15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (December 25-28)

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

THU 12/25

Annual X-Mas Night Latke Party

Blue Lunch’s annual Christmas show at the Beachland Tavern feature guest singer Evelyn Wright. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with festivities kicking off with DJ Pete London spinning blues, soul and R&B vinyl. The band takes the stage beginning at 7:30. As usual, the usual array of food and beverages, along with homemade latkes, will be available for sale.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

FRI 12/26

14th Annual Home for the Holidays

Eight to ten local comics will participate in this annual showcase that takes place tonight at 6:30 and 9:15 at Hilarities. The club promises there will be a “mix of new faces” on hand.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Chill @ CMNH

This after-hours event at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History features flashlight tours of Perkins Wildlife Center and after-dark encounters with the museum’s animal ambassador. It takes place from 5 to 9 p.m.

1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600, cmnh.org.

Frost

This annual winter celebration at the Cleveland Botanical Garden features lights, seasonal displays and family activities. There will be a gingerbread competition and local garden clubs will decorate Christmas trees that’ll be on display. Check the website for hours and more information.

11030 East Blvd., 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org.

Dave Hill

The comedian, actor, writer and musician has spent some of the year on the road with fellow comedian Bill Murray, who toured the country with his blues band. Expect a mix of music and comedy from Hill, who grew up in Northeast Ohio. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

Carlos Jones Holiday Revival

Veteran reggae singer-songwriter Carlos Jones traditionally performs on the day after Christmas, providing fans with a good wind to down with some chilled-out grooves after a stressful holiday season. He performs at 7:30 tonight at Music Box Supper Club. Chloe and the Steel Strings open.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

Jay Phillips

You may recognize foul-mouthed comic Jay Phillips from Baby Mama or Semi Pro. He has small roles in both films. Phillips, who’s often compared to Richard Pryor, likes to make fun of white people who try to act cool by wearing Obama T-shirts. He performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 and tomorrow night at 6:30 and 9 at the Funny Bone.

1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The prog rock band has deep ties to Cleveland, which was one of the first cities to embrace the group and its imaginative take on holiday music. It brings its latest Christmas show, Ghosts of Christmas Eve, to Rocket Arena. The concerts take place at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

SAT 12/27

Book Signing & Presentations with Gary Astride and Deirdre Kelly

The two authors will talk about the Beatles and their lasting influence on music during this talk and book signing. The event begins at noon at the Rock Hall. It’s free with the price of admission to the Rock Hall.

1100 E 9th St., 216-781-7625, rockhall.com.

Hammy New Year 3: The 3 Peat

Local-turned-national punk rockers Heart Attack Man return to Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood for this NYE celebration that comes a few days early. Pet Symmetry, Home Safe, Save Face, Full Blown Meltdown, Light Years, Atomic Witch, Funeral Commercial and Lowspot share the bill. The show starts at 4 p.m.

13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

Red Wanting Blue

The alt-rock band out of the Columbus, OH area has made appearances on Letterman and NPR and gotten praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Esquire. On the heels of the release of its new album, Light It Up, the band performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

The SpongeBob Musical

The musical that features tunes by the likes of They Might Be Giants, David Bowie, Panic! At The Disco, John Legend, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith arrives at Beck Center for the Arts. Tonight’s show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue through Jan. 4.

17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

SUN 12/28

Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers soundly defeated the Browns by a score of 23-9 when the two teams played in Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Browns will undoubtedly want to avenge that loss against their rivals when the Steelers come to Huntington Bank Field today at 1 p.m. for a rematch.

100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com.

The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour

The basketball showoffs bring their 100-year anniversary tour to Rocket Arena. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. The team famously launched in 1926 in Chicago (they’d move to New York shortly after that) and integrated basketball before it was cool to integrate basketball.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

Jokes on You

Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show by “pushing comics to avoid prepared material or written jokes and instead focus on organic interaction with the audience,” as it’s put in a press release about this event, which takes place tonight at 8 in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

A Night of Holiday Soul with Will Downing, Leela James and Avery * Sunshine

Christmas may have come and gone, but these soul singers still have that holiday spirit. They’ll present a program of soulful holiday tunes at the State Theatre. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

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