There is a lot going on in Cleveland in April as the city finally moves into spring.
This is a great time of year to get outside and enjoy the spring blooms in and around the city, cheer on the Cleveland Guardians as baseball season begins, or check out one of the exhibitions or festivals around the city this month.
Easter this year falls on Sunday, April 9. And don’t miss Dyngus Day, a holiday that is celebrated by the Polish community in Cleveland on Monday, April 10.
Weather in Cleveland in April
By April, the winter chill has finally started to thaw out in Cleveland. The average high during the month of April is 57° F while the average low is 42° F.
It occasionally snows in Cleveland in April, with an average monthly snowfall of 2.7 inches. However, you can generally enjoy milder temperatures in Cleveland throughout April. Just don’t forget a light jacket and layers for chillier mornings and evenings.
Top 10 Things to Do in Cleveland in April
1. Look Out for Spring Blooms
When: All month long
Where: Various locations
One of the best things to do in Cleveland in April is look out for spring blooms, especially daffodils and cherry blossoms.
One of the best places to see daffodils is Daffodil Hill at Lake View Cemetery. These are typically in bloom from late March through mid-April
There are several places to see cherry blossoms in Cleveland, with some of the best being Brookside Reservation and Wade Lagoon. The cherry blossoms can appear as early as late March or as late as early May, but typically are in full bloom for 1-3 weeks in mid-April.
You can also see many other spring flowers in Cleveland blooming throughout April.
2. Visit Holden Arboretum
When: All month long
Where: 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094
Holden Arboretum is one of the best places to visit near Cleveland during the spring. Located in Kirtland, the arboretum is just a 30-minute drive from downtown Cleveland.
With more than 3,500 acres of gardens, forests, lakes, and other outdoor space, there’s plenty to explore at the Holden Arboretum.
The Kalberer Emergent Tower and Murch Canopy Walk, two of the most popular attractions at Holden Arboretum, re-open each year on April 1.
General admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children aged 3-12. Admission that includes the Murch Canopy Walk is $16 for adults and $10 for children.
3. Visit Lake View Cemetery
When: All month long
Where: 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
Lake View Cemetery sits on 285 acres of land on Cleveland’s East side, and dates back to 1869. The cemetery was modeled after the Victorian-era garden-style cemeteries of England and France, and is often called “Cleveland’s Outdoor Museum” because of its beautiful landscaping and memorials.
The cemetery is a great place to see spring flowers, especially at Daffodil Hill which is covered in cheerful yellow blooms during April.
In addition to seeing spring blooms around the cemetery, Wade Chapel and the Garfield Memorial, two interesting sites within the cemetery that are worth a visit, usually re-open to visitors on April 1.
4. Attend an Easter Egg Hunt
When: Various dates in April
Where: Various locations
Easter occurs on Sunday, April 9 this year and there’s nothing like an Easter egg hunt to celebrate this holiday! Easter egg hunts aren’t just for kids either – there are some egg-stra fun adult Easter egg hunts happening around Cleveland this month, too.
Here are some of the Easter egg hunts occurring around Cleveland in April:
- Easter Egg Hunt on the Farm (with alpacas!) – April 1, 2, 7, and 8
- Cleveland Botanical Gardens’ Spring Egg Hunt – April 8
- The Winery at Wolf Creek Easter Egg Hunt (adults only) – April 1, 2, 8, and 9
- Cleveland’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt – April 8
- Debonné Vineyards Easter Egg Hunt (adults only) – April 7 and 14
You can find a full list of Easter egg hunts around Cleveland here.
5. Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival
When: Wednesday, April 5 – Sunday, April 16, 2023
Where: Various venues around Cleveland
If you’re looking for something unique to do in Cleveland in the month of April, don’t miss the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival.
This festival, which began in 1978, is the largest Indian classical music festival held outside of India. Over the past 43 years, it has grown into a 12-day festival with more than 10,000 attendees.
You can see the full schedule of events here.
The majority of the programs are free to the public, while certain concerts are ticketed. Tickets are only available at the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.
6. Guardians Home Opener
When: Friday, April 7, 2023
Where: 2401 Ontario St, Cleveland, OH 44115
Friday, April 7 is the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener game against the Seattle Mariners. While tickets are already sold out for the game, you can cheer on the Guardians from sports bars around the city on this day as baseball season kicks off.
You can also purchase a Ballpark Pass this year for $49 a month, which gives you guaranteed access to standing room only tickets for every home game.
After the home opener on April 7, there are quite a few more baseball games to catch throughout the month of April!
7. MIX: Egyptomania at the Cleveland Museum of Art
When: Friday, April 7, 2023
Where: 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
MIX is a special evening event at the Cleveland Museum of Art that occurs once a month and includes a night of music, art, and cocktails.
This month’s event coincides with the opening of the new exhibit Egyptomania: Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession. You’ll be able to explore the museum’s galleries, enjoy North African, Middle Eastern, and Arabic beats, and purchase food and drinks.
Tickets can be reserved online and are free for museum members and $12 for non-members.
8. Celebrate Dyngus Day
When: Monday, April 10, 2023
Where: 5400 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102
Dyngus Day, also known as Wet Monday or Smigus Dyngus, is a holiday celebrated the day after Easter across Central Europe, especially Poland.
Cleveland’s large Polish community hosts a fun-filled Dyngus Day celebration featuring food, drinks, and entertainment including Polish music and a pierogi eating contest.
The event will be hosted in the Gordon Square Arts District. Tickets are $16 for adults and $5 for children aged 2 to 12.
9. Enjoy Taco Week
When: Monday, April 10 – Sunday, April 16, 2023
Where: Various restaurants around Cleveland
Who doesn’t love tacos? Mark your calendars for Taco Week this year from Monday, April 10 until Sunday, April 16.
This event brings you Taco Week specials for $10 or less from more than 25 taco joints and Mexican restaurants around Cleveland.
To get access to this event and the special deals, download the Taco Week app.
10. Cleveland International Wine Festival
When: Friday, April 28 – Sunday, April 30, 2023
Where: 1091 West 10th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113
For wine lovers, don’t miss the Cleveland International Wine Festival at the end of April. This weekend wine festival hosted at Lago Custom Events in Cleveland is the perfect opportunity to enjoy wine education, tastings, pairings, live music, dinners, and specialty courses.
On Friday, the event kicks off with a Welcome Reception that includes a five course progressive food and wine pairing and a souvenir wine glass to use for the weekend. Tickets are $80 per person.
On Saturday, you can enjoy a wine class and the Grand Tasting for $130 per person, and continue on to a three-course dinner with wine pairings for an additional cost of $102 to $125 per person including gratuities.
Finally, the festival concludes with Chandon Bubbles & Brunch on Sunday, with tickets priced from $59 to $99 per person including gratuities.
What are you most excited to do in Cleveland in April?
Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of the state. Now, she wants to share her love of Cleveland with the world, highlighting all the best things to do, see, and eat in the CLE. She’s been running Cleveland Traveler since January 2019.