Dedicated in 1871 as a memorial to Cincinnati businessman Tyler Davidson, this monumental fountain has been an icon of the Queen City since its debut. August von Kreling designed the monument with the purpose of glorifying the ingenuity of humankind, but could not put his vision into fruition until he received patronage from Henry Probasco, Tyler Davidson's brother-in-law and business partner. Mr. Probasco was seeking the perfect monument to serve as a memorial to his late colleague and family member. The theme of the fountain is the celebration of the many uses, both practical and playful, of water. Made with nearly 24 tons of bronze and 85 tons of granite, the fountain's centerpiece is the famous "Genius of Water," a lovely maiden with outstretched arms from which streams of water flow. Surrounding "The Lady" are scenes depicting human's pragmatic use of water, while the outer figures with animals show the fun side of water. It was these outer sculptures that once served as working drinking fountains. After the fountain's renovation and reopening in 2006, the Tyler Davidson Fountain is once again the spectacular emblem of the city of Cincinnati. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

So I park here at least once a week and yesterday while at the mercantile library I totally forgot to get my credit card OR cash before leaving home after changing my clothes. Needless to say, I didn't have the cash to pay the $6 for parking they were asking. I embarrassingly went to the attendant (Gary) and explained my situation. I apologized and he was able to validate my ticket and I did not have to pay anything. this place gets money out of me every week so I didn't feel bad about not paying. I felt just a little ditzy though. I enjoy all of the events the have at fountain square but I mainly use the place for parking when I'm downtown and last night Gary was my guardian angel! This could have turned out totally different. 5 stars for customer service and consistent positive experiences! Not so humbly submitted, King Michael C. read more

Fountain Square - The stage where the epic ice cream battle goes down. - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

I had the pleasure of visiting Cincinnati for a week of business and I spent every night at Fountain Square. With their Summer Series Events, there was always something to do! One night we did trivia on a huge screen with a charismatic and funny host. There was live music and even a night of salsa dancing lessons! Not only was the entertainment a great way to end a long day of conference talks, but the food trucks and beer/wine bars that lined the event made it that much better and convenient for an easy dinner or wind down drink. The fountain itself is tall and beautiful and the medley of lights surrounding the square puts you in a feel-good trance. read more

Fountain Square - Summer music series - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

This place is beautiful at night. I want to ice skate hope to do it before we leave. This is a must see. However, lots of people pretending to be homeless here. The reality is they are hooked on heroine here. So sad they make this place hard to get to and enjoy without constantly being asked to fork over money for their habits. Must see but prepared to say no. Since Cincinnati has such a high crime rate I don't carry anything of value with me. The police are amazing here. I wish Hawaii police were there to protect and serve us like Cincinnati police. They have proven that they care and genuinely want to help. I have never been so happy to brag about police officers but here in Cincinnati they take the badge seriously. I wish they could send some Aloha to Hawaii police officers. read more

See all

Fountain square is definitely a must- see when visiting Cincinnati. They always have fun events going on and in the winter they have an ice skating rink. It costs $6 for admission and $4 for skates which is pretty average. I definitely suggest going on a weekday when it first opens because it gets pretty crowded on the weekends. They do zamboni about every 2 hours but the rink gets scratched fast with all the people. The time I went I felt there were a lot of beginner skaters compared to the NKY ice skating rink so watch out for the falling children. It's definitely a fun experience though and I recommend going even if it aren't a skater they have a heated tent to watch as well as concessions. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Great place to hang out. Located in the heart of the city - and rather the heart of the city - you have so many restaurants, bars, pubs, Greater's Ice Cream, Macy's, and a lot more. This is the place to visit if you are in Cincinnati. At the square, if you are coming in summers, you'll find P&G music stage where there are music performances - especially on Fridays and weekends - and many other activities. You may also find food trucks around. If you are coming in winters, there is an ice skating rink which charges about $20 per hour and you can enjoy ice skating. There are chairs and tables always where you can bring your food and enjoy. There are horse carriages on Vine Street which will take you for a tour. In addition, most of the downtown action happens at Fountain Square or close to that. On 6th Street, right behind Fountain Square, you'll find tons of restaurants serving Mexican, Indian, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean cuisine. read more

See all

What a fun spot! The fountain at night is lit up and very Beautiful. We walked over from our hotel and were instantly sucked in to the atmosphere. The free concert series brought a great soul band. They were fantastic! Everyone was dancing and singing, just enjoying themselves. There are several restaurants nearby and a Graeter's ice cream. A must see if you're in the area! read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Don't get me wrong, I do love Fountain Square... who doesn't?! But i always feel that theirs either nothing going on, or too much going on. Fountain Square has lots of great events! Ice skating, races, beer fests, Oktoberfest, game day shenanigans, ... you get the idea. And they are great events! There's a jumbo-tron across the street to enjoy games (when the sun isn't being evil) and a great sound system. It's a great place to just chill and relax on an evening. Get some ice cream and sit out on the square. There's tons of bars and restaurants around (some better than others) And normally there's something going on every weekend. It's just better to enjoy when there's an event going on, that's not gonna have the place packed and spilling out into the street. read more

Contrary to what you may think, this is NOT a fancy outdoor pool that you can get in and possibly use as a bathing facility. Rather, it is a great Cincinnati Landmark that is the perfect finishing piece to the redeveloped Fountain Square. It would be impossible to count how many people take pictures of this and all the group photos that occur in front of this fountain. Why is is such a captivating piece? I'm not sure. I do think that people love watching water do "something" (case in point: Bellagio). When I am in the area, I like to look at the faces on the fountain. There are a few that have some very emotional looks and with the addition of water, occasionally look like they are crying. *Make sure to look down from the Carew Tower or any other high vantage point for a new perspective of this area. *A cool photo idea is to photograph this fountain and several of the multi colored backdrops and frame it. Sort of a Cincinnati rainbow montage. *Photo tip: Use a tripod and a slow shutter speed (and narrow aperture) to get the "flowy water look". Optional, use a neutral density filter to decrease the incoming light for even longer shutter speeds particularly in daytime settings. And while we're on the subject, use a remote shutter release combined with mirror lockup to prevent even more camera shake. Expose for the highlights and since the water is very bright, you'll probably have to edit in some fill light to balance the image in post. *And seriously, stay out of the water, there are video cameras everywhere and the police do not take kindly to people getting in the water. (you might be okay in a wedding dress though....) read more

Fountain Square - Check out the holes in the hand. - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

When Cincinnati smartly turned over management of the square and it's redevelopment to 3CDC they unleashed a bevy of forces that has started to transform the heart of downtown Cincinnati. The square itself is a great destination to hang out, read, chill or just people watch - especially during warmer weather. The area around the square has been coming back to life over the past few years as well. Parking couldn't be easier - the "under-fountain" garage has two convenient entrances. Be sure to visit Fountain Square's website for an up to the minute calendar with what's happening. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

We had an excellent time here. Had some Greater's ice cream and enjoyed some Salsa music in the square. A perfect place to spend a late evening after a meal enjoying the community and beautiful fountain. read more

See all

"Baby... if you ever wondered... wondered, whatever became of me..." I loved watching WKRP as a kid and seeing this fountain in the opening montage. Being able head up to Cinci when I lived in KY was always a treat (giving me a taste of an actual city when compared to the sticks). The fountain itself is gorgeous. There is so much detail and a story in each of the smaller statues. I'd recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Beautiful, safe area. There is only one fountain to view. There are tables and chairs to sit and enjoy the scenery.

I have only been to Fountain Square twice now but both times I have enjoyed. The square houses some great restaurants and bars. The square also has different entertainment options throughout the year. Every time I have been to Cincinnati they were playing a moving at the square. I was down here last for the 4th of July so they had Independence Day playing and then fireworks after! It was a great FREE evening in Cincinnati. read more

The best square with a fountain in it in all of Cincinnati! Seriously though, it's pretty simple. One of the better city centers, Fountain Square has been reworked and redesigned multiple times. The Tyler Davidson fountain is absolutely gorgeous and probably the most recognizable symbol in Cincinnati. The square plays host to all sorts of events on what seems to be a weekly basis. When the weather is nice folks from all over hang out at the square, reminding me a bit of the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy (the one where they race the horses). In addition to the square-side bars and restaurants, the square often sports a stage, a shaded area with trees, movable seating, and a massive TV that shows local events or important sports games. In the winter months an ice rink is assembled for a bit of winter fun. read more

One of Cincinnati's known landmarks and a great place to people watch in the city. Lots of options for lunch on the square and different food trucks. I came down for salsa night but they have a lot of different activities during the summer different days just check out myfountainsquare.com for events updated daily. Ice skating during winter months is one of my favorites! read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a gorgeous fountain! It was my first time visiting an I'm glad I got to see it on such a bright sunny day!

As a lifetime resident of this great city, I have to say that -- in recent years -- Fountain Square has really made leaps and bounds into becoming a fantastic place to rendezvous with friends and peers, while taking in the beautiful downtown landscape. There's something strange about being transported from an underground parking garage to Fountain Square. Walking out of the elevator, the journey from concrete abyss to happening venue is swift, and the atmosphere electric. As the epicenter of the Central Business District, Fountain Square always has a lot going on. In the winter there is an ice rink (complete with open skate as well as broomball leagues), and in the summer there is a constant flux of live music, vendors and festivals in which to partake. The Tyler Davidson Fountain is beautiful and iconic and serves as the staple landmark. Even if it's a 'slow' night on the Square, I find much joy in sitting and relaxing; taking in the fountain, surrounding architecture, and passersby. This really is Cincinnati at its finest. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fountain Square has so much history behind it! Google it. Founded in 1871, then renovated in 1971 and 2005 it currently features many shops, restaurants, hotels, and offices. It is frequently used for lunch-breaks, rallies, concerts, festivals, and many other gatherings. Family friendly! I love hanging out here during the summer months simply because there's always something going on! In the winter they set up the ice skating rink. Also you will find the Macy's Christmas tree located on "The Square" during the holidays. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Karina has done an excellent job of recounting the history of this fountain, so I'm not going to bore you with that! Recently the fountain was moved to Eden Park near the Art Museum for safe keeping while Fountain Square was undergoing renovations. They've moved the fountain more center in the square than it's previous location. Can you imagine moving that thing piece by piece? And after that moving all it's water lines and hook-ups as well! I think it's interesting that the outer four characters served as water fountains and I'm glad they don't anymore as you probably wouldn't want to drink from them these days. So get on down to the new Fountain Square, they're much more to see! read more

Absolutely beautiful sculptural fountain, every angle was something new and different to look at, just stunning. I heard its been there for a really long time, but I'm not sure when it was built originally. At the time I visited it was about 9pm on a Friday night and there was live music, there is a large screen that was showing the game and some other stuff, lots of people gathered around. I would love to go again and see it during the day! read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

I grew up on Fountain Square and have always enjoyed it. I like to spend time there whenever I come downtown - especially if the weather is nice. The Fountain itself is beautiful and will always say Cincinnati, say home. It is now surrounded by quite a few places to eat. My favorite among them is Graeter's! But there is lunch/dinner at Chipotle if you want something casual. And there are fancy options too if you have more time and money to spend. The Square frequently holds events and live performances. At this time, they usually have tents with local vendors selling alcohol and/or food. Check out the calendar on their website! read more

First time coming to an event at the square. It's a beautiful place in the middle of everything, the streets were busy and parking took awhile but we made it to a parking garage near by and it only took one loop around the block. They had a German Market going on which was festive something different from a traditional chicken market. They also had ice skating going on, which was packed and blaring Christmas music for all to hear. The German market was small but still very neat. First off let's talk about the food options, they has schnitzels,bratwurst, curry wurst, pomme frites, sweets and drinks. They had a Glühwein stand that served hot chocolate as well. The drinks and some desserts you needed tickets (purchased separately) but most food took cash or cards. It was a fun and great experience, the only minus there was too many things going on and at one point we were in the middle of them setting up for a choir to sing but it was hard to tell what exactly was going on. A lot of people walk through there and were just standing around and the music from the ice rink was loud, it was distracting. Maybe next year will be bigger and better. read more

See all

I haven't been to downtown Cincinnati for a very long time. I decided on a whim to drive down from Columbus to see The Breeders play at an Obama rally at Fountain Square. I actually missed The Breeders. Pretty typical, really. But the experience was worth it anyway. I was really impressed by the whole setup. I heard the music echo against the buildings as I approached within a few blocks of the square. The crowd was a mix of young and old hipster liberals hanging around drinking overpriced cheap beer. Those who stood too close to the fountain were sprayed by the occasional gust of wind. Children danced, drinking from the spouts(I wondered, is that water recycled? And if so, how many parts per million of that water is hobo urine?). read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Cute little park with a bunch of shops/restaurants around in the middle of the city. Besides the venue, they had a music stage set up. On display, they had "dead bride" statues floating around. A little creepy, but fun. read more

See all

I've done many photoshoots here and always enjoy looking at this beautiful fountain. If they move it to another location, I think 5th street would lack. It's historical and a great addition to downtown Cincy. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Visited a friend for a very short stay in Cincinnati, and decided to head downtown for some food and ice skating. Great atmosphere, with music and colorful lighting all around. Fountain Square gives a great impression of the city, and I would gladly come back to visit. read more

Fountain Square - Ice skating in Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Right in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, this place is surrounded by eateries and bars. The riverfront is at a walking distance that has other places of interest. You might get to see some local bands perform here if you are lucky. When I was here on my visit to Cincinnati, there were 2 local bands performing here. Definitely worth a visit if you are nearby read more

The fountain is absolutely gorgeous, but as with many spots in cities, the pigeons were out in force. It's a cool spot on a hot day and surprisingly doesn't have much of a city feel even though you are smack dab in the middle of Cincinnati. Cleanliness was the only issue, but what can be expected in a public space. read more

I loved fountain square. We came during the Summer Concert series. Different theme every night. Pretty sweet. I was told that it's super romantic at Christmas. Ice skating around a Christmas free. Tall buildings around. Almost like the movies, right? I wish during the concerts they had more seating. They had a lot of open space that they could sure use for something. There a several little bars and shops around here to visit. Like Graeter's ice cream. The best ice cream EVER. Even gives my Blue Bell (in the South) a run for the money. read more

As a recent Cincy transplant, I can't understand why anyone would give this place less than 5 stars. There is ALWAYS, I mean always, something going on here. There is so much going on I haven't been able to attend even half of it, and I live 10 blocks away. Maybe you native 'Nati dwellers are used to having a city center, but I've lived in 6 states and a couple of foreign countries and have never had a city center, so I think it's awesome. There seems to be pretty much any kind of food you want within a block. There is a lot of seating so you can hit one of the food establishments or bring your own lunch and enjoy it by the fountain. At least in the summer, there is programming almost every day (Salsa Thursdays, Free Movie Saturdays, etc, etc). Parking can sometimes be an issue, I guess, but move downtown where all the cool people live and you can walk (smile). I haven't been here in the winter yet, but I'm looking forward to the ice skating. Great, central place--always feels like a festival to me. Enjoy! read more

Did you guys know they do trivia Monday nights on Fountain Square?!?! WHAT WHAT! AND if you are smart and you can win, they give you a gift card for a business/restaurant close to the Square! read more

Not sure how to review a plaza. The fountain is beautiful. Spray coming from the fountain has a cooling effect. Seating both in the center of the square and under some trees in the shade. Lots of restaurants within walking distance. Check out their website for events going on in the square. read more

Fountain Square - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Great Cincinnati landmark. Fountain Square usually holds a number of seasonal affairs. In the summer, they hold cultural events like the Latino Festival. Movies are also shown on the jumbo-tron across from the square on certain days. In the winter, an ice-skating rink is set up near the fountain, and holiday festivals usually take place here. In the spring, the stage is set for various jazz bands and country groups. Fun place. Be sure to hit Grater's, which is located across from the fountain. read more

Hard to review, as it was in early March and the water was not turned-on. Overall, decent looking fountain with beautiful sculptures. I can imagine it looking pretty cool, with the tall buildings surrounding it. There's a Graeters' Ice Cream shop next door, so this would be a perfect spot to enjoy your ice cream outdoors, in the nice warm spring/summer weather. read more

I've always loved going down to Fountain Square since I was a kid. Especially since WKRP was on TV then and I felt like I was on a movie set. Back then, they did so much cool stuff on the square. We would go down to look at all the awesome Christmas decorations in the winter, and in the summer we would hang out by the fountain and have ice cream. Although downtown has had its ups and downs since then, I think Fountain Square has once again become the cool place I loved as a kid. They have great events down there year round. Even in the winter they keep it active, which is something Cincinnati usually has trouble with. Now that we have the food trucks downtown, there's always lots of good food to choose from. I love that they always have a Skyline stand too. No matter what kind of event is going on, you can always count on that. It's great that we have a solid center to our city. After a big Reds win or just to celebrate an event, everyone knows that they can go there to be a part of the community. The big screen has definitely added to it (our own little version of Times Square). One of my favorite things is when they play the Reds games on the screen and you can go down and enjoy a coney and a beer even when the Reds are out of town and you can't be at the game. read more

I love our famous fountain square it has been updated and reconfigured several times. The square has great restaurants on it and nearby bars dessert spots nightlife reggae music salsa on the square just a lot to offer. I love that the square is in the center of our city. If you ever visit the Queen City of Cincinnati find Fountain square you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

I love hanging out at Fountain Square when there is something actually going on. I love the Indie series they have on Friday's during the summer. You get to see amazing bands for free. They have a giant tv screen on one of the buildings that usually has the reds game on, which I love. They usually also have a food truck or two down there for big events as well. It's a cool place to hang out with people and have a drink, enjoy the scenery that is Fountain Square. Check Fountain Square's website and event page and there's usually something going on there every night during the summer. The Tyler Davidson fountain is gorgeous and is the statement piece and reason that Fountain Square is what it is. It's my favorite part of being there. The cons are that when it's packed, it's PACKED. Also, that the drinks are expensive and ridiculous but that comes with the territory of being owned/ran by 3CDC. read more

Fountain Square gets five stars on the sole fact that I can't possibly imagine downtown Cincinnati without it. It is such a hub for events and activities that it couldn't possibly be replaced. The events, ranging from smaller and contained in the square, to those larger events which spill into 5th Street, span pretty much anything you could imagine and spans all seasons. They have a farmer's market, free concerts, ice skating in the winter, and a ton of other events. Even when they don't have events, it's very nice in the warmer months to sit at the tables in the Square and watch a Reds game or just do some reading. The location is very centrally located, with restaurants (Graeter's, Via Vite, Rock Botton, etc) right on the square. It is walkable from pretty much every hotel in the downtown area. I can't even imagine how much economic benefit Fountain Square has brought in since its construction. And all of that is without even mentioning the fountain itself. This thing is beautiful and is definitely one of the city's unique treasures. Fountain Square or the city would not be the same without it (even beyond the name). read more

Completely blown away at how gorgeous Fountain Square is. I was in town to see the first pre-season Bengals game against the Packers and had so much fun. The restaurant on the square was amazing too. Bartender was awesome!!! It made me miss Cincy. Very great place to chill for happy hour. Hope the Bengals start getting better :( read more