Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.
THU 09/18
Bob Marley
Comic Bob Marley doesn’t play reggae, but he does sing out of his butt. Like the time his wife put him on the Atkins Diet and, he reports, the “assflac” duck flew out his butt as he hovered over the toilet with bacon grease dripping from his eyelashes. Yeah, this guy is not above fart jokes. He performs at 7 tonight at Hilarities and performances run through Saturday.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
The Notebook
This musical that features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson comes to Connor Palace for an extended run. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and the play runs through Sept. 27.
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Our Town
Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores themes of life and death and love and friendship. Cleveland Play House’s production of the play promises to be a “magical new staging.” Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Allen Theatre, and the play runs through Sept. 28.
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 09/19
20,000 Leagues Under the Industry Film Festival
After a 20-plus year hiatus, the locally produced independent film festival returns this weekend. It’ll feature documentaries such as 40 Watts From Nowhere and The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell as well as the cult classic Heavy Metal Parking Lot. It takes place today and tomorrow at the Treelawn.
15335 Waterloo Rd, 216-677-8733, thetreelawn.com.
Autopolitan
Members of this local group have spent the past few years playing bands such as Cloud Nothings, Joey Sprinkles and Herzog. As Autopolitan, they’ve kept busy and have just put out their second album. They play a release party tonight at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.
Chico Bean
Fast-talking diminutive comedian Chico Bean likes to joke that he “can’t tolerate a taller woman” because she might superglue his keys to the ceiling fan to make sure that he can’t retrieve them. Bean started his comedy career in Greensboro, North Carolina, and became a founding member of the Freestyle Funny Comedy Show. 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.
An Evening with David Byrne —Who Is the Sky Tour
The Talking Heads frontman brings his Who Is the Sky Tour to the Akron Civic. The tour supports Byrne’s new album of the same name. It finds him in great form and features collaborations with Hayley Williams, St. Vincent and Tom Skinner. The show starts at 8 p.m.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
Heights Music Hop
FutureHeights, a nonprofit community development corporation, presents new, local music in the vibrant, walkable business districts of Cleveland Heights. Performances will take place today and tomorrow both inside area businesses, as well as on outdoor stages throughout the districts. Consult the website for more info. heightsmusichop.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 09/20
Artist in the Atrium
Every third Saturday of each month, stop by the Ames Family Atrium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a firsthand look at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to engage and interact with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Books & Blooms: Botanical Book Fair
Local authors and craft vendors will be on hand for this event that takes place at Cleveland Botanical Garden. There will also be a board game café, creative writing activities and a community book swap. It takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow.
11030 East Blvd., 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org.
Chalk Festival
This annual festival features sidewalk artistry by professional chalk artists and local community groups, families, and individuals, all using Cleveland Museum of Art’s south plaza and walkways that wind through the Fine Arts Garden and down to Wade Lagoon as a colorful canvas. A modern expression of a Renaissance tradition from 16th-century Italy in which beggars copied paintings of the Madonna by Raphael and his contemporaries using chalk on the plazas outside cathedrals, the festival takes place from noon to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Cleveland Pickle Fest
From sweet and spicy to dill, all shapes, sizes and flavors of pickled cucumbers are included in this free, family-friendly event. Restaurants from around Cleveland are set to offer up all kinds of pickle-themed dishes at this event that also includes live music. Gates open at 11 a.m. at Mall C.
clevelandpicklefest.com.
The Cost of Love
Set in a New York apartment, this play follows a couple trying to deal with betrayal. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
End-of-Summer Wax and Tracks Fest
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Vinyl Groove Records will host its End-of-Summer Wax and Tracks Fest. The free, family-friendly day will feature live music (inside and outside), vendors, a charity raffle benefiting Cleveland Rocks: PPF and a book signing with local rock scribe Annie Zaleski. Toledo’s Culture Clash Records and Cleveland’s Mistake By the Lake Records will join the Vinyl Groove and other sellers at the festival. The Slyman’s food truck will be on hand as well.
5100 Pearl Rd., 440-439-8371, thevinylgrooverecords.com.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
DJ Fuse 1 will MC and spin during this free event at the Rock Hall that celebrates Hispanic music, dance and art. It takes place from noon to 4 p.m.
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.
Moxie Events Presents: Magic of Motown
The concert featuring tunes from Motown’s terrific catalog of R&B and soul takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall. =
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Plush Party
Every third Saturday of each month between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Cleveland Museum of Art hosts this event that offers a firsthand look at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to “engage and interact” with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities. Admission is free.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Steven Wilson: The Overview Tour 2025
The innovative musician performs at 8 tonight at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. His new album, The Overview, features only two songs that show off his experimental approach to music. The bleeps and blips recall the heady albums that Brian Eno put out in the 1970s.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
SUN 09/21
Browns vs. Green Bay Packers
Today at Huntington Bank Field, the Browns tough start to the season gets tougher as they take on the Green Bay Packers, a team that’s regularly competitive and has started the season 2-0. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com.
Kurtis Conner: The Goodfellow World Tour
The podcaster and performer brings his world tour to the Mimi Ohio Theatre. Conner reportedly has more than five million subscribers worldwide; tonight’s show starts at 7.
1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
The Darkness
The British hard rock group that had a huge radio hit with “Thing Called Love” comes to the Agora on tour in support of its new album, Dreams on Toast. The group stretches out and does a bit of everything on the new LP, delivering glam punk with “I Hate Myself” and embracing old school country music with “Cold Hearted Woman.” Doors open at 7 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Kiss the Tiger
The Minneapolis-based rock band Kiss the Tiger plays the Beachland Tavern as part of a tour in support of the new album, Infinite Love. The group has toured with bands like Low Cut Connie and Emily Wolfe and has opened regionally for acts like the Hold Steady, Golden Smog and Lake Street Dive. This represents its first time headlining a show in Cleveland.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
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This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 10/8/25.