Things to Do This Weekend In Cleveland: Aug. 20-23

Thursday, Aug. 20 

Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year's festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. on select evenings. Check the zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23. 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com 

Jon Batiste with The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center
Multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste joins the Cleveland Orchestra to play a mix of originals and classics. Batiste does it all. He's a producer, bandleader and actor who has won Grammys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs. Last year's Big Money shows off his musical range as Batiste embraces R&B ("Lean on My Love") and pop ("Do It All Again"). The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

California Dreamin': A 1966 Folk-Rock Concert by New Long Road at Cain Park
The local group New Long Road plays a special folk-rock concert at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The concert will feature the band's take on folk-rock hits from the 1960s. It begins at 8 p.m. 14591 Superior Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com

Guardians vs. San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field
The Guardians play the lowly San Francisco Giants, one of the National League’s worst teams, for the one-and-only time this regular season. The three-game series starts with Thursday's game. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. at Progressive Field. 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, 216-420-4487, mlb.com

Dave Landau at Hilarities
Last Comic Standing has introduced us to dozens of incredible comedians, but none quite like Dave Landau. Sharp, dark and sarcastic, Landau's standup act is standup for the cynic. He puts a new twist on the typically goofy nature of live comedy. He performs at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Hilarities. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com

Friday, Aug. 21

African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration at the Cleveland History Center
Roxanne Shante, one of the first female hip-hop stars, and Cleveland hip-hop trailblazer Kevin “MC Chill” Heard will be on hand for this two-day conference and celebration that takes place at the Cleveland History Center. The event will honor the 40th anniversary of MC Chill becoming Cleveland’s first national rap recording artist. 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-5722, wrhs.org

Empire of the Sun at Blossom Music Center
The rock band brings its theatrical new tour to Blossom. The group's 2024 album, Ask That God, features dreamy pop tunes such as "Changes" and the '80s-inspired synth-pop number "The Feeling You Get." The show starts at 7 p.m. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

Corey Holcomb at the Funny Bone
After debuting at an open mic night in 1992, comedian Corey Holcomb has gone on to take top honors at numerous comedy festivals, along with appearing at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the Chicago Comedy Festival. He performs at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and at 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m. on Saturday night at the Funny Bone. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com

India Ramey at Beachland Tavern
A former prosecutor, singer-songwriter Indie Ramey has drawn comparisons to people like Loretta Lynn. She comes to the Beachland Tavern on Friday at 8 p.m. as part of a tour in support of her new album, Villain Era. The folk-rock duo Devin Tuel & Stephen Harms open. 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

Joshua Redman at Cain Park
The jazz saxophonist who started playing music when he was only 10 years old performs at 8 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Redman and his quarter put out their latest effort, Words Fall Short, last year. 14591 Superior Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com

Todd Rundgren at the Agora
Always unpredictable, singer-guitarist Todd Rundgren returns to the Agora. Rundgren's career dates back decades and hits such as "Band the Drum All Day" and "Hello It's Me" hardly suggest the experimental nature of much of his material. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Third Friday at 78th Street Studios
From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free. 1300 West 78th St., Cleveland, 78thstreetstudios.com

Saturday, Aug. 22

Browns vs. Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field
Week 2 of the NFL preseason finds the rebuilding Browns going up against the playoff-caliber Buffalo Bills. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Huntington Bank Field. 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com

Ella Mai at Jacobs Pavilion
The soulful English singer-songwriter who released her third studio album, Do You Still Love Me?, earlier this year performs at 7 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Many of the songs reference her experiences as a new mother. Ama and Girlfriend open. 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland, 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com

Marred for Life! at Sixty Bowls Gallery
A new art exhibit that opens on Saturday at Sixty Bowls Gallery, Marred for Life! presents over 250 record covers, "lovingly and mischievously vandalized" by anonymous music lovers. The LP covers come courtesy of Greg Wooten, a Los Angeles-based collector, musician and design purveyor. Wooten will be in town for the opening, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will also feature a book signing with copies available for purchase. 3125 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, sixtybowls.com

Photobooth as Practice Artist Talk and Public Reception at Scamp Studios
At 2 p.m. at Scamp Studios, the Cleveland Print Room celebrates the close of its Photobooth as Practice exhibit and residency program with an artist talk and reception. Artist Jen Grasso and her colleagues will facilitate a presentation on the history and varied uses of photobooths and how photobooths can (and do) exist in today's creative ecosystem, worldwide and in Cleveland. Participants will also be able to engage directly with the booth and walk away with a one-of-a-kind photo booth strip. 1420 E. 24th St., Cleveland, clevelandprintroom.com

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G at Blossom Music Center
The Cleveland Orchestra and conductor Antonello Manacorda plays selections from Debussy and Ravel at this special concert that takes place at Blossom. The music begins at 7 p.m. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

Real American Freestyle at Rocket Arena
Real American Freestyle launched in 2025 to give Olympic champions, world champions, NCAA standouts and top MMA crossover athletes a new platform for competing. Wrestlers hit the mats at 8 p.m. at Rocket Arena. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

South Euclid's Rock the Block 2025 at the South Euclid Food Truck Park
Some of Northeast Ohio's best bands will perform this two-day event that takes place at the South Euclid Food Truck Park. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Various food trucks will be on hand for the event. 4477 Rushton Road, South Euclid, serocktheblock.com

Ghalia Volt & Kent Burnside at Kent Stage
A Belgian-born blues singer, Ghalia Volt just released her fifth album, Burn the House Down. She comes to the Kent Stage with singer-guitarist Kent Burnside, the grandson of the late country blues icon RL Burnside. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. 175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org

Water Lantern Festival at Coe Lake
Guests decorate floating lanterns with personal messages of love, hope, remembrance, or intention before releasing them onto the water at sunset. It begins at 5:30 p.m. at Coe Lake in Berea. E. Bridge St. and S. Rocky River Drive, Berea, waterlanternfestival.com

Sunday, Aug. 23

Cole Porter: Let’s Misbehave at Blossom Music Center
Singer Tony DeSare joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it pays tribute to songwriter Cole Porter with this special concert. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com

Peter Hook & the Light at the Agora
A former member of both Joy Division and New Order, Peter Hook brings his band the Light to the Agora. The group will perform New Order's 2001 album, Get Ready, in its entirety. The group will also play a number of other New Order and Joy Division tunes. Doors open at 7 p.m. 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Garrison Keillor at Kent Stage
The veteran storyteller known for the long-running NPR series A Prairie Home Companion comes to the Kent Stage. He performs at 7 p.m. 175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org

Lorain County Fair at the Lorain County Fairgrounds
The Lorain County Fairg returns to the Lorain County Fairgrounds this week with the usual assortment of rides and attractions (demolition derbies and harness racing, for starters). It continues through Sunday, Aug. 30. Ohio 18, Wellington, 440-647-2781, loraincountyfair.com

Reggae Sundays at Music Box Supper Club
This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor and outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com

Video Game Symphony at Mandel Concert Hall
88bit, the award-winning pianist known for his interpretations of classic video game scores joins the Video Game Symphony for this special show at Mandel Concert Hall. The concert begins at 3 p.m. 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

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