There are lots of events to enjoy in Akron over the long Labor Day weekend. Be sure to check out our festival listings here, but to make it easy for you, we’ve expanded this week’s list so you don’t miss out on something fun.

  1. The Akron Society of Artists closes out its summer matinee series, The Artist’s Lens, on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. at the Akron Main Public Library. The free program highlights artists’ perspectives through film and discussion.
  1. Foodies have plenty of options this holiday weekend. Head downtown for the Akron PizzaFest at Lock 3 on Friday, Aug. 29, from 5 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 30, from 2 to 10 p.m. to sample slices from local pizzerias while enjoying live music.
Food trailer in Akron
Henry’s Creamery, which serves sweet cream ice cream and sorbet from an aqua 1967 Phoenix trailer, will be scooping away at the Akron Food Truck Festival over Labor Day weekend at Hardesty Park.
  1. Make your way to Hardesty Park for the Akron Food Truck Festival, which begins Aug. 29 from 5 to 10 p.m. and continues on Aug. 30 from noon to 10 p.m. and Aug. 31 from noon to 4 p.m. More than 20 food trucks will serve everything from barbecue to ice cream.
  1. For a dose of local creativity, the Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival runs Aug. 29 to 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road in Bath Township. Stroll the historic 19th century grounds while shopping for work from Ohio makers, with admission ranging from $8 to $15. Kids under the age of 2 get in for free.
  1. For a family-friendly night under the stars, Blossom Music Center will host The Lion King in Concert on Aug. 29, 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. The Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Festival Chorus will perform the film’s score live alongside the 1994 classic movie. Tickets prices range from $35 to $125.
  2. Finally, keep an eye out for the 50th East Akron Labor Day Parade on Monday, a neighborhood tradition that brings floats, marching bands, and community spirit to the streets. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with the route beginning at the intersection of 7th Avenue and South Arlington Street.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.

Kristine Gill is a freelance writer based in Willoughby with experience covering real estate, crime, higher education and health. She majored in newspaper journalism and creative writing at Kent State and runs a fiction workshop for local writers. She spent a decade living in Florida, working first as a reporter for the Naples Daily News. She later worked as a media relations specialist for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.