Nature Arts Festival at Big Creek Park
The Nature Arts Festival returns to Chardon for its 30th year celebrating nature and craftsmanship this Saturday. Homemade goods from body scrubs and lip balms to jams and Maple syrup (a Geauga staple) will be available by vendors, while nature-inspired art — whether it be serene watercolors, patient woodcarving or from the forge of a blacksmith — will be on display by crafters. There will be free face paint, balloon art and paint sessions for kids. And just a bus ride away, check out the 40th Annual Chardon Arts Festival happening on the Historic Chardon Square. Free, Aug. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, 440-286-9516, geaugaparkdistrict.org
New Histories, New Futures at the Transformer Station
Confronting the past in one hand while holding hope in the other, New Histories, New Futures is the vision of three artists, organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Antwoine Washington of Cleveland’s bold colors and geometric shapes recall Harlem Renaissance-era work, while his subjects attack the myth of the absent Black father. Diving into the life of Lee Howard Dobbins, a four-year-old slave whose travel north ended with sickness in Oberlin in 1853, artist Johnny Coleman highlights the young life along the Underground Railroad. Lastly, Kambui Olujimi’s paintings depict weightless Black bodies, symbolizing a future in which oppression no longer tethers. Free, June 26-Sept. 12, Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 1460 W. 29th St., Cleveland, 216-938-5429, transformerstation.org
Pokemon Artist Group Exhibition at Blank Canvas CLE
There’s a lot to like about cute creatures with dangerous powers. Pokemon has delighted fans for just shy of 25 years. Its most interactive and innovative endeavor, Pokemon GO, became well known to the public in 2016. Blank Canvas CLE is giving us the chance to catch ’em all this Friday, giving space for local artists to show off work from Pokemon’s animated series, TV specials, films and video games. This first-ever event is free, but make sure you catch your spot by registering on Eventbrite beforehand. Free, Aug. 6, 6-10 p.m., 2174 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-609-8152, eventbrite.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in Canton
Canton has been feeding off the excitement of this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival since July, but this weekend pops with extraordinary events for fans to bond over and remember. Friday’s hype kicks off with the Fashion Show, a free Gold Jacket Photo Op and Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Ceremony. Skip the cartoons Saturday morning to see the Canton Repository Grand Parade’s colorful floats and balloons strike awe in downtown Canton. With autograph sessions both Saturday and Sunday and stories to be heard from the legends themselves during the intimate Enshrinees’ Roundtable event, you can’t go wrong. Free-$200, Aug. 6-8, all day, various locations, 330-456-7253, profootballoffestival.com
Romeo and Juliet at the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival
A story that illustrates the tragedy of hate and blind faith of love is timeless and ever-prevalent. A master at mirroring human behavior in his work, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, will be performed as part of the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival’s 2021 season. This weekend marks one of the last, so be sure to catch the cast at either Lakewood Park, Sims Park or Lincoln Park. True to its mission, all performances are free to the public and the organization aims to enrich underserved communities with the art and talent of theater. Free, Aug. 6-8, 7 p.m., various locations, 440-794-1273, cleveshakes.com
