At Sharonville Convention Center, technology has become a core part of the event experience. In partnership with Prestige Audio Visual, SCC delivers hybrid and tech-enhanced events that seamlessly bridge in-person and remote audiences. [Read more…]

When you attend an event at the Sharonville Convention Center, the food and beverage experience is more than just a meal – it’s part of the event’s story.

“When meeting with a client, we like to get the theme of the event and create menus that revolve around it,” said Laura Starkey, Oak View Group’s Director of Catering. One example: the SPCA Fur Ball, which in 2025 featured a Kentucky Derby theme. Guests sampled petite Hot Browns, mini fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese, and Derby pie – each bite-sized and designed for mingling during the evening’s activities.

This level of customization is a hallmark of SCC. For the Ohio Society of Association Professionals (OSAP) event, the team turned food into an experience, showcasing Cincinnati favorites alongside a raw seafood bar complete with a lighted ice display featuring the OSAP logo. Action stations, including house-made shrimp and grits, gave attendees a taste of SCC’s creativity and the chef’s South Carolina roots.

SCC doesn’t just meet dietary needs – it embraces them. Whether it’s vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or even specialty requests like grass-fed beef sourced from specific ranches, Starkey and her team focus on flexibility while maintaining quality and presentation. “We try to be as flexible as possible while ensuring we maintain quality and presentation,” she explained.

Presentation and service are equally important. “You eat with your eyes before you taste,” said Starkey. SCC’s team invests in top-tier equipment and emphasizes elegant touches such as butler-passed appetizers, signature cocktails, and creative displays. Imagine a smoked Caprese bruschetta served under a domed lid, with aromatic smoke rising as it’s unveiled – a small detail that leaves a big impression.

Emerging trends also play a role in SCC’s approach. Dietary restrictions continue to expand, and creative presentation has become an expectation rather than a luxury. From wood plank charcuterie boards to elevated buffet designs, SCC ensures every visual detail supports the event’s theme.

For Starkey, the message to event planners is simple: “We can do it all, from elevated concessions in our Bar and Grill to large conventions where we feed 10 to 2,500 people. Our high-quality food and beverage program is created in-house by an experienced and creative team.”

In short, SCC doesn’t just serve food – it creates experiences guests remember long after the plates are cleared.

Anime Ohio, also known as the Ohio Anime Expo, returns to the Sharonville Convention Center July 11–13, 2025. The three-day event celebrates anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese pop culture, drawing fans from across the region for a weekend filled with immersive experiences.

Guests can explore a bustling vendor hall and artist alley featuring original artwork, collectibles, crafts, and hard-to-find anime merchandise. Voice actors from popular anime series will be on hand to sign autographs and take part in Q&A panels. Additional programming includes workshops, gaming rooms, interactive sessions, and fan panels that cover a wide range of interests within the anime and gaming communities.

One of the most popular features of Anime Ohio is its cosplay contest, where attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters and showcase their creativity and craftsmanship. Children under 10 receive free admission with a paid adult, making the event accessible for families.

The convention runs Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. With easy access and free parking at the Sharonville Convention Center, Anime Ohio offers a fun, local way to experience the excitement of anime and fandom culture close to home.

The 42nd annual Greater Cincinnati Numismatic Exposition—known to collectors as the Cincy Coin Show—returns to the Sharonville Convention Center July 25–26, 2025. This longstanding event, hosted by the Cincinnati Numismatic Association, is the largest coin show in the tri-state region and a must-visit for anyone interested in coins, currency, or collecting history.

With 125 dealer tables featuring U.S. and world coins, paper money, numismatic literature, and supplies, the show offers something for both serious collectors and curious newcomers. Admission and parking are free, making it an accessible way to explore the fascinating world of numismatics.

Attendees can expect engaging educational sessions, a grading service booth from ANACS, raffles, and even live demonstrations. One standout feature of past shows—Osborne Coinage’s Civil War-era coin dies and a costumed Abraham Lincoln reenactor—is expected to return, offering a unique, interactive experience for history buffs and families alike.

A special Early Bird session will be held the evening of Thursday, July 24, for those who want first access to the dealer floor. Entry for that session is $40 at the door.

Whether you’re hoping to complete your collection, learn more about coin grading, or simply enjoy a weekend of discovery, the Cincy Coin Show promises to be a highlight of the summer.

The Summer Gem and Jewelry Show is set to dazzle attendees from June 27–29, 2025, at the Sharonville Convention Center. This anticipated event gathers a diverse group of vendors offering an extensive selection of gems, minerals, crystals, pearls, beads, and handcrafted jewelry.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a jewelry enthusiast, or simply in search of a unique gift, the show promises something for everyone. Attendees can explore a variety of booths featuring one-of-a-kind pieces, engage with knowledgeable vendors, and even find materials for their own crafting projects.

Event Hours:
• Friday, June 27: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• Saturday, June 28: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• Sunday, June 29: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Admission: $6 for adults; children 12 and under enter free.

For more information, visit the Sharonville Convention Center’s event page.

The Beyond the Stars National Dance Competition is set to captivate audiences at the Sharonville Convention Center from June 15–21, 2025. This esteemed event gathers top dance studios and performers from across the country to compete in a week-long celebration of talent and dedication.

With categories spanning ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and more, the competition offers a platform for dancers to shine on a national stage. Attendees can expect a vibrant atmosphere filled with dynamic performances, camaraderie, and the shared joy of dance.

The Sharonville Convention Center, known for its state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to excellence, provides the perfect backdrop for this grand event.

For more details and registration information, visit the official Beyond the Stars website: www.beyondthestars.com.

Planning a major event is no small feat. Whether it’s a corporate convention, a trade show, or a fan-fueled expo, the logistics involved can quickly become overwhelming. A venue’s job is to make sure they’re not.

Logistical challenges—from complicated load-in procedures to unpredictable AV hiccups—can derail an otherwise well-planned gathering. That’s why the entire approach needs to be centered around solving problems before they start.

From the moment a meeting planner signs their contract, theyshould never alone in the process. At the Sharonville Convention Center, for example we assign a dedicated event coordinator who becomes the planner’s go-to person for everything from room setup to catering logistics. Our goal is to act like an extension of the planner’s own team—proactive, communicative, and solution-oriented.

One of the biggest pain points for planners is load-in and load-out chaos. Facilities should be designed with efficiency in mind, including multiple dedicated loading docks with direct access to exhibit halls so vendors and planners aren’t wasting time navigating tight corners or waiting in line. Venue staff should be on hand to manage the flow and troubleshoot on the spot, which makes all the difference. And there should be a tech professional on-site during events—ready to jump in if something changes or needs attention.

But beyond logistics and technology, it’s really the venue’s staff can make or break the whole logistics dance. Experienced staff develop an intuition for anticipating needs before they become problems. Little touches matter, like having water on standby for panelists, adjusting lighting between sessions, or simply being available to answer questions.

Logistics are always a challenge for events large and small. Well-designed venues that believe in ongoing communication and have an experienced, dedicated staff go a long way in making logistics a smoother undertaking.

When you’re planning an event for 1,000 attendees, food and beverage might seem like just one of many moving parts. But at the Sharonville Convention Center, it’s an experience that’s crafted with the same level of care as the rest of your event.

Executive Chef Jamin Wilson and his culinary team work closely with the sales staff to tailor menus that go far beyond the expected. “Our Director of Sales meets with every planner to understand the event’s purpose, timeline, and any ideas or themes,” says Wilson. “That helps us create a menu that not only fits the event but enhances it.”

Custom touches are a signature part of large events at Sharonville. Whether it’s a Derby theme or a research gala, Chef Jamin finds ways to extend the event’s identity through food and specialty beverages. For example, during a recent American Heart Association Gala, bartenders wore lab coats and served themed drinks in test tubes—one of many small but memorable details that earned high praise from the client.

And it’s not just about the menu: presentation matters. “We eat with our eyes first,” says Chef Wilson, who uses creative plating techniques, tiered displays, and clear allergy-friendly labels to make buffets both attractive and easy to navigate.

More than 90% of meals are prepared in-house using locally sourced ingredients. Seasonal salads, vegetables and desserts are popular requests for both their freshness and visual appeal. Some of the most frequently requested dishes? Braised beef short ribs, pan-seared chicken with a hunter-style velouté and a rooted vegetable pavé for vegetarian guests.

Dietary accommodations are handled with precision and care. “We coordinate seating charts with client contacts so we can serve allergy-friendly meals directly to the right guests,” Wilson explains.

Of course, preparing meals at this scale comes with its challenges. For Chef Wilson, strong internal communication—from sales to culinary to catering—is what makes everything work. “We’re always ready to pivot,” he says, “and we take pride in meeting unexpected needs without missing a beat.”

With increasing demand for gluten-free and dairy-free meals, Chef Wilson and his team are rising to the occasion with dishes that don’t sacrifice taste or presentation.

What’s he most proud of? “The people,” he says. “Our team brings positive energy, attention to detail, and a commitment to exceeding expectations—no matter the size of the event.”

Join our Executive Chef Jamin Wilson for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of elegant canapés—featuring smoked salmon, mango jam, goat cheese, and herb cream cheese. It’s a small bite with big flavor, crafted with the same attention to detail we bring to every event.

Watch Exclusive Video Here: SCC Chef’s Delicious Canopies

This past March, HorrorHound Weekend returned to the Sharonville Convention Center for its fifteenth year in Cincinnati—and it did not disappoint. The newly renovated convention center welcomed a record-breaking crowd for what was the largest HorrorHound event the city has seen to date.

Fans of all things frightful immersed themselves in a weekend packed with celebrity guest panels, exclusive film screenings, and a vendor hall buzzing with more than 130 exhibitors. Highlights included the spring edition of the HorrorHound Film Festival, the always-popular Ink Fusion Tattoo Pavilion, and the show-stopping Horrors of Cosplay costume contests.

Saturday’s “Night Terrors” after-hours event added an extra layer of eerie excitement, with guests enjoying themed entertainment long after the sun went down.

Whether fans came for the films, the fandom, or the frights, HorrorHound 2025 delivered an unforgettable experience—and further cemented Sharonville’s reputation as a destination for major fan conventions.

Watch our exclusive highlight reel video of the weekend here.