SEPTEMBER & BEYOND
MADE IN OHIO CRAFT FESTIVAL
Sep. 1
Hale Farm and Village,
2686 Oak Hill Rd., Bath
330-666-3711, madeinohiofestival.com
End your Summer season on a positive "stroke" with home-grown arts, crafts, and foods at Hale Farm and Village. The Made in Ohio festival features more than 85 Ohio artisans, local restaurants, and all that Hale Farm has to offer. The $5 fee includes admission to the festival as well as the grounds and buildings at Hale Farm.
CLEVELAND NATIONAL AIR SHOW
Sep. 1-3
Burke Lakefront Airport,
Downtown Cleveland
216-781-0747, clevelandairshow.com
If it's Labor Day weekend, it must be time for the annual Cleveland National Air Show, featuring the U.S. Army Golden Knights, U.S. Navy Blue Angels, aeronautical exhibits, kids' activities, and tours. There will be plenty of attractions in addition to the air show, and kids five and under get in free.
YANKEE PEDDLER FESTIVAL
Sep. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23
Clay's Park Resort, 13190 Patterson St. NW,
North Lawrence
800-860-4386, clayspark.com
This popular annual event recreates the world of Ohio from 1776-1825. Handcrafts by 350 exhibitors are complemented by Colonial cooking and entertainment. After your colonialized day, you can enjoy the campground's heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, basketball and tennis courts, a sports bar and grill, and much, much more.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
SEASON OPENER
Sep. 9
Cleveland Browns Stadium,
1085 Alfred Lerner Way
440-891-5001, clevelandbrowns.com
A veritable holy day among the faithful, the annual season opener is as much about the partying as it is the football. This year's first victim is the Philadelphia Eagles. It's the first time they've faced the Browns in the season opener since 1969, and it's the 13th time in 14 years the Browns have opened their season in Cleveland. And all 13 of those years, the tailgating has been way better than the team, so be sure to keep your priorities in order.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Sep. 15
Nautica Entertainment Complex,
2000 Sycamore St., the Flats
216-221-1389
clevelanddragonboatfestival.com
Put 20 rowers, one drummer, and a badass steersman in a 40-foot boat alongside a bunch of other boats just like it on the Cuyahoga River, and you've got one fierce event. Dragon boats have been around for more than 2,000 years in China, but they get only one day of celebration each year in Cleveland. The Dragon Boat Festival focuses on fun and teamwork for rowers of all ages. (Teams participate to raise money for the Gathering Place.) If you want to enter, it's $850 per team of 21 or more, but you can watch for free.
OHIO MART
Oct. 4-7
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens,
714 N. Portage Path, Akron
330-836-5533, stanhywet.org
Come mingle with the masses at the 45th annual Ohio Mart. The outdoor show of fine arts and crafts features more than 125 artisans and craftspeople for you to enjoy against the backdrop of the historic grounds of Akron's Stan Hywet Hall.
SEASON-LONG FUN
OLD FIREHOUSE CRAFT FAIRS
May 2-Sep. 8
Saturdays and select Sundays
The Landing Festival Marketplace,
Lake Rd., Geneva-on-the-Lake
440-466-9300, oldfirehousewinery.com
Enjoy a leisurely weekend on the lake and browse the fair's selection of unique crafts and jewelry while you take in the scenery. This craft fair also has the benefit of having a winery on site, so make sure you stop in and have a Merlot — or two — and enjoy yourself.
ROCKIN' ON THE RIVER
May 25-Aug. 31
Falls River Square, Cuyahoga Falls
330-730-7591, rockinontheriver.com
AC/DC, Van Halen, Meatloaf, and even the Eagles are congregating in Cuyahoga Falls this summer to blast crowds with their big hits. Well, it's actually their cover-band counterparts playing the biggest weekly party on the Cuyahoga. But that's pretty awesome too. As Northeast Ohio's longest-running and highest-attended outdoor concert series, Rockin' on the River will feature 13 Friday-night concerts this summer, hosting the nation's top classic-rock tribute bands. Bring your family, feast on fair food, check out vendors selling shirts and jewelry, get an airbrush tattoo, then kick back with a Bud and howl "Free Bird!" during Vicious Cycle's set. (It's OK, they're a Skynyrd tribute band.) Admission is free.
2012 SUMMER EXCITEMENT
May 29-Sept.15
Playhouse Square District,
Downtown Cleveland
216-640-8657, playhousesquare.org
The Playhouse Square District will be a flurry of outdoor activity this summer as they present more than 70 free events during the fleeting warm months. Summer Excitement 2012 at Playhouse Square's goal is to build a thriving downtown neighborhood and will feature a variety of lunchtime and after-work events like exercise classes, cornhole tournaments, and an outdoor concert series. Don't forget they're all free.
WOW! WADE OVAL WEDNESDAYS
June 13-Aug. 29
University Circle, 1 Wade Oval Dr.
216-707-5033, universitycircle.org
Wade Oval makes an outdoor gala out of every Wednesday this summer. More than 10,000 visitors will leave life's baggage at home this summer and bring their families, friends, and blankets to dance, unwind, and enjoy the music. Surrounded by the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Wade Oval isthe perfectgreen space for a little music.It's particularly ideal for Latin & World Beat Orchestra music on June 13, and Wild Horses will be rocking the crowd with party music on July 11. There will be 11 concerts in all, along with occasional movie events after the music (on July 25 and August 15), where you can munch on popcorn and yell out your favorite lines Best of all, it's free.
FESTIVAL SEASON
AT NELSON LEDGES
12001 Nelson Ledges Rd., Garrettsville
440-548-2716, nlqp.com
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park is a Northeast Ohio institution. You'll find heaven on earth here, played out during summer weekends filled with camping, music, icy cold ones from the cooler, and a crystal-clear quarry for swimming. Most of the festivals are multi-day events. Ticket prices depend on when you get there and how long you stay. A weekend pass includes camping, swimming, and music, music, music. The 2012 season is filled with hippie-happy festivals. Here's a sample platter: Spring Hookah is lined up for Memorial Day weekend, Classic Fest will highlight June, and July will feature Gratefulfest.
BEREA FAIRGROUNDS
FLEA MARKETS
Most Saturdays and
Sundays through October
Berea Fairgrounds,
164 Eastland Rd., Berea
440-752-3013, cuyfair.com
If you're an old-timer weeping nostalgic tears at the mere thought of the defunct Memphis Triple Flea Market, prepare to inflate with joy. Well, inflate with something — perhaps untold mountains of fabulous flea-type acquisitions from the fairgrounds, where many of the Memphis Triple vendors are rumored to have taken up shop in recent times. This is the real deal, where commerce meets streetwise in the most organic sense.
