CLEVELAND, Ohio — This weekend in Cleveland is the kind of cultural overload we all live for — stacked with art, vinyl, food, film, festivals, a baseball Wild Card hunt and more.
With the Guardians chasing a post-season run, nerdy gaming, chalk dust magic and epochal rock music genius among the fun on offer, there’s definitely something for you.
Stories by Peter Chakerian
Rock Hall partnerships bolster Hispanic Heritage celebration with music, art, dance
20,000 Leagues Under the Industry film festival resurfaces at Treelawn Social Club
Public transit meets public art in new Maltz Museum gallery initiative
Jeffrey Siegel’s ‘Keyboard Conversations’ at 40: Bringing classical music, meaning to Cleveland audiences
Here’s the rundown of where you and your friends should be (and when):
Unveiling of Edra Soto’s Public Sculpture
The Sculpture Center partners with RTA and MetroHealth to debut a permanent new public artwork by internationally renowned artist Edra Soto. It’s a rare opportunity to see Cleveland’s transit spaces reimagined through contemporary art.
3:00–4:30 p.m, Thursday, Sept. 18
RTA West 25th Street–MetroHealth Station, 2350 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
sculpturecenter.org
Next to Normal
This Tony-winning musical about family, grief, and resilience gets the Near West treatment. Expect powerhouse performances and emotional depth in one of CLE’s most community-rooted theaters. Mental illness and loss underpin this production; this is a perfect fit since September is National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month.
Opens Thursday, Sept. 18 (runs select dates through Sept. 28)
Near West Theatre, 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
nearwesttheatre.org
The Nature of Our Times
This thoughtful exhibit at Cleveland Public Library explores how we connect with nature in a rapidly changing world. Photography, sculpture and interactive works invite you to slow down and reflect. This special opening event and poetry reading officially “launches” the exhibit that opened last week. A must-do if you love our nature in The Land.
3 – 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19
Cleveland Public Library Main Branch, 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland
cpl.libcal.com/event/15281040
Third Friday Artwalk
Dozens of studios and galleries in the 78th Street Studios complex swing their doors open for one of Cleveland’s most iconic art nights. Expect a mashup of exhibits, performances, and the kind of creative energy you can’t fake.
5:00–9:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19
78th Street Studios, 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland
78thstreetstudios.com
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Weekend
The only national juried prize for books that confront racism and explore diversity, hosted right here in Cleveland. It’s literature with purpose, honoring voices shaping the cultural conversation. Culminates with the 90th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Ceremony in the Case Western University Maltz Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Open to the public.
Friday, Sept. 19 – Saturday, Sept. 20 (multiple events, times and locations)
Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Rd., Cleveland
anisfield-wolf.org/upcoming-events
Cleveland Gaming Classic
From retro arcade cabinets to modern consoles, this convention is gamer heaven. Expect tournaments, cosplay, collectibles, and special guests that’ll press your nostalgia buttons. If your vector graphics-obsessed, green-tinted 80s mind can dream it, you’ll find it here—gamer, fan or collector. Fun for the whole family.
6:00 – 10:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19; 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21
I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland
gamecleveland.com
20,000 Leagues Under the Industry Film Festival
After two decades away, this indie fest that began at Speak In Tongues returns with cult classics, music docs like “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” and “The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell” and more. Born in Cleveland’s DIY scene, it’s a celebration of underground cinema in style.
7:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19 & Saturday, Sept. 20
The Treelawn, 15335 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland
thetreelawn.com
Wax & Tracks Fest
Record shops from the region team up to show that vinyl is community, not competition. Add A Slyman’s food truck, live music, vintage finds and crafts for the kids and Old Brooklyn turns into a vinyl block party. DJ and band sets pepper the old Peaches spot.
11:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20
The Vinyl Groove Records, Pearl Plaza, 5100 Pearl Rd., Cleveland
eventbrite.com
Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival
Lincoln Park is transformed once more into an outdoor arts hub filled with music, dance, food and plenty of neighborhood vendors. It’s equal parts art fair, gourmet picnic with extended family and community reunion all rolled into one.
12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 & Sunday, Sept. 21
Lincoln Park, 1200 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland
experiencetremont.com
Topsy Turvy Improv Game Show
Part improv, part game show, part audience chaos — this night flips comedy on its head. It’s fast, unpredictable, and Cleveland-style funny. Sometimes you need to put down the TV remote and find your own “Comedy Central” with the locals. Folks, this is how it’s done!
8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Imposters Theater, 4828 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
imposterstheater.com
Autumn Glow Festival
If you’re not Pumpkin Spice’d out, kick off fall with live music, local food, art and family activities under the glow of “changing leaves season.” You don’t get a proper autumn everywhere in the world. How lucky are we? A warm-up for all things October.
12:00–8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
River Winery, S River Rd. W, Geneva
autumnglowfestival.com/geneva
CMA Chalk Festival
Sidewalks at the Cleveland Museum of Art become canvases as artists and families alike take part in this beloved annual chalk art tradition. Bring your creativity, or just wander around and take in all the imaginative spirits and their work. Big wow factor here.
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 & Sunday, Sept. 21
Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland
clevelandart.org
Buckeye Fest at League Park
Celebrate Cleveland baseball history at this daylong fest with live music, family fun and tours of the historic park. Celebrate the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes and their Negro League World Championship. A perfect way to connect the city’s past and present. Free.
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
League Park, 6601 Lexington Ave., Cleveland
eventbrite.com
Pickle Fest
Yes, you read right, an entire festival devoted to pickles: fried, brined, spicy and everything in between. If your inner Samwise Gamgee has a thing for pickles instead of “po-tay-toes,” this is all you. Live music, vendors and plenty of crunchy, fermented fun. It’s a big dill.
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Mall C, Lakeside Ave. E, Cleveland
clevelandpicklefest.com
Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Rock Hall
The Rock Hall throws a party honoring Hispanic and Latin culture with live music, dancing, and community stories. It’s rhythm, heritage and rock & roll rolled into one — a creative block party for the whole family. Free with an RSVP.
12:00 – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
1100 Rock & Roll Blvd., Cleveland
rockhall.com/event/hispanic-heritage-celebration-2025
Old Brooklyn Night Faire
An evening market filled with local vendors, food, drinks and neighborhood energy under the lights. It’s part shopping spree, part block party and all kinds of fun — a perfect spot to debut your 2025 Midwestern hoodie-and-shorts attire. A primer for haunt season!
5:00–10:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Brookmere Cemetery, 3614 Broadview Rd., Cleveland
oldbrooklyn.com
Steven Wilson: The Overview Tour
Attention Pink Floyd fans: this prog-rock visionary and Porcupine Tree founder returns with a career-spanning setlist. His shows are equal parts sonic journey and emotional deep dive. The premise of his latest album “The Overview” is to step back from our humanity and consider how vast all of existence is. We certainly could use that right now.
8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20
Center Stage at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield, OH
mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com
Keyboard Conversations
Internationally renowned pianist Jeffrey Siegel has been doing this for 40 years now, mixing performance with storytelling and a deep-dive into music, compositional structure and history in this intimate concert series. Music education and virtuosity rolled into one. Future installments happen in November; March and April 2026.
3:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21
Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Rd., Cleveland
keyboardconversations.com
Emo Philips
The absurdist comedy legend returns with his unmistakably offbeat timing and surreal one-liners. It’s a masterclass in weird done right. He’s been called the “best joke writer in the world,” a master of paraprosdokian satire and performed 7,000+ stand-up shows in comedy clubs, colleges and theaters. Comedy legend? Indubitably.
7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21
Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, 2035 E. 4th St., Cleveland
hilarities.com/shows/321767
The Darkness: Dreams on Toast tour
British glam-rock revivalists best known for “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” bring their over-the-top show to Cleveland. Expect falsettos, leather and unapologetic arena-rock excess. Unlike Spinal Tap, this adrenaline-fueled band truly “goes to eleven.” Bonus: Justin Hawkins is one simply of the best frontmen in the business.
8:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 21
Agora Cleveland, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
axs.com
Guardians v. Tigers
The Motor City Kitties have had a heckuva season, but this AL Central Division rivalry on the diamond has special implications: our Guards are vying for a Wild Card playoff spot. Fall baseball in Cleveland always hits different, this homestand starting Tuesday (and the one after this with the Texas Rangers!) will define this season. They’ve been handling the stretch run but will need help… from YOU. Get loud!
6:40 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23 (series continues into the week)
Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland