Verb Ballets at Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival
Akron’s Firestone Park will be filled to the brim with performances by Verb Ballets. Watch the program put on various showcases of classical selections and modern works. With musical presentations ranging from Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 281 to Charles Anderson’s Aposiopesis, the ballet company’s return to Northeast Ohio’s summer dance festival will highlight the arts community. Free, July 27 & 28 Fri & Sat 8:45 p.m., Firestone Park, 1480 Girard St., Akron, 216-397-3757, verbballets.org
Apollo’s Fire Summer Concert & Picnic Dinner
Cleveland’s Baroque Orchestra is putting together a trifecta of performances this weekend. Classical musicians Jeffrey Strauss, Susanna Perry Gilmore and Jeannette Sorrell highlight the night with renditions of Bach’s Concerto in A Minor and Ouverture no. 2 in B Minor. There will be a beer and wine reception and catered picnic dinner before the concert. $45-$150, July 29 7:30 p.m., Laurel School Butler Campus, 7420 Fairmount Road, Novelty, 216-320-0012, apollosfire.org
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke and The Marshall Tucker Band
Blossom Music Center will host a southern rock ‘n’ roll trio this weekend. Join four decades of fans for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour. The rock legends will be accompanied by critically-acclaimed Georgia musicians Blackberry Smoke and The Marshall Tucker Band, creators of the legendary track “Can’t You See.” $39.50-$450, July 27 6 p.m., Blossom Music Center, 1145 W Steels Corner Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-8040, ticketmaster.com
Birds, Beasts, Brats and Beer
Help the Cleveland Museum of Natural History raise money to benefit the live animals that call the museum home with their annual party taking place at the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden. In partnership with KeyBank, the event will be slinging bratwursts and cold brews all night. Along with the delicious eats, you can learn about animal enrichment and wildlife care by watching demos and walking through wildlife-themed programs. There will also be a silent auction featuring paintings from the museum’s animal artists. $25-$35, July 27 5:30 p.m., Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600, cmnh.org
Wizardly World of Kent
If you miss Hogwarts, Kent has you covered this week. While not affiliated with the Harry Potter universe directly, it will still have enough magic for the witches and wizards of northeast Ohio. Muggles and purebloods alike can meander through the wonders of downtown Kent. Over 100 vendors and local businesses will put on events, offer special merchandise and hand out themed food items. Come dressed up and enter the costume contest at the Forbidden Forest, or enjoy live performances at the Goblin Bank Plaza. Free, July 28 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., various locations, 330-677-8000, mainstreetkent.org