CLEVELAND (July 23, 2019)— The CLE is chock-full of events and activities this summer, providing many opportunities for a family day of fun. With kids still enjoying a school-free schedule, there’s no better time to check out all that The Land offers. Whether it’s indoor or outdoor activities, a festival or a garden, Destination Cleveland recommends that locals take in family-friendly activities in Northeast Ohio.
EVENTS
Cleveland Public Library 150th Anniversary Street Festival
To celebrate its 150
th anniversary and thank the community, Cleveland Public Library is hosting a
free, daylong festival. The event will take place rain or shine, and residents can expect many activities and entertainment. During the day, families can check out the puppet parade, balloon animal creations, a bold and colorful inflatable public art installation and other performances. During the evening hours, there will be comedy, art exhibits, a beer garden and a dance party.
- Cleveland Public Library Main Campus (Superior Ave. between E. 3rd and E. 6th Streets)
- Saturday, July 27, 1 - 10 p.m.
American Dance Festival in CLE Summer Dance Festival
DANCECleveland is collaborating with the iconic American Dance Festival (ADF) for the
3rd annual ADF in CLE Summer Dance Festival. This year’s festival will feature two performances, “BalletX” and “Malpaso,” and a four-day workshop series for dancers with the ADF faculty. Locals can even show off their best dance moves at the ADF in CLE Community Dance Day, which includes community dance classes, professional development seminars, a free student showcase and a silent disco party.
Puerto Rican Parade and Festival
Families can celebrate Cleveland’s rich Puerto Rican culture and community at the annual
Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. Residents can watch as the floats and parade participants weave through the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, and after the parade wraps up, the festival at Roberto Clemente Park will feature live music, dancing, food and other vendors. Sammy De Leόn, Grupo Fuego and the Latin Dance Rebels are just a few of the performers taking the stage during the festival.
- Sunday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Parade begins at 11 a.m.
- Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood, Roberto Clemente Park; Parade begins at corner of Fulton Road and Trowbridge Ave.
Cuyahoga County Fair
Locals can visit the
Cuyahoga County Fair for fresh produce, fluffy funnel cakes and dazzling fireworks. From eating apple dumplings to square dancing to watching special events like the Tuff Trucks & Power Wheels Demo Derby, the 2019 Demolition Derby and the Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau Pedal Tractor Pull, the Cuyahoga County Fair has something to pique the interest of everyone in the family. Thanks to Amusements of America, the fair offers more spectacular rides than ever before for the kids, including the Ferris Wheel, Super Slide and Kiddie Land.
- Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds & Event Center, Middleburg Heights
- Tuesday, Aug. 6 - Friday, Aug. 9, noon - 11 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 11, noon - 10 p.m.
Feast of the Assumption
One more reason to visit Cleveland’s historic
Little Italy and experience the rich culture of the neighborhood is the annual Feast of the Assumption. The five-block outdoor festival begins Thursday, Aug. 15 and features live music, carnival rides, church activities and, of course, all that great Italian food. The festivities end Sunday night with a procession to commemorate the Catholic holy day of the Assumption.
- Holy Rosary Church, 12021 Mayfield Road, Cleveland
- Thursday, Aug. 15, noon - 11 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m. - midnight; Saturday, Aug. 17, noon - midnight; Sunday, Aug. 18, noon - 11 p.m.
Flats Festival of Arts
As one of the hottest places in town with new dining and entertainment venues and a swath of outdoor patios along the Cuyahoga River, the
Flats East Bank offers some flat out amazing art at Flats Festival of the Arts. From ceramics to woodwork, to photography and painting, there will be hundreds of artists from around the country displaying their work. The festival will also feature many of the region's most talented musicians and dancers. A wide selection of food and beverages will be available including, Flats East Bank's onsite dining and entertainment establishments. To round out their art experience, locals can bop over to
SPARX City Hop presented by Downtown Cleveland Alliance, which offers plenty of entertainment from artist galleries to live, local music performances.
- Flats Festival of the Arts, Saturday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- SPARX City Hop, Saturday, Aug. 17, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
Go Ape Zip Line at the Mill Stream Run Reservation
For views high above the Cleveland Metroparks,
Go Ape Zip Line is an interactive outdoor experience featuring zip lines and awesome obstacles. Visitors can take the Treetop Adventure, which is no average canopy tour. This aerial expedition places the spotlight on the natural beauty of the Ohio woodlands, letting nature inspire visitors to new heights. A high-ropes course, which includes suspended obstacles, swings and breathtaking zip lines engage every sense in a fully immersive and visually stunning forest setting.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Residents can take their families to the
Cleveland Botanical Garden, which features acres of plants and flowers from around the globe. Kids will enjoy the Hershey Children’s Garden, where they can create mud pies at the potting bench, listen to stories in the treehouse and explore in nature’s playground. Families can also immerse themselves in the daily butterfly release in the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse as they witness newly hatched butterflies take flight for the first time.
- 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark
For hands-on family fun like milking a cow, taking a wagon ride and meeting over 50 breeds of farm animals, Clevelanders can head to the
Lake Metroparks Farmpark. Kids can get up close with their favorite farm animals and learn how farmers care for them, or they can explore the hydroponics greenhouse and grow in their knowledge of plant life and renewable energy. And families should be sure to mark their calendar for an end of summer celebration with the corn maze grand opening and corn roast in August.
- 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland
- Tuesday - Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ATTRACTIONS IN CLE
A Christmas Story House
Destination Cleveland triple-dog dares locals and their visitors to admire the glowing leg lamp, grimace in a pink bunny suit or take a selfie next to the Christmas tree at
A Christmas Story House. Locals can hold the Red Ryder BB gun, while being careful not to shoot their eye out, and purchase replicas at the nearby museum giftshop. The museum features original props, costumes, memorabilia and behind-the-scenes photos from the film. And for superfans, both A Christmas Story House and the neighboring Bumpus House offer
overnight stays.
- 3159 W. 11th St., Cleveland
- Daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Science Center
Whether locals have questions about Cleveland’s maritime history, space exploration or cool scientific questions, such as “why is this sky blue,”
Great Lakes Science Center has the answer. Families can channel their inner scientists with workshops or by visiting the Polymer Funhouse for kids seven and under. Guests can also check out the
Vroom! A Car Adventure exhibit, where they will learn all about science, technology, engineering and math and automobiles.
- 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland
- Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
For all things child’s play, families can visit the
Children's Museum of Cleveland. Located in a former millionaire’s row mansion, it features a two-story city-themed playground with a market, construction site and garage and an industrial science lab that features huge water tables and areas that allow kids to shoot scarves through twisty tubes. Kids can even create and star in their own productions in the theater exhibit.
- 3813 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.
INDOOR FUN
The Corner Alley Downtown
Located along the popular East 4
th Street entertainment district,
The Corner Alley has several activities for the whole family. Guests can lace up their bowling shoes and try for strikes and spares on the lanes or play the different arcades games. And before or after the competition heats up, they can grab a bite to eat off the restaurant’s huge menu.
- 402 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
- Monday - Thursday, Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Perplexity Games
Residents can get the family together for some teamwork as they work their way through mind-boggling mazes at
Perplexity Games. Residents get to search for hidden clues and use logic to crack codes to solve an interactive adventure game. Guests can choose from mazes such as the Eliot Ness investigation, where they are hired to investigate a corrupt city commissioner with an hour to find the evidence needed to take him down.
- 2515 Jay Ave. #B3, Cleveland
- For more information on booking an escape room, please visit www.perplexitygames.com
Adrenaline Monkey
Thrill-seeking individuals can visit
Adrenaline Monkey, an indoor adventure center that’s just brimming with action. Guests can show off their skills in the ninja warrior course, aerial ropes or wall climbing. For those looking to take part (without the heights), they can try skill-testing in the arcade with activities that hone their eye-to-hand coordination and improve reflexes and timing.
- 26800 Renaissance Parkway, Cleveland
- Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tabletop Board Game Café
Tabletop is Cleveland's first board game café offering more than 1,000 different games, from classics such as Monopoly to new strategy games such as Game of Thrones: The Board Game. Families can choose their favorites or even ask staff for recommendations. Locals can also check out unique trivia nights every Tuesday with topics that range from history to pop culture to geography to “what’s that smell?” With a full menu of comfort food and beverages, Tabletop Board Game Café skips the boredom and allows guests to indulge in some fun and friendly gaming.
- 1810 W 25th St., Cleveland
- Tuesday - Thursday, 4 - 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact the team through email at
cleconcierge@destinationcle.org, live chat at
thisiscleveland.com, or stop in the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) Mon. – Sat., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. to plan your adventure.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.