The Cincinnati T-shirt Fest returns 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, July 17 at Fountain Square with loads of locally-produced and Cincinnati-themed shirts. Lovers of locally-owned brands will find wares from the likes of Alternative Motive, Donkey Tees/Look at Me Shirts, Nati Evolvement and Wire & Twine. The event coincides with PNC MidPoint’s Indie Summer series, which includes four awesome local bands (see schedule below).

We participated last year and it was pure laid-back fun. We’re back this year with a redesign of Cory Shafer’s popular Cincinnati Streetcar T-shirt (this is in addition to the cool new shirt from CincyStreetcar Blog), locally-made cycling caps from Deuce-Nine, and the new Klean Kanteen™ Wide bottle.

Cincinnati Streetcar T-shirt, designed by Cory Shafer

Deuce-Nine Cycling Caps

Klean Kanteen™ Wide bottle

Cincinnati T-shirt Fest vendors:
Park + Vine
Nati Evolvement
Alternative Motive
Wire & Twine
Donkey Tees/Look at Me Shirts
Anonymous Skate Shop
Unheardof Boutique
Able Projects
SKI CINCINNATI
Brilliant Promotions
UC
Xavier
Bengals
Cincinnati Museum Center

PNC MidPoint’s Indie Summer bands:
07:00 p.m. Pasquali
08:00 p.m. The Tigerlilies
09:00 p.m. Roundhead
10:00 p.m. Wussy

We had fun at our Cincinnati T-shirt Fest tent in the blazing heat for nearly 12 hours July 18 at Fountain Square. It was a festive place to unveil Cory Shafer’s expanded clothing line, Park + Vine biproduct (get it?). Cory’s new Over-the-Rhine shirt was the biggest mover.

The crowds were steady around lunchtime and after 5 p.m. during the Indie Summer music lineup. The Chauncers, fronted by Lisa “Chauncey” Chauncer,” took the stage at 9 p.m. Lisa is one of our many favorite staffers at Melt in Northside.

Aside from running into some of our regular customers and meeting new ones, including lots of out-of-towners, seeing our pals from some of Cincinnati’s most creative T-shirt shops in all their glory was the highlight: Wire & Twine, Alternative Motive, Look At Me Shirts, BuyCincy and Nati Evolvement.

Click here to see photos from the Cincinnati T-Shirt Festival, courtesy of Chris Glass