5 Things To Do This Weekend In Cleveland: Nov. 22-24
See the most famous instruments in rock history at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, embrace the holidays at Crocker Park, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Kris Kringle’s Inventionasium, and more this weekend.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in conjunction with New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, unveils a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the gear that drove one of the most significant chapters of 20th century art and culture this weekend. The four-floor exhibit offers an up-close look at the essential and most-famous gear of rock ‘n’ roll’s guitar gods and studio wizards. The collection of more than 130 instruments includes guitars such as Prince’s Symbol, Bruce Springsteen’s 1952 Telecaster and Jerry Garcia’s Wolf; drum sets from the Beatles’ Ringo Star and the Who’s Keith Moon; and pianos from Jerry Lee Lewis and Lady Gaga. $26, Nov. 22-Sept. 13, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., Cleveland, rockhall.com
Cleveland Mega Blues Festival
Six chart-topping artists bring the sounds of the Mississippi Delta, Memphis and Motown to PlayHouse Square this Friday. Millie Jackson and Latimore, Willie Clayton, TK Soul, and Wendell B and Pokey Bear rock a set of ‘60s jams to modern hits on the KeyBank State Theatre stage in one of the premier blues and R&B events of the year. $68.50-78.50, Nov. 22, 8 p.m., Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org
Wild Winter Lights
More than 1 million holiday bulbs, a 16-foot-tall teddy bar and a giant sugar cookie lights up Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Saturday night. Visit multiple zones of light shows, including the Zoo’s take on the Northern Lights, the “A-Roar-A Borealis.” After exploring the Snow Safari, Glacier Glade, and Santa’s North Pole Lodge, play some reindeer games such as the snowball toss. Free (2 & under)-$18.50, Nov. 22, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com
Kris Kringle’s Inventionasium Experience
You can go all the way to the North Pole, but you won’t find a mind-bending Kris Kringle experience like the one at Cleveland’s Tower City. Assist Mr. and Mrs. Kringle in preparing for Christmas Eve by creating and testing out toys in his wacky, top-secret Inventionasium lab. After lending a hand, share your wildest Christmas wishes with the Big Man himself. Nov. 23, Tower City 230 W Huron Road, Cleveland, mrkringle.com
Crocker Park Tree Lighting
You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to kick off the holiday season — or to get a head start on your holiday shopping list. After a window shopping stroll, stick around for the West Side outdoor mall’s annual Tree Lighting ceremony for a jolt of Christmas spirit. Free, Nov. 23, 5-7 p.m., Crocker Park, 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com
Nick Offerman
The man, the myth, the mustache behind Ron Swanson performs his stand-up special All Rise at KeyBank State Theatre. But don’t expect the Parks and Recreation alumni to bring a conservative performance of his stubborn character. The author and comedian puts on the show of a renaissance man that includes dancing, deliberative talking, quirky takes and other Offerman antics. $39.50-59.50, 11/23, 8 p.m., Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org
