Celebrating Self 2025-2026

Hamilton, Ohio – The Fitton Center for Creative Arts announced its 2025-2026 season July 14.

The Celebrating Self series runs on the first Wednesday of each month in the Carruthers Signature Ballroom, offering guests engaging and insightful presentations on a variety of topics, coupled with a bountiful buffet catered by Two Women in a Kitchen.

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. with programs starting at noon. Tickets are $26* for Fitton Center Members, $32* for non-members.

The series opens Wednesday, September 3, with the Ohio Renaissance Festival. If you think the Fitton Center has a busy performance calendar, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Our Ren Fest friends have 63 shows playing on 24 stages for a whopping 169 performances – EVERY DAY. To say nothing of 112 shops and enough turkey legs to dam the Great Miami. They’ve been doing it since 1990 and – verily - we want to know how.

On October 1, One City One Book returns to read Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. We’ll delve into some of its themes in the 5,000-year-old healing arts of Traditional Chinese Medicine - including acupuncture, herb therapy and tai chi -  designed to restore balance and harmony within the body and mind.

November 5 promises to be a rocking afternoon in Jamilton. (Yes, you read that right.) In 2017, Mayor Pat Moeller renamed our great city Jam!lton. Local legend Bob Weber takes us on a Magical Mystery Tour of the greatest hits – and hit makers - to come out of Hamilton. Learn more about Roger Troutman, David Shaw, Scott Walker and others who shaped this city’s amazingly rich musical history.

On December 3, we ring in the holiday season with Wrap It Up! Hamilton’s own Carrie O’Neal Brenner teaches us all the tricks of the trade when it comes to making those holiday gifts look great under the tree. You’ve seen her creations on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Queer Eye, now Carrie’s got you covered for all your wrapping needs.

We begin the new year close to home with Destination Butler County January 7, 2026. Take a trip down the Butler County Donut Trail with us – real donuts included – when Travel Butler County CEO Tracy Kocher talks about the innovative ways her organization markets Butler County to the rest of the country, how they entice visitors here and what those tourist dollars mean to our region.

February 4 focuses on some of our fine feather friends by way of Longbottom Bird Ranch. Since 2019, the Longbottom Bird Rescue has been raising awareness about domestic ducks and other birds through its free educational events. Executive director Jimmy Longbotom – with some of his rescues on hand - talks about rehabilitating waterfowl in crisis.

We Celebrate International Women’s Day (a few days early) March 4 with MUSES: The Women of Music Hall. Friends of Music Hall board member Thea Tjepkema shares the stories of a legion of incredible women who have sustained Cincinnati Music Hall for more than 150 years as one of the most distinguished arts venues in the world.

We close the series April 1 – no joke – with April Fools. Celebrate this silliest of holidays with 102.7 WEBN legend Jay Gilbert. On the 50^th anniversary of the inaugural Fools Day Parade in 1976, the mastermind behind some of Greater Cincinnati’s greatest radio shenanigans shares the inside scoop on how to make a fool out of everyone!

Celebrating Self tickets are $26* for Fitton Center members and $32* for non-members. Tickets for the 2025-2026 season go on sale to Fitton Center members at 9 a.m. Monday, August 11, while the general public can begin purchasing tickets at 9 a.m. Friday, August 15. All tickets will be available online at fittoncenter.org, by phone at 513-863-8873, ext. 110 or in person at the Fitton Center Box Office.

Fitton Center memberships are $35 for an individual and $70 for families and are good for a calendar year from the date of purchase. In addition to first dibs on tickets, members also receive discounts on all ticket purchases, as well as classes, camps, workshops, art purchases, Bake Sale items and facility rentals. Members also enjoy discounts at partner businesses and organizations around the region as part of the Community Rewards Program.

* Plus a service fee of $3 per ticket

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture