Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.
THU 09/25
Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup
Meet at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium and walk to Wendy Park to pick up litter and keep Northeast Ohio’s beaches clean and safe. You’ll be shocked at the number of cigarette butts and other junk you’ll find. All ages are welcomed; and be prepared for a 2.5-mile roundtrip walk. It’s free but registration is required. The cleanup begins at 10 a.m.
2000 Sycamore Street, 216-862-8803, greaterclevelandaquarium.com.
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio
Banjo man Bela Fleck teams up with Edmar Castañeda, a harpist from Bogotá, Colombia, and Grammy-winner Antonio Sánchez, a great jazz drummers who’s collaborated with Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Charlie Haden and Michael Brecker. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.
14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.
Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers
The surging Guardians take on the fading Detroit Tigers in a series that will have a bearing on the upcoming post-season. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. at Progressive Field.
2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.
Vance Joy
The Aussie singer-songwriter released his latest album, In Our Own Sweet Time, in 2023. It’s another collection of meticulously crafted tunes that possess a quite intensity. The guy experiments a bit too, as the shimmering “Wavelength” finds him collaborating with Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth. Joy performs at 6:30 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Hazlett, John Kagen and Kyle Schuesler open.
2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.
Live from Laurel Canyon – Songs and Stories of American Folk Rock
Some of the most influential songwriters who lived in Laurel Canyon in the mid ’60s and ’70s will talk about those halcyon days and play songs during this storytelling concert. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Kent Stage.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
The Notebook
This musical that features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson comes to the 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.
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 09/26
Guardians vs. Texas Rangers
The Guardians take on the Texas Rangers in the final games of the regular season. The two teams play at 7:10 tonight, and the series concludes on Sunday. The Rangers are hanging onto wild card hopes but have struggled as the season winds down.
2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.
IngenuityFest
Now held at the former Osborn Manufacturing Company, IngenuityFest returns to the Saint Clair-Superior neighborhood this weekend. The three-day festival promises to feature performances, art, installations as well as a full lineup of live music throughout the weekend. 5401 Hamilton Ave., 216-589-9444, ingenuitycleveland.com.
Shuler King
When he isn’t on the road performing at comedy clubs and special events across the country, Shuler King, who holds a degree in mortuary science, works as a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Georgia and South Carolina at his family’s funeral business in South Carolina. Hard to imagine a story or two from the day job won’t be part of the set when the comedian performs at 7 tonight at the Funny Bone, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday.
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
Lorna Shore
Pain Remains, the 2022 effort from this metal band, is an epic affair that clocks in at just over an hour and commences with the riveting “Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer,” a tune that begins with an orchestral flourish before howling vocals and deafening drums take over. On tour in support of the just-released Feel the Everblack Festering Within Me, the group plays at 5 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. The Black Dahlia Murder, Shadow of Intent and Peelingflesh open.
2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.
Last Artist Standing Talk & Book Signing
Artist and educator Sharon Louden’s latest book, Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life, Over 50, explores what it means to “sustain a lifelong creative practice. It offers 31 artists’ insights into building a durable, fulfilling career at any stage of life. She speaks tonight at 6 at MoCa Cleveland. Artist, appraiser, and owner of Deep, Dive Art Projects, Bellamy Printz will join her and the talk will be followed by a moderated audience Q&A focused on, “strategies for cultivating long-term, sustainable artistic practices.”
11400 Euclid Ave, 2164218671, mocacleveland.org.
The Mountain Goats
The indie rock group that’s the project of talented singer-songwriter John Darnielle comes to the Agora. Doors open at 7 p.m. The group’s roots date back to the early ’90s, and the band’s latest release, 2023s Jenny from Thebes, sounds poppy than ever as the group presents a sequel to 2002’s All Hail West Texas.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Ravel’s Boléro
Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Ravel’s Bolero along with Richard Strauss’s “Dance of the Seven Veils” from Salome. The program also includes the U.S. premiere of Richard Deutsch’s Urworte. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Sunday in the Park with George
The Sondheim musical that features songs such as songs like “Finishing the Hat,” “Sunday” and “Move On” comes to the Hanna Theatre as the Great Lakes Theater presents its production of the play. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 and performances continue through Sunday.
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
John Waite
Singer-songwriter John Waite first came to prominence as the vocalist and bassist of the English rock outfit the Babys, best known for pop-rock hits such as “Isn’t It Time?” and “Every Time I Think of You” in the late 1970s. That group disbanded in 1980 (after a final performance in Akron), but Waite kept going and scored a No. 1 U.S. hit with “Missing You.” The singer-songwriter comes to the Kent Stage at 6:30 p.m.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
Sheng Wang
Stil riding high from the success of his 2022 Netflix special Sweet & Juicy, comedian Sheng Wang, a guy known for his droll delivery, comes to the Miami Ohio Theatre. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Y-Live
John Mayer and Tim McGraw headline this two-day music fest that takes place at Wean Park in Youngstown. Grammy winning singer-songwriter John Mayer headlines tonight, and country superstar Tim McGraw will headline tomorrow night.
201 S Phelps St., Youngstown, theyoungstownfoundationamp.com.
SAT 09/27
Elvis Costello and the Imposters with Charlie Sexton
The ’80s singer-songwriter brings his tour celebrating his early years to the Akron Civic Theatre. Costello’s set list will reportedly primarily feature material from his first 11 albums, 1978’s My Aim Is True to 1986’s Blood & Chocolate. The show begins at 8 p.m.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
Crocker Park’s Food Truck Challenge
Cleveland’s best food trucks will be lining up on Main Street to compete to win one of the “best of…” categories being judged. This year’s event returns with more food trucks and more celebrity judges. During the event, visitors will have the opportunity to participate by picking up a ballot, trying as many food truck menu items as they would like, and submitting a voting ballot. Sept. 27, Free.
189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, 440-455-9820, crockerpark.com/foodtruckchallenge/.
Destination Africa: A Celebration of African Music
DJs will spin African music at this special event that takes place at 9 p.m. at B-Side Lounge in Cleveland Heights. There will also be dancing and themed food and drinks.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.
Sleep Token: The Even in Arcadia Tour
The masked English rock band comes to Rocket Arena as part of a tour supporting its fourth album, Even in Arcadia. The album features anthemic numbers such as “Emergence,” a tune that features a catchy chorus and dramatic synths. Tonight’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Katt Williams Heaven on Earth Tour
The Cincinnati-born comedian and actor has had a long and successful career as a comedian who doesn’t shy away from using profanity and vulgarity in his standup routines. Recently, he had a memorable turn as a guy living on the streets in the indie film One of Them Days. He performs at 8 p.m. at the Wolstein Center.
2000 Prospect Ave., 216-687-9292, wolsteincenter.com.
SUN 09/28
BabyTron
The rapper straight out of Ypsilanti, MI comes to the Agora Theatre. ShittyBoyz, a hip-hop group of which BabyTron is a member, open the show. BabyTron has personality to spare and makes funny videos with a Beastie Boys-like vibe. His rapid-fire raps and spastic beats will undoubtedly energize the crowd. Doors are at 7 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Jokes on You
Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show by “pushing comics to avoid prepared material or written jokes and instead focus on organic interaction with the audience,” as it’s put in a press release about this event, which takes place tonight at 8 in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Subscribe to Cleveland Scene newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 10/8/25.