Cincinnati’s Fourth of July is getting the full Broadway treatment as the Cincinnati Pops brings its annual Red, White & BOOM! bash back to Riverbend Music Center, this time to mark America’s 250th anniversary. Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez will headline alongside conductor John Morris Russell and members of the U.S. Army, with pre-concert family activities starting at 6:30 p.m., the full orchestral program at 8 p.m., and a fireworks finale lighting up the Ohio River. Expect a blend of kid-friendly fun, big choral moments and a classic pyrotechnic sendoff that leans hard into Fourth of July nostalgia.
The night’s lineup includes the Cincinnati Pops Chorale, which pulls singers from the May Festival Chorus, May Festival Youth Chorus and the Classical Roots Community Choir, plus an appearance by the QKidz dance team. Families can stake out time in the PNC Pavilion’s Family Fun Zone, featuring arts and crafts stations, face painting, an instrument “petting zoo” and even salsa lessons. Rozzi Fireworks is set to handle the post-concert show in the sky. Music has a way of pulling communities together for occasions like this, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops president and CEO Robert McGrath noted, according to FOX19.
Show Times And Where To Go
The outdoor celebration is set for July 4, with pre-concert festivities at 6:30 p.m., the main Pops program at 8 p.m. and fireworks to follow along the river, according to John Morris Russell. The concert will take place at Riverbend Music Center on the banks of the Ohio River, per Riverbend Music Center.
Tickets, Donations And Access
General admission tickets are listed at $10 for both adults and youth, with $5 from each ticket going to support Disabled American Veterans. Veterans and active-duty military can reserve free tickets by contacting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra box office. As reported by FOX19, tickets can be reserved online through Cincinnati Pops or by calling the box office at 513-381-3300 during weekday business hours.
Riverfront Tradition
The Pops’ Fourth of July shows are a Cincinnati staple. Riverbend Music Center itself opened on July 4, 1984, and the Pops have been a fixture of the venue’s holiday programming ever since, according to Wikipedia. Concertgoers can expect standard venue security screening and a clear-bag policy. For the latest on rules, what you can bring and where to park, check Riverbend Music Center before heading to the riverfront.
