Get the app
Cincinnati New Year's Eve route inspiration

Cincinnati New Year's Eve

Elm Street Plaza fireworks, then Covington

Get TripsCircle

3 days through Downtown Cincinnati, Covington.

Cincinnati New Year's Eve is a 3-day curated route with 2 destinations and 14 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Downtown Cincinnati on the Cincinnati New Year's Eve route

    Destination 01

    Downtown Cincinnati

    8 places

    Two nights downtown for skating, chili, an old bar and fireworks at 8 p.m. and midnight.

    • Elm Street Plaza near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: Hayden Schiff · CC BY 4.0

      Elm Street Plaza

      New plaza beside the convention center, home of the free 2025 party with an ice rink and two fireworks shows.

      Tip Get there by 7:30 p.m. for the early show or 11:30 p.m. for midnight.

      DoDowntownFree3 hr6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

    • Fountain Square

      Downtown's central square around the 1871 Tyler Davidson Fountain, which held a ticketed 21+ party in 2025.

      Tip Stop by on Dec 30 for the holiday tree and the fountain lit up at night.

      SeeDowntownFree30 minEvening Dec 30
    • Smale Riverfront Park near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: Jeffery Roberts · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Smale Riverfront Park

      Riverfront park below downtown with lawns, steps down to the Ohio and a close view of the Roebling bridge.

      Tip Walk here after dinner for the view of Covington and the lit bridge towers.

      OutdoorsThe BanksFree45 minEvening
    • Arnold's Bar and Grill near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: Valereee · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Arnold's Bar and Grill

      Cincinnati's oldest bar, open since 1861 in brick buildings on Eighth Street, with a courtyard and pub food.

      Tip Ask for a table in the covered courtyard out back.

      DrinkDowntown$1.5 hrDinner Dec 30
    • Camp Washington Chili near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: FunksBrother · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Camp Washington Chili

      Diner open since 1940 serving Cincinnati chili over spaghetti with a pile of shredded cheddar.

      Tip Order a three-way and check holiday hours before going.

      EatCamp Washington$45 minLunch Dec 31
    • Mecklenburg Gardens near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: Warren LeMay · CC0

      Mecklenburg Gardens

      German restaurant and beer garden open since 1865 near the university, serving schnitzel, sausages and local beer.

      Tip Book the Dec 30 dinner; the grape-arbor garden is covered and heated in winter.

      EatCorryville$$1.5 hrDinner Dec 30

    • Findlay Market

      Ohio's oldest public market, from 1855, with butchers, bakers and goetta stands in Over-the-Rhine.

      Tip It is closed on Jan 1; go on Dec 30 or 31.

      ShopOver-the-Rhine$75 minMorning Dec 30
    • Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza near Downtown CincinnatiPhoto: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

      1931 Art Deco hotel inside Carew Tower, with a rosewood-and-mural Palm Court lobby bar.

      Tip Have a drink in the Palm Court even if you stay elsewhere.

      StayDowntown$$$Dec 30 – Jan 2
  2. 2
    Covington on the Cincinnati New Year's Eve route

    Destination 02

    Covington

    6 places

    A slow Jan 1 across the river: a bridge walk, old German streets and the view from Devou Park.

    • John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge near CovingtonPhoto: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0

      John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge

      1866 suspension bridge over the Ohio by the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a sidewalk on each side.

      Tip Walk it in both directions; the downstream side has the best skyline view.

      SeeRiverfrontFree30 minLate afternoon Jan 1
    • MainStrasse Village near CovingtonPhoto: Warren LeMay · CC0

      MainStrasse Village

      Covington's 1800s German neighborhood of brick row houses, pubs and a carillon tower in the square.

      Tip Start at Goebel Park and walk down Main Street toward the river.

      SeeMainStrasseFree60 minMidday Jan 1
    • Carroll Chimes Bell Tower near CovingtonPhoto: Warren LeMay · CC0

      Carroll Chimes Bell Tower

      Brick and timber clock tower in Goebel Park whose carillon plays while figures act out the Pied Piper story.

      Tip Check the posted schedule; the figures come out on the hour for part of the year.

      SeeMainStrasseFree20 minMidday Jan 1
    • Devou Park near CovingtonPhoto: Cingensler · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Devou Park

      Hilltop park above Covington with an overlook that takes in the river, the bridges and the downtown skyline.

      Tip Drive up for sunset; the overlook faces the city straight on.

      OutdoorsDevou ParkFree45 minSunset Jan 1
    • Purple People Bridge near CovingtonPhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Purple People Bridge

      Old railroad bridge painted purple and turned into a walking bridge between downtown and Newport.

      Tip Cross to Newport and back to make a loop with the Roebling bridge.

      DoRiverfrontFree30 minAfternoon Jan 1

    • Newport Aquarium

      Riverfront aquarium in Newport with shark tunnels, penguins and a shark bridge over a tank.

      Tip Buy timed tickets online; Jan 1 is a popular family day.

      DoNewport$$2 hrMorning Jan 1

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Cincinnati New Year's Eve.

For 2025-26, downtown Cincinnati's free New Year's Eve party moved from Fountain Square to the new Elm Street Plaza by the convention center, with an ice rink, a DJ from about 6 p.m., early fireworks at 8 p.m. and a midnight countdown with a second show. Fountain Square ran a smaller 21-and-over ticketed pop-up instead. Eat at Arnold's, the city's oldest bar, open since 1861, and order a plate of chili at Camp Washington, open since 1940. Stay at the Art Deco Netherland Plaza. On Jan 1, walk across the Roebling Suspension Bridge to Covington for the old German streets of MainStrasse and the view from Devou Park.

Good for Families and friends who want an early fireworks option, cheap classic food and an easy walk across the river.

When to go

Arrive Dec 30 and leave Jan 2. In 2025 the Elm Street Plaza party typically started around 6 p.m., with fireworks at 8 p.m. and again at midnight; check the downtown events calendar for the current year. BB Riverboats typically runs a New Year's Eve dinner cruise on the Ohio. Dec 31 is cold, with highs around 40 F and nights in the 20s F. On Jan 1 many shops and Findlay Market are closed; check holiday hours.

Getting around

Fly into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), about 20 minutes south of downtown. The Connector streetcar is free and links the riverfront, downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Streets around Elm Street Plaza close on Dec 31, and rideshare surges after midnight, so stay downtown. On Jan 1, Covington is a 15-minute walk across the Roebling bridge; Devou Park is a short drive up the hill from MainStrasse.

Tips for your crew

  • Families can leave after the 8 p.m. fireworks and still see the full show.
  • Book a skating slot at Elm Street Plaza early in the day on Dec 31.
  • Walk the Roebling bridge at dusk on Jan 1 for the lights coming on downtown.

More routes with a similar spirit.

View all 182 routes →
Get TripsCircle