If you’re looking to get out and enjoy some music in the Cleveland area this year, I have good news! There are lots of music events happening throughout 2020, from big music festivals like WonderStruck to smaller niche-interest events like Reggae Fest and the Thanksgiving Polka Weekend.
Read on to find the perfect Cleveland music festival or event for you!
(Events are listed in chronological order.)
The best Cleveland music festivals in 2020
1. Duck Island Music Festival
When: February 12-16, 2020
Where: Forest City Brewery (2135 Columbus Road, Cleveland)
What is it? Forest City hosts a bi-annual music festival at its Waldorf Beer Hall, featuring a series of local bands and performers. This winter edition falls over Valentine’s Day, and would make a great date night!
How much: Free, though a $5 donation is suggested
Website: Duck Island Music Fest Winter Edition
2. Lake Erie Folk Fest
When: February 21-22, 2020
Where: Shore Cultural Centre (291 E. 222nd Street, Euclid)
What is it? The fifth-annual Lake Erie Folk Fest will consist of “an array of hands-on music workshops, jams, dances and performances,” including a Bluegrass Band Lab on Friday and a Grand Finale performance on Saturday featuring Carolina Blue (Bluegrass band), Luca Mundaca (Brazilian singer-songwriter), Harmonia (music of Eastern Europe), and Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word (performance poetry).
How much: Daytime programming is free; tickets for the Grand Finale concert are $15-$20.
Website: Lake Erie Folk Fest
3. Brite Winter Music & Arts Festival
When: February 22-23, 2020
Where: West Bank of the Flats
What is it? This annual non-profit music and arts festival has expanded over the last 10 years to include more than 40 bands and musical acts along with public art workshops. Bands at the 2020 event include Ra Ra Riot, Red Rose Panic, and more. See the full musical lineup here.
How much: This event is FREE, but you do need to get a ticket in advance.
Website: Brite Winter
Want to learn more about upcoming events in Cleveland? Check out our Cleveland Calendar, or sign up for our monthly email newsletter to get event round-ups delivered straight to your inbox!
4. Reggae Fest Cleveland
When: May 30, 2020 at 2 p.m.
Where: Perici Amphitheatre in Twinsburg (10260 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg, OH)
What is it? Reggae Fest is part of Twinsburg’s Rock the Park concert series. The event will feature live music by half a dozen reggae bands, food trucks, craft beer, and more.
How much: Tickets range from $25-$75
Website: Reggae Fest Cleveland
5. WonderStruck in Cleveland
When: June 6-7, 2020
Where: Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH
What is it? Formerly known as LaureLive, WonderStruck bills itself as “Cleveland’s only annual multi-stage, multi-act international contemporary music festival.” In 2020, the lineup includes acts like Portugal the Man, Walk the Moon, Of Monsters and Men, Third Eye Blind, and many more.
How much: Tickets start at $70 for one day, and are on sale here.
Website: Coming soon!
6. Burning River Fest
When: June 2020
Where: Whiskey Island
What is it? The Great Lakes Burning River Fest is an annual festival that celebrates Cleveland and its local freshwater resources. The 2020 event details have not yet been released, but in 2019, the event featured music on two separate stages, food and beer, and even a silent disco. The festival is an annual fundraiser for the Burning River Foundation.
How much: $15 each day
Website: Burning River Fest
7. Larchmere PorchFest
When: June 20, 2020
Where: Larchmere Boulevard and surrounds
What is it? This music festival has to be one of my favorites because of how quirky it is. PorchFest is exactly what it sounds like – instead of playing on stages, bands and musical acts perform on people’s porches in the community surrounding Larchmere Boulevard on Cleveland’s East Side. In 2020, there are plans to have “30 bands on 30 porches.”
How much: This event is FREE!
Website: Larchmere PorchFest
8. Tri-C JazzFest
When: June 25-27, 2020
Where: Playhouse Square
What is it? This 3-day jazz event enters its 41st year in 2020 and is is recognized as one of the most diverse jazz festivals in the country. Hundreds of artists will perform in both indoor (ticketed) concerts and outdoor (free) performances in and around Cleveland’s iconic Playhouse Square.
How much: Ticket prices vary; get a full festival pass now for $225
Website: Tri-C JazzFest
9. Thanksgiving Polka Weekend
When: November 27-28, 2020
Where: TBA
What is it? This annual event hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame has been running for more than 50 years in Cleveland. It’s a weekend full of polka music, dancing, and an awards ceremony.
How much: Ticket prices vary
Website: Polka Hall of Fame
Other ongoing musical events in Cleveland
These aren’t festivals, but they’re ongoing music events in Cleveland you might want to know about:
1. Metroparks summer concert series
The Cleveland Metroparks are once again running concert series at Edgewater Beach and Euclid Beach Park this summer. Here’s the current schedule:
Edgewater Live 2020
- COMING SOON
Euclid Beach Live 2020
- COMING SOON
Check out more Metroparks music events here.
2. Blossom Music Festival Season
Blossom Music Center hosts concerts throughout the summer, and is also the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra. The orchestra performs weekend concerts at Blossom from late June through Labor Day weekend.
Full 2020 Blossom Music Festival lineup coming soon!
Which Cleveland music festivals or events would you like to go to?
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.