Cleveland is a summer city.
Sure, there are things to do in Cleveland year-round, but everyone who calls northeast Ohio home knows that it’s really the summer months that everyone looks forward to. With long days, shady patios, sunny beaches, and Lake Erie sunsets, summer really is one of the best times to be in Cleveland.
If you’re looking for some summer-specific things to do in The Land, read on to learn about our favorites.
12 Things to Do in Cleveland in Summer
1. Have a beach day
Yes, Cleveland has beaches! The city sits right on Lake Erie, after all, which has beaches and even waves on windy days. Many of the city’s beaches are managed by Cleveland Metroparks as part of the Lakeside Reservation, meaning you can look forward to well-maintained spaces.
We’ve written about our favorite Cleveland beaches in more detail in another post, but here are a few of our local favorites:
- Edgewater Beach – Probably the most popular and most well-known beach in Cleveland, this large beach within sight of downtown is the place to be in the summer months. Also in Edgewater Park you can find a fishing pier, volleyball courts, a large concession area, one of the Cleveland Script signs, and even a dog beach.
- Huntington Beach – Found in Bay Village west of Cleveland, this beach is one of the nicest in the Cleveland area. The sandy beach lies within Huntington Reservation, which has three miles of nature trails you can also enjoy if you get tired of the water.
- Euclid Beach – Located on the East Side of the city, Euclid Beach Park used to be an amusement park! Today it has a sandy beach area, a brand new pier, spaces for grilling and picnicking, and another Cleveland script sign.
2. Go to a Guardians game
Summer and baseball go hand-in-hand, especially in a sports-centric city like Cleveland. Going to a Guardians game at Progressive Field is a summertime rite of passage for most Clevelanders.
There are usually about 80 home games per season to choose from – but if we were going to pick a night to head to the stadium, we would choose a Friday for Dollar Dog Night and fireworks after the game.
Another baseball-related thing you can do in the summer is to visit the Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park, the original home of Cleveland baseball.
3. Eat on a patio
Our assertion that Cleveland is a summer city is only supported by the sheer number of restaurants in the city with outdoor patios. Patio season is a season all unto itself in Cleveland, and locals count down the days until their favorite brewery, bar, or restaurant patio opens each year.
We rounded up 40 great patios in Cleveland in another post, and even that post only scratches the surface!
Some of our favorite patios include:
- Collision Bend Brewing (The Flats)
- The Fairmont (Cleveland Heights)
- Lindey’s Lake House (The Flats)
- Toast (Detroit-Shoreway)
- The South Side (Tremont)
- Georgetown | Vosh (Lakewood)
- BrewDog (The Flats)
There’s also lots of outdoor dining downtown along East 4th St., as well as a handful of rooftop bars in the city.
4. Enjoy live music outdoors
In the summer, all the best things in Cleveland take place outdoors. And this includes live music. Along with plenty of restaurants and bars that have live music on their patios throughout the summer months, there are also a handful of other places you can catch music outdoors on the regular in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Metroparks runs a summer concert series, and this year it’s a “traveling” summer series where there are concerts each week at different metroparks (learn more here).
And then there are concerts at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, too, an open-air concert venue in The Flats that hosts big-name musical acts.
Another summer music staple is the Cleveland Orchestra moving some of its summer performances to Blossom Music Center, where you can reserve seats in the pavilion, or simply show up with blankets and chairs and set up your own space on the lawn. You can find the 2023 Blossom schedule here.
5. Go kayaking on the Cuyahoga
Cleveland sits at the point where the Cuyahoga River empties out into Lake Erie. Being on both a river and a lake, there are of course plenty of opportunities to get out on the water in Cleveland.
Our favorite way to do this is to rent a kayak (or paddleboard, but we personally prefer a kayak), and paddle the Cuyahoga – you can even go all the way into Lake Erie. You can rent a kayak at Great Lakes Watersports in The Flats, which rents out single and double kayaks for $25-$35 per hour.
You can also rent kayaks at 41 North Kayak Adventures in Lakewood in order to kayak the Rocky River (which also empties out into Lake Erie).
Other ways to get out on the water in Cleveland including renting boats, booking a sightseeing or dinner cruise on the Goodtime III or brand new Lady Caroline, or going on a sail and sip adventure with a company like BrewBoats (a floating cycle bar).
READ MORE: 10 Fun Ways to Get Out on the Water in Cleveland
6. Watch a Lake Erie sunset
Speaking of Lake Erie, watching a summer sunset on the lake absolutely has to go on your Cleveland summer bucket list.
There are plenty of great vantage points for sunset seekers. Downtown, our picks would be the E. 9th Street Pier/Voinovich Park, Wendy Park on Whiskey Island, and Edgewater Beach.
Outside of Cleveland, other favorite sunset spots include the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park (west of the city), and Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor (east of the city).
7. Discover your favorite ice cream
Looking for a way to cool off in Cleveland when the temperatures soar? Treat yourself so some locally-made ice cream!
We have a guide to the best ice cream in Cleveland – and yes, it’s totally acceptable if you need to try them all to decide which one you like best!
Some of our local favorites include:
- Mason’s Creamery – This Ohio City shop is known for its unique flavors like ube and black sesame, along with its colorful patio area.
- Mitchell’s Ice Cream – Their Ohio City shop is the flagship one, but they have several locations now. In summer, try a seasonal flavor like Campfire S’mores.
- Cathy’s Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches – Located downtown in the iconic Arcade, this Black female-owned business is a must-visit!
8. Visit the Terminal Tower Observation Deck
A unique thing you can do during the summer months in Cleveland is visit the Terminal Tower Observation Deck, found on the 42nd floor of Terminal Tower.
You can visit the tower on weekends, and tickets (which must be purchased online) are only $5. Views from the observation deck include unique perspectives on Public Square, The Flats, Progressive Field, and more.
Many Clevelanders have no idea that you can do this!
READ MORE: How to Visit the Terminal Tower Observation Deck
9. Enjoy the Asian Lantern Festival at the Zoo
The Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has become a summer tradition. Usually beginning in July and running at least through August (or sometimes even into September), this festival sees dozens of intricate lanterns installed throughout the Zoo’s grounds and exhibits.
The lanterns – many in the shape of various animals and mythical creatures – are lit up after dark, creating a very unique Zoo experience for visitors.
The Asian Lantern Festival is a special event, ticketed separately from regular Zoo admission. In 2023, the festival is set to begin July 7 and run through at least August 27. Get tickets here.
10. Go for a bike ride
You can do this any time of year, but summer is one of the best seasons to hit the bike trails in and around Cleveland. You might not know this, but Cleveland (and northeast Ohio in general) has an extensive system of bike/hike trails.
Some favorite bike paths in Cleveland (and these are dedicated bike trails, not just bike lanes on roads) include:
- Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway – This 17-mile-long paved trail runs along the Lake Erie shoreline, connecting Euclid and Lakewood via Cleveland.
- Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail – This trail is still in the works, but will eventually connect Tremont and The Flats with the lake shore. Currently, it’s a great place for a short urban ride.
- Red Line Greenway – Newly opened in spring 2021, this short trail links the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail Lake Link to two RTA Red Line Rapid Transit stations, offering up a really cool urban ride.
- Ohio to Erie Trail – This trail will eventually run the length of Ohio, connecting Cleveland and Cincinnati. Right now, it connects Cleveland to Akron via the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which takes you through the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
11. Enjoy a summer festival
We’ve already covered music and food, but there are also festivals that celebrate all of these things each summer.
Some cool summer festivals (and these are just a few!) include:
- WonderStruck in Cleveland – A summer music festival (formerly LaureLive).
- Burning River Fest – A music, beer, and food fest.
- Larchmere PorchFest – A music fest that takes places on front porches along Larchmere Blvd. on the East Side of Cleveland.
- Tri-C JazzFest – One of the most diverse jazz festivals in the world.
- Cleveland Summer Beerfest – Pretty self-explanatory, that one.
- Taste of Tremont – An annual food festival in Tremont.
Check out our Cleveland Events Calendar for more info on specific festivals and events!
12. Be awed at the Air Show
Labor Day is usually the unofficial “end” of summer in northeast Ohio, and in Cleveland the weekend is punctuated each year by the Cleveland National Air Show.
Stretching over 3 days, the Air Show is a family-friendly event with chances to see aircraft up close, and watch various aerial shows. The 2023 event dates are September 2-4, and the show will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds this year.
READ MORE: Your Complete Guide to the Cleveland National Air Show
BONUS: Visit a lavender farm
Note: Due to a wet winter and spring, Luvin Lavender Farm is not planning to be open to the public in 2023.
Luvin Lavender Farms isn’t located in Cleveland (you’ll find this farm in Madison, Ohio), but I still wanted to mention them on this list because a summertime trip to the lavender fields is always a good idea!
The lavender at this little farm usually blooms in late June-early July, and visitors can enjoy the 2 acres of lavender plants for free. Along with display gardens and some walking trails, the farm also sells lavender products in a little farm shop.
Learn more about visiting these lavender fields here.
READ NEXT: The Best Sunflower Fields Near Cleveland to Visit
So there you have it! 12 awesome things you can enjoy in and around Cleveland in the summer.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Cleveland in summer?
Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of her home state. Now, she’ sharing her love of the Cleveland area 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.
This list has great suggestions for our summer bucket list! Thanks for making it!
Glad I could offer up some ideas of things to do this summer!
Thanks Amanda, I sure wish I could visit all these places and enjoy all of the activities you have listed but I sure will get to a few!!!
Thank you for your information about visiting the Terminal Tower’s Observation Deck. After reading your blog, we went there on Saturday. The views were spectacular. Highly recommend this to others.