In case you did not make it out to the Union Centre Boulevard Bash in West Chester, make sure you don't miss it next year if you're the local festival kind of person. The Taste of Blue Ash (late August) is always a big and very popular event, and I recently was at the MidSummer at the Meadows in Milford, but the "Bash" in West Chester was probably the best out of all of them, featuring a ton of great rides, great food, and great music in the very new and nice Square at Union Centre. The event kicked off on Friday night (Aug. 8) at 5:00 p.m., went from 2:00 p.m.-midnight on Saturday, and finished off with eight more hours in the afternoon and evening on Sunday. Food vendors were Coldstone Creamery, Jag's Steak and Seafood, Boston Butz BBQ, Papa John's Pizza, Izzy's, Bruster's, and Savannah Center, while other vendors included Cincinnati.com, Time Warner Cable, Twisted Tea, Indiana Wesleyan University, Owens Corning Basement Finishing System and several beer companies. There was also a large kids/family section with $1 games, as well as rides, and there was even a fashion show and golf exercises. The real draw for most, however, was the music. Q102 and AK Steel presented this event and Friday featured well-known Cincinnati cover band The Rusty Griswolds, while Saturday's three act lineup was headlined by David Cassidy. I was there Sunday (today), and first heard 3 Day Rule and then Kings X, while Extreme followed, although I was gone by then. I wasn't crazy about Kings X, although I really enjoyed 3 Day Rule which played songs from mostly the 80s, but many songs from the last 10 or 12 years as well. They covered top songs from bands like the Police, Van Halen, Men at Work, Journey, Counting Crows, Lit, Modest Mouse, and The Killers. There were tons of tables and chairs, while close to the stage there was more than enough standing room. Overall, I found the Union Centre Boulevard Bash to be a great event, much better than the similar MidSummer at the Meadows that took place last month. While many of Sunday's attendees were from West Chester, I recommend attending this August event next year if you are from anywhere within a 20 minute radius. Parking is very close although $5, but admission is free. read more

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Brought to you by the same minds of Taste of Cincinnati, Party in the Park, and Oktoberfest...so it should be a good time, right? Unfortunately, the now annual Union Center Boulevard Bash (in its 4th year, I think) has yet to stack up to the likes of other local music and food festivals. In the spirit of Taste of Cincinnati, the Bash features food stalls from West Chester's finest (disputable) restaurants. This year, Cold Stone, Jags, Smokey Bones, and The White House Inn, will all make appearances and offer smaller versions of their specialties for visitors to sample at low costs. Entertainment is not up to par at this festival, the year that I went the headliner was Uncle Kracker, this year, it's Craig Morgan. Bad and worse. If Blue Ash can get the likes of Lone Star, Dierks Bentley, and Blake Shelton, why can't West Chester get anyone decent? Admission is free and I suppose if you have nothing else to do, strolling the Bash isn't a bad option. Bud Light is a sponsor so at least you can get a buzz and enjoy the August weather! This year the Bash takes place the weekend of August 8th. read more

Nice, modern gathering place. Could use better parking for larger events.