Parking is going to be at a premium this weekend in Cincinnati. The Reds play Friday and Saturday night at the same time that the Cincinnati Music Festival is taking place at Paul Brown Stadium. The City of Cincinnati has issued the following release advising people to expect big crowds.
The annual Cincinnati Music Festival will take place this weekend, July 25-27, at Paul Brown Stadium. In addition to the concerts, there will be several related events taking place in Downtown Cincinnati.
To better handle the crowds around the stadium, the Cincinnati Police Department will implement the traffic control plan used during Cincinnati Bengals home games. Motorists are reminded of the following restrictions:
Before the concert (4 to 7 p.m.):
- Elm Street- closed south of Second Street
- Race Street- closed south of Second Street (open to garage only)
- Rosa Parks Street- closed to through traffic south of Second Street
- Marion Spencer Way- closed to through traffic south of Second Street
- Freedom Way- closed
After the concert (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.)
- Central Avenue- southbound closed south of Seventh Street
- Fourth Street- closed between Elm Street and Central Avenue
- Third Street- eastbound closed between the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and Third Street
- W. Pete Rose Way- eastbound closed between Gest Street and Central Avenue
- Elm Street- closed south of Second Street
- Race Street- closed south of Second Street (open to garage only)
- Rosa Parks Street- closed to through traffic south of Second Street
- Marion Spencer Way- closed to through traffic south of Second Street
- Freedom Way- closed
Also taking place during the Cincinnati Music Festival areFestival 513(merchandise and vending area) andCincy Soul(culinary food festival).
Festival 513is an exciting event (July 27-28) that provides a centralized merchandise and food vending area for guests to the city and features nearly 100 merchandise and food booths. Festival 513 is located right beside Paul Brown Stadium but in order to accommodate this event, the following streets will close onstreets will close on Thursday, July 25 at 10 a.m. and remain closed until Sunday, July 28 at 7 p.m.:
- Freedom Way- closed between Elm Street and Rosa Parks Street
- Race Street- closed south of Second Street (Access will be maintained to the Radius parking garage)
Cincy Soulis a culinary food festival located on Fifth Street at Fountain Square. In order to hold this event, Fifth Streetwill close between Vine Street and Walnut Street on Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. The roadway will remain closed until Sunday, July 28 at midnight.
Those looking to beat the traffic congestion around the riverfront are reminded to that public parking exists throughout the Downtown area. Music Festival attendees can ride the streetcar to and from all of the festival attractions. The streetcar will run every 12 to 15 minutes until midnight Thursday and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night.