1. There Is An Annual “Epidemic” On Opening Day
Reds baseball is a lifestyle. Opening day of the baseball season in Cincinnati is more celebrated than anywhere else in the nation. The whole city basically shuts down, with parades, Cracker Jack’s, and plenty of partying. Most real fans will take the day off of work. And those who can’t suddenly feel a little “under the weather.” Ahem.
2. Everyone Wins In The Skyline v Gold Star Chili Battle
Known to incite fistfights and all out brawls, there’s always a huge clash among Cincinnatians over which chili place is the best, but everyone will agree that Cincinnati has the best chili overall in the country, with its famous chili shops on every block.
Gold Star and Skyline are the two chains that lead the way, infusing what has basically become the city’s favorite condiment with hints of cinnamon and chocolate, making it some of the most unique chili around. While Gold Star may have its nachos, Skyline’s cheese is what puts it on top.
3. The Food Here Is Frickin’ Amazing
When people think “foodie Mecca,” places like New York and San Francisco come to mind. While those places are fine and dandy, nothing will fill your stomach like the Taste of Cincinnati, the longest running culinary arts festival in the nation.
4. You’ll Learn How To Pronounce Goetta
If you haven’t yet, it’s “ged-da” or “get-uh.” This mix of ground meat, oats, and spices is a staple in Cincinnati, served up at a variety of festivals in patty or sausage form. It tastes a lot better than it looks.
5. That Chocolate Covered Balls Of Peanut Butter Are Basically A Cincy Food Group
A perfect combination of protein and sweetness, Cincinnatians will always go for a buckeye. Sure, there are the mass-produced brand name options, but for the best homegrown taste, head to a local favorite, like Algamesis Bro’s Ice Cream and Candy.
6. But Not All Ohioans Love The Buckeyes
While the rest of the state is seeing red, this isn’t the case in the Queen City where most people aren’t cheering for The Ohio State Buckeyes.
With this act of treason, most Ohioans would probably threaten to redraw the state lines if Cincinnati wasn’t such an awesome place.
7. A Bengals Fan Doesn’t Change His Stripes
Folks In Cincinnati ride or die for the Bengals. Sure, they may not be the winningest team in NFL history but that doesn’t matter to this hardcore fan base. Besides, at least they aren’t the Browns, am I right?
8. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Will Become Your Favorite Holiday
One of the biggest German festivals around, the streets of Cincinnati become a treasure trove of sausages, beer, and lederhosens on an annual basis.
Pulling in half a million people every year, its real claim to fame is setting the world record for the largest chicken dance, this is a festival not to be missed.
9. Cincy Folks Are Addicted To Saying “Please”
One of the first things that a visitor to the Queen City will notice is how frequently the word “please” is said. Even if it’s not a request, a Cincinnatian is likely to unknowingly throw it onto the end of the sentence. It may seem strange at first, but give it a month or two and you’ll be doing it too.
10. Cincinnatians Can Run Like Hell
Hundreds of Cincinnatians don their wackiest costumes to raise money for charity in the “Run Like Hell” 5K. Whether you’re a runner or a professional people-watcher, this party is sure to entertain.
11. Pigs Can Fly In Cincy
For those a little more intense when it comes to fitness, the “Pigs Can Fly” race is the event of the year.
The history behind this 26.2 mile footrace is as interesting as the race itself. The flying pigs concept originated after plans were made to commemorate the city’s 200th birthday and one of the features were giant bronze pigs. Unique smokestack placement made it look like these pigs were being blasted 30 feet into the air, thus the pigs with wings were born.
12. Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Once Ruled The City
Before he was famous for hosting some of the most epic catfights and paternity reveals in the country, Jerry Springer ran Cincinnati as the mayor. It’s no surprise he’s still pretty well liked around these parts.
13. Cincinnati Is Actually Two Cities
Most out-of-towners don’t realize that Cincinnati is really two cities. You’ve got the Cinncinnati, Ohio side and the Covington, Kentucky side, both complete with awesome downtown districts. The Covington side in Kentucky has cheaper rent and is a cheaper place to spend a night out on the town.
14. Cincinnati Had The Brooklyn Bridge Before It Was Cool
Before there was the world famous Brooklyn Bridge, there was the Roebling Suspension Bridge. It doesn’t take a genius to realize they were built using very similar designs. Any Cincinnati will agree that the original was the best.
15. Drake Is Cincinnati’s Biggest Star
It you grew up in Cincy, you’ve been to Drake Planetarium at least once, whether it was during a school field trip or showing a family friend from somewhere else in the country. On the top floor of Norwood High School, this stop provides a one-of-a-kind hands-on experience into infinity and beyond.
16. What Do “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.,” And “Indiana Jones” Have In Common?
They’re all directed by Cincy native, Steven Spielberg. This industry giant is the son of local restaurateur, Arnold Spielberg. Though he spent a lot of his early life on the East Coast, his roots are still in Porkopolis.
17. High School Rivalries Are A Big Deal
Cincinnati has a lot of unique areas, and with these areas come a lot of different high schools. Everyone who’s a local defines part of their identity based on where they graduated. It’s likely to come up in almost any small talk conversation.
18. But It’s Really About The Red And Blue
Home to the Xavier Musketeers and the Cincinnati Bearcats, college sports fans in Cincinnati have plenty of teams to cheer for. While everyone is technically forced to pick a side, most Cincinnatians will be happy if either team is having a great year.
19. There Be Monsters In This Here River
No one is really sure what lies below the wakes in the Ohio. Just when you think it’s safe to swim, photographs will emerge in local news of some huge fish that looks like it should be in a SyFy Channel special.
Still some brave folks enter the water for their favorite summertime activities.
20. The Queen Is A Hotbed For Modern Art
The Midwest often gets a bad rap for not being cultured, but anyone who visits the CAC will disagree.
The Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center has one of the most extensive and unique contemporary art collections in the country. Maybe someday it will include the “Hashtag Hall of Fame” or the Kim Kardashian selfie collection, we can only hope.
21. Cincinnati Was A Stop On The Underground Railroad
With thousands of visitors annually, Cincinnati has one of the best Underground Railroad museums in the country. Flame Fridays are the best days to visit, as amateur historians are able to snap a selfie with the Eternal Flame and the city skyline on the third floor.
22. It’s Called Porkopolis For A Reason
Once upon a time, Cincinnati had the largest pork processing center in the country, earning it the nickname “Porkopolis.” Needless to say, anywhere that puts out that much meat should be have some awesome barbecue joints. Most Cincinnatians would agree that Eli’s is the best.
23. The Best Pancakes In The World Are Here In Cincy
While it seems utterly insane to say, Sugar n’ Spice will have you thinking otherwise. Famous for their “wispy thin” breakfast treats, this place will quickly become one of your favorite stops in the city. But just because they’re thinner than most pancakes around the country, doesn’t mean there’s really a limit on how many you should get.
24. And The Cupcakes, Fuggedaboutit
When you don’t hit your daily pancake calorie allotment, Abby Girl Sweets is a great place to top yourself off.
Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery specializes in these miniature cake treats, and a lot of the time, they’ll sell out pretty quickly. With a huge range of unique toppings and flavors, the best way to munch down on one of these goodies is to cut the bottom half off and make a cupcake sandwich.
25. The Riverbend Music Center Totally Rocks
Known for attracting some of the best pros in the music industry, seeing a show at Riverbend is a must. You’ll quickly learn to take advantage of the reasonably priced tickets that often sell out very quickly, especially when your favorite band is coming to town.
26. But For Live Jazz, You’ll Head To The Greenwich
Complete with an art gallery up stairs, if you want a classy time, Greenwich is the place to be. Located in Walnut Hills, there’s always something awesome going on. Even if you don’t know the artist on the stage, it’s sure to deliver one of the best shows around.
27. Cincy Is The Best Of The C’s
When it comes down to it, every Ohioan knows Cincinnati is the best of Ohio’s big three C’s. With plenty of sports, music, and food to go around, the city is one of the most entertaining places to be in the country.
Plus, with unlimited local chili and unlimited German indulgences, any new resident will quickly realize that some things simply never get old. 
