Summer is officially in full swing now that it’s July, and there’s a lot going on this month in and around Cleveland!
July means warm and sunny weather, celebrations like the 4th of July, and lots of great outdoor events and festivals. This is the best time of year to get out on the water in Cleveland or soak up the sun at a Cleveland-area beach.
Here are the best things to do in Cleveland this July!
Weather in Cleveland in July
July is the hottest month of the year in Cleveland, with an average daily high of 82° and an average low of 68° F. You can expect mostly sunny skies, but it does rain on average 7 days during the month of July.
Don’t forget a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lots of water if you’ll be spending time outside this month!
Top 10 Things to Do in Cleveland in July
1. 4th of July fireworks
When: Friday, July 4, 2025
Where: Various locations
One of the best things to do in Cleveland this month is catching the fireworks over Lake Erie on the 4th of July.
Light Up The Lake is the annual fireworks event in Downtown Cleveland that always draws a huge crowd. They set off the fireworks over Lake Erie at dusk, and they last 20 minutes.
The fireworks show starts around 10 p.m. and features a spectacular show over the waterfront with Cleveland’s skyline in the background. The best places to watch include Voinovich Park, Edgewater Park (Upper Edgewater Park is where the above photo was taken), Wendy Park, the Superior Viaduct, and certain locations in The Flats.
There are other towns that do fireworks in the Cleveland area, too. Find my full guide here: Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks Near Cleveland This Year
2. Asian Lantern Festival at the Zoo
When: Select nights from July 5 through August 24, 2025
Where: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
The Asian Lantern Festival is one of my favorite things to do in Cleveland during July. This breathtaking and immersive display of lights and lanterns has become an annual summer event at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Life-sized (and larger-than-life!) colorful lanterns are spread out across the entire Zoo, and are illuminated after dark. This displays change each year, too, so if you’ve been before you can definitely still go again!
Tickets are available for walk-throughs or drive-throughs on select nights, with costs ranging from $24 to $27 for the walk-through, and $49-$59 per car for the drive-thru version. The festival takes place throughout the entire Zoo, so you basically get Zoo admission with your ticket, too.
You can find more information and purchase tickets on the Asian Lantern Festival’s website.
3. Have a beach day
When: All month long
Where: Various locations
With the weather warming up and the official arrival of summer this month, it’s the perfect time to enjoy one of the many great beaches in the Cleveland area.
Some of the best beaches in Cleveland include:
- Edgewater Beach
- Euclid Beach Park
- Rocky River Park Beach
- Huntington Beach
Check out this list of Cleveland’s best beaches for more places you can go to soak up the sun on the shores of Lake Erie.
4. Cain Park Arts Festival
When: July 11-13, 2025
Where: Cain Park, 14591 Superior Rd, Cleveland Heights
Website: Cain Park Arts Festival
A great East Side event this month is the Cain Park Arts Festival, taking place in Cleveland Heights over a 3-day weekend. This annual juried arts festival brings in artists from across the country, who work in mediums as diverse as wood, glass, paint, photos, and more.
Along with strolling through all the art on display, you can also enjoy live music, food trucks, interactive mural painting for kids, and more.
5. Enjoy the Uncorked wine festival
When: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Where: Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland
Wine aficionados will enjoy Uncorked: Cleveland, a wine festival taking place this month at the Great Lakes Science Center.
Throughout the evening, you’ll be able to sample wine from different wineries from around the world, plus enjoy food from local food trucks.
Early admission, which is $80, gives you access to 4 hours of wine tasting, while regular admission, which is $65, is for 3 hours. All tickets also include after-hours access to the Great Lakes Science Center and all its exhibits.
6. See a summer show at Blossom
When: Various dates in July
Where: Blossom Music Center, 1145 W Steels Corners Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
Blossom Music Center is an outdoor music venue in Cuyahoga Falls, about 40 minutes from Downtown Cleveland. And summer is hands-down the best time to enjoy a concert on the lawn at Blossom!
There are all sorts of concerts held at Blossom each summer, but my favorite to attend is a performance by the Cleveland Orchestra, who call Blossom home during the summer.
There are great Orchestra concerts happening all month long, and you can even purchase a package to see multiple performances at a discounted rate. For the full summer concert season and to purchase tickets, check out the website here.
7. BorderLight Fringe Festival
When: July 16-19, 2025
Where: Various locations in downtown Cleveland
Similar to the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the BorderLight Festival in Cleveland is a theater festival bringing international and fringe theater shows along with workshops to various venues around the Playhouse Square district.
Along with various stage shows and workshops, there will also be a “Fringe Jr” day on July 19, filled with kid-friendly shows from noon-5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.
8. Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival
When: July 18-20, 2025
Where: Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E Bagley Rd, Middleburg Heights
Cleveland does St. Patrick’s Day well, so you’d better believe the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival is a lot of fun, too!
This weekend festival, which takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, celebrates Irish heritage and culture. The festival will feature live Irish bands, Irish step dancers, children’s activities, plays, food and drinks, and exhibits about Irish culture. Tickets are $20.
You can find more information on the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival website.
9. Blazing Paddles Paddlefest
When: July 19, 2025
Where: Cuyahoga River
Cleveland’s annual river fest is back again this summer! The Blazing Paddles Paddlefest is a way for paddlers of all sorts to get out on the Cuyahoga River together.
The event this year will kick off at Music Box Supper Club in the Flats West Bank, where there will be live music and food on the day of the event.
Two major events will bring hundreds to the river. First, there’s the Dave Vasarhelyi Memorial Recreational Paddle & Float, which is a leisurely urban waterfront journey down the Cuyahoga (you choose from 3 different lengths of paddle). Paddlers can also sign up for paddle races of 3.7, 6 or 12-miles.
Note that you must pre-register to participate in this event! More details here.
10. Taste of Tremont
When: Sunday, July 20, 2025
Where: 2406 Professor Ave., Cleveland
Tremont is a vibrant neighborhood in Cleveland, and there’s no better way to enjoy all that the neighborhood has to offer than at Taste of Tremont.
This free annual event showcases the best of Tremont’s food, art, and entertainment. Featuring dozens of local food vendors and artisans and live music, this is a great event to check out in Cleveland during July.
What are you most excited for in Cleveland in July?
Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of her home state. Now, she’s sharing her love of the Cleveland area, highlighting all the best things to do, see, and eat in the CLE. She’s been running Cleveland Traveler since January 2019.