Hessler Street Fair

Warm weather has finally arrived in Northeast Ohio, which means it's time to kick off the summer festival season! One of the most anticipated festivals, the Hessler Street Fair, will take over University Circle this weekend.

The Hessler Street Fair dates back to 1969 when it debuted as a giant block party. Over the decades the event evolved into a full-blown festival.

Dozens of vendors will line historic Hessler Street selling items ranging from jewelry to photography to henna body art. Plenty of food vendors will be on hand, as well as a selection of nonprofit organizations. Local bands will perform throughout the afternoon on Saturday and Snday.

Families with children are invited to stop by adjacent Harmony Park for kid-friendly activities including face painting, balloon animals, pony rides and a kids marketplace.

The fair is free and will take place rain or shine.

Hessler Street Fair hours:
Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m.-dusk
Sunday, May 18 from 11 a.m.-dusk

For more information, visit Hessler Street Fair.

Dazzle the District

Playhouse Square is the second largest theater complex in the U.S., second only to Broadway in NYC. The theater district has undergone major renovations over the last couple decades, from restoring the interior of each theater to its former glory to reconfiguring the Allen Theatre in collaboration with Cleveland State University.

Now, Playhouse Square is preparing to make history with the lighting of the world's largest chandelier this Friday during its Dazzle the District event.

The event celebrates the completion of Playhouse Square's $16 million renovation project, which includes retro signage inspired by the 1920s-era roots of the theater district, gateway arches, outdoor seating with a fire pit and permanent stage for concerts, and digital signage. The focal point of the renovation is the GE Chandelier, which is suspended from a 44-foot high steel structure over the intersection of East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland.

Dazzle the District kicks off at 5 p.m. with happy hours, food specials and live music on U.S Bank Plaza. American pop band Hot Chelle Rae, known best for their song "Tonight Tonight," will perform a free community concert at 8:30 p.m. The event culminates with the lighting of the chandelier at 9:30 p.m., followed by a second performance by Hot Chelle Rae.

Local bars and restaurants will be open for the duration of the event. Dazzle the District is free and open to the community.

Don't miss this historic moment in Cleveland history!

Dazzle the District hours:
Friday, May 2 from 5-11 p.m.

For more information, visit Dazzle the District. 

Cleveland Foundation Day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The Cleveland Foundation, the world's first community foundation, is celebrating its centennial this year. To encourage the community to join along in the centennial celebration, each month The Cleveland Foundation is providing a small gift to the community. This Saturday, take advantage of the April centennial gift with free admission to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and RainForest.

The zoo and rainforest will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 26. This is the first free weekend day to all visitors at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in almost 20 years.

Since Earth Day was on Tuesday, special programming and activities will be held throughout the day at the zoo and rainforest with a sustainability and conservation theme. Programming includes recycled bag art sculpture, Nature Discovery ridge tours, a rhino conservation display and the Great Lakes Erie Boat Float made from recycled materials.

To keep with the theme of sustainability, visitors are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take public transit to the zoo.

Cleveland Foundation Day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hours:
Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The zoo is located at 3900 Wildlife Way in Cleveland. The RainForest is adjacent to the zoo.

For more information, visit Cleveland Metroparks.

Geauga County Maple Festival

Spring has finally arrived in Northeast Ohio, which means maple syrup season is in full swing! To celebrate, Geauga County will host the 85th annual Maple Festival this Thursday through Sunday.

Geauga County's festival is the oldest maple syrup festival in the United States. It was founded in 1926 to market Ohio maple syrup in competition with Vermont syrup. More than 15,000 people attended the first festival and since then the event has become an annual tradition.

The free four-day event in Chardon Square includes arts and crafts, live entertainment, bathtub races, a lumberjack competition, tug of war contests, pageants, rides and the acclaimed maple syrup/candy contest.

A grand parade will be held at 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday while Pancakes in the Park, an all-you-can-eat affair, will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (cost is $8 per person).

Chardon Square is located at Route 6 and Route 44 in Chardon. A free shuttle bus service from Sheetz Plaza to Chardon Square will be available Saturday and Sunday.

Geauga County Maple Festival hours:
Thursday, April 24 from noon-10 p.m.
Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

For more information or a complete schedule of events, visit Geauga County Maple Festival. 

2nd annual Cleveland Kurentovanje

Photo courtesy Cleveland Kurentovanje

The St. Clair-Superior neighborhood was once a thriving hub of Slovenian life, filled with Slovenian businesses, churches and restaurants. Recently there has been a movement to restore some of the culture to that neighborhood. Last year a group of community members organized the first ever Cleveland Kurentovanje and the festival returns this Saturday.

Kurentovanje is the most popular carnival event in Slovenia and has been celebrated for more than 50 years. More than 100,000 people typically attend the two-day celebration. The main figure of the carnival, the large and fuzzy Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring.

Ten Kurents will be featured in this year's parade, which kicks off at noon at St. Vitus Church on Lausche Avenue and ends at the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair Ave. The parade will include polka music, marching bands, dance groups and people dressed in traditional clothing from Eastern Europe (visitors also are encouraged to dress in costume!) Prior to the start of the parade, stop by Collective Upcycle Boutique, 6202 St. Clair Ave., to enjoy some krofi, or Slovenian donuts, and coffee.

The party moves to the Slovenian National Home after the parade where guests can enjoy ethnic food, wine, beer and live music. The Slovenian Museum and Archives, along with local businesses, will be open all afternoon.

The after party takes place at Sterle's Country House on East 55th Street starting at 6 p.m. The Joey Tomsick Orchestra will perform live polka music until 10 p.m. and the bier garden will be open throughout the day. Come out and enjoy some schnitzel, a shot of Slivovitz and polka the night away!

Cleveland Kurentovanje hours:
Saturday, March 1 from 11 a.m. to midnight

For more information, visit Cleveland Kurentovanje.

Brite Winter

Cleveland has experienced a brutal winter this year. With below freezing temperatures and snow storms, most people would rather stay inside than venture out into the cold.

But there's another group of people living in Cleveland who want us to embrace the cold. And their idea has caught on, as thousands of people are expected to spend Saturday afternoon and evening outdoors for the Brite Winter festival.

Now in its fifth year, Brite Winter was created by a group of friends who realized there wasn't much to do in Cleveland during the wintertime and wanted to make a change. The festival celebrates music and art and helps to build a sense of community.

More than 70 local bands will perform on 10 stages throughout Ohio City. A variety of food trucks will be on site serving up warm food and drinks to fight the chill, and all local businesses will be open during the festivities. Local artists and galleries, as well as the Cleveland Institute of Art, will have creative and interactive artwork on display. There will also be a number of games on hand for guests of all ages, including skeeball, plinko and foosball.

A staple of Brite Winter each year is the Great Wall of Light. The wall, which stretches throughout Ohio City, is a collection of lamps, neon lights and lanterns that glows after the sun sets. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lights to add to the wall. At the close of each festival the lights are saved and stored to be used again the following year.

If that's still not enough to convince you to spend the day outside during Cleveland winter, the entire event is free!

Brite Winter hours:
Saturday, Feb. 15 from 4-11 p.m.

For more information or maps of the festivities, visit Brite Winter.

Cleveland Winter Beerfest

It's freezing in Northeast Ohio (and most of the country), which means it's time to drink some libations to warm us all up! Cleveland must've had the same idea, since this weekend the city is hosting the inaugural Cleveland Winter Beerfest.

Held at the newly opened Cleveland Convention Center in downtown Cleveland, the beerfest will feature about 325 craft beers from 90 breweries across the country. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Music Education Society of Ohio, which supports Jazz Youth Education programs, the Big Joe Duskin Music Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to produce as many in-school music presentations as possible, and the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

Regular admission tickets cost $35 advance or $45 day off (cash only) and include 25 samples plus a 5 oz. souvenir acrylic mug. VIP tickets cost $45 advance or $55 day of (cash only) and include 25 samples, a souvenir mug, early entry to the festival and access to specialty beers. Designated driver tickets also are available for $20.

The event is expected to draw more than 5,000 people so get your tickets early!

Cleveland Winter Beerfest hours:
Friday, Jan. 31 from 7:30-11 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1 from 7:30-11 p.m. (VIP admission at 6:30 p.m. both days)

For more information, visit Cleveland Winter Beerfest.