11 Things to Do This Weekend in Cleveland (June 17 - 19)

John Henton When: Thu., June 16 Actor, writer, producer and comedian John Henton will stop in Cleveland for three days to show off his honest and gritty sense of humor. A must-see comic, he shares his opinions without hesitation and uses comedy to lighten these heavy topics. He jokes about his interesting experiences while on tour, such as having a terrible seat on a night flight and enduring many bad hotel room experiences. He covers topics like race, politics and even the struggles of disciplining your own children. The comedian began his career right here in Cleveland and has made his way to the big leagues by snatching main roles in the sitcoms Living Single and The Hughleys. The Cleveland native performs tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday. Tickets are $17.

Bo Dacious When: Fri., June 17 A veteran of the comedy world, Bo Dacious has done standup for over 13 years now. He pushes the boundaries by joking about more serious topics such as race, physical appearances, people taking advantage of fame and the struggles of trying to succeed. He has a conversational tone that makes the audience feel a connection to him and his jokes. He has worked with other well-known comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Cedric the Entertainer, Lewis Black and Eddie Griffin. He performs tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 and 10 at Club Velvet at the Hard Rock Rockscino at Northfield Park. Tickets are $18.

Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival When: Fri., June 17 Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival The annual Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival returns to northeast Ohio this month. It features three days of duct tape-themed festivities, including a duct tape fashion show, a parade and a variety of live concerts. According to a press release, this year’s installment will feature “Americana-themed duct tape sculptures” inspired by everything “from the Bald Eagle and Statue of Liberty to amber waves of grain and apple pie.” Participants will make their sculptures out of patented Duck Tape, which comes in more than 250 colors and designs. The event takes place from today through Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon. Hard-rocking singer-guitarist Lita Ford, formerly of the proto-punk/hard rock band the Runaways, will perform. Admission is free for the festival, which annually attracts some 60,000 duct tape enthusiasts from around the world. As a bonus, the first 500 attendees each day will receive a free roll of the sticky stuff.

Indians vs. Chicago White Sox When: Fri., June 17 After sweeping the defending world champion Kansas City Royals, the Cleveland Indians suddenly look like contenders. When they kick off a three game series against the White Sox tonight at 7:10 at Progressive Field, they can potentially separate themselves even more from the teams in their division. It’s Sugardale Dollar Dog Night so carnivores should come hungry to the game. Tickets start at $13.

Clifton Art and Musicfest When: Sat., June 18 Set along Clifton Boulevard in Cleveland’s Cudell/Edgewater neighborhood, the Clifton Arts and Musicfest features both fine art and live music in a classic street festival format. A juried art exhibition is the festival’s centerpiece, offering a venue for artists from around the country to display their work as well as an opportunity to win a cash prize. Not only will art and music draw the focus of nearly 40,000 annual festival-goers, but the pride, history and diversity of the Cleveland area as well.

Imagination Movers When: Sat., June 18 The Imagination Movers’ story is the ultimate example of the power of imagination. In 2003, four New Orleans friends thought kids wanted and deserved music that spoke to them, not down to them; two years later they garnered attention for developing kid-friendly music that nods to an eclectic pop sensibility reminiscent of the Beastie Boys or Red Hot Chili Peppers. Critically acclaimed by Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times, the band appears today at 3 p.m. at Evans Amphitheater at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Tickets are $20 to $28.

Life in Color When: Sat., June 18 Billed as the “world’s largest paint party,” Life in Color is a concert and festival production that stages more than 200 events annually in the United States and internationally. Its goal: “to transport fans into the ultimate mind blowing, head bumping and heart pumping electronic dance music experience featuring the world’s biggest DJs, soaring aerial acts, stilt walkers, contortionists and fire shows…leading up to the ever so famous paint blast.” This year’s installment features EDM/alt-rock acts such as Icona Pop, Audien, Far East Movement, Breathe Carolina and Mimo. The event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Dock 32 pier behind Browns Stadium. Tickets start at $35.70. lifeincolor.com

Cleveland Improv Jam When: Sundays The Angry Ladies of Improv has hosted the Cleveland Improv Jam for four years now. A few years back, Scene described the show as “fierce, formidable and very funny.” The women have some serious experience too. Katie White-Sonby is an actress who’s performed at Clague Playhouse, Karamu and Kennedy’s Cabaret. Marjorie Preston is an alumna of Something Dada and Rockwell 9 improvisational comedy troupes. Dionne Atchison is a theater artist with Cleveland Public Theatre, and Brenna “MC” Connor is an actress and improviser. The event begins with a short-form set of improv games, followed by a longform improv set. It begins at 5 p.m. at Coffee Phix. Arrive early if you want to sign up and perform. Admission is free.

Northeast Ohio Swap and Spin Social When: Sun., June 19 While sales of compact discs continue to decline, sales of vinyl, the format once considered obsolete, are on the rise. Today at 1 p.m. at the Euclid Tavern, vinyl aficionados can potentially add to their collections as the Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club descends upon the place for a “social, swap, sell and spin.” Admission is free.

7th Day Sweat When: Sundays The “seventh day” tends to be a day of rest for many folks. But not for the party hearty people who run B-Side Liquor Lounge, the popular dance club located underneath the Grog Shop. Dubbed 7th Day Sweat, their weekly Sunday night soiree features DJ White Rims spinning “today’s hottest dance hits,” so you can “sweat it out” every Sunday. Admission is free but you must be 21 or older. It all starts at 7 p.m.