Everything you need to know

Cincinnati's Riverfest and fireworks celebration is officially a go in 2021. Nationally recognized as one of the top single-day festivals in the country, the show will go on this Labor Day weekend.Riverfest is slated for Sept. 5, starting at noon, with fireworks launching from the Ohio River starting at 9 p.m.This will be the 45th fireworks show presented by WEBN.Last year's show was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.There will be plenty of things different this go-around. Below is everything you need to know about this year's end-of-summer celebration. WHAT TIME DO THINGS START?The official celebration begins at noon Sunday at Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman's Cove in Cincinnati.The fireworks will launch from the Ohio River at 9 p.m.Tarps can be set up starting at noon Sunday. When placing your tarp or blanket, use painter tape, gaffer tape or masking tape. Do not secure with duct tape, rocks, bricks or sand.BOATS ALLOWED -- AGAINThe Coast Guard has reversed course, now allowing boats at this weekend’s Riverfest celebration.For many people, boating on the Ohio River is a Riverfest tradition.But on Wednesday afternoon, the United States Coast Guard banned boats on the water for the Sunday celebration, citing projected high water levels and a debris-filled river.But those projections have now shifted.National Weather Service officials initially projected the river to crest above 40 feet – just above the action stage – due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida. However, projections now have the river cresting at just 34.5 feet on Saturday morning, which is well below that action stage.That’s safe enough to boat, officials said, again opening the river to water traffic for the end-of-summer celebration. WHAT EVENTS ARE GOING ON?Beginning at noon Sunday, there is live music and a festival-like celebration along Cincinnati's riverfront. Head down to Yeatman's Cove and Sawyer Point.Across the river in Covington and Newport, there are also several events planned throughout the day leading up to the main show at 9 p.m. — the massive firework display. RUBBER DUCK REGATTA GOES VIRTUALUnfortunately, there will not be a big duck dump in the Ohio River in 2021. This year's event will go virtual amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but its mission remains the same. During the pandemic, Freestore Foodbank has supported over 570 community partners to distribute over 42 million meals and the need continues to remain high. “Over the past year, we have seen record numbers of families and children who need our help in putting food on the table. We continue to see more and more families using Freestore Services who have never needed us before. We don’t see it slowing down over the next few years,” says Trisha Rayner, Chief External Affairs Officer. “Without this event, we would not be able to help the nearly 90,000 children in our community who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. They need us now more than ever.”Ducks are available through Sunday online or by phone at 513-929-3825. The drawing will be announced online, with the grand prize winner receiving a 2021 Hondo HRV, plus the opportunity of winning $1 million. The second prize winner will receive $100 from Kroger every week for a year ($5,200 total), and five additional winners will receive $500 cash from Kemba Credit Union.WHERE TO WATCHThe views are equally spectacular on both sides of the river. But plan accordingly if you plan to take a bridge, as several closures are planned. On the Ohio side, the main place to watch is Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove. But there are several rules: Alcohol is not permitted, nor are oversized bags, luggage or backpacks. Click here to see what's permitted and what's prohibited. On the Kentucky side, both the Covington and Newport riverfronts will give you an unobstructed view of the show. WHAT'S THE WEATHER LOOK LIKE? The weather is looking pretty good. There will be a mix of rain and cloud through the early afternoon but the majority of Riverfest and the fireworks display will be nice and dry. And good news: The Ohio River at Cincy is now forecast to stay below the action stage. Its highest point will be Saturday morning around 26.7 feet. Labor Day Monday will be a perfect day for one last dip in the pool with sunny skies and temperatures into the low 80s.ROAD CLOSURES & PARKING RESTRICTIONSIn Cincinnati, there are several road closures planned. Access to the Cincinnati Riverfront will be limited to pedestrians only. Third Street, and all streets north of Third Street, will be open so that people can access points throughout Downtown. On-street parking will not be available throughout the downtown area south of Ninth Street after 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 5, 2021.Other important closures include:The Purple People Bridge will be closed for Rozzi’s Fireworks.The Suspension Bridge remains closed due to maintenance.The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and the Taylor Southgate Bridge will all close at 6:00 p.m. to vehicles and pedestrians (pedestrians may cross on the west side of the Taylor Southgate Bridge until 7:30 p.m.).Local access to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471) from Ohio will close at 7:00 p.m.The Third Street exit from westbound Columbia Parkway will close at 9:00 p.m.The Third Street exit from southbound 71 will close at 9:00 p.m.The following road closers are planned in Covington All streets north of East Fourth Street from Madison Avenue to the Licking River will be closed to vehicular traffic at 6 p.m.The Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge will be closed to all traffic beginning at 6 p.m.The Fourth Street Bridge to Newport will close at 8 p.m.Madison Avenue will remain open to allow access to public parking lots and garages until they are full or 6 p.m., whichever occurs first. Once the parking lots and garages are full, Madison will be closed to through traffic north of Fourth Street. Exceptions will be made for TANK buses, invitation holders to the Metropolitan Club, and hotel guests with room keys and parking passes.Access to Devou Park, Kenton Hills, and The Bluffs will be restricted beginning at 2 p.m. to residents and their guests only.Streets inside of the Impact Area will not reopen and residents and guests will not be permitted to exit the Impact Area in a vehicle until pedestrians have safely cleared out and Covington Police determine that it is safe to do so. This may take up to an hour after the fireworks are completed. (The fireworks begin just after 9 p.m. and last for about 30 minutes.)The following road closures are planned in Newport:Riverboat Row closes at 8 a.m. SundayColumbia Street (North of 4th Street) closes at 8 a.m. SundayPurple People Bridge: Closed in Ohio all day SundayPurple People Bridge- ‘Pagan’s Path”: Closed in Ohio all day SundayTaylor Southgate Bridge (Vehicular): Closes at 6 p.m. SundayTaylor Southgate Bridge (Pedestrians): Closes at 7:30 p.m. SundayMonmouth Street (3rd Street to 11th Street): Closes at 7:30 p.m. SundayDave Cowens Drive: Closes at 7:30 p.m. SundayI-471 Ramps to Route 8 (Exit 5): Closes at 7:30 p.m. Sunday10th Street between Saratoga and York: Closes at 7:30 p.m. Sunday4th Street Bridge: Closes at 8:30 p.m. SundayAll Other I-471 Ramps: Closes at 8:30 p.m. SundayLicking Pike (Route 9) North at Aspen Drive: Closes at 9 p.m. SundayRECOMMENDATIONS FOR COVID-19Hamilton County leaders and health officials are urging people to use caution when attending the Riverfest celebration this weekend."Any time (there's) a large event there's the potential for spreading COVID-19," Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Kesterman said.He said even those fully vaccinated should use caution when attending the event by washing hands and social distancing from other groups."If you're doing these things in an outdoor environment, generally speaking, you'll be in good shape," Kesterman said.The health commissioner said unvaccinated folks may want to think twice about attending, particularly if they have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19.Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said many people are making decisions like this every day and echoed Kesterman's advice to just use caution."This is a fluid situation, we are in this weird space where we got this taste of freedom and we were a lot of us are vaccinated, so we felt pretty comfortable, but now we are in a different space so now I think we need to be more caution than we have been over the past few months and use common sense when we are out and about," Driehaus said.The delta variant has been driving up cases recently in the county, putting stress on hospitals and their staff.Daily COVID-19 cases in Hamilton County have gone from a steady 150-200 over the past few weeks to an increase of 250-300 now.