Here are three things to do this weekend in Akron.

Your Akron weekend plans

  1. The Akron African American Cultural Festival will celebrate its 45th year this weekend at Lock 3. Melrose Eve, The Beck Ward Project, Rayr Image and more will perform at the three-day festival. Vendors and community organizations will be onsite. Free haircuts and health and wellness screenings will also be available. The free festival takes place Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
  1. Join staff and volunteers from Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition for a guided canoe ride on Summit Lake. As they paddle around Summit Lake, guides will discuss the history of the area as well as planned improvements. The ride will last two hours and will cover two miles. Registration is $15 for youth (ages 6-15) and $35 for adults and includes equipment, snacks, a resource/goodie bag and a lunch after the trip. Attendees should meet at the Summit Lake Park Pavilion (390 W. Crosier St.). Groups depart at 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. The event happens rain or shine.
  1. On Sunday, cool off at the Akron Art Museum’s Family Day: Water. The museum’s garden will be turned into a splash zone, complete with sprinklers, kiddie pools, slip-n-slides and other water activities. Don your bathing suit and bring a towel. The fun starts at 11 a.m. Registration is requested.

Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to summer events in and around Akron.

Culture & Arts Reporter (she/her)
Brittany is an accomplished journalist who’s passionate about the arts, civic engagement and great storytelling. She has more than a decade of experience covering culture and arts, both in Ohio and nationally. She previously served as the associate editor of Columbus Monthly, where she wrote community-focused stories about Central Ohio’s movers and shakers. A lifelong Ohioan, she grew up in Springfield and graduated from Kent State University.