Things to Do This Weekend In Cleveland: March 12-15

Thursday, March 12 

2026 MAC Tournament at Rocket Arena
The MAC Tournament always provides excitement, particularly since the winning team secures an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. Men's and women's competitions take place from Thursday through Saturday at Rocket Arena. Check the website for times and matchups. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

Beethoven's Fateful Fifth at Mandel Concert Hall
Elim Chan conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it takes on Beethoven's Fifth Symphony as well as pieces by Stravinsky and Haydn. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Sunday. 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School at Jilly’s Music Room
Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and draw event that takes place on the second Thursday of each month at Jilly's Music Room in Akron, gives patrons the opportunity to "draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality." The fun begins at 7 p.m.; it costs $10 to draw. 111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com

Pink Talking Fish at Beachland Ballroom
This band that plays a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish returns to the Beachland Ballroom. The show begins at 8 p.m. 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

Rachmaninoff and the Tsar at the Allen Theatre
Hershey Felder stars in this play about pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and his memory of his encounter with Russia's last tsar. Thursday's performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Allen Theatre, where performances continue through Sunday. 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Water for Elephants at Connor Palace
A young man joins a traveling circus after literally hopping onto a moving train in this musical based on the best-selling novel by the same name. Thursday's performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Connor Palace, where performances continue through March 29. 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Friday, March 13

Fan EXPO at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
Hayden Christensen, William Shatner, James Marsters, Helen Hunt, Cary Elwes, Jonathan Frakes and Gates McFadden are just a few of the celebrities that'll be on hand when Fan EXPO returns to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland this weekend. The event continues through Sunday. Check the website for hours as well as a schedule of events. 300 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, 216-9281600, fanexpocleveland.com

Flanagan's Wake at Kennedy’s Theatre
Part improv, part scripted, this interactive Irish wake is back again at Kennedy’s Theatre at Playhouse Square. Performances are set for 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Chelsea Handler: The High and Mighty Tour at the State Theatre
The talk show host, comedian and author comes to the State Theatre. She zeroes in on her upbringing for this particular tour and talks about early sexual experiences and her entrepreneurial spirit. The concert begins at 8 p.m. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Alfred Kainga at the Funny Bone
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Alfred Kainga began his comedic career in Dallas in 2005 shortly after moving to the United States. Now a regular on the club circuit, he performs at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and at 6:30 and 9 p.m. on Saturday night at the Cleveland Funny Bone. 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com

NEO Rewind Series: Vanity Crash Presents Our Day Will Come: NEO Women Rock at the Akron Civic Theatre
Thomas Mulready, who published the local events newsletter Cool Cleveland, leads this talk that documents the impact of women on the Northeast Ohio rock scene. The local glam group Vanity Crash will also perform. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com

No Exit Presents “Cleveland Renaissance: Art of the Cleveland School” at Cleveland Museum of Art
The experimental music ensemble No Exit presents works that serve as companion pieces to paintings by Clarence Holbrook Carter, William Sommer, Clara L. Deike, Hughie Lee-Smith, August Biehle Jr. and Clarence Van Duzer. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. at Cleveland Museum of Art. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

Two Trains Running at Beck Center
Set in Pittsburgh in the 1960s, August Wilson's play centers on the characters who frequent a coffeeshop in the city's Hill District. Local Jimmy Woody directs the play, and Friday's performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, where performances continue through March 29. 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org

Vuela Alto, Mamá at Pivot Center for Art, Dance, and Expression
This play centers on two sisters who haven't spoken to each other in years reunite at their mother's wake. It's presented in Spanish with subtitles in English projected on a screen). Friday's performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the LatinUs Blackbox Theater located in the Pivot Center for Art, Dance, and Expression. Performances continue through Sunday. 2937 W. 25th St., Cleveland, pivotcenter.com

Saturday, March 14

2026 Maple Sugar Festival & Pancake Breakfast at Hale Farm & Village
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Hale Farm & Village hosts live demonstrations of tree tapping and sap boiling in the wood-fired syrup evaporator at C.O. Hale's 1910 Sugar House. The event aims to show what life was like on farms in the Cuyahoga Valley during the 1800s. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Newton Falls, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org

Aladdin at Akron Civic Theatre
Akron-based Ballet Excel Ohio celebrates its 50th anniversary with a world-premiere ballet, Aladdin, that'll feature an Akron student who'll become the first Black dancer to perform a title role in Ballet Excel Ohio's 5-year history. He became began dancing through Ballet Excel Ohio’s Reach Out and Dance scholarship program, which introduces dance to second-grade students in Akron Public Schools. Performances take place at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. 182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com

Gary Allan at MGM Northfield Park
Country singer Gary Allan had a hit right out of the gates with his debut album, 1996's Used Heart for Sale. He's steadily toured and recorded ever since. He comes to Northfield Park's Center Stage on Saturday at 8 p.m. The Shootouts, a regional country act that's made some noise recently, opens. 10705 Northfield Road, Northfield, 330-467-4101, mgmresorts.com

Lords of the Sound at the State Theatre
The Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the music of composer Hans Zimmer with this special concert that takes place at 7 p.m. at the State Theatre. Expect to hear music from blockbusters such as Dune, The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar. 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

A May Tale at Cleveland Public Library
At 3 p.m. at the Cleveland Public Library, the Cleveland Silent Film Festival screens this Czech silent movie from 1926. Cleveland’s Harmonia ensemble will play a new score featuring Central European folk music. 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-623-2800, clevelandsilentfilmfestival.org

Dar Williams Hummingbird Highway Tour at the Kent Stage
The singer-songwriter comes to the Kent Stage in support of her new album, Hummingbird Highway, which came out last year. Singer-songwriter Joy Clark opens. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. 175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org

Sunday, March 15

Cavs versus Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena
The Dallas Mavericks haven't played well since trading away superstar Luka Dončić. But they have added sensational rookie Cooper Flagg to their lineup and the former Duke player hasn't disappointed. The Mavericks make their one-and-only regular season visit to Rocket Arena this season to take on the Cavs at 3:30 p.m. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com

Gaetano Letizia Release Party at Beachland Tavern
Local singer-guitarist Gaetano Letizia recently recorded The Muddy Waters Project, a tribute to the iconic Chicago blues legend. Letizia and Co. will perform the album in its entirety at this release show at the Beachland Tavern. The show begins at 3 p.m. 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com

Rakim at the Grog Shop
The iconic rapper known for the underground hit "Paid in Full," a collaboration with Eric B., comes to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. The show begins at 8 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs

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