It’s officially festival season in Akron. Last week, a few colleagues and I made our way down to Rib, White, and Blue to eat some delicious food and chat with attendees. It was the first downtown festival of the summer, but there are plenty more on the calendar if you didn’t make this one.

Signal Akron Culture and Arts Reporter Brittany Moseley, eats ribs during the first day of the Rib, White, and Blue Festival Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in downtown Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

Pool update

Those looking to cool off during the hot days now have another option. Perkins Woods Pool (899 Diagonal Road) reopened Tuesday after being closed for repairs. The pool is open Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free, but all guests must register for an Open Swim Membership. 

The city’s second outdoor pool, Reservoir Park, is closed for construction this year.

Your weekend plans

The Italian-American Festival kicks off today downtown. The annual festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Saturday. Guests can enjoy food from Gino’s Pizza, Corbo’s Bakery, DiRusso’s and more, as well as musical performances from Avanti Italian Band, Jersey Beat and Abbamania. (Check out the Facebook page for the complete music schedule and a list of vendors.) Main Street from Bowery to State Street will be closed for the festival.

Summit Artspace’s summer exhibitions open Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and include a retrospective of multimedia artist Kasumi’s work from the late ’90s to now. Also on display will be exhibits from Steven Mastroianni, Melih Meric and the Women’s Art League of Akron, as well as works in honor of Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31. Summit Artspace is free and open to the public Fridays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The summer exhibitions will be on display until Sept. 14.

Enjoy music from saxophonist Mike Phillips and Cleveland band Hubb’s Groove Sunday at Rhythm on the River. The free concert takes place at Howe Meadow in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. Come early and grab food from one of the food trucks, including Nickalos Caribbean Catering, Blasian Fusion, Everett Trail Kitchen, Juicy Vegan and Goodfellas Ice Cream Cart.

Catch it before it goes

This is the last weekend to see “Marilyn Stafford: A Life in Photography” at the Akron Art Museum. The exhibit, which is on view through Sunday, showcases the Cleveland native’s prolific career, from photographing fashion models to politicians. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and admission is free every Thursday. It is also open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Looking for more things to do this weekend and throughout the summer? Check out our guide to summer events in Akron and the surrounding area.

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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.