Italian American Summer Festival

Experience the taste and sound of Italy this weekend at the 12th annual Italian American Summer Festival.

Held at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, this festival celebrates the culture and history of Italy. Plenty of authentic Italian cuisine will be available to consume, with everything from cavatelli to Italian sausage to gelato.

Besides the delicious cuisine, entertainers and musicians will take turns on the festival stage throughout the weekend to perform for the crowds. For those looking to claim victory, enter yourself into a bocce ball tournament or the pasta eating contest.

Daily admission is $8 per person. Children 12 years and under are free. Parking is free all weekend long. Participating Marc's in Northeast Ohio are selling discount tickets for just $3 per person.

Italian American Summer Festival hours:
Friday, June 29 from 5 p.m.-midnight
Saturday, June 30 from noon-midnight
Sunday, June 31 from noon-9 p.m.

For more information about the festival, visit Italian American Summer Festival.

Lakewood CityWide StreetSale

Hidden treasures are often hidden within garage sales. From antique furniture to cute knick-knacks, a little hunting can go a long way. But what if an entire city decided to host one massive garage sale? Lakewood is attempting this feat starting this Thursday, with their third installment of the CityWide StreetSale.

Sponsored by the Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance, the street sale is open to all Lakewood residents and merchants. Last year more than 125 residents participated in the sale. A similar turn out is expected this year, as residents empty out their attics, basements and garages.

To keep the shopping chaos to a minimum, an interactive map of all street sale locations has been created. Hours for the sales are determined by residents or block groups. Merchant hours will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The sale begins Thursday, June 28 and lasts until Sunday, July 1.

For more information about the sale, visit Downtown Lakewood.


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Summer Solstice Wine, Art and Blues Festival

If you couldn't tell by the scorching temperatures outside, Wednesday marked the first day of summer with the Summer Solstice. To celebrate the official beginning of the warm months ahead, Sarah's Vineyard in Cuyahoga Falls is hosting their 9th annual Summer Solstice Wine, Art and Blues Festival.

The celebration begins tonight and continues throughout the weekend. Twelve Ohio wineries and vineyards will be on hand offering a wide selection of spirits. Locally made art will be on display created by more than 30 vendors, and blues music will float through the vineyard as seven different blues bands take the stage. Want a snack to go along with your wine? Stop at one of the eight different food stands to get your fix.

Admission to the festival is $8 per day. Each attendee receives a free commemorative Cuyahoga Falls bicentennial wine glass with admission. Parking is free throughout the weekend.

Summer Solstice Wine, Art and Blues Festival hours:
Friday, June 22 from 4-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 23 from noon-10:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 24 from noon-6 p.m.

Sarah's Vineyard is located at  1204 W. Steels Corners Road Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223.

For more information about the festival, visit Sarah's Vineyard.

Marine Week Cleveland

"By land. By sea. By Cleveland."

That is the official motto for Marine Week Cleveland, a week-long series of events celebrating the 236-year history of the Marines and their ties to Cleveland.

The celebration began today with a proclamation ceremony by Mayor Frank Jackson. The exhibits and demonstrations will last until June 17.

Exhibits include equipment displays at various downtown locations, a Vietnam Wall replica at Voinovich Park and artifacts from the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Demonstrations range from a Science and Technology Expo, with state-of-the-art weaponry, simulated firing ranges and robotic equipment outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to a martial arts demonstration at Burke Lakefront Airport.

In addition to scheduled events, Marines can be spotted walking around downtown and eating at local restaurants, since many of them are staying in downtown accommodations for the week.

All events are free and open to the public. Times vary each day.

For an hour-by-hour list of events, exhibits and demonstrations, visit Cleveland Marine Week 2012 Schedule courtesy of newsnet5.com.

Parade the Circle

Image courtesy clevelandart.org.

It's an annual tradition for residents of the University Circle area to crowd Wade Oval in early June for Parade the Circle. Twenty-three years strong, this parade brings together art, music and entertainment together in one place.

Parade the Circle is known for its brightly colored floats and elaborately decorated performers. Stilt-walkers, dancers, musicians and giant puppets will parade down Wade Oval this Saturday. The parade provides national and international artists a chance to showcase their artistic talent through a variety of mediums.

The theme for this year's parade is "Branches Becomes Roots." The theme celebrates those who branch out yet retain ties to their family and community.

The parade will begin at the Cleveland Natural Museum of History and move in a clockwise direction along Wade Oval, before ending up back at the museum.

Activities, entertainment and food will be available after the parade in Circle Village for all attendees to enjoy.

Can't make it to the festivities? The parade will live stream online, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Parade the Circle hours:
Saturday, June 9 from noon-4 p.m.

For more information about the parade, visit Parade the Circle.

Transit of Venus

Photo by David Cortner

The full moon isn't the only astronomical event taking place this week.

On Tuesday night, the planet Venus will move across the face of the sun, appearing as a small dot in the sky. The transit will not occur again for 150 years, so this event is "literally" a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

To celebrate the passage, Cleveland State University, along with Baldwin-Wallace College, the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association and the Cleveland Astronomical Society, will host a free, family-friendly event at Edgewater State Park.

Telescopes and solar viewers will be available to view the transit, as well as Saturn, Mars, Mercury and the International Space Station. Experienced astronomers and professors will share their expertise on the astronomical event and the solar system in general.

The Transit of Venus is expected to begin around 6 p.m. and telescopes will be available for use after 9 p.m.

Transit of Venus hours:
Tuesday, June 5 from 5-11 p.m.

For more information about the event, visit Transit of Venus.

West Side Market Centennial Kick-Off

Photo courtesy Scene Magazine.

The West Side Market is a beloved site by Clevelanders and out-of-towners. The market has gained national attention for its wide array vendors selling fresh produce, tender meats and sweet treats.

This year, the West Side Market is celebrating its centennial. Events celebrating the occasion have been planned throughout the year, and it all kicks off this Saturday.

The official start of the Centennial Celebration will begin Saturday at Market Square Park, a newly renovated space directly across the street from the market. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a dedication ceremony celebrating the market's 100th birthday.

The celebration continues on through the evening, with music, dancing, an ice cream social provided by Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream, a debut of the Market District's new centennial signage, and a fireworks display at night.

West Side Market Centennial Kick-Off hours:
Saturday, June 2 from 5:30-10 p.m.

For a list of centennial events throughout the year, visit West Side Market.