation of themes and vendors to enjoy summer nights in a beautiful waterfront park setting.
