10 Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend

Friday, July 24: Club Kids - Happy birthday, Liquid! Cleveland’s staple nightclub is celebrating its 20th anniversary today. Starting tonight at 7 p.m., the club is flooding with dancers and DJs. From the Daddy Long Legs Revival, to DJ Kosherkuts to Scene’s Band of the Week DJ Terry Urban, the event will be brimming over with local musicians. Come back the rest of the weekend as well as Liquid’s rolling out more entertainment to celebrate Saturday and Sunday. (Rees, photo via Instagram user @mimoedm)

Friday, July 24: Everything Irish - If there’s anything the Irish get right, it’s food, beer and a good party. Today, the Irish Cultural Festival kicks off at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Brimming over with Guinness, cabbage and folk dance displays, the fest is sure to have every visitor seeing green. With tons of classic Irish booze, the festival makes for a great adult night out. However, kids are also welcome. If they’re under 10, they get in for free. General admission is $12. Parking is free. The event will run through Sunday with different performances and displays each day. (Rees, photo via Cuyahoga County Fairground Facebook page)

Friday, July 24: Hair Today - A famous rock musical that's still popular to this day, Hair is the latest production to be staged at the new Near West Theatre in the Gordon Square Arts District. The plot centers on the "Tribe," a group of hippies protesting the Vietnam War. The production includes Galt MacDermot's vintage rock score and features lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. It will be staged in the round. The play opens tonight at 7:30 and runs through Aug. 9. Tickets start at $10. (Niesel, photo via Near West Theatre Facebook page)

Saturday, July 25: Beer Here - Ale Fest has grown into a league of its own over the years. It's Scene's hallmark summertime event, anchoring that crazy July heat with a badass selection of microbrews from Northeast Ohio and across the U.S. The whole thing goes down in Tremont's Lincoln Park, where breweries set up shop and pour all your favorite IPAs, porters, hefeweizens and ciders, and plenty of beverages that will be new to you. You'll even have the first opportunity to sample Southern Tier's tasty Pumking. We've noticed the past few years that impromptu volleyball games become gravitational centers as the day goes on, so bring your best spike. Add in some food and music, and you're looking at an ideal way to spend a Cleveland afternoon. Yes, we're biased, but this is a can't-miss frenzy of foamy fun. Locals Jabtune, Cities + Coasts and Lauren Lanzaretta are set to perform. DJ Terry Urban, a former Clevelander, will spin from 5 to 7 p.m. The event runs from 1 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. (Eric Sandy, photo via Ale Fest event page) scenealefest.com

Saturday, July 25: Holly Jolly Burlesque - What better way to spend Saturday night than watching some Christmas themed song/dance/skits without the snow? Celebrate Christmas in July at the Alex Theater inside The Metropolitan at The 9 Saturday, July 25 at 8 p.m. Presented by Ambiance, this event brings December spirit to the summer with a taste of a Vegas style burlesque show. Hosted by Dom & Russ, who call themselves “the modern day Rat Pack,” the show features Cleveland native, Ava Adore, east coast pin-up models: Brandi Wine and Penny Page, and more. Tickets are $25 each or $75 for VIP and a bottle of wine. For more info call (216) 331-6308. (Jauregui, photo via Ava Adore's Facebook page)

Saturday, July 25: Come Together - What better way to celebrate family than with some soul music? Luke Easter Park hosts Family Unity today, a free music celebration of family and culture. R&B, jazz, reggae and soul singers from across the state come to perform and join in rejoicing. Performers include Stephanie Mills and the SOS Band. Vendors will also be at the festival selling food, drinks and local goods. The event kicks off at 1 p.m. and will go until 9:30 p.m. It’s free. (Rees, photo via Instagram user @averysunshine)

Saturday, July 25: Something Splendorous - Can you believe it’s been five years since we lost legendary writer Harvey Pekar? He may be gone, but he’s certainly not forgotten — especially in his hometown. To celebrate the life and work of Pekar, the Coventry Outdoor Courtyard (at the northwest corner of Coventry Rd. and Euclid Heights Blvd.) will be renamed Pekar Park. A special dedication ceremony will take place during an all-day festival in his honor from noon to 6 p.m. today. The ceremony takes place at 12:30 p.m. Jazz performances will follow from 1 to 3 p.m, with storytelling from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event culminates with a 9 p.m. outdoor screening of Pekar’s biopic, American Splendor in Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park (Note: Rain date would be Sunday, July 26). Free. (Usmani, photo via the Joyce Brabner Harvey Pekar Facebook page)

Sunday, July 26: Bikers Gone Wild - Back in the '60s, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello made a series of successful beach party movies. Beach Blanket Bingo, the fifth flick in the series, centers on a biker gang that kidnaps singing star Sugar Kane (Linda Evans). Mayhem ensues. The film has spawned musicals and comic books. A UK band even took its name from the movie. It screens this morning at 10 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets are $6. (Niesel, photo via Wikipedia)

Sunday, July 26: Opera in the Outdoors - Today at 6 at the Italian Cultural Garden, Opera Circle will perform "well known songs from famous Italian operas." The event is billed as a family friendly concert and you can bring a picnic lunch along if you like. Some chairs will be provided but bring your own to ensure a seat. The performance is presented as part of the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation's "Viva! La Cultura Italiana" cultural series. Admission is free. (Niesel, photo via the Cleveland Culture Gardens Facebook page)