Haunted House Highlights

Halloween season is upon us! In just 30 days, ghouls and goblins will be on our minds as we prepare for Halloween parties or trick-or-treating. To celebrate this spooky month, I'll be highlighting various haunted houses throughout Northeast Ohio that are sure to make you scream. The first stop on the tour: Bloodview.

Bloodview is a personal favorite of mine. Each year the haunted house improves itself with more creatures, more elaborate creatures and more frights. The best part about this haunted house is that each of the actors is a volunteer from The Legion of Terror, the world's oldest improvisational horror acting and special FX production company. The Broadview Heights Lions Club, which is the sponsor of the event, donates all proceeds to charity.

Bloodview is home to three different attractions. Visitors first enter the new Gore House, then wander outside into the haunted woods and cemetery, and finally make a stop at the Main House. Each attraction if filled with plenty of actors, decorations and effects that are sure to grab your attention and give you a scare. But you don't have to wait until you enter the first house to start the experience. Actors follow visitors as they wait in line and have even been known to chase them off into the parking lot.

Bloodview is open through Halloween with a different theme each weekend. Tickets are $15 per person and $3 extra for repeat trips. A $20 ticket will get you an unlimited, all-night pass.

Bloodview is located at 1010 Towpath Trail Broadview Heights, OH 44147.

To find out more information about this haunted house, visit Bloodview.

Ripe! Fest

Now in its third year, Cleveland's Ripe! Fest is an annual celebration of locally grown food.

The fest takes place at the peak of harvest season. Some of the tastiest and freshest crops will be available to sample and purchase, with dozens of local farmers selling their goods in University Circle.

Beverage tastings, cooking demos, children's activities and gardening workshops will also be available for all attendees. Live music will play throughout the weekend, from blues to folk to rock.

Tickets to each day cost $13 for non-member adults and $7 for non-member children, and $8 for member adults and $5 for member children.

This weekend event celebrates all that is good and natural in Cleveland, so eat, drink and be local!

Ripe! Fest hours:
Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m.-sundown
Sunday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m.-sundown

For more information, visit Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Cleveland Wine Festival

Winos, get your glasses ready! The Cleveland Wine Festival is coming to Voinovich Bicentennial Park this weekend.

This two-day festival allows attendees to sample more than 270 different wines from around the world. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations will be conducted by event sponsors, and some of the area's best restaurateurs and chefs will sell their signature dishes. Like any major event, local bands will perform on the festival's stage throughout the weekend.

Tickets for one-day admission cost $28 in advance, $35 at the door. Admission includes a signature wine glass, ten wine tastings, a festival program, access to food and wine seminars, and discounts on select bottles of wine.

Designated driver tickets are also available for $10. These tickets include two non-alcoholic drinks and all the perks mentioned above. Those under 21 are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult.

Cleveland Wine Festival hours:
Friday, July 27 from 4-10 p.m.
Saturday, July 28 from 3-9 pm.

To purchase tickets, or to find out more information about the festival, visit Cleveland Wine Festival.

Burning River Fest

Cleveland is famous for many reasons. Unfortunately, one of the reasons it's famous is for being home to "the river that caught on fire." Although this infamous event isn't a proud moment in our history, it spurred environmental action and led to the creation of the Burning River Fest.

The Burning River Fest is a two-day event intended to raise awareness of environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes region and the Cuyahoga River. People from the Great Lakes region have been attending the fest since 2001 to celebrate the eco-movements in Northeast Ohio.

This year's fest features more than 25 bands and musicians performing on three different stages. Local environmental groups will showcase interactive and educational displays. All-natural local food will be prepared by local chefs for guests to purchase. And, like every year, the Great Lakes Brewing Co. will debut their Christmas Ale for the 2012 season.

It all takes place at the Coast Guard Station at Whiskey Island.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for $10. Kids 12 and under are free. All proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, a local non-profit organization that supports sustainable initiatives. Free parking is available at Edgewater Park.

Burning River Fest hours:
Saturday, July 21 from 6-11 p.m.
Sunday, July 22 from 1-6 p.m.

For more information about the event, visit The Burning River Foundation.

Indians Rock N' Blast Fireworks

Baseball season is in full swing. But many people come to the stadium to see the attractions as they do the game.

The Cleveland Indians are known for putting on stunning fireworks shows, but their most spectacular display will come this weekend with their Rock N' Blast show. This 20-minute fireworks show is synchronized to the songs of some of classic rock's greatest hits. This year's show fill be set to the tunes of The Beatles.

The Rock N' Blast show will shoot off Friday and Saturday night as the Indians take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Tickets are selling out fast, so buy yours today!

To get a glimpse into last year's Rock N' Blast spectacular, check out PyroUniverse.

Fourth of July Celebrations: Find Your City

Family cookouts. Cherry pie. Fireworks. Sparklers.

These words hold a special place in the heart of Americans, especially as they prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July this Wednesday. Fourth of July is a day to recognize our country and be proud of the achievements and growth of our nation throughout the centuries. The day also serves as a time to celebrate with family and friends.


Millions of Americans attend local fireworks shows each year to celebrate the holiday. As you and your family get ready for the Fourth of July, check out the list below, compiled by cleveland.com. to find out details about your city's fireworks show.

Fourth of July Celebrations in Northeast Ohio.

Star-Spangled Spectacular

Photo courtesy clevelandorchestra.com.

Celebrate the Fourth of July early with tonight's Star-Spangled Spectacular in downtown Cleveland's Public Square.

The free event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-festival concert. Local artists and bands, including the Chardon Polka Band, the North Coast Men's Chorus and the Robert Ocasio Foundation Latin Jazz Project, will perform on stage throughout the evening. Gourmet food trucks from around the area will line the streets to provide plenty of treats for foodies and festival-goers.

The highlight of the evening starts at 9 p.m. as the Cleveland Orchestra takes the stage to perform a free community concert. As the orchestra nears the finale, fireworks will shoot off and light up the night sky in a beautiful display.

Join thousands of Northeast Ohio residents for this exciting night of music and fireworks.

Star-Spangled Spectacular hours:
Monday, July 2 from 5:30-11 p.m.

For more information about the event, visit The Cleveland Orchestra.