If you chose Cleveland as your Eclipse destination, you know that we have out-of-this world events to commemorate the momentous occasion. But there’s more to see and celebrate over the weekend! So while you’re here, make sure to check out these other happenings around town:
Kick off your weekend another exciting event: the NCAA® Women’s Final Four®. Gather with other basketball fans for Tourney Town. This free, family-friendly festival, featuring an NCAA® alumni meet and greet, a performance from Cleveland's School of Rock, and the professional development-focused “Beyond the Baseline” series. There will be plenty of food available at the Huntington Convention Center over the weekend, but it’s also a chance to take a break from the festivities to try the best of the best restaurants and bars in Downtown Cleveland.
Stick around Downtown for CIFF at Playhouse Square. It might be impossible to catch all 137 feature films and 225 short films, but you can try your best. And if those stats weren’t cool enough, here’s one more: The films represent 60 countries. This cinematic tour de force starts on April 3 (if you want to get here early) and lasts until April 13. If you don’t get a chance to see everything, don’t worry! Catch shows online from April 14–21 with CIFF48 Streams.
After an exciting day watching the Total Solar Eclipse, unwind with America’s favorite pastime: baseball. Or if you want to head to Progressive Field a little sooner, the gates will open at 2 p.m. for a truly all-inclusive Eclipse experience. Cheer on the Guards Cleveland-style with an ice cold beer — plus maybe some peanuts and crackerjacks.
You’ll be over the moon with this film noir-inspired set from The Cleveland Orchestra. Composer and conductor John Adams diverges from darker undertones to mythological forest vibes as he showcases Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.” And “Breathing Forests” — a love song to California forests — shows off the newly restored Norton Memorial Organ, featuring James McVinnie.
For over 50 years, Great Lakes Theater has performed hit after hit at Playhouse Square’s Hanna Theatre. And this play is no exception. Check out the Shakespearean classic, “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” all Eclipse weekend for some belly laughs. Sir John Falstaff attempts to make the two wealthiest (and married) women in town fall in love with him — in an attempt to steal their money, of course. But instead, he gets his just deserts.
For all the art lovers out there, the Cleveland Museum of Art is a must-stop museum. It’s consistently ranked one of the best art museums in the country. (Don’t just take our word for it.) And the pièce de résistance? Every Clevelander will shout it from the rooftops: It’s free! Even many of the special exhibits that roll through, like “Six Dynasties of Chinese Painting,” are totally open to the public. So go check out some influential paintings that span themes, across six dynasties.