Springtime in Cleveland comes hard-earned. We’ve made it through the ice and slush of another Northeast Ohio winter, and we’re ready to be rewarded for our endurance. Soon we’ll be drinking patio beers and tanning at Edgewater Park, but in the meantime, we’ll happily make do with longer, warmer days and all that spring in Cleveland has to offer -- namely outdoor concerts, food festivals, and a whole lot more listed below. Here’s your definitive guide to all the events you should be excited about in CLE this spring.
Celebrate Restaurant Week
March 18-30
Various locations
For 14 years now, the restaurants of Cleveland Independents have brought us Restaurant Week, a celebration of much-vaunted local eateries that actually lasts nearly two weeks. Participating restaurants offer three-course prix fixes for a flat rate of $33 -- a fraction of what you’d pay for a regular dinner at pricy joints like Pier W.
Cost: $33
Laugh along with Michelle Wolf
March 22
Severance Hall
Courtesy of Case Western’s University Program Board, comedienne Michelle Wolf brings her side-splitting routine to Cleveland’s stunning concert hall. The show starts at 7pm, and she’ll be joined by her comedic co-performer, Ken Jeong.
Cost: $10 and up
Save the pups at Namastray Cleveland
March 24
GLO Cleveland
We’ll bet goat yoga is a great time, but this charity event incorporates puppies into your lotus pose! (Insert downward facing dog joke here.) A portion of the proceeds will go to help local strays.
Cost: $35
Get Creepy with Playhouse Square Ghost Tours
March 25
Connor Palace
Like any great historic theater, Connor Palace has (reputedly) had its share of ghosts over the course of the last century or so. The recently-formed Cleveland Area Paranormal Society will be leading tours tackling that haunted history, followed by a Jazz Age-style party with cocktails and tarot readings.
Cost: $35
See arthouse flicks at the Cleveland International Film Festival
March 27-April 7
Various locations
There are 71 countries represented among the 200-plus films in this year’s CIFF, so you can enjoy a healthy dose of international culture without leaving your home city. The vast majority of feature films will be shown in the comforting darkness of the old-school Tower City Cinemas, and there are more than 200 short films on show too.
Cost: $16 per ticket for non-members
See the Indians’ opening home game
April 1
Jacobs Field
As the Indians embark on their first official Wahoo-less season (‘bout time), what will we see? Kipnis playing a sexy sax? Tito drinking Tito’s? Some white dude in red-face and a headdress? Probably at least one of those. Their first home match of the Major League Baseball season is against the Chicago White Sox, so head along and show your boys some support.
Cost: Sold out currently, but take to the Internet
Go old school with Eric B. & Rakim
April 3
House of Blues
It’s been over 30 years since Eric B. & Rakim’s game-changing debut, Paid in Full. In honor of that landmark, the Golden Age hip-hop duo have reunited for a tour that brings its slick funkiness to Cleveland this April.
Cost: $35 and up
Run the Land, eat the ice cream
April 3
Mason’s
The best (and only) ice cream/ramen shop in town, Mason’s, opens scoop-slinging season with a 5-mile run around historic Ohio City. Treat yo’self afterward with a scoop! PSA: Mason’s ends its everyday ramen operation March 24.
Cost: Free run!
The Phaaaantom Of The Opera is here
April 3-20
KeyBank State Theatre
This isn’t Phantom’s first time playing the State Theatre, and it won’t be its last. Still, if this spectacle of organ rock and plunging chandeliers is for you, snap up your tickets now.
Cost: $40 and up
Assemble for United We Brunch
April 6
The Madison
If you want to achieve Peak Millennial, then go to this annual Saturday brunch party. There’ll be drink tickets and unlimited brunch samples from local spots like Blue Habanero and Paladar.
Cost: $45 and up
Welcome to the Space Jam (Space Jam)
April 6-7
Cedar Lee
You don’t care that all the critics hated Space Jam, because it was the best. And in the nostalgic glow of the Cedar Lee’s projectors, with a pint of Dortmunder in your cup-holder, it will continue to be the best.
Cost: $6
Fire up your loud for Lil Jon
April 12
Barley House
Regardless of whether or not the President knows who Lil Jon is, you know and love him, Jonathan Smith, aka the King of Crunk. And now you can see him DJ a party on West 6th Street.
Cost: $20 and up
Laugh with Jonathan Van Ness (instead of crying)
April 13
Masonic Cleveland
Queer Eye’s style icon and generally lovable dude Jonathan Van Ness brings his comedy show -- focused on his efforts to become a world-class figure skater by the 2022 Olympics -- to CLE.
Cost: $45-$55
Hit the trails
April 13
Merwin’s Wharf
Celebrate Opening Day of Trails nationwide by hiking or cycling along the Cuyahoga. There’ll be tours of the upcoming Redline Greenway (CLE’s answer to NYC’s High Line), and chances to win hiking swag.
Cost: Free
Experience the Power of Sour
April 13
Platform Beer Co.
The playful brewers of Platform are gathering sour beers from around the world for a mini-festival of sorts at their flagship brewery. If you haven’t hopped on the sour train yet, now’s the time to challenge your palate.
Cost: No admission! But bring money for beer, obviously.
Get spaced out for Yuri's Night
April 13
Great Lakes Science Center
It’s fun to revisit Great Lakes Science Center as an adult. It’s even more fun to visit after dark, when there’s dancing, drinking, and people dressed like robots. That’s what you’ll get at the Science Center’s annual fundraiser.
Cost: $75 and up
Experience enchanting Indian classical music
April 17-28
Cleveland State University
You probably didn’t know that Cleveland is host to the largest festival of Indian classical music (outside of India) in the world. But now that you do, you should check it out for the music and dancing. The 42nd edition of the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival runs for 12 days, and they’re expecting over 8,000 attendees.
Cost: Most events are free and open to the public
Do Dyngus Day the Cleveland way
April 22
Gordon Square
We won’t take the time to explain the pierogi-eating, beer-guzzling, polka-filled celebration of Dyngus Day here. We’ll just tell you to call off work the day after Easter. And maybe the day after that too.
Cost: Free. Śmigus-dyngus!
Go on a Critter-themed Bar Crawl
April 27
Flying Monkey Pub
Winking Lizard, Harry Buffalo, Velvet Dog -- it turns out Cleveland has a lot of bars named for animals. At the 6th Annual Cleveland Animals Bar Crawl, you can patronize them all while supporting the Land’s Animal Protective League.
Cost: $30 and up
Talk Derby To Me 2019
May 4
Forest City Brewery
We’re not huge Derby fans or anything, but we really thought this name was funny. Plus, Forest City is still the reigning king of atmosphere and interesting events among Cleveland’s breweries, so this fundraiser for Cleveland Clinic research is well worth a visit.
Cost: $35 and up
Ali Wong: The Milk & Money Tour
May 3
Masonic Cleveland
Known for her wicked, acerbic wit, Ali Wong sprang to success with 2016’s special Baby Cobra. Expect material on marriage, motherhood, and representation for Asian-Americans.
Cost: $40 and up
Reckon with history at Station Hope
May 4
St. John's Episcopal Church
Cleveland Public Theatre puts on this annual celebration of social justice history with a day of theatrical pieces, storytelling, music, and dance at Cleveland’s first underground railroad destination.
Cost: Free
X Gon Give It To Ya
May 5
House of Blues
DMX, the man who elevated gravelly shouting at listeners to an art form, brings his 20th anniversary tour to Cleveland. We don’t understand why it’s named after his 1998 debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, but we’re hoping X’s voice will be as gruff as ever.
Cost: $38 and up
Get in trouble with the MGMT
May 11
Masonic Cleveland
The mid-aughts psychedelic rockers are touring to support their newest release, an album with the wonderfully grim title, Little Dark Age.
Cost: $40 and up
Imbibe under the sea
May 17
Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Sharks and alcohol: not a good combination in open water. That said, it’s a winning pairing at the Cleveland Aquarium’s cleverly named Adult Swim, a beer and wine tasting featuring locally made drinks from the likes of Great Lakes Brewing, and snacks from Cleveland Pickle, CLE Cookie Dough and more.
Cost: $40
Experience Asiatown at its most awesome
May 18-19
Asiatown
We’re not convinced Clevelanders fully understand the understated greatness of Asiatown, so we encourage all of you to check out the dancing, fashion, and food that will be part of the Cleveland Asian Festival as it enters its tenth year.
Cost: Free admission
Get Bubblin’ with Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
May 20
Jacobs Pavilion
If there’s a pop song you loved in the past year -- “thank u, next” or “High Hopes,” say -- there’s like a 50-50 shot Anderson .Paak co-wrote it. The talented rapper, singer, and multi-instrumentalist takes to the Pavilion with backing band The Free Nationals, with Earl Sweatshirt and Thundercat supporting.
Cost: $40 and up
Count it down with The 5678's with Cotton Ponys
May 24
Beachland Ballroom
This Japanese trio, best known for their memorable turn in the nightclub in Kill Bill Vol. 1, brings their rockabilly sound to Cleveland’s best small venue.
Cost: $20 - $22
Eat your way through the Flats
May 24-26
Flats East Bank
Greet the start of Patio Season with Scene’s Taste of Summer on the East Bank. Think of it as a county fair, but the food is classier and the drinks are the rides. Maybe the river is the rides?
Cost: Free admission
Stuff yourself silly at the Berea Rib Cook-Off
May 24-27
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds
Now that Cleveland’s Great American Rib Cook-Off has been cancelled, our region turns its hungry eyes to Berea and its low-cost Memorial Day rib-stravaganza.
Cost: $5 each day
Laugh out loud with Jay Pharoah
May 24-26
Pickwick and Frolic
Whether you know him for playing President Obama or Principal Daniel Frye, you likely know the comic stylings of Jay Pharoah. He brings his masterful impressions to the Pickwick main stage for Memorial Day weekend.
Cost: $30
Get informed with Trevor Noah
May 25
Hard Rock Rocksino
The Daily Show host and author returns to the Land’s worst-named venue to talk politics on his Loud and Clear tour.
Cost: $65 and up
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