Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.
THU 03/12
2026 MAC Tournament
The MAC Tournament always provides excitement, particularly since the winning team secures an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. Men’s and women’s competition take place from today through Saturday at Rocket Arena. Check the website for times and match-ups.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Beethoven’s Fateful Fifth
Elim Chan conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it takes on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony as well as pieces by Stravinsky and Haydn. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School
Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and draw event that takes place on the second Thursday of each month at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron, gives patrons the opportunity to “draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality.” The fun begins at 7 p.m.; it costs $10 to draw.
111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com.
Pink Talking Fish
This band that plays a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish returns to the Beachland Ballroom. The show begins at 8 p.m.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Rachmaninoff and the Tsar
Hershey Felder stars in this play about pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and his memory of his encounter with Russia’s last tsar. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre, where performances continue through March 15.
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Water for Elephants
A young man joins a traveling circus after literally hopping onto a moving train in this musical based on the best-selling novel by the same name. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through March 29.
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 03/13
Fan EXPO
Hayden Christensen, William Shatner, James Marsters, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Jonathan Frakes and Gates McFadden are just a few of the celebrities that’ll be on hand when Fan EXPO returns to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland this weekend. The event continues through Sunday. Check the website for hours as well as a schedule of events.
300 Lakeside Ave., 216-9281600, fanexpocleveland.com.
Flanagan’s Wake
Part improv, part scripted, this interactive Irish wake is back again at Kennedy’s Theatre at Playhouse Square. Performances are set for 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Chelsea Handler: The High and Mighty Tour
The talk show host, comedian and author comes to the State Theatre. She zeroes in on her upbringing for this particular tour and talks about early sexual experiences and her entrepreneurial spirit. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
1519 Euclid Avenue, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Alfred Kainga
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Alfred Kainga began his comedic career in Dallas in 2005 shortly after moving to the United States. He performs at 7 and 9:30 tonight and at 6:30 and 9 tomorrow night at the Cleveland Funny Bone.
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
NEO Rewind Series: Vanity Crash Presents Our Day Will Come: NEO Women Rock
Thomas Mulready, who published the local events newsletter Cool Cleveland, leads this talk that documents the impact of women on the Northeast Ohio rock scene. The local glam group Vanity Crash will also perform. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
No Exit Presents “Cleveland Renaissance: Art of the Cleveland School”
The experimental music ensemble No Exit presents works that serve as companion pieces to paintings by Clarence Holbrook Carter, William Sommer, Clara L. Deike, Hughie Lee-Smith, August Biehle Jr. and Clarence Van Duzer. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. at Cleveland Museum of Art.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Two Trains Running
Set in Pittsburgh in the 1960s, August Wilson’s play centers on the characters who frequent a coffeeshop in the city’s Hill District. Local Jimmy Woody directs the play, and tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, where performances continue through March 29.
17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.
Vuela Alto, Mamá
This play centers on two sisters who haven’t spoken to each other in years reunite at their mother’s wake. It’s presented in Spanish with subtitles in English projected on a screen). Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the LatinUs Blackbox Theater located in the Pivot Center for Art, Dance, and Expression. Performances continue through Sunday.
2937 W. 25th St., pivotcenter.com.
SAT 03/14
2026 Maple Sugar Festival & Pancake Breakfast
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and tomorrow, Hale Farm & Village hosts live demonstrations of tree tapping and sap boiling in the wood-fired syrup evaporator at C.O. Hale’s 1910 Sugar House. The event aims to show what life was like on farms in the Cuyahoga Valley during the 1800s.
2686 Oak Hill Rd., Newton Falls, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org.
Aladdin
Akron-based Ballet Excel Ohio celebrates its 50th anniversary with a world-premiere ballet, Aladdin, that’ll feature an Akron student who’ll become the first Black dancer to perform a title role in Ballet Excel Ohio’s 5-year history. He became began dancing through Ballet Excel Ohio’s Reach Out and Dance scholarship program, which introduces dance to second-grade students in Akron Public Schools. Performances take place at 2 and 7 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
Gary Allan
Country singer Gary Allan had a hit right out of the gates with his debut album, 1996’s Used Heart for Sale. He’s steadily toured and recorded ever since. He comes to Northfield Park — Center Stage tonight at 8. The Shootouts, a regional country act that’s made some noise recently, opens.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, mgmresorts.com.
Lords of the Sound
The Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the music of composer Hans Zimmer with this special concert that takes place at 7 p.m. at the State Theatre. Expect to hear music from blockbusters such as Dune, The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
A May Tale
At 3 p.m. at the Cleveland Public Library, the Cleveland Silent Film Festival screens this Czech silent movie from 1926. Cleveland’s Harmonia ensemble will play a new score featuring Central European folk music.
325 Superior Ave., 216-623-2800, clevelandsilentfilmfestival.org.
Dar Williams Hummingbird Highway Tour with Special Guest Joy Clark
The singer-songwriter comes to the Kent Stage in support of her new album, Hummingbird Highway, which came out last year. Singer-songwriter Joy Clark opens. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
SUN 03/15
Cavs versus Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks haven’t played well since trading away superstar Luka Dončić. But they have added sensational rookie Cooper Flagg to their lineup, and the former Duke player hasn’t disappointed. The Mavericks make their one-and-only regular season visit to Rocket Arena this season to take on the Cavs at 3:30 p.m.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Gaetano Letizia Release Party
Local singer-guitarist Gaetano Letizia recently recorded The Muddy Waters Project, a tribute to iconic Chicago blues legend. Letizia and Co. will perform the album in its entirety at this release show at the Beachland Tavern. The show begins at 3 p.m.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Rakim
The iconic rapper known for the underground hit “Paid in Full,” a collaboration with Eric B., comes to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. The show begins at 8 p.m.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
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