I was happy to be invited to appear on a podcast for WCPO’s “Hear Cincinnati” with host Meghan Wesley Thursday to talk about all of the activities this weekend surrounding the opening of Music Hall after its 16-month, $143 million renovation.

The Music Hall segment is about 27 minutes into the podcast. Listen here.

Listen Friday when I visit 91.7 WVXU at 1 p.m., for “Cincinnati Edition.”

And speaking about events, you can find the lineup of free performances and tours during the FREE community open house at Music Hall, starting with a ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at artswave.org. You’ll also catch lots of free performances in Washington Park.

And be sure to take a stroll around the neighborhood to see the newly renovated Memorial Hall, the brand-new Cincinnati Shakespeare Theater and recently expanded Ensemble Theatre. All will be open and offer tours and more.

To save you time,  here’s Saturday’s lineup:

Free Community Open house: “Re(New)ed celebration for Music Hall + More” —

Music Hall

• 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Official Opening Ceremony on the front steps
• 10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.: Beyond the Bricks: Outdoor Building Tour of Music Hall

 Music Hall Stage
CSO Chamber Performances.

• 10:30-11 a.m.
• 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
• 12:30-1 p.m.
• 1:30-2 p.m.

Taft Suite
SPMH Organ Panel Video & Hook & Hastings Organ Panel displays.

• 10:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m.
• 12:30 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m.

 Corbett Tower
CET Music Hall documentary and performances by Cincinnati Opera.

• 10:30 a.m.: CET documentary airs
• 11 a.m.: Live Opera performance
• 12:30 p.m.: CET documentary airs
• 1 p.m.: Live Opera performance
• 2 p.m.: CET documentary airs
• 2:30 p.m.: Live Opera performance

 Wilks Studio
Selected 2017-2018 Season Cincinnati Ballet performances.

• 10:30 a.m.
• 12:30 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m.

 May Festival Rehearsal Room
La Traviata and May Festival performances.

• 10:30 a.m.: La Traviata pop up performance
• 11 a.m.: May Festival performance
• Noon: La Traviata pop up performance
• 12:30 p.m.: May Festival performance
• 1:30 p.m.: La Traviata pop up performance

Washington Park

Washington Park MainStage

• 10:30 – 11 a.m.: Taft Museum / Stafford Berry
• 11 a.m. – Noon: Hula Hoop Interactive Dance Party with My Nose Turns Red
• Noon – 1 p.m.: Cincinnati Children’s Theatre
• 1 – 1:15 p.m.: Dance Fix
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Bi-Okoto

Washington Park Historic Bandstand Stage

• 10 – 10:30 a.m.: Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC)
• 10:30 – 10:45 a.m.: Cincinnati Insurance Companies “Insuring Harmony”
• 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Fifth Third “Bank Notes”
• 11:30 – Noon: Christ Hospital “98.6 Degrees”
• Noon – 12:30 p.m.: P&G “The P&Gtles”
• 12:30 – 1 p.m.: SCPA “Baby Grands”
• 1 – 1:30 p.m.: Cincinnati Boy Choir
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Contemporary Jazz Ensemble

Memorial Hall

Second Century: Photography, Feminism, Politics, a symposium presented by FotoFocus

• 10 a.m.: Panel, Still They Persist, with FemFour
• 11 a.m.: Panel, Gender and Imaging in the Online Realm
• 1 p.m.: Panel, Women of Latin American Film
• 2 p.m.: Panel, Woman with a Camera

The last panel will be followed by a comment, a reception, and keynote.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

Tours of the new theatre, pop up performances and hands-on activities.

• 10 a.m.: Yoga
• 10:30 a.m.: First performance, featuring Lachey Arts
• 11:30 a.m.: Tour #1
• 12:30 p.m.: Second performance, featuring Pones
• 1 p.m.: Tour #2