“This Event Coming to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in 2025 Sounds Like a Tall Stacks Revival, and We’re Freaking Excited,” by Katherine Barrier

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Cincinnatians will soon have a major new festival to attend, America’s Rivers Roots. The festival, which will take place along the Ohio River from Oct. 9-12 in 2025, aims to celebrate the river’s historical significance by featuring multicultural art, history, music and food that celebrates the culture along the Ohio River. Live performances from well-known artists in all of the roots genres will be curated by Cincinnati native and Grammy Award-winner Bryce Dessner of The National. Cincinnati’s Paul Sturkey, the product and project development chef at Kroger, will lead the charge on food at River Roots, inviting celebrity chefs to craft cuisine of America’s river regions and recruiting small businesses, food trucks, restaurants and caterers to offer a variety of eats at the event. River Roots will also bring in 12 riverboats to the region from other inland river cities. At its, um, roots (sorry), this festival is reminiscent of the Tall Stacks events that celebrated Cincinnati’s riverboat heritage in the past, and boy are we excited to take it all in next year.