Looking for something fun or educational to do online? Many local arts and other organizations have created videos, images and other digital links for us to view digitally from our home computers, tablets and mobile devices. Here is our list of “virtual things to do” for the greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio; Springfield, Ohio; Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana regions:
LIBRARIES
Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County
Download a free library card and enjoy everything the library has to offer online. From the eBranch, listen to e-audiobooks and music; view magazines, movies and TV programs. Access newspaper archives and more from the e-search area. There are also e-learning resources.
The library also features story time videos from their YouTube channel.
Kenton County Public Library
The library has links to Friday Yoga sessions, story time for kids, chat about genealogy and more from their Facebook events page. You can also check out ebooks, digital movies, music and audiobooks via the library’s eMedia.
Dayton Public Library
Get your eCard here for the library and then start exploring. Enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, music, videos, magazines as well as many research tools. Learn more here.
Mercantile Library
The library is hosting virtual book discussions via their Facebook events page.
Clark County Library
The library has audiobooks, ebooks, emagazines, digital music and video.
FOOD
Virtual Taste of Cincinnati – April 3–5, 2020
Foodie alert! The “Taste” is going to be a virtual experience this year. Please order carryout, drive thru and delivery services from local restaurants and food trucks. View live-streamed cooking demonstrations and music performances, too! Follow the Facebook page. (The actual event on Fifth Street is now rescheduled for July 3–5, 2020.)
MUSIC
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is giving free performances and has videos to enjoy. If you have children, lessons and activities are provided.
If you enjoy the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, be sure to check out their YouTube channel with all kinds of videos and playlists.
Carillon Chimes
Listen to the Deeds Carillon’s Westminster chimes every 15 minutes with mini concerts at 12pm, 2pm and 5pm. Members also have access to 50,000 archived images on the website.
ArtsWave
Mindful Music Moments –it’s meditation to music! And here is a link to more online Arts experiences!
Linton Chamber Music
Enjoy Facebook Live “Peanut Butter & Jam” sessions.
MUSEUMS
Booneshoft Museum of Discovery
Online learning experiences are available with science activities.
Cincinnati Art Museum
Enjoy a podcast about the museum’s different collections. The museum is also offering views to digitized art collections.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
There are lesson plans and activities available for kids from Kindergarten through grade 12 available. (Read a suggested book via your Kindle or the library and then follow the lesson plan.)
Taft Museum
The museum offers some virtual learning sessions streamed Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Contemporary Arts Center
Take an audio (and video) tour through this museum! There are also other videos to enjoy from your home.
Cincinnati Museum Center
Kids will enjoy watching Wonder Zone videos!
Behringer-Crawford Museum
There are lots of virtual/online things to do with this museum:
• 3D Virtual Tour of the Museum from your computer and mouse! (Grades 4–12)
• Curator’s Chats about the various collections at the museum (artifacts, art and more) on YouTube
• Easter Bunny Science! Learn how to use science to dye your Easter eggs using supplies from home on YouTube
• Learn about “Ice-Age Animals that Roamed Northern Kentucky” on YouTube
• Learn about local American Indian Cultures who traveled from Asia to North America. Make a cave painting! (Recommended grade 4) Watch on YouTube.
• Kentucky Land Formations: Caves — Learn about caves, stalactites, stalagmites and how to make your own cave (Grades PreK–1) on YouTube
•. Kentucky Land Formations: Mountains – Learn about the mountains of Kentucky, mountain goats and other animals. Craft your own mountain range with paper and egg cartons! (Grades PreK-1) on YouTube
• Symbols of Kentucky with 3-year old Layla on YouTube
• Join 8-year old Mateo on an outdoor adventure of the grounds around the museum and Devou Park on Facebook
ZOO
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The zoo is presenting Facebook Live sessions daily at 3pm. (If that time is not good, you can still see the video later.) A different animal will be showcased every day!
THEATER / OPERA
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
The Playhouse has pulled together all kinds of home “experiences”. They have links to Netflix and Disney+ shows. There is also a link to a full-length play from National Theater Live available on Thursdays.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Children’s Theatre has videos of prior shows as well as podcasts available. For students of the arts, they have study guides and activity packets, too.
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
The theater is streaming performances. There is a ticket charge that is very affordable!
Cincinnati Opera
The opera has a podcast that chats about all kinds of “opera” topics.
DANCE
Cincinnati Ballet
View videos of past ballet performances as well as rehearsal sessions!
The Ballet is also offering dance conditioning, pilates and Barre Fitness classes live on Facebook.
DANCEFIX BY HBDC
Live and on demand classes are available.
SPORTS
Cincinnati Reds
Watch classic baseball games from the MLB vault on YouTube.
View the rebroadcast of the 1975 World Series games on Fox Sports Ohio.
Dayton Dragons
Watch baseball videos of the Dragons.
ART
Clifton Cultural Arts Center
Instructors are presenting virtual classes.
Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center
The center is featuring a daily online art project on Facebook.
BE SOCIAL
Downtown Dayton Virtual First Friday – April 3, 2020
“Attend” a First Friday from 5pm–12am right from your home. Order food, shop local and explore a downtown Dayton gallery, museum and more.
BIRTHDAY EXPERIENCE
Mt. Healthy residents can let the Mt. Healthy Fire Department know about a child’s birthday and they will do a drive by with a birthday parade.
Blue Ash residents can reach out to the Blue Ash Police and Fire Departments for a special drive-by parade for a child’s birthday.
FILMS
Mariemont Theatre / Esquire Theatre / Kenwood Theatre
While you cannot go see movies on the big screen you can view independent films from these three theaters in a “virtual screening room” for half the price of a usually ticket cost.
(Have a local virtual activity to add? Let us know! Email sknabe@sibcycline.com and we will add them to our list.)
