Labor Day weekend is always a festive, family time throughout Greater Cincinnati. The Kentucky Symphony Orchester mades it even more so, as it presents three free, local outdoor concerts this Labor Day ’26 weekend
The concerts offer a fitting close to the Summer Sestercentennial celebration — “Living in America” — with partriotic pop spanning Elvis and The Beach Boys to Lenny Kravitz and Miley Cyrus.
Pop acts and artists of all genres and generations have performed songs with “freedom”, “America”, “USA” in the titles, so the KSO scoured top-40 lists from the 1950s to 2010s to bring 18 of these hit songs to the stage for one last 250th hootenanny.
The KSO Boogie Band (a 21-piece studio orchestra with 7 vocalists) will authentically cover hits by Grand Funk Railroad, Lana Del Ray, Chicago, John Mellencamp, James Brown, Martina McBride, Elton John and more.
Nothing is more nostalgic than the music of one’s youth. Conductor James Cassidy was fortunate to actively celebrate America’s Sequi- and Sester-centennials. Whether the tunes KSO will play on Labor Day weekend will make it to 2076 is up to today’s youth.
Enjoy singing along to the KSO with your children, parents and grandparents making tonight a shared memory.
Join the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 5 in Devou Park (Covington),
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 6 in Tower Park (Fort Thomas), or
• 7 p.m. Monday, September 7 at Woodside Arboretum (Middletown, OH).
For the Devou concert, the TANK park & ride shuttle from Covington Catholic departs on the half hour starting at 6 p.m. ($2 each way).
Concessions are available in Devou Park. Food trucks will be on-site in Tower Park. Free ice cream awaits in Middletown.
Bring blankets, picnics or lawn chairs.
For more information, registration (for weather updates) and directions, visit the KSO at kyso.org The concerts and parking are free, though a $5 (per person) donation to the KSO is suggested.
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra