CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The weather is warming up in Northeast Ohio this weekend, creating the perfect opportunity to get out and have some fun. There is a plethora of events to choose from, from a time-honored family tradition in Geauga County to one of the biggest boat shows in the region.
Geauga County Maple Festival
Now in its 93rd year, Geauga County’s signature event of the season celebrates the year’s maple production with a parade, amusement rides, live music, carnival food, games and contests. Free admission. All-day ride passes start at $20.
Chardon Square, Chardon
Now through April 28
Catawba Island Boat Show
This 19th annual show is known as the largest spring boat show on the Great Lakes, with more than 100 vessels on display ranging from small kayaks to 70-foot-plus motor yachts. The event also features boating seminars, live music, food trucks, a kids’ play zone and more. General admission $10.
4235 Beach Club Rd., Port Clinton
April 26-28
American Roots Music Festival
If you’re a fan of americana, folk or roots music, head to downtown Kent on Friday. This sixth-annual music fest boasts more than 20 dozen bands playing at venues across the city. Enjoy live performances from acts like The Shootouts, Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts, Colin John & Long Tall Deb, Maura Rogers & The Bellows and more.
Various venues
4 p.m.-midnight, April 26
BoyWithUke at House of Blues
Korean American recording artist, TikTok sensation and international man of mystery BoyWithUke brings his unique brand of alt-pop to House of Blues Cleveland. Tickets $25-$65.
308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
8 p.m., April 26
Holden Forests & Gardens is offering free admission to both the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum on Arbor Day, Friday April 26. (Photo courtesy Holden Forests & Gardens)Holden Forests & Gardens
Arbor Day
Contrary to what Sally Brown (Charlie’s sister) thought, Arbor Day isn’t the day when all the ships come sailing into the arbor. It’s a time to celebrate the planting and care of trees. In honor of the holiday, Holden Forests & Gardens is offering free admission to both the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Holden Arboretum on Friday.
Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 26
Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland
9 a.m.-5 p.m., April 26
Medina Beer Fest
The Medina County Fairgrounds Community Center is a beer enthusiasts’ paradise on Saturday. More than 25 regional breweries will have 70+ craft brews to sample at this 11th annual event. You’ll also find live music, food, raffles and games, too. Tickets $15-$100.
735 Lafayette Rd., Medina
6:30-10:30 p.m., April 27
The mission of Lake Metroparks' annual Lamb Jam is to help visitors understand how sheep provide farmers with food to put on the table and wool to produce clothing and other textiles.Michelle Romeo, Lake Metroparks
Lamb Jam
If you love, ahem, sheep thrills, Lake Metroparks Farmpark is promising a wooly good time at its annual Lamb Jam. Folks can help shear a sheep, spin wool, weave on a loom, learn to make felt and even take a photo with Little Bo Peep and her real live sheep. Admission $7-$9.
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland
Cleveland Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty”
The region’s premier ballet company brings the magical and timeless story of Princess Aurora, Prince Phillip and the Wicked Fairy to life at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace. Tickets $28-$131.
1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
April 25-27
clevelandballet.org/sleeping-beauty
Related: Cleveland Ballet to end season with ambitious, fairytale production of classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’
Cleveland Play House presents “Amadeus”
Jealousy, revenge and recorded musical selections from the Cleveland Orchestra are on the menu at Playhouse Square’s Outcalt Theatre for this dramatic adaptation of the Oscar-winning film about rival composers Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Tickets $25-$75.
1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Now through April 28
Ronny Chieng at Playhouse Square
Get ready to laugh as standup comedian, “The Daily Show” correspondent and “Joy Ride” actor Ronny Chieng visits Playhouse Square as his “The Love To Hate It” world tour makes a stop at the Ohio Mimi Theatre. Tickets $38.50-$58.50.
1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
7 p.m., April 26
Steve Trevino at MGM Northfield Park
Spend an evening with Steve Trevino, the standup comedian who has earned the nickname “America’s favorite husband.” In his most recent special, “I Speak Wife,” the funny man riffs on raising a kid, being his wife’s Instagram photographer and more. 21 & over only. Tickets $32.50-$72.50.
10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield
8 p.m., April 27
mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com
Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Music Center
Acclaimed pianist Beatrice Rana joins the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s spectacular “Second Piano Concerto.” David Afkham conducts a program that also includes Unsuk Chin’s “subito con forza” and Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra.” Tickets $45-$180.
11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
April 26-28
Apollo’s Fire presents Bach’s Easter Oratorio
Join Cleveland’s Baroque orchestra for a rare performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Easter masterpiece as conductor Jeannette Sorrell leads soloists, a choir, three trumpets and a festive orchestra in this thrilling program. Visiting scholar Michael Marissen presents a pre-concert talk an hour before each performance. Tickets $10-$75.
7:30 p.m., April 25 at Federated Church, 76 Bell Street, Chagrin Falls
7:30 p.m., April 26 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 525 Dover Center Rd., Bay Village
8 p.m., April 27 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1361 West Market St., Akron
5 p.m., April 28 at Church of the Gesu, 2470 Miramar Blvd., University Heights
Dobama Theatre's production of "Significant Other" by Joshua Harmon and directed by Colin Anderson opens this Friday and runs through May 19.Dobama Theatre
“Significant Other” at Dobama Theatre
Cleveland’s Off-Broadway theater presents this refreshing spin on the traditional romantic comedy, focusing on the gay best friend who keeps losing his BFF girlfriends to marriage. Tickets $15-$45.
2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
April 26-May 19
Near West Theatre’s “The Prom”
In this uplifting musical, a group of former Broadway stars looking to revive their struggling careers converge in a conservative town to support a student banned from taking her girlfriend to the prom. Tickets $5-$50.
6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Now through April 28
A room in the Cleveland Museum of Art's "Africa and Byzantium'' exhibition evokes the spatial format of a traditional Ethiopian Christian church.Steven Litt, cleveland.com
“Africa & Byzantium” at Cleveland Museum of Art
CMA’s flagship spring exhibition features more than 160 works, tracing the influence of Christianity through the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire and the expansion of Islam starting in the fourth century. Tickets $12-$15. Free for members.
11150 East Blvd., Cleveland
Now through July 21
Related: Cleveland Museum of Art transcends Eurocentric art history in ‘Africa and Byzantium’