Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend for Fun

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

THU 04/30

Henry Cho

The comedian known for making light of family life, marriage and growing up as a Korean-American in the red state of Tennessee brings his Empty Nest tour to the Agora. The show begins at 8 p.m.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

An Evening with Mary Gauthier & Stephen Kellogg

This show celebrates the 20th anniversary of Mary Gauthier’s third album, Mercy Now. That album placed her in the lineage of many of her musical heroes and mentors, including John Prine, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams and Tom Waits. She performs at 7 tonight at Music Box Supper Club. Fellow singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg shares the bill, and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

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

HUMP! Film Festival

A showcase of sex-positive short films, all curated by writer Dan Savage, the HUMP! Film Festival features dirty movies created by people who aren’t porn stars but want to be them just for this festival. The films feature all kinds of body sizes, shapes, ages, colors, sexualities, genders, kinks, and fetishes. Tonight’s screening takes place at 7 at the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights.

2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-528-0355, clevelandcinemas.com.

Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony

Jörg Widmann, a former Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow with the Cleveland Orchestra, comes back to Cleveland to lead the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays three of his pieces along with Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” Symphony. The concert takes place at 7:30 tonight and at 7:30 on Saturday night at Mandel Concert Hall.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B

Billed as a “madcap mystery romp,” this play about Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective duo comes to the Hanna Theatre for an extended run that continues through May 10. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 p.m.

2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

The New Pornographers

The Canadian power pop group that just released its latest effort, The Former Site Of, an album that dives into alt-country territory with its emphasis on mandolin but still manages to deliver some power-pop gems, performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. Singer-songwriter Will Sheff opens.

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

The Outsiders

Adapted from the best-selling novel and blockbuster film by the same name, this musical centers on a rivalry between two families living in Tulsa in the 1960s. Tonight’s performance takes place at 6:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through May 17.

1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

The Temptations & the Four Tops

The two Motown groups bring their tour celebrating the 60th anniversary of “My Girl” to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.

Woody at Home: Woody Guthrie’s Home Recordings 1951-1952/

Record producer Anna Canoni, who’s folk singer Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter, will join fellow producer Steve Rosenthal for a special look into the 1951-1952 home recordings by Guthrie. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Rock Hall.

1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.

FRI 05/01

AAWR Grand Re-opening Celebration and 2026 Annual Members Exhibition

This yearly exhibition at the Artists Archives of the Western World features one piece from each of the gallery’s active members in any medium, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, assemblage, digital art, fine jewelry and textiles. This year’s exhibit coincides with the gallery’s grand reopening following a complete remodel. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.

1834 East 123rd St., 216-721-9020, artistsarchives.org.

Alice By Heart

Beck Center students ranging from ages 12 to 18 will bring Spring Awakening, a musical by singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, to life. The musical follows two teens who live in an underground Tube station during the London Blitz. Tonight’s performance is at 7:30, and the play runs through May 10.
17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

Bahamas

The indie rock act performs at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom. The tour supports the band’s seven studio album, My Second Last Album, the poppier follow-up to 2023’s Bootcut, a straight-up country release.

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

Free Comic Book Day

Lakewood’s Superscript Comics kicks off Comic Book Day at 10 p.m. with a special Preterm Fund-A-Thon event benefiting the Preterm Access fund before the free books are unveiled at midnight. There will be over 40 free books–limit 8 free books per customer– available to from between midnight and 1 a.m. The store will open at 11 a.m. tomorrow as the festivities continue. Comic creators will be in-store doing signings until 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., local illustrator John G hosts a special workshop.
13361 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-712-6231, superscriptohio.com.

Midwest Wine Fest

The organizers of this three-day event that takes place at Lago through Sunday promise “global discovery.” Expect to sample wines from all around the world. Find hours of operation and more info on the website.

1091 West 10th St., 216-862-8065, winfestcle.com.

MIX: Year of the Horse

Cleveland Museum of Art kicks off Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with this special edition of MIX that features dance performances and house and techno sets by the likes of SceneAmatiX and Zosimo Maximo. There will also be themed food and drink specials. It all begins at 6 p.m.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B

2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Mo Willems’s Because

The Cleveland Orchestra performs this piece by the bestselling author and illustrator known for his children’s books. Today’s performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where the concert repeats at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

SAT 05/02

Bassel & the Supernaturals

Syrian-American Bassel Almadani leads this group that plays soul, funk and hip-hop and writes tunes about identity, displacement and social justice. The group performs at 8 p.m. at the Bop Stop.

2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

Go Fest Yourself

Local emo rockers Mud Whale put together the lineup for this festival that features up-and-coming regional acts. The music begins at 4 p.m. at No Class. Garbage Kids Vegan will be on hand selling food.

11213 Detroit Ave., 216-221-8576, noclasscle.com.

Juvenile’s Boiling Point Album Release Tour

The veteran rapper out of New Orleans brings the tour supporting his new album, Boiling Point, to House of Blues. The album serves as a follow-up to his 1999 release, 400 Degreez, giving you an idea of just hold old this guy is (he turned 50 last year). The show begins at 7 p.m.

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

Monster Jam

The popular monster truck competition that’s part of the Stadium Championship Series East rolls into Huntington Bank Field. The day starts with meet-and-greets at 12:30 p.m., and the trucks kick things into gear at 5 p.m.

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

Orange Community Artisan & Farmer’s Market

Hedy Westra, a Western Reserve Herb Society member and master gardener will be on hand for this weekly farmer’s market that takes place at the Pepper Pike Learning Center. Patrons will learn how and when to harvest, how to preserve the harvest and where to learn more about herbs. It takes place at 11 a.m., and the farmer’s market will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

32000 Chagrin Blvd, Pepper Pike, orangecommunitymarket.org.

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

Fourteen classical musicians unleash “effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion” for this special candlelight concert that takes place tonight at 8 at the State Theatre.

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

Swords and Sorcery: Fantasy Movies in Concert

Tonight at 7:30 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, a 70-piece symphony orchestra with a chorus will play selections from The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Avatar, How to Train Your Dragon, Game of Thrones, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Hook and Willow.

1855 Ansel Road, 216-368-6062, case.edu/maltzcenter/.

SUN 05/03

Failure

The alt-rock band from the ’90s returns to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. After a good run, the group splintered in 1997, only to reunite in 2014 after a 17-year-hiatus. It’s steadily toured and recorded since then, and the current tour supports the space rock-inspired new album, Location. All Under Heaven opens, and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

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

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