CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Memorial Day weekend brings back several popular festivals as the summer season kicks off in earnest.
Check out our list featuring more than 20 events taking place across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio this holiday weekend.
Berea National Rib Cook-Off
Enjoy ribs and all your BBQ favorites at this unofficial kick-off to summer in Northeast Ohio. Includes fair foods, live music, children’s section and more. Tickets $10. Admission is free before 5 p.m. Friday and for children 12 and under all weekend.
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea
May 23 - May 26
Tremont Greek Festival
Enjoy your favorite Greek food and drinks, live entertainment and more.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 2187 W 14th St., Cleveland
Noon daily, May 23 - May 26
Jason Aldean
Singer brings his “Full Throttle Tour” to Blossom. Special guests include Nate Smith, Raelynn and Dee Jay Silver. Tickets $78.50 and up.
Blossom Music Center, 1145 West Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls
7:30 p.m., May 23
Blossom Time Festival
Hot air balloons will fill the sky at the village’s annual festival. Enjoy carnival rides, midway games, live entertainment, food trucks and more.
Riverside Park, Chagrin Falls
May 22-25
Reggae Fest Cleveland
Enjoy a weekend of good music and vibes featuring performances by JR Blessington, Lake Irie, The Flex Crew, Mighty Mystic and Roots of Creation on Saturday. Carlos Jones, Pato Banton, Jah Messengers, The Ark Band and Shākē Ground Band headline on Sunday. Tickets start at $45 with presale discount available. Children six and under are free.
Voinovich Park, E. 9th Street Pier, Cleveland
Noon - 10 p.m., May 24 - 25
Steamship William G. Mather Centennial Celebration
Head to the Great Lakes Science Center to celebrate the 100th birthday of a Cleveland legend. Sign a giant birthday card, enjoy a birthday cupcake (while supplies last) and then take a tour of the freighter. Tour tickets $10.95 for adults, $8.95 for kids 2-12. Combo admission tickets to Science Center available at additional cost.
601 Erieside Ave. Cleveland
Noon, May 24
Hall of Fame Ribs Burnoff
Featuring eight rib eateries competing for prizes. Enjoy appearances by members of the class of 2025, a performance by the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and live music. Free admission.
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton
May 23 - May 25
Port Clinton Walleye Festival
Port Clinton celebrates the holiday weekend with its 44th Annual Main Street Walleye Festival. Free concerts, a kids’ fishing derby, parade, carnival rides, food vendors and more will help kick off the summer. Free admission.
Downtown Port Clinton
Through May 26
portclintonchamber.com/walleye-festival
“Fiddler on the Roof”
Cleveland Play House’s final production of the season. Come for the story about a milkman trying to hold on to his traditional way of life amid the changing times. Stay for Broadway standards such as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” Tickets $25-$100.
Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Through May 25
RubberDucks vs. Altoona
Akron’s minor league team continues a series with the Curve. Weekend promotions include Friday fireworks, Military Appreciation Night Saturday and Sunday Funday.
Canal Park, Akron
Through May 25
Captains vs. Lugnuts
Lake County continues its Midwest League series with Lansing this weekend. Friday is College ID Night. Saturday features a celebration of the Buckeye State and Sunday brings the barnyard to the ballpark.
Classic Auto Group Park, 35300 Vine St., Eastlake
Through May 25
milb.com/lake-county/tickets/promotions
Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival: Reconciliation
Enjoy a series of concerts, exhibitions and conversations around the concept of reconciliation.
Severance Music Center 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Through May 25
Steam and Steel: Propelling the Future of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes Science Center’s celebration of the Steamship William G. Mather centennial continues with a new special exhibit that provides guests with an opportunity to experience what its like to be on a freighter. Interactive exhibits allow you to steer the Mather, virtually load and unload cargo and much more. Included with Science Center admission. Tours of the Mather available for extra charge.
601 Erieside Ave. Cleveland
Opens May 23 during regular business hours
greatscience.com/explore/exhibits/
Live at the Locks Music Showcase
The summer concert series in Akron kicks off with multiple live acts on two stages throughout the afternoon and evening. Free admission.
Maynard Performance Pavilion- Lock 3 and Lock 4 Stage, Akron
May 24
akronohio.gov/departments/lock_3/events_festivals.php
Rockin’ on the River
Northern Ohio’s longest-running outdoor summer concert series returns to Black River Landing. The first show of the season features Dirty Deeds, an AC/DC tribute band. Right Now opens, performing music from Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar era. Tickets $10.
421 Black River Lane, Lorain
May 25
October London
The smooth contemporary soulman teams with the R&B songstress and reality TV star Tamar Braxton for a night of romantic tunes and melismatic vocal acrobatics. Ro James opens. Tickets start at $39.50.
Jacobs Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland
8 p.m., May 24
Smoking Popes / Off With Their Heads
Chicago pop-punkers meet Minneapolis pop-punkers in a double album night. The former play “Born to Quit” in full; the latter will deliver “In Desolation.”
Mahall’s/The Roxy, 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood
May 24
Sessanta V 2.0
Featuring Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle. A three-fer show led by Tool’s Maynard James Keenan doing double duty and performing with two of his side projects. The unusual stage setup will see three bands onstage at all times, rotating short sets and sitting in with each other on select tunes. Tickets $51 and up.
Blossom Music Center, 1145 West Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls
8 p.m., May 25
Tennis
Dreamy retro-pop with glossy, vintage vibes. They’re on a farewell tour and we hardly knew ye! Their last show here (opening for the Decemberists at the Agora) was pure delight. They will be missed. Tickets $29.50
Globe Iron, 2320 Center St., Cleveland
May 25
globeironcle.com/events/detail/?event_id=844976
Guardians vs. Dodgers
Cleveland welcomes Shohei Ohtani and Los Angeles for a series that kicks off on Memorial Day. Fans will receive a jersey featuring either Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin or Cade Smith on Monday. Tuesday is Peanuts Night.
Progressive Field, Cleveland
May 26 - May 28
AC/DC: the PWR/UP Tour
The hard rock legends and Rock Hall inductees are ready to shake you all night long with special guests The Pretty Reckless. Tickets $75.50 and up.
Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland
7 p.m., May 28
huntingtonbankfield.com/all-events/acdc/