What’s Coming Up in Cleveland
The Land will be buzzing this spring as global icons in art, music, and sports share the spotlight. Whether enjoying the outdoors or uncovering the city’s cultural gems, visitors are invited to explore a blend of what’s new along with beloved local favorites.
Just two hours by plane from New York and even closer to cities such as Pittsburgh and Indianapolis—Cleveland, or the CLE—is a place to put on your U.S. destination list this Spring and Summer. And plenty is going on, both indoors and outdoors! Read below for a quick roundup of recommended happenings and attractions.
The Land of Pop (Culture)
Cleveland will be home to some of the biggest arts and entertainment moments of 2025, and it all kicks off in April. From the vibrant dynamism of internationally renowned artist Takashi Murakami to a world-class performance by award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s rich arts and culture scene.
- Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami Game (April 19)
One of the brightest stars in soccer, Lionel Messi, will shine in The Land when the powerhouse Inter Miami CF faces off against the 2024 League Cup Champion, the Columbus Crew, in an MLS Regular Matchup at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field.
- Cleveland Museum of Art: Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow (May 25 – Sept. 7)
Takashi Murakami has earned international recognition for his works that blend anime, manga, otaku and kawaii influences while reflecting on significant historical events. Originating at the Broad in Los Angeles, this exhibition is presented with an expanded scope at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The centerpiece will be a re-creation of Nara’s Yumedono (Dream Hall) from the Horyuji Temple complex in Nara, Japan, set within the museum’s atrium. The exhibition explores how art can address crisis, healing, outrage and escapist fantasy after shared trauma, while the museum’s deep holdings of Japanese art will offer visitors a richer connection to the exhibition’s themes.
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music (Opens May 23)
A captivating exhibit celebrating the 50-year anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” will open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just in time for summer visitors. State-of-the-art video installations and a first-ever virtual experience will immerse visitors in musical performances from early episodes, including RUN-D.M.C. and Mick Jagger, as well as recent guests such as Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter. Additional highlights include an exclusive re-creation of the famous Studio 8H facade, costumes from musical sketches and a documentary edit featuring never-before-seen musical performance footage. This will be the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s first exhibit to offer a robust digital companion and will include language translations and sensory-friendly options.
- Blossom Music Festival (July – Sept.)
The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2025 Blossom Music Festival showcases Hollywood favorites including “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and Disney’s “The Lion King.” One of the season’s marquee events is “An Evening with Cynthia Erivo,” the Oscar-nominated and Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, singer and producer known for her leading role in the Hollywood movie production “Wicked.”
Outdoor Attractions
Attractions, improvements and celebrations offer visitors new ways to experience the outdoors.
- North Coast Harbor $5 million makeover (May through September): Just in time for summer, Downtown Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor will debut a $5 million refresh, including public access improvements, elevated aesthetics and more. The area will also be home to The North Coast Yard, a pop-up waterfront park open May through September, offering basketball and pickleball courts, a roller rink and themed events.
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park 50th anniversary (through end of 2025): Cuyahoga Valley National Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2025. Highlights include the continuation of its national speaker series and its free, family friendly “Rhythm on the River” summer concert series.
Perennial Events
From a race that weaves through The Land’s most iconic landmarks to a Pride gathering hosted by one of the nation’s longest-established LGBTQ community centers, these major events highlight Cleveland’s diversity and creativity and showcase the city at its best.
- Cleveland Guardians 2025 Opening Day (April 8): Coming off a standout 2024 season, Cleveland fans are ready for another winning year. Additionally, fans will enjoy the results of the final phase of a $200 million renovation of Progressive Field. New features include an upgraded Upper Deck with a beer garden and a new, expansive “Cleveland Beer Hall” food and beverage experience open to all ticketed fans.
- Cleveland Marathon (May 17-18): The Cleveland Marathon encourages racers of all levels to participate, and more than 10,000 are expected to run, watch or volunteer throughout the weekend.
- 2025 Cleveland Asian Festival (May 17-18): At the annual Cleveland Asian Festival in the AsiaTown neighborhood, visitors can enjoy traditional musical and dance performances, shopping at a world marketplace of vendors and sampling Asian cuisines.
- Pride in the CLE® (June 7) EDITOR’S PICK
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland hosts the city’s annual Pride in the CLE® event. The festivities begin with a march through Downtown Cleveland and culminate in a high-energy celebration in the heart of the city. On the heels of the 2024 event, which saw a record-breaking turnout of over 25,000 attendees, this year’s programming will include performances from local drag queens and musicians, food trucks, local vendors and a Speak Out Stage for community activists, organizers, poets and artists. - Larchmere Porchfest (June 28): This music festival is a quirky Cleveland tradition celebrating the local indie music scene. Across the east side district of Larchmere, residents transform their front porches into stages for local bands and musicians. All are invited to camp on front lawns, enjoying the music and company. The nearby area is home to a well-known antiques district and robust dining scene.
Arts & Culture
Travelers looking for world-class exhibitions, first-of-their kind exhibitions and thought-provoking experiences should look no further than the unexpectedly vibrant cultural epicenter known as The Land.
- Cleveland Museum of Art – Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior (through June 8): Following its premier in Venice, “Collective Behavior” explores visual artist Shazia Sikander’s identity as an American, Pakistani, Muslim feminist and global artist who is engaging with a disrupted historical narrative. This exhibition uniquely focuses on her relationship with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection of South Asian works, many of which have inspired her own art.
- Karamu Artists Inc.: Printmaking, Race and Community (March 23 – Aug. 17): This exhibition highlights Cleveland’s Karamu House, which is recognized as the oldest producing African American theatre in the nation, and its historic printmaking workshop, where artists – including a young Langston Hughes – experimented with graphic arts. It’s the first to place Karamu House’s innovative use of printmaking within the broader context of 1930s and ’40s American culture.
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History recently completed a $150-million transformation, introducing more than 375,000 square feet of reimagined spaces that reflect the influences of the natural world. In addition to exploring new exhibits, visitors can partake in engaging discussions through the museum’s “The Science of…” series, which features globally relevant conversations with experts. The series kicks off on Thursday, April 10 with the sold-out “The Science of Climate Change with Bill Nye;” further installments will be announced.
- Cleveland History Center – History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland (through August): This inaugural exhibit highlights the significant work of Black photographers from Cleveland in a new permanent gallery dedicated to honoring African American contributions to American History.
- All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures (through August): This playful exhibit includes toys and miniatures dating back to the 1830s, alongside life-sized fashion and historical images.
- City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign (through August): Organized by the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, this poster exhibition explores the history of the Poor People’s Campaign and honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) – Gala Porras-Kim: A Hand in Nature (through June 1): Through art that grows, evolves and degrades over time, this exhibition explores the concept of natural forces having the power to self-determine.
- Harminder Judge (through June 1): The artist’s first exhibition in the US displays vibrant plaster and pigment works that convey themes of alchemy, spiritual processions and the body’s transformation through death.
- Cleveland Orchestra: The internationally renowned orchestra will continue its 2024-25 season with wide-ranging performances, including Tchaikovsky, Bach and Mozart.
- Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival (May 16-25): The Cleveland Orchestra announced new events to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival that elevate the third edition of the event to a city-wide occasion, including legendary music performances as well as art exhibitions, a screening of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums at the Cinematheque, a joint symposium with Global Cleveland and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, expert dialogues at the Cleveland Museum of Art and more.
Restaurant & Bar Openings
This year brings fresh energy to Cleveland’s food scene, with four local chefs earning prestigious James Beard nominations and an exciting lineup of restaurant openings on the horizon.
- CentroVilla25
A Latin market and food hall has opened in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, welcoming around 20 independently owned micro-businesses that offer local foods and products. The space also features a commercial kitchen for food truck owners and other food businesses to use. Exciting new attractions – including a rum bar, restaurants and outdoor space – will open soon.
- Two Friends Brewing
Two longtime friends have opened the city’s first Black-owned brewery in the Collinwood neighborhood. Visitors can enjoy a selection of core and barrel-aged beers with unique flavors such as Maple Barleywine and Honey Wheat Wine, while relaxing in the brewery’s lounge area or facing off in a friendly air hockey competition.
- Pearl’s Kitchen and Black Frog Brewery (April)
Chef Tiwanna Williams and Chris Harris of Toledo’s Black Frog Brewery will soon debut their shared space in the MidTown Collaboration Center, strategically located between the Downtown and University Circle neighborhoods. The space offers tourists and locals a unique dining and entertainment experience. Williams’ Pearl’s Kitchen is an elevated, fast-casual dining spot, while Harris will expand Black Frog – Ohio’s first Black-owned brewery – into Cleveland. The new space will feature a dozen taps and plenty of indoor seating, alongside an outdoor patio.
- The Witch Doctor (Spring)
Coming soon to Old Brooklyn, The Witch Doctor bar will combine herbs and spirits in an apothecary-inspired space featuring stained glass windows, live plants and a backyard garden.
- STEAK in Tremont opens SUSHI (Spring)
Tremont’s STEAK is teaming up with Sushi 86 to introduce a seasonal outdoor concept, including a sushi food truck, mobile bar cart and courtyard with a Tokyo-inspired vibe.
- Ebreeq Coffee House (Spring)
This coffee house will bring Yemeni coffee and culture to Downtown Cleveland with a range of coffee, teas and traditional Yemeni baked goods.
- Sofia’s Kitchen and Bar (Spring)
Andrew Revy, owner of Immigrant Son Brewery, is set to open his second restaurant in the western suburb of Lakewood. The upscale-casual American bistro will serve dinner seven days a week.
- The W Sports Bar (Spring)
Cleveland will soon have its first all-women’s sports bar, providing fans with a designated spot to cheer on women’s sports teams. Located in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, the bar will feature elevated bar bites and an inclusive atmosphere.
- The Dugout (Summer)
This summer, The Dugout will open as part of Cleveland’s new designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA). The seasonal outdoor bar will sell beverages and ice cream that can be enjoyed throughout the East 4th Street entertainment district.
Hotel Projects
With a new, design-forward boutique property, the city’s hotel landscape continues to evolve.
- Fidelity Hotel now open: Downtown’s newest lodging option, the 97-room Fidelity Hotel, has opened in the historic Baker Building. Offering a boutique experience with custom-designed rooms, unique event spaces and a focus on social impact, the hotel blends Gilded Age charm with modern style. Featuring local artwork throughout, it’s a one-of-a-kind destination.
- AC Hotel replaces Holiday Inn Express: Downtown’s Holiday Inn Express is closing, making way for a new AC Hotel by Marriott. The renovation will maintain the property’s current floor space and refresh the existing 141 rooms with modern interiors. The hotel is expected to open in 2026.
- W Hotel opening slated for 2027: The W Hotel will add luxury accommodations, a full-service spa and gym, rooftop deck and restaurant with stunning skyline views to Downtown. The project is anticipated to open in 2027.
