Fest Forward
St Francis of Assisi Festival, June 7-10, Thu 6 - 11 p.m., Fri 6 p.m. - midnight, Sat 5 p.m. - midnight, Sun 1 - 10,30 p.m. Homemade ethnic foods and carnival rides are just the beginning. Music will be provided by local band Shout, and $5 raffle tickets will be sold with a grand prize of $10,000. 6850 Mayfield Road, Gates Mills, (440) 461-0066 www.stfrancisgm.org Art by the Falls, June 9 & 10, Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Take in the serene setting of two waterfalls, while enjoying this outdoor event that includes ceramics, wood crafts and jewelry. Downtown Chagrin Falls, (440) 247-7507 Coventry Street Fair, June 14, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Everything from clothing from Guatemala and Israel to local artisans with original jewelry, candles and photographs will be here. Enjoy farm-fresh produce and family fun, including street performers. Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights (between Mayfield Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard) www.coventryvillage.org Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, June 15-17, Fri 4 - 11 p.m., Sat noon - 11 p.m., Sun noon - 8 p.m. Hosted in the “Duct Tape Capital,” this festival features unique art, activities and a parade. Create your own duct-tape craft or watch the laser light show, a new addition this year. Veteran’s Memorial Park, 38975 Detroit Road, Avon, 1-866-818-1116 Lorain International Festival, June 22-24, Fri 5 - 11 p.m., Sat noon - 11 p.m., Sun. noon - 6 p.m. Taste the unique foods from more than 40 vendors representing 20 nationalities, while enjoying music by bands such as The New Barley Corn. Don’t miss one of the largest parades in the state of Ohio on Sunday. Black River Landing, downtown Lorain www.loraininternational.com Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival, June 22-24, Fri & Sat 5 p.m. - midnight, Sun 1 - 10:30 p.m. Packed with music ranging from polka to Christian rock, this festival will be jumping with live bands every night. While enjoying the music, don’t miss out on homemade goodies, duck races, and casino games. 29850 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, (440) 585-0700 Broadview Heights Summer Festival, July 12 -15, Thu 5 - 11 p.m., Fri 5 p.m. - midnight, Sat noon - midnight, Sun 1 - 11 p.m. Come out for fireworks, hot air balloon rides, “Broadview Heights Idol,” silent auctions, corn hole tournament and an old fashioned election. A beer garden, ribs, pizza and East Coast Custard will be here. State Route 176 and Oaks Road, front lawn of Broadview Heights City Hall St. John Vianney Festival, July 12-15, Thu 6 - 11 p.m., Fri 6 p.m. - midnight, Sat 4 p.m. - midnight, Sun 1 - 10 p.m. All of the food, decorations, and booths are made by parish volunteers. Entertainment includes music and a homemade train that kids can ride. 7575 Bellflower Road, Mentor, (440) 943-3445. Italian-American Festival, July 13-15, Fri 4 - midnight, Sat noon - midnight, Sun 1 - 9 p.m. The 60th anniversary for this festival, food and entertainment will abound. Don’t miss the festival’s first ever Pizza-Eating Contest. Riverfront Centre, Cuyahoga Falls www.it-am.org Sacred Heart Chapel Festival, July 13-15, Fri 6 - midnight, Sat 1 - midnight, Sun 2 - 11 p.m. Check out the Friday talent show, Saturday parade, and an outdoor mass on Sunday. Enjoy local bands and DJ’s playing Hispanic music. 4301 Pearl Ave., Lorain. (440) 277-7231 Twinsburg Home Days, July 13-15, Fri 6 p.m. - midnight, Sat noon - midnight, Sun 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be bands and a kids’ section, as well as a live auction and Chinese raffle. The food court ranges from polish boys to funnel cakes and includes local restaurants. If you’re not too stuffed, enter the Jell-O and pizza-eating contest. Twinsburg Township Square, (330) 963-6249 Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, July 20-22, Fri 4 p.m. - midnight, Sat 1 p.m. - midnight, Sun 1 - 11 p.m. Food, music, cultural exhibits, shopping and more. Bands from all over the country will be playing, including popular Irish rock group Gaelic Storm and Cleveland’s own Brace Yourself Bridget! Berea Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland Road, Berea, (330) 321-6174 or (800) 485-8013 Painesville Party in the Park, July 20-22, Fri & Sat noon - midnight, Sun noon - 11 p.m. The largest free music festival in Northeast Ohio includes Miles, a Jazz band, as well as the Irish band Whiskey Island Ramblers. State Route 2 and Erie Street, Painesville www.painesvillepartyinthepark.com Taste of Tremont, July 22, 1 - 8 p.m. An annual event featuring plenty of food and drinks plus live entertainment. Bring the kids for activities and art displays. Professor Street, between Jefferson and Fairfield avenues, Cleveland, (216) 522-9740 Holy Family Festival, Aug 1-5, Wed 6 - 10 p.m., Thu 6 - 10 p.m. (gambling till 11 p.m.), Fri & Sat 6 - 11 p.m. (gambling till midnight), Sun 3 - 10 p.m. This festival, which marks the 135th anniversary of Holy Family, includes karaoke, casino games, a raffle for a 2007 Chevy Equinox, musical entertainment and fireworks. 7367 York Road, Parma, (440) 842-5533 Vintage Ohio Wine Festival, Aug 3 & 4, 1 - 10 p.m. Food, music, fireworks and craft booths are pleasurable accents to this wine-tasting bonanza. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland (800) 277-6972, www.visitvintageohio.com. Twinsburg Twins Days, Aug 4 & 5, Sat 9 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Identical or fraternal, come enjoy this years fiesta-themed festival all for twins. March in the Double Take parade or enter the twins contest and twins talent show. There will be stage entertainment, children’s games and rides and an arts and crafts show. Chamberlin Park, Ravenna Road, Twinsburg North Ridgeville Corn Festival, Aug 10-13, Fri 6 - 11 p.m., Sat noon - 11 p.m., Sun noon - 8 p.m. Admission and parking are free for this festival, which features rides from Great Lakes Expositions. Watch the Buckinghams perform and the car show, while visiting more than 84 booths of food which boast roasted or steamed corn. Between state Route 83 and Root Road, North Ridgeville Heritage Days, Aug 16-19. Thu 1 - 3 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. A parade kicks off the festival which has musicians, Laurel and Hardy look-a-likes, a gun shoot off, cemetery tours and Sweet Adeline, the ladies acapella group. Food includes kettle corn, Clementines and ice cream. Balloon makers and Jungle Terry will be in attendance for the kids. Grand Pacific Junction, Olmsted Falls St. Clare Festival, Aug 24 & 25, Sat 4 - 11 p.m. Sun noon - 11 p.m. Bands Carmelina and The Masquerades and Top Dog perform on Saturday night at this activity packed festival. Kids can take a ride on rocket ship cars, and everyone can enjoy the homemade pasta and fried dough. 5659 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, (440) 449-4242, St. Rocco Festival, Aug 31-Sept 3, Thu & Fri 6 p.m. - midnight, Sat, Sun & Mon 1 p.m. –midnight. Winning $1,000 strike your fancy? Then get a team together and participate in the St. Rocco Festival Greasy Pole Climb. Or simply eat good Italian food in the church hall, play casino games, and take a shot at winning the church raffle. 3205 Fulton Road, Cleveland, (216) 961-8331 Taste of Cleveland, Aug 31-Sept 3, Fri 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sat & Sun noon - 11 p.m., Mon noon - 8 p.m. Area chefs will tempt the taste buds of visitors at this 12th annual event. With plenty of food and music, including Donny Osmond, there is plenty of entertainment for everyone. Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, 1887 W. Third St., Cleveland, (440) 247-4FUN www.cleveland.com/tasteofcleveland St. Jude’s Festival, Sept 2, noon - 9 p.m. This one-day family festival is held on the 17 acres of the St. Jude Parish. Enjoy BBQ dinners, games for all ages, and music from the Elyria High School marching band. Buy a raffle ticket for the chance to win a new car. 590 Poplar St., Elyria, (440) 366-5711 Johnny Appleseed Festival, Sept 15 & 16, Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Don’t go to the store for apples, bag your own at this 32nd annual event, which has bushels of tempting apple treats. Enjoy activities ranging from a petting zoo to antique shows and live bands. Mapleside Farms, 294 Pearl Road, Brunswick, (330) 225-5577 www.mapleside.com Village Peddler Festival, Sept 15 & 16, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. More than 150 craftsmen set up shop at this event, selling everything from hammocks to stained glass to photography. Enjoy folk music, and jams and jellies from the Harvest Market. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland, (440) 466-8414
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