By Gina Holt
Enquirer Contributor

NEWPORT - Newport on the Levee is celebrating the arrival of the summer season with a special weekend of activities.

"We want to give people a true sample of what they will find throughout the summer at Newport on the Levee," Michele Todd Ralston, marketing director, said about this weekend's events.

The Festival of the New, a celebration of what's new in the arts, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday on the plaza level near the valet circle. It's a citywide showcase of Greater Cincinnati's art and cultural organizations' events, performances and exhibits held over a series of weekends during the opening months of the Contemporary Arts Center's new Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center of Contemporary Art.

The Levee will host "Piazza Della Levee" in which artists will be invited to show, sell and sketch new works one Saturday per month throughout the summer.

"We have some great free kids' activities going on," said Ralston. Newport Aquarium, AMC Theaters and The Artery, a local arts organization, will participate. The Cincinnati Astronomical Society is going to have free solar viewing for kids.

"In addition to our mascot, Tango the loggerhead turtle's appearance, we will have activities including making turtles out of paper plates and having coloring pages for the kids," said Jill Isaacs, spokesperson for the Newport Aquarium.

The Shadowbox Cabaret is going to have an improvisation performance. Members of the new Frontier League baseball team, Florence Freedom, will be there Saturday from noon to 2 signing autographs. There will also be a sports memorabilia show from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 7. Live bands, including Brothers First and Robin Lacy & DeZydeco will perform on Saturday and Sunday.

"You will also find clowns, magicians, jugglers and face painters plus you can test your hands at a few games from Gameworks for free," said Ralston.

Saturday
Sports Memorabilia Show: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Artists sketching and displaying art: 1-5 p.m.
Sol Caribe steel drum band: noon to 2 p.m.
Shadowbox Cabaret improv performance: 2-3 p.m.
Giananda cultural drum and dance ensemble: 3-5 p.m.
Blaze Dancers (hip-hop): 5-7 p.m.
Robin Lacy & DeZydeco (Louisiana styles rock): 6-10 p.m.

Sunday
Sol Caribe steel drum band: noon to 2 p.m.
Brother's First (Southern rock/country): 2-4 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
Queen City Chorus: 4-5 p.m.