By Katrina Frei-Herman
Summer is a great time to be with family and friends or just take time to relax and unwind. But with so much free time, sometimes it can be hard to think what to do. Here are some activities to do in Cleveland during the summer!
- Cleveland Museum of Art- Anytime
- This is always a great way to experience culture and art. And the best thing: it is free!
- http://www.clevelandart.org
- Taste of Tremont- Sunday, July 10th
- Get sample of your favorite local food at a low-cost. This is a great way to find a new favorite restaurant and to explore one of the best Cleveland neighborhoods.
- http://tasteoftremont.com
- Grog Shop
- The Grog Shop has relatively cheap concerts almost every night in the summer.
- For the schedule: http://www.grogshop.gs/calendar/
- Botanical Garden
- Whether to look at the blooming flowers, beautiful butterflies, or tropical trees, a trip to this place guarantees beauty every time!
- http://www.cbgarden.org
- Nautica Queen Cruise
- Sometimes, the best way to enjoy Cleveland is to pretend you are a tourist. This cruise is one of the best ways to do so! This boat will take you out onto the Cuyahoga River and allow you to see Cleveland from a new perspective
- http://www.nauticaqueen.com
- Wade Oval Wednesdays- Wednesday from June 15th until August 31st
- Every Wednesday (weather permitting) University Circle hosts a local band to play for a free evening concert. This is a great way to relax mid-week. Additionally, there is local food vendors and artists so you can do a little shopping while listening to great music.
- http://www.universitycircle.org/events/2012/06/wow-wade-oval-wednesdays
- Indians’ Games
- This is a classic American summer activity that is easily accessible and relatively inexpensive. And who doesn’t want to have a little Cleveland pride?
- http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/schedule/?c_id=cle
- The Lake Country Captains’ Games
- Can’t get enough baseball? This minor league team is known to bring a high level of energy to the crowd! And with the tickets starting as low as $9, the price is pretty hard to beat!
- http://lakecounty.captains.milb.com/schedule/index.jsp?sid=t437
- Cleveland Flea- June 11th, July 9th, August 13th
- Who doesn’t love local shopping, delicious food, and meeting new people? This relatively new project has attracted some of the best local artists and you are bound to find a unique treasure! Even if you don’t want to shop, there is just so much to look at!
- http://www.theclevelandflea.com
- Sonic Sessions at the Rock Hall
- This summer, the Rock Hall of Fame is bringing upcoming stars to perform! There will be talented artists such as the Struts and the London Souls. These inexpensive concerts ($5) are a great way to meet new people, find new favorite artists, and just listen to some really good music.
- https://rockhall.com/events/sonic-sessions/
- Coventry Community Events
- Since it is only 10 minutes from school, Coventry is a very accessible and adorable neighborhood. This summer, they are going to be hosting free events every Saturday. There will be anything from concerts, to skateboarding, pinball, and a sidewalk sale. Also, on Thursday and Friday nights, there will be movies being played outdoors in the park!
- http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/coventry_road_in_cleveland_hei.html
- Citizens Cinema at Sunset series at Edgewater park
- A beach, free movies, and friends? Sounds quite enjoyable to me! The Cleveland Metroparks is going to be hosting movie night every Sunday night, so gather your blankets, sit back, and watch the movie under the stars.
- http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150521/NEWS/150529955/cleveland-metroparks-to-show-movies-at-edgewater-park-this-summer
- Parade the Circle- June 11th
- On this special day, University Circle becomes alive with brightly colored costumes and lively music filling the streets. For over 26 years, the Cleveland Museum of Art has been recruiting artists from all over the world to create masterpieces that will walk the streets. This event is great if you want to experience different cultures without even stepping out of your own city!
- http://www.clevelandart.org/events/special-events/parade-the-circle/about
- Mitchell’s Ice Cream in Ohio City
- Of course you can do this at anytime, but summer wouldn’t be summer without a good ice cream scoop or two. At the Ohio City location, you are able to see how all of it is made, ensuring you that you are eating the best quality possible. Also, every season Mitchell’s has new signature flavors so you have to try all of them before time runs out!
- http://mitchellshomemade.com
- Cedar Point
- If you are looking for the classic thrill, you are in luck because Cleveland has the world’s best rollercoaster park in the world! While being not technically in Cleveland, it is still a super easy day trip and will make memories for a lifetime!
- https://www.cedarpoint.com
- Attend a concert
- Cleveland has some amazing bands coming this summer. For more information look at Val Mischka’s article: https://hbinretrospect.com/2016/04/24/concerts-springsummer-2016/
- Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Concerts
- Whether you are looking to culture yourself, hear some of the world’s best musicians, or just sit back and listen, the Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom series will never disappoint you. They play anything from Mozart to Led Zeppelin, and bring in famous musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma. Tickets are cheap for the lawn, and 2 people under the age of 18 are permitted with every adult ticket purchased!
- http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/plan-your-visit/blossom-music-center/
- Drive-In Movie
- Want to kick it back to the 50s? Drive-in movies are a dying pastime that used to be all the rage when our grandparents were teenagers. The great thing about them too is most movies are double features, the whole car costs $20, and you get the comfort of sitting in your own seats. Try to experience this before they become completely extinct.
- http://autoramadrivein.com – North Ridgeville
- http://funflick.com/mayfield.html – Chardon
- http://funflick.com/midway.html -Ravenna
- Home days
- Countless cities have home days which celebrate their city and its accomplishments. At these festivals, there is typically carnival food, games and rides.
- http://www.solonohio.org/908/Home-Days – Solon
- https://fireworksinohio.com/events/brecksville-homedays/ – Brecksville
- http://www.twinsdays.org -Twinsburg
There are many amazing things to do in Cleveland this summer, so get out and experience the best of the amazing city you live in!