From a festive children’s show featuring a lovable bear to cold-weather happenings at Lock 3, here are three things to do this weekend.

Have other suggestions for the Culture & Arts team? Submit them here.  

Your Akron weekend plans

Plans for this weekend, number 1

Can one klutzy bear with a penchant for marmalade save the holidays? Find out at the Magical Theatre Company’s production of “Paddington Saves Christmas.” The Barberton organization will stage a Friday evening show and Saturday and Sunday matinee shows this weekend. Tickets are $18 to $20.

This weekend in Akron number 2

Beloved Northeast Ohio outfit 15 60 75 The Numbers play Jilly’s Music Room Saturday. The show is at 7 p.m., and tickets are $5 to $10. (Fun fact: The members of the experimental blues-rock band have deep local ties and are mentioned throughout David Giffels’ new book, “The Beginning Was the End: Devo in Ohio.”)

Spend your Sunday at downtown’s Lock 3 and choose from a host of winter activities. Head to the ice rink for skating, bumper cars and ice bikes (yes, really). Those who prefer to keep their feet on steadier ground can play a round of Polar Putt-Putt. Need to warm up? Don’t forget to pay a visit to Archie The Talking Snowman. (Please note that this year the ice rink and activities are located between the State Street Bridge and Canal Park.)

Catch it before it goes

Akron Soul Train’s winter exhibition runs from Nov. 8 through Dec. 16 and features two of this year’s artist-in-residences, Raja Belle Freeman and Debra DeGregorio.(Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

⏱️Saturday is the last day to view the current exhibitions at Akron Soul Train. The downtown gallery features shows from two of its artists-in-residence: Debra DeGregorio’s “co≈rrelate” and Raja Belle Freeman’s “Consider This Your Trigger Warning.” 

Signal background

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.