CLEVELAND, Ohio – Spring has spru… ok, well, look, it’s trying to! Even if our weather isn’t cooperating yet, the weekend’s arts, culture and entertainment offerings are heating up!
“Your Cleveland Cavaliers” (said in my best Ahmaad Crump voice!) are still red-hot, but baseball season is on everyone’s minds. Some folks in The Land can’t wait for Opening Day with the Guardians, as you’ll see.
There’s also live music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts, baroque delights and a few choice picks for the young people in your life, too.
So, wake up, buttercups! With 27 things to check out this weekend and beyond in Greater Cleveland, hibernation is coming to an end.
Cleveland International Film Festival
It’s the toast of the town every spring, so we start here! Things are winding down, but there’s still plenty of feast for your eyes – the last of the 300 films from 60 countries in 10 days.
Various times, through Saturday, April 5
Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
CIFF screens 4,000 films annually to cull the cream of the crop for you. The 49th installment ends this weekend. CIFF
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Beautiful is the inspiring tale about a girl who became King, featuring such unforgettable classics as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “So Far Away,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “Natural Woman.” A Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical.
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays through April 13
Near West Theatre, 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Jova Lynne “Convergence” & Hanna Bates “Aggregate”
Two unique visual artists working magic with the natural and material worlds, each in their own unique ways. Interconnectedness is the thread hanging these exhibitions together.
Various times, through April 28
Sculpture Center, 12210 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
The 2025 Original Sewing and Quilt Expo lands at the I-X Center this weekend.
Sewing & Quilt Expo at the I-X Center
The loss of Joann stores is smarting crafty souls across The Land. Find solace and salve in this mega show with over 100 exhibitors produced by a Westlake company!
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, April 3 – Saturday, April 5
International Exposition Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland
Wild Kratts v. 2.0
Wild Kratts Live 2.0 is a multimedia dive into adventure with the Kratt Brothers as they combine the excitement of live action with animation, wild animal adventure and mystery.
3:30 and 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 3
E.J. Thomas Hall, University of Akron, 198 Hill St., Akron
Students from the 11th grade at Lincoln West sing their own competition entitled “This is America” at the Stop-the-Hate Youth Sing Out at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio on December 12, 2018. This year, Tri-C hosts the event. (Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
The Plain Dealer
Stop the Hate
Maltz Museum announces the 2025 “Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out” Awards finalists. Winners will be named at the event Thursday, April 3, at Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus. Should be inspiring for all ages.
6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 3
Tri-C Eastern Campus, Mandel Humanities Center, 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills
Apollo’s Fire, seen here with director Jeannette Sorrell, marked the season last week with performances of four sections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, with conductor Julian Wachner.
Apollo’s Fire – Bachanalia!
Grammy-winning conductor Jeannette Sorrell will lead the Billboard-topping group through area performances Friday, April 4 – Tuesday, April, 8, along with concurrent events in the ensemble’s “Bachanalia Mini-Festival.” Bach’s glorious B Minor Mass is the centerpiece.
Friday, April 4 – Tuesday, April 8
Multiple locations
Unwritten: An Improvised Musical
Anything can happen and it usually does in this slapdash production that takes inspiration from the audience. If an episode of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” was set to showtunes and cosplay, it still wouldn’t be as good as this is. Happens weekly, so no excuses.
7:30 p.m., Friday, April 4
Imposters Theater, 4828 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
Bayside 25th Anniversary: The Errors Tour
Two nights of this punk rawk band from Queens, NY celebrating a quarter-century is sure to leave your head spinning and ears ringing. Two unique sets; one singular sensation.
7 p.m., Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5
House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
Pink Talking Fish
A fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish covers all in one night, as reimagined by a league of crafty musicians celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Floyd album “Wish You Were Here.” Two sets with an intermission. Should be a good time.
7 p.m., Friday, April 4
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland
Monsters v. Penguins at Rocket Arena
The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins are in town for back-to-back faceoffs with the affiliate of NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. With playoffs around the corner, the Pens are running hot. Should be a good matchup.
7 p.m., Friday, April 4 and Saturday April 5
Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland.
Seasons’ Greetings
Britain’s most successful comedic playwright makes satirical hay with a send-up of the holidays. Christmas in July? Bah humbug! Sometimes it snows in April. Prince said so!
Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Helen at Playhouse Square, 1501 Dodge Ct., Cleveland
Astronaut Sally Ride, who was a member of the Space Shuttle 7 crew in June 1983, poses with “Sesame Street” character Grundgetta on the set of the children’s televison show in New York City, Friday, Jan. 7, 1984. Ride appears in a segment for the program in which she teaches children about the letter ‘A,’ as in astronaut. (AP Photot/Dave Pickoff)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Astronaut Sally Ride’s Legacy
She was a household name when she became the first woman in space, but Ride’s legacy extends to LGBTQ+ rights, progress for women in STEM and inspiring girls everywhere. This special City Club forum is presented in conjunction with the Cleveland International Film Festival. Ticketed event.
11:30 a.m., Friday, April 4
City Club of Cleveland, 1317 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
El Coqu Espectacular & the Bottle of Doom
A stage play about a struggling comic book artist, who invents an alter ego to save his fellow Puerto Ricans – all while his advertising executive brother who doesn’t speak Spanish (reluctantly) becomes the “voice” of Spanish-speaking people everywhere.
7 p.m. Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5.
Cleveland Public Theater, 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Under a Baseball Sky
Baseball’s deep roots in the Mexican-American community are on offer when troublemaker Teo is put to work cleaning up a vacant lot belonging to his elderly neighbor. An unlikely bond is forged around America’s favorite pastime. FYI: No Easter Sunday performance.
7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays beginning Friday, April 4 ; 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Runs through May 4.
Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
The Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse features a variety of displays. Around 3,000 orchids will be on display as the Cleveland Botanical Garden opens their annual orchid show on Friday, February 14, 2025. Appropriately, this year’s theme is “Love in Bloom.” The show runs through Sunday, March 30.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
The Nature of Healing
This group art exhibition features 30+ local artists, co-curated with (and presented by) Deep Roots Gallery. Grief, mental health and utilizing green spaces as healing spaces in the community are covered; workshops and panels are baked in (registration required).
Opens Saturday, April 5 and runs through mid-May.
Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Hundreds of families and their parents together at Rocket Arena for games, fun activities and, for our basketball fans, some skills and drills on the practice court! There will be kids’ fitness classes, dancing, sports skills clinics, arts, crafts and other enrichment activities.
12 – 3 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland
clevelandymca.org/healthy-kids-day
YMCA of Greater Cleveland’s annual Healthy Kids Day is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 5.
Sakura Festival and Light the Locks in Akron
Akron’s bicentennial will be celebrated along the Towpath in downtown, including Locks 1, 2 and 3, the Towpath Trailhead at Spaghetti Warehouse; the James R. Williams Tower in Ohio & Erie Canal Park and at The Mustill Store. The festival culminates with a luminary.
1 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Downtown Akron
downtownakron.com, akron200.org
Not Another [Expletive] Gala
Dobama Theatre’s “Not Another [Expletive] Gala” marks 65 years of building audiences for the arts while provoking examination of our world. Dobama has pushed limits and bucked the system for generations, creating community and conversation around critical topics.
6 p.m.; Saturday, April 5
Grog Shop, 2875 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights
Donnie Iris (Birthday) at Kent Stage
King Cool celebrates number 82 with a knapsack full of hits, Clevelander bandmates and a fervent fan club. Drummers Joe Vitale and Joe Vitale, Jr. will sit in. Classic rock!
6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5
The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent
Collegiate Gothic
Author Matthew Meduri and Cleveland Heights poet-scribe Kyle Snyder will read from their respective works in this spoken word/signing event. We talked to Meduri about his wry, satirical take on academia through the lens of small-town Ohio. It’s Wes Andersonesque!
5 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Mac’s Backs on Coventry, 1820 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights. ADDRESS
Saints & Sinners
Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s (OCB, formerly Verb Ballets) Spring Gala evening includes wine and cocktails, dinner and dessert by Trifles Catering, and a captivating performance by OCB. The celebration will conclude with music and dancing.
7 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Convivium 33 Gallery, 1433 E. 33rd St., Cleveland
Ohio Contemporary Ballet is back at Playhouse Square in February.Bill Naiman, with permission
DanceEvert presents Confluence
Featuring “Espirial” directed by renowned Susana Weingarten Evert, Ballet Excel Ohio Youth Ballet Company (mentored by Master Teaching Artist Tom Evert) and Reflections Dance Theatre led by Nehemiah Spencer, dance is on tap in Euclid.
7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 5
Shore Cultural Centre Auditorium, 291 E. 222nd St., Euclid.
Andy BillmanMarc Bona, cleveland.com
“War on the Diamond”
CLE expat, filmmaker and all-around good guy Andy Billman’s follow-up to “Believeland” chronicles a day in baseball that will live in infamy – Ray Chapman’s tragic death. The Yankees v. Indians rivalry stretches back to 1920 and this movie takes you there.
4 p.m., Sunday, April 6
CFFF on the Triangle Headquarters, 3 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls
Cavaliers v. Sacramento Kings
It’s Kings tipping off against the (we hope) New Kings! Playoffs are on the horizon and while the team has taken a few tough losses, we all still believe in Spida & Co. You guys had us at “hello” this season! Two words: Look up!
6 p.m., Sunday, April 6
Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell draws a foul from LA Clippers guard Ben Simmons (left) and LA Clippers guard James Harden guards in the second half of play. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Lyrical Rhythms
There comes a time in everybody’s week when you just need to “VIBE.” This happy hour has comedy and open mic components and is a neighborhood favorite. Make it a habit: this repeats weekly and is a great way to build community.
8 p.m., Tuesday, April 8
B-Side Liquor Lounge, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland
Opening Day
Your Cleveland Guardians home opener happens Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. Not sure we need to say anything more than that. Not sure if that means your weekend will extend into Tuesday, but if it does, you’re not alone.
4:10 p.m., Tuesday, April 8
Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland.
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