Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend You Cannot Miss

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

THU 08/20

Asian Lantern Festival

Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight through Sunday. Check the zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23.

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com.

Jon Batiste with The Cleveland Orchestra

Multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste joins the Cleveland Orchestra to play a mix of originals and classics. Batiste does it all. He’s a producer, bandleader and actor who has won Grammys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs. Last year’s Big Money shows off his musical range as Batiste embraces R&B (“Lean on My Love”) and pop (“Do It All Again”). The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

California Dreamin’: A 1966 Folk-Rock Concert by New Long Road

The local group New Long Road plays a special folk-rock concert at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The concert will feature the band’s take on folk-rock hits from the 1960s. It begins at 8 p.m.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants

The Guardians play the lowly San Francisco Giants, one of the National League’s worst teams, for the one-and-only time this regular season. The three-game series starts with tonight’s game. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. at Progressive Field.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

Dave Landau

Last Comic Standing has introduced us to dozens of incredible comedians, but none quite like Dave Landau. Sharp, dark and sarcastic, Landau’s standup act is standup for the cynic. He puts a new twist on the typically goofy nature of live comedy. He performs at 7:30 tonight at Hilarities.

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

FRI 08/21

African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration

Roxanne Shante, one of the first female hip-hop stars, and Cleveland hip-hop trailblazer Kevin “MC Chill” Heard will be on hand for this two-day conference and celebration that takes place at the Cleveland History Center. The event will honor the 40th anniversary of MC Chill becoming Cleveland’s first national rap recording artist.

10825 East Blvd., 216-721-5722, wrhs.org.

Empire of the Sun — Ask That God: Afterlife North American Tour

The rock band brings its theatrical new tour to Blossom. The group’s 2024 album, Ask That God. The album features dreamy pop tunes such as “Changes” and the ’80s-inspired synth-pop number “The Feeling You Get.” The show starts at 7 p.m.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

Corey Holcomb

After debuting at an open mic night in 1992, comedian Corey Holcomb has gone on to take top honors at numerous comedy festivals, along with appearing at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the Chicago Comedy Festival. He performs at 7 and 9:30 tonight and at 4, 6:30 and 9 tomorrow night at the Funny Bone.

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

India Ramey

A former prosecutor, singer-songwriter Indie Ramey has drawn comparisons to people like Loretta Lynn. She comes to the Beachland Tavern tonight at 8 as part of a tour in support of her new album, Villain Era. The folk-rock duo Devin Tuel & Stephen Harms open.

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

Joshua Redman

The jazz saxophonist who started playing music when he was only 10 years old performs at 8 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Redman and his quarter put out their latest effort, Words Fall Short, last year.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Todd Rundgren

Always unpredictable, singer-guitarist Todd Rundgren returns to the Agora. Rundgren’s career dates back decades and hits such as “Band the Drum All Day” and “Hello It’s Me” hardly suggest the experimental nature of much of his material. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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

Third Friday

From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free.

1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios.com.

SAT 08/22

Browns vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 2 of the NFL preseason finds the rebuilding Browns going up against the playoff-caliber Buffalo Bills. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Huntington Bank Field.

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

Ella Mai

The soulful English singer-songwriter who released her third studio album, Do You Still Love Me?, earlier this year performs at 7 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Many of the songs reference her experiences as a new mother. Ama and Girlfriend open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

Marred for Life!

A new art exhibit that opens today at Sixty Bowls Gallery, Marred for Life! presents over 250 record covers, “lovingly and mischievously vandalized” by anonymous music lovers. The LP covers come courtesy of Greg Wooten, a Los Angeles-based collector, musician and design purveyor. Wooten will be in town for the opening, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will also feature a book signing with copies available for purchase.

3125 Detroit Ave., sixtybowls.com.

Photobooth as Practice Artist Talk and Public Reception

At 2 p.m. at Scamp Studios, the Cleveland Print Room celebrates the close of its Photobooth as Practice exhibit and Residency Program with an artist talk and reception. Artist Jen Grasso and her colleagues will facilitate a presentation on the history and varied uses of photobooths and how photobooths can (and do) exist in today’s creative ecosystem, worldwide and in Cleveland. Participants will also be able to engage directly with the booth and walk away with a one-of-a-kind photo booth strip.

1420 E. 24th St., clevelandprintroom.com.

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G

The Cleveland Orchestra and conductor Antonello Manacorda plays selections from Debussy and Ravel at this special concert that takes place at Blossom. The music begins at 7 p.m.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Real American Freestyle

Real American Freestyle launched in 2025 to give Olympic champions, world champions, NCAA standouts and top MMA crossover athletes a new platform for competing. Wrestlers hit the mats at 8 p.m. at Rocket Arena.

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

South Euclid’s Rock the Block 2025

Some of Northeast Ohio’s best bands will perform this two-day event that takes place at the South Euclid Food Truck Park. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. today and from 2 to 11 p.m. tomorrow. Various food trucks will be on hand for the event.

4477 Rushton Rd., South Euclid, serocktheblock.com.

Ghalia Volt & Kent Burnside

A Belgian-born blues singer, Ghalia Volt just released her fifth album, Burn the House Down. She comes to the Kent Stage with singer-guitarist Kent Burnside, the grandson of the late country blues icon RL Burnside. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

Water Lantern Festival

Guests decorate floating lanterns with personal messages of love, hope, remembrance, or intention before releasing them onto the water at sunset. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at Coe Lake in Berea.

E. Bridge St. and S. Rocky River Dr., Berea, waterlanternfestival.com/events/cleveland.

SUN 08/23

Cole Porter: Let’s Misbehave

Singer Tony DeSare joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it pays tribute to songwriter Cole Porter with this special concert. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com.

Peter Hook & the Light

A former member of both Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook brings his band the Light to the Agora. The group will perform New Order’s 2001 album, Get Ready, in its entirety. The group will also play a number of other New Order and Joy Division tunes. Doors open at 7 p.m.

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

Garrison Keillor

The veteran storyteller known for the long-running NPR series A Prairie Home Companion comes to the Kent Stage. He performs at 7 p.m.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

Lorain County Fair

The Lorain County Fairgrounds returns to the Lorain County Fairgrounds this week with the usual assortment of rides and attractions (demolition derbies and harness racing, for starters). It continues through Sunday, Aug. 30, at the Lorain County Fairgrounds.

Ohio 18, Wellington, 440-647-2781, loraincountyfair.com.

Reggae Sundays

This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.

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

Video Game Symphony

88bit, the award-winning pianist known for his interpretations of classic video game scores joins the Video Game Symphony for this special show at Mandel Concert Hall. The concert begins at 3 p.m.

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