**Related Video Above: 6 top concerts coming to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse this year.**
CLEVELAND (WJW) — When summer comes for Northeast Ohio, it’s almost hard to believe it snows here six (or more) months out of the year. The sun beats down and the mosquitos feast on our bodies. But it seems magical. As if the heat is never going to leave and we can bask in the long daylight hours forever.
The following summer events are here to help you make the most of this precious time. From concerts and festivals to outdoor activities, all of these events prove LeBron James’ point when he said “Cleveland is great for the whole family.”
Sure, summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, but we won’t tell anyone if you’ve started pretending it’s summer with Memorial Day weekend behind us. The events here are through Labor Day Weekend.
(Look for a separate fair guide, full concert guide and Fourth of July fireworks guide elsewhere on our site.)
JUNE
Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival
June 16-18 | Mercy Health Stadium, Avon
An annual event you’ll really want to stick to doing this summer. Yes, the event celebrates all things duct tape, as Duck Brand tape is headquartered in the western suburb. Expect plenty of food and drink options, and plenty of the adhesive stuff here. Find out more right here.
TRI-C JazzFest Cleveland
June 22-24 | Playhouse Square
This is the perfect time of year for those who think they’re not really into jazz music to explore and experience world-famous artists (Herbie Hancock, Trombone Shorty) along with top-tier local talent at myriad price points. Sure you can pay to watch concerts indoors, but the fest also showcases free outdoor concerts at Playhouse Square plaza from 3 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Find out more right here.
Boston Mills Artfest
June 23-25; June 3-July 2 | Boston Mills Ski Area, Peninsula
It’s a two-weekend fine art show in the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The ski resort’s artfest is back in action this year, with each weekend featuring more than 150 artists from about 35 states. Each Friday, is a special preview event that includes food and drinks. Find more information right here.
Dollar Dog Night with the Guardians
June 23 | Progressive Field
When it finally warms up, there is nothing better than a $1 hot dog (that of course doesn’t taste good, that’s not the point), $2 beers (ahead of the game only) and fireworks at the ballpark on a Friday night. The Guardians offer multiple of these Friday night extravaganzas throughout the summer. Do you want the home team to win? Yes. But if they don’t, you’ll still have had a good time. Find more information right here.
Larchmere PorchFest
June 24 | Larchmere neighborhood in Cleveland/Shaker Heights
It’s free. You can watch bands and musicians on people’s front porches throughout the east side neighborhood. You can expect 30 bands on 30 porches. The event runs 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Each concert is about 35 minutes long. What doesn’t sound good about that? Find out more right here.
JULY
Wonderstruck Music Festival
July 8-9 | Lakeland Community College, Kirtland
For seven years, music has made the people come together at Wonderstruck. This year’s two-day outdoor music festival lineup features artists from a slew of genres: Khalid, Nelly, Walker Hayes, Flo Rida and Paris Jackson. Tickets for one day start at $99 and the event goes on rain or shine. Find more information right here.
Ale Fest
July 15 | Lincoln Park
This Tremont-based Ale Fest has been helping people taste all kinds of beer in a chill environment for more than a decade. It goes on rain or shine and people are allowed to bring in lawn furniture and even their pets. To be clear, this is an adults-only event and designated drivers are advised. Find tiered tickets right here.
Taste of Tremont
July 16 | Tremont neighborhood
This event is the perfect way to imbibe in all of the Tremont restaurants you may not have tested out yet, and even some you have. For one day, Professor Avenue is lined with booths filled with tasty delights from some of the city’s best chefs. This year’s free-to-enter event runs from noon-8 p.m. Find more information right here.
Blazing Paddles Paddlefest
July 22 | Cuyahoga River, downtown Cleveland
Paddle boarders and kayakers and people on unicorn innertubes can take to the Cuyahoga River in celebration of clear waters and sunny skies in Cleveland. This is the fifth year for the Blazing Paddles Paddlefest, which started to mark how far the Cuyahoga River has come since it infamously caught fire more than 50 years ago. Take a leisurely pace or race: Find more information right here.
Kent’s Wizardly Weekend
July 28-29 | Downtown Kent
For those for whom Harry Potter means something, this two-day event offers a way to gather with like-minded muggles. Not officially affiliated with the Boy Who Lived franchise, activities include the Run That Shall Not Be Named 5 3/4 K Fun Run, Wobbly Wizard Bar Crawl and Par for the Curse – Putt Putt Golf among others. Find more information right here.
Cleveland Orchestra plays ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
July 28-30 | Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls
Going to see the orchestra during the summer is one of the best ways to celebrate the soul and commune with nature. Unlike other pop/country/hip-hop/rock concerts held at this venue, the orchestra allows fans to bring in whole picnic spreads for their performances. Watching the second Lord of the Rings film as the orchestra plays the Howard Shore score in this setting is something you won’t want to miss. Find tickets for the whole summer season right here.
AUGUST
Madonna
Aug. 2 | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Her name is one word, and it goes without saying, you know her. Madonna is returning to Cleveland with her expertly toned arms for the first time since 2012. Find tickets to her decades-spanning concert right here.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week
Aug. 3-6 | Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton
Football, man. It brings the fans out — especially to celebrate the new inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And this year’s enshrinement week includes the Cleveland Browns taking on the New York Jets for a game kicking off at 8 p.m. on Aug. 3. Other fan activities include autograph sessions and parties. Find out more right here.
Victory Live Festival
Aug. 4-5 | Victory Park, North Ridgeville
There’s a new summer music festival to look forward to in Northeast Ohio. Called Victory Live festival, the two-day event brings back two fan favorites: WMMS Buzzard Fest and WGAR Country Jam. The first day of the fest offers up plenty of rock, while the second day is all county. Take a look at the lineups and tickets right here.
Twins Day Festival
Aug. 4-6 | Glenn Chamberlin Park, Twinsburg
No, you’re not seeing double, or are you? At this festival, twins come from all over the world to celebrate … themselves. But don’t worry, people who don’t have a twin (or triplet and beyond) are still invited to the annual festival, which has a pirate theme this year. Find out more right here.
Feast of the Assumption
Aug. 12-15 | Little Italy
For a moment, it’s like traveling all the way to Italy with this immersive event. It’s a time for eating all of the food and drinking lemonade and sweating and watching bocce matches and listening to Frank Sinatra. See the full schedule of events at the Holy Rosary Church right here.
Cleveland International Kite Festival
Aug. 20 | Edgewater Park
A sea of colorful fabrics and string meandering through the air. That’s the scene during the Cleveland International Kite Festival, now back in action for its 43rd iteration this year. The event is free and open to all and runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Find more information right here.
Cleveland Garlic Festival
Aug. 26-27 | Shaker Square
Is it the smelliest food festival in Cleveland? Could be. All this to say, garlic is delicious and at this event you’ll get to choose between hundreds of varieties. On top of that, there’s live music and cooking demonstrations and other performances to be experienced. Find out more right here.
SEPTEMBER
Cleveland National Air Show
Sept. 2-4 | Burke Lakefront Airport
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are coming to this year’s air show to once again bring the awe to the Cleveland skies. On the ground, families can check out planes of all sizes. Just be sure to buy your tickets in advance for this event. Find out more right here.
Cleveland Oktoberfest
Sept. 1-4, 8-9 | Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Middleburg Heights
Cheers! The annual German-themed event features plenty of beer and sauerkraut, but also Weiner dog races, a bier run, live music and fireworks. Sure, Oktoberfest isn’t celebrated until October in Germany, but why not get into the spirit a little early? Find out more right here.
