Full slate of festivals return to northern Ohio. Check out the events in Akron and beyond

Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal

April 25, 2022 at 4:16 PM·9 min read

Summer events and festivals are back in Northeast Ohio.

After many were sidelined the past two years because of the pandemic, celebrations from county fairs to street festivals have returned.

Akron announced its plans Monday for spring and summer 2022, including popular downtown events at Lock 3.

The city plans once again to host the Rib, White and Blue Festival on Fourth of July weekend, the 73rd annual Italian American Festival and the Akron Pizza Fest.

“I can’t wait for some of Akron’s favorites to return to Lock 3 this summer,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan in a statement. “From our festivals to additional concerts to a variety of community events, and more, we’re excited to offer fun options for all Akronites to enjoy. Make sure to mark your calendars now and we’ll see you down at Lock 3.”

The city's full schedule includes some 40 community events.

Akron's Rock the Lock concert series opens May 27 with Into the Blue ELO Tribute with Sunflurry and features 35 bands on Friday nights.

Saturday concerts kick off June 25 with Average White Band with SLAVE.

Other concerts in this series include:

July 9: Night of Blues featuring Black Cat Roberts.
July 16: Who’s Bad — The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience with UMOJAH NATION. Free admission.
Aug. 13: We ARE The Weirdos presents Punk Rock Flea Market. This concert and event includes more than 60 alternative artists, vendors, crafters and small local independent business. Free admission.
Aug. 20: Soul groups will perform.

Gospel Sundays return to Lock 4, which is situated next to Lock 3 and behind the Akron Civic Theatre. Admission is free to these concerts, which run from 4 to 6 p.m.

The musical acts include:

July 10: Truth Mime Ministry and Friends — New Hope Baptist Church and Providence Baptist Church.
July 31: Donell Phipps & Delivered.
Aug. 14: Exalting Him Gospel Choir and Akron Freedom Recovery Worship.
Aug. 31: Mt. Haven Baptist Church.

There will be movies at Lock 3 every Sunday evening starting June 5 and ending Aug. 28. The Sunday Cinema showings are free with food available for purchase.

Here are some of the other events coming to the Akron region this summer:

A kayaker heads over the falls during a previous Cuyahoga Falls fest on the Cuyahoga River behind the Sheraton Suites downtown.

Kayakers on Cuyahoga River

Kayakers and gawkers will descend on downtown Cuyahoga Falls on April 30.

Kayakers navigate the Upper Gorge of the Cuyahoga River while spectators watch along the river's edge from Sheraton Suites and the High Bridge at High Bridge Glens park.

Kent Craft Beer Fest

The Kent Jaycees will host its Kent Craft Beer Fest from 3 to 8 p.m. May 21.

The downtown event will feature Ohio beer, of course, along with food and entertainment.

For more, visit mainstreetkent.org/event.

Art and Wine Festival in Kent

The Art and Wine Festival in downtown Kent will be from noon to 9 p.m. June 4.

The event will feature some 13 Ohio wineries, along with more than 50 area artists, live music and food trucks.

For more, visit mainstreetkent.org/events/art-wine-festival/.

John Bradley carries his grandson, Dean Bradley, 4, as they walk at a previous year's Cuyahoga Falls Irish Festival.

Irish Festival in Cuyahoga Falls

It will be all things Irish heritage as the Irish Festival returns to downtown Cuyahoga Falls June 10 to 12.

The event features two stages and an Irish Market Place with food and other offerings. There will be an Irish Mass on Sunday.

Admission is free.

For more, visit riverfrontirishfest.org/.

Founders Day for Alcoholics Anonymous

Founders Day is back live and in person.

Thousands are expected to gather in Akron June 10 to 12 to mark the 87th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which all started with a meeting on Mother's Day in the Gate Lodge at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens.

Visitors will meet at the University of Akron to listen to speakers and visit historic sites in the city related to founders Bill W. and Dr. Bob.

For more, visit foundersday.org/.

The annual Classic, Antique & Collector Car Show returns to Stan Hywet on Father's Day.

Father's Day Car Show at Stan Hywet

A good way to spend the day with dear ol' dad and enjoy some cool cars is to attend the Father's Day Car Show at Stan Hywet Hall.

Some 400 classic, antique and collectors cars with motorcycles thrown in for good measure will convene on the grounds of Akron's historic estate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 19.

For more, visit stanhywet.org/.

A large replica of an Ohio Blue Tip Match at the gazebo in Public Square in Wadsworth is a popular stop during the festival.

Blue Tip Festival in Wadsworth

Wadsworth celebrates the past with the Blue Tip Festival.

The festival to mark when the city was home to an Ohio Blue Tip Match factory includes the ceremonial lighting of a 20-foot-tall blue tip match downtown.

The event that runs from June 21 to 25 includes a parade, entertainment, rides and carnival food.

For more, visit bluetipfestival.com/.

Solomon Williams, owner of Carolina Rib King of Spartanburg, S.C., sets up his stand with crew member Quan Pruitt at the 2019 Rib, White and Blue Festival in Akron.

Rib White and Blue Festival in Akron

The Rib White and Blue Festival returns July 1 to July 4.

Unlike a lot of rib festivals, this one in downtown Akron offers free admission.

The featured band at 7 p.m. will be E5C4P3 Journey Tribute with Monica Robins & The Whiskey Kings.

The July 2 concert features the Bruce in The USA tribute band, along with the Sinners and Saints band.

The band scheduled to perform July 3 is GPG Best of Queen the Georgia Players Guild presenting the best of Queen with Xcess featuring Andrea.

2022 Bridgestone Senior Players Championship

The 2022 Bridgestone Senior Players Championship returns to the Firestone Country Club in Akron July 6 to 10.

Defending champion Steve Stricker will compete against the likes of Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Jim Furyk and others.

In addition to golf, the tournament will feature concerts on Saturday and Sunday nights, along with food trucks.

For more, visit pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/bridgestone-senior-players-championship.html.

Music in the Valley, Folk & Wine Festival returns to Hale Farm & Village in Bath.

Music in the Valley Folk & Wine Festival at Hale Farm and Village

The Music in the Valley Folk & Wine Festival returns to Hale Farm & Village July 9 and 10.

The event features Ohio wine and mead, along with musicians on the grounds of Hale Farm & Village.

There will be demonstrations and tours of the historic structures.

For more, visit wrhs.org/signature-events/.

The band Spite performs on the Space Zebra stage during a previous Inkcarceration.

Inkcarceration Festival at the former Ohio State Reformatory

One of the more unusual events in the region returns to the former Ohio State Reformatory near Mansfield.

The Inkcarceration Festival is July 15 to 17.

The event features more than 50 bands — including Korn, Breaking Benjamin, and Disturbed — on three stages.

There are also tattoo artists, tours of the prison and food.

For more, visit inkcarceration.com/.

Main Street Kent's Wizardly World of Kent weekend takes over downtown. The Kent black squirrel statue wears a Gryffindor scarf.

Wizardly Weekend in Kent

The Wizardly Weekend returns to downtown Kent on July 22 and 23.

This Harry Potter-inspired event features window displays, special food and a variety of contests and events, including a running race and a bar crawl.

For more, visit mainstreetkent.org/events/wizardly-weekend/.

Kwame Williams, a member of Percussion Discussion Akron, performs at the 2016 Akron African American Cultural Festival at Lock 3.

African American Cultural Festival in Akron

The African American Cultural Festival returns July 23 to 24 at Akron's Lock 3 Park.

The event, featuring music, food, activities and booths, will be open from 11 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. each day.

Crowds enjoy a day at the Wayne County Fair.

County fairs

County fairs are back this summer.

The Summit County Fair will run from July 26 to 31. For more, visit summitfair.com/index.html.

The Medina County Fair runs Aug. 1 to 7. For more, visit medinaohiofair.com/

The Portage County Randolph Fair runs Aug. 23 to 28. For more, visit randolphfair.com/.

The Wayne County Fair runs Sept. 10 to 15. For more, visit waynecountyfairohio.com/.

Summit County Italian-American Festival in Akron

The Summit County Italian-American Festival returns to downtown Akron.

There will be entertainment and Italian food available for purchase.

The event runs Aug. 4 to 6.

For more, visit facebook.com/L3LItalianAmericanFestival/?ref=page_internal.

Bill Cowher, who won a Super Bowl coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers, puts on his gold jacket during the Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Ceremony on Aug, 6, 2021.

Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities

All things football returns to Canton Aug. 4 to 7.

Some of the Hall of Fame festivities start before then, but things really kick off the week of the enshrinement of the latest inductees into the Hall.

The Las Vegas Raiders will pay the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 4.

And the 2022 Concert for Legends Aug. 6 will feature Journey.

For more, visit profootballhof.com/enshrinement/.

Twins Days Festival

There is one weekend a year where a northern Ohio community lives up to its name.

Hundreds of twins will descend on Twinsburg Aug. 5 to 7 to celebrate all things twins.

The event features a number of twin-related festivities, including talent shows, a parade and festival food, games and rides in the city's Glenn Chamberlin Park.

For more, visit twinsdays.org/.

Battlefield reenactments of the Civil War draw many spectators to Hale Farm & Village.

Civil War revisited at Hale Farm & Village

Ohio's largest Civil War reenactments returns to Hale Farm & Village Aug. 13 and 14.

Thousands gather on the grounds of the historic village in Bath to watch reenactors recreate a critical battle in the history of the Civil War.

Visitors can also tour encampments where the soldiers rest between battles.

For more, visit wrhs.org/signature-events/

Madison Cummins performs during the 2021 PorchRokr festival in Akron.

PorchRokr in Akron's Highland Square

It is perhaps Akron's most unusual and musical event of the year.

Musicians will once again take to porches in the city's Highland Square neighborhood for PorchRokr on Aug. 20.

There will also be activities and food in and around the Highland Square neighborhood.

For more, visit highlandsquareakron.org/porchrokr/.

Summit Fest

The Summit Fest is coming to the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge.

The music festival will be Aug. 27 and include a number of bands, along with food trucks and vendors.

The line up includes UnEarth, Impending Doom, Dropout Kings, Hate Theory and Hunt The Dinosaur.

For more, visit summitfest.ticketleap.com/summitfest2022/.

Ruby Rabbit of Divine Harmony in Akron waves to the crowd during the Equity March in downtown Akron.

Akron Pride Festival

The Akron Pride Festival that includes a march and entertainment downtown will be Aug. 27.

Activities along with food and entertainment are planned in the downtown area, including Lock 3, Lock 4 and Cascade Plaza.

For more, visit akronpridefestival.org/.

Akron Pizza Fest

It will be all about the pizza in downtown Akron in early September.

The Akron Pizza Fest returns Sept. 2 to 4.

Admission is $5; concerts begin at 7 p.m.

Cuyahoga Falls Oktoberfest

The annual Cuyahoga Falls Oktoberfest will raise its steins Sept. 17 and 18 on Front Street in the city's downtown.

The event feature food, beverages — German beer, of course — along with music and arts and crafts vendors.