On Sunday, a friend and I spent the day at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, having what I dubbed a “nature mosey.” No plans, just wandering through the woods, putting my feet in the sand and trying to master the art of skipping rocks. The weather was in the 70s, and the scheduled rain never hit us. It was the reset I needed, and it got me thinking about summer.
As this will be my first summer in Akron, I’m looking forward to exploring the local markets and festivals. County fair? Point me in the direction of the funnel cake stand. Greek festival? Point me to the gyro stand. Pizza festival? I’ll take pepperoni, please. (Are you noticing a theme here?)
From food fests to cultural events to races and concert series, I want to know what’s going on this summer in Akron and the surrounding area. I’ll use the information to put together a summer guide to share with all of you closer to the start of the season.
Have a summer event you want to share? Fill out this form.
Your weekend plans
Grab your bike and head to Missing Falls Brewery for a Friday night ride with Akron Bike Party. Meet in the brewery’s parking lot at 540 S. Main St. Bikers will roll out at 7:30 p.m., so get there early so you have time to park and get ready. Helmets, lights and music are strongly encouraged. Rides are typically 10 miles, and some hills may be involved.
It is always a good time to buy a book – or even a bag of books. The Friends of Main Library Big Book Sale is Friday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the downtown branch. Browse through fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and audiobooks, as well as CDs and movies. For $5, shoppers can fill a bag. (The bag will be provided.) Feel like hitting two book sales in one weekend? Swing by the Fairlawn-Bath Branch Library’s book sale on Saturday.
On Sunday, bring the whole family to the Civic Theatre for a performance by the Akron Pops Orchestra. The orchestra will perform music from famous films and will conclude the event by performing alongside “The Haunted House.” The 1921 silent comedy stars Buster Keaton – with a run time of 21 minutes, it’s perfect for kids. The event starts at 4 p.m. Tickets are $14 plus fees for adults and $8 plus fees for children ages 6-12. Children 6 and younger are free.
