From a moonlight cruise in Cincinnati and friendly competition at one of the game bars in Columbus, to an evening soiree amid classic Porsches in Dayton and riding roller coasters with fellow attendees at the region’s largest amusement park in Warren County, Southern Ohio offers endless entertaining activities for groups.
Cincinnati
At the end of the day in Cincinnati, groups are encouraged to kick back and mingle as they enjoy the riverfront and city skyline.
“A dinner or moonlight cruise with BB Riverboats is the perfect way for groups to unwind,” said Barrie Perks, vice president of sales and services at the Cincinnati USA CVB. “A breath of fresh air with the Ohio River as a backdrop could be just what attendees need to wind down.”
Another option for groups that prefer being outdoors is to take advantage of the free programming in Cincinnati’s public spaces, including at Washington Park, which during the warmer months hosts concerts, movies on the lawn and more.
“At Fountain Square, located in the heart of downtown, groups can let loose at Salsa on the Square, where hot salsa bands, skilled dancers, expert instructors and crowds of hundreds make for a fun night outing,” Perks said.
Another fun, and informative, activity that planners can book after-hours is a sightseeing tour of the recently discovered lager tunnels that Perks said were once vital to Cincinnati’s brewery heritage.
“American Legacy Tours provides an experience like no other,” she said. “Start with a tour of the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, descend 30 feet below Cincinnati’s streets into a network of tunnels, and finish the tour with drinks at the Christian Moerlein tap room.”
Cincinnati is also home to several unique venues that groups can book for private parties.
“Whether it’s a walk down memory lane at the neon-filled American Sign Museum, an underwater experience at Newport Aquarium or a trendy get-together at the Contemporary Arts Center, attendees can mix and mingle at several distinctive spots,” Perks said.
Columbus
A wide variety of entertaining nightlife options awaits groups meeting in Columbus.
“All offer a great opportunity to unwind after a long day, and encourage better bonding between members of the group in a casual, social setting,” said Lexi Sweet, public relations coordinator for Experience Columbus.
For groups that would appreciate an entertaining retro experience, the city has several game bars, including 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, where attendees can play more than 50 classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Centipede and Frogger.
“The drinks themselves are also sure to amuse,” said Sweet, who cited cocktails named after Ice-T, Carrie Fisher and Burt Reynolds.
Brewcadia, another gamers’ paradise, recently opened above downtown’s Barley’s Brewing Company directly across from the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Here, groups will find 40 beers on tap and classic arcade games like Asteroids.
And at Kingmakers, a board game parlor, there are board game sommeliers on staff to help choose which of the more than 500 titles to play.
“Whether the goal be teambuilding or relaxation, let the sommelier know and he or she will pick out the perfect game to fit the needs of the group,” Sweet said. “Games can be enjoyed alongside a selection of fine wines, craft beers and specialty sodas, along with favorite local snacks like Rogue Bakery cookies, Krema nuts and Darista Dips, and OH! Chips.”
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The city also boasts nearly 40 craft breweries that groups can visit after-hours, many of which are located near the convention district, such as North High Brewing, Seventh Son Brewing and Wolf’s Ridge Brewing.
“For a special treat, try craft cocktails at Curio in German Village, M downtown, or Denmark or Mouton in the Short North,” Sweet added. “Groups looking to let their hair down and enjoy casual conversation over a cocktail can belly up to the bar or reserve a space at any chosen location.”
Groups may also like to participate in a hands-on cooking class at venues including The Kitchen, The Commissary and The Seasoned Farmhouse.
“These options offer a new dimension to experiential dining,” Sweet said. “For a truly unique experience, groups can watch a chef demonstration or prepare a meal together at the
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, using ingredients sourced on location.”
Dayton
In Dayton, planners can arrange evening events at several intriguing attractions that welcome group business.
Among them are Carillon Brewing Co., which has an on-site restaurant and various meeting spaces, including an outdoor beer-and-wine garden, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where groups can host a private reception in the atrium/lobby and a seminar or award presentation in the on-site theater.
According to Bev Rose, director of marketing and communications for the Dayton CVB, another standout venue is Taj Ma Garaj, which provides a colorful and hip event setting filled with rare Porsches and Volkswagens.
“An upstairs classic arcade room allows guests to play everything from Pac-Man to Donkey Kong and an outdoor party deck located off of the arcade room provides a spot for grilling and good times,” she added.
For a different vibe, the Dayton Art Institute is an Italian Renaissance building that sits on a hill overlooking the Great Miami River and downtown Dayton.
“Groups can either dine in the museum’s beautiful Leo Bistro restaurant and then tour the museum, or rent one of several unique venues within the building that allow attendees to privately explore the museum in the evening,” Rose said.
One such venue is the enclosed Shaw Gothic Cloister, featuring an arched glass ceiling, and another is the Great Hall, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with views across the Great Miami River to downtown Dayton.
Warren County
Kings Island, one of the largest amusement/waterparks in the Midwest, is “an absolute can’t-miss for anyone visiting Southwest Ohio,” according to Scott Hutchinson, communications manager for the Warren County CVB.
“The park is open late during the summer months, so it’s definitely an awesome option for after-hours fun,” he said.
If roller coasters and waterslides aren’t up the group’s alley, the area also offers the more mellow option of visiting Morrow, Ohio-based Valley Vineyards Winery & Brewery for wine and beer tastings and a meal.
“If folks are in town for a weekend event or conference, I would highly recommend visiting the vineyard for a cookout, where you can grill your own steak or salmon on their massive outdoor community grills to enjoy with a slew of sides and their great selection of wines and beers made on-site,” Hutchinson said.
And in Lebanon, Ohio, groups can try their luck at Miami Valley Gaming, a racino featuring more than 1,600 gaming machines, seasonal harness racing and several restaurants, including Cin City Sea & Steak, a favorite among area surf-and-turf lovers.
