Things to Do This Thanksgiving Weekend In Cleveland: Nov. 27-30

Thursday, Nov. 27

44th annual Cleveland Turkey Trot powered by CSU Rec Center and Viking Public House at Public Auditorium
There will be entertainment and costume contests at this annual Thanksgiving Day run that leaves from Public Auditorium. It's a dog friendly event that'll even feature a Turkey Trot Dog Park. It begins at 8:45 a.m. 500 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, runsignup.com/Race/OH/Cleveland/ClevelandTurkeyTrot

Friday, Nov. 28

The Black Friday Parade AKA Emo Night CLE at Mahall’s 20 Lanes
This special Black Friday dance party at Mahall's 20 Lanes in Lakewood will feature tunes by My Chemical Romance as well as other popular emo acts from the aughts. The event begins at 10:30 p.m. 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com 

A Christmas Carol at the Mimi Ohio Theatre
This Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival production never fails to engage and delight. Framed as a story within a story in this Gerald Freedman adaptation, the production really comes alive once the ghost of Jacob Marley appears, dragging his chains and creaking eerily with every movement. Friday's performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Mimi Ohio Theatre, where performances continue through Dec. 21. 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Frost at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
This annual winter celebration at the Cleveland Botanical Garden features lights, seasonal displays and family activities. There will be a gingerbread competition and local garden clubs will decorate Christmas trees that'll be on display. Check the website for hours and more information. 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600, holdenfg.org

Monsters vs. Hartford Wolf Pack at Rocket Arena
At 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights at Rocket Arena, the Monsters take on the Hartford Wolf Pack. Friday's game features the usual 1-2-3 discounts on concessions, and Saturday night is Hockey Fights Cancer Night. In addition, there will be a Modelo Happy Hour featuring concession discounts starting at 5:30 p.m. in the atrium. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

A Motown Christmas at the Hanna Theatre
This holiday event features classic tunes by the likes of the Temptations, the Supremes and the Jackson 5. Friday's performance takes place at the Hanna Theatre, where performances continue through Dec. 14. 2067 East 14th St., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Record Store Day Black Friday at Vinyl Groove Records
Doors open at 10 a.m. at Vinyl Groove Records for this special Record Store Day Black Friday celebration. Traveling Tom's Coffee Truck will be on hand, and there will be giveaways and live performances throughout the day. 5100 Pearl Road, Suite 208, Cleveland, 440-439-8371, thevinylgrooverecords.com

Mary Santora at Hilarities
Drawing from real life experiences, local comic Mary Santora takes the audience on a "storytelling driven ride, while seamlessly weaving in and out of crowd interactions, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who sees her," as it's put in a press release. Her album, Hillbilly Boujee, topped the charts on iTunes and Amazon. She performs on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 and 9:15 p.m. at Hilarities. 2035 East Fourth St., Cleveland, 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com

Welshly Arms & the Vindys at House of Blues
Sam Getz was a session guy before forming the blues-rock band Welshly Arms in Cleveland in 2012. The group played its first-ever show at the Beachland Tavern in 2013 and has toured nationally in the wake of that initial gig. Youngstown-based the Vindys have played outside of Northeast Ohio too, and the group mostly recently opened some dates for Pat Benatar. The two regional acts team up for this show at House of Blues. Doors open at 6 p.m. 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com

Kym Whitley at the Funny Bone
Cleveland native Kym Whitley got a break when she was cast as Auntie Suga in the 2000 film Next Friday. Since then, she’s appeared in The Nutty Professor, Along Came Polly and dozens of other films. Whitley likes to crack jokes about the challenges of motherhood during her standup routines. She performs at 7 and 9:45 p.m. on Friday and at 6:30 and 9:15 p.m. on Saturday night at the Funny Bone. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com

Yuja Wang Plays Ravel at Mandel Concert Hall
Pianist Yuja Wang joins the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Ravel's famous Concerto for the Left Hand along with Ligeti's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday. 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

Saturday, Nov. 29

Ballet Theatre of Ohio's Nutcracker at the Akron Civic Theatre
Ballet Theatre of Ohio presents The Nutcracker for the 33rd consecutive year. This show featuring Tchaikovsky's famous score comes to the Akron Civic Theatre on Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, ballettheatreohio.org

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at the Agora
The hip-hop group that first formed in Cleveland in the early 1990s returns to the Agora. The group famously inked a deal with the late Eazy-E, who helped make the rappers into superstars by putting out their early albums on his Ruthless Records. Doors open at 7 p.m. 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Clockwork Fancy: Steampunk-A-Versary with Roxxymoron at Jilly’s Music Room
Jilly's Music Room in Akron celebrates its 12th anniversary with this steampunk-themed show featuring Roxxymoron. The party gets started at 7 p.m. 111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com

Ekoostik Hookah at House of Blues
The Ohio-based jam band/psychedelic rock group that formed in Columbus in the early ’90s has never had anything resembling a hit song during its long run, but it’s a festival favorite and maintains a cult following after all these years. It performs at House of Blues. Doors open at 6 p.m. 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com

Twilight in Concert at the State Theatre
This immersive event features the original film with a live score played by a 12-piece ensemble. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

WinterLand Kickoff at Public Square
The event that kicks off the winter season in Cleveland returns to Public Square. The festivities commence at noon, and there will be firepits, Santa and Grinch photo opportunities, food trucks, giveaways, and games. Local bands Apostle Jones and Da Land Brass Band will perform. Admission is free. Various locations in Downtown Cleveland, winterlandcle.com

Sunday, Nov. 30

Blind Guardian at the Agora
The hard rock group from Germany brings its Somewhere Far Beyond Tour to the Agora. The veteran band released its 12th album, The God Machine, in 2022. It offers a heavy dose of Metallica-like power chords and call-and-response vocals. Doors open at 7 p.m. 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers at Huntington Bank Field
A playoff caliber team when healthy, the San Francisco 49ers come to Huntington Bank to take on the floundering Browns. The game begins at 1 p.m. 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com

Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena
The Cavaliers take on another Eastern Conference powerhouse on Sunday when they face the Boston Celtics at 6 p.m. at Rocket Arena. The Celtics beat the Cavs when the two teams played earlier this season in Boston, but the Cavs have improved since that initial meeting. One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

A Christmas Story at the Allen Theatre
Cleveland Play House’s production of this story about a Cleveland kid who just wants a BB gun for Christmas returns to the Allen Theatre, where it continues through Dec. 21. Performances take place at 2 and 7:30 p.m. 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Genghis Con at the Pivot Center
The annual event that celebrates independent presses and comics returns to the Pivot Center. The event begins at 11 a.m. 2937 West 25th St., Cleveland, 216-707-2483, genghisconcleveland.com

Jingle Bell Jamboree with the Pops at the State Theatre
Expect to hear festive songs at this holiday concert featuring the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. Performances take place at 2 and 6 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

My Love Letter to Food at the Imposters Theater
Comedian Samantha Woodman wrote, directed and produced this show about her relationship with food. Sunday's performance takes place at 6 p.m. at Imposters Theater. 4828 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, imposterstheater.com

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