The Heights Music Hop, the local music festival that celebrates small business, returns to its pre-pandemic glory this weekend, expanding to three full days of live music across three Cleveland Heights business districts.

Heights Music Hop at Cleveland Urban WineryThe popular event, presented by Future Heights CDC, will crank up the volume Friday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 21, at new and familiar venues, with music genres that showcase the unique character of each neighborhood, as well as family programming.

"We're back to a three-day format, which is what the music hop was in pre-Covid days," says Future Heights COO Brenda Bailey. "Each district has its own flavor."

The festival kicks off this Friday in the Cedar Fairmount district, where jazz will take center stage, next to punk rock and hip-hop performances. Day one gets started with an early afternoon kickoff performance by folk rock musician Chuck Fink at Luna Bakery and its outdoor courtyard.

Red Rose Panic will play at Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday for the Heights Music Hop."We wanted to make opportunities for businesses that aren't typically open during the Music Hop hours," Bailey explains. “Luna Bakery closes at 3 p.m., so they've never participated. So we're going to have performance there from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m."

Friday early evening programming in the Cedar Fairmount district begins at 5 p.m. with Red Rose Panic at Buffalo Wild Wings while the Jazz Cats are at Edwins, and later evening music at The Fairmount and Parnell’s Pub.

Saturday's programming begins with a morning performance at Heights Libraries, Noble Road branch,

A significant new addition this year is the Heights Kids Hop, where kid-focused entertainment and performances will be held at places like S'il Vous Play Toys on Silsby Road and the Church of the Savior lawn.

Jesse Jukebox will play the Kids Hop this Saturday."One of my goals is to pull in different families with kids," Bailey says. "We're having the Kids Hop in the afternoon, starting with a performance by Jesse Jukebox at S’il Vous Play at 2 p.m." The family-friendly programming continues with Whizbang Circus performers and concludes with Mr. Haney & Friends performing from 3:30 to 4:30.

An afternoon and evening of events in the Cedar Lee business district, including a full slate at CLE Urban Winery, beginning at 2 p.m. with Harmony Star and closing out with the Tri-Tones. Cedar Lee will showcase a variety of genres on Saturday.

“We're putting an 80s band—Cleveland's Breakfast Club—in the street for later in the evening,” says Bailey of the Cedar Lee portion of the Music Hop. “Now that they have the DORA [Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area] District, you can purchase your beverages in the establishments, bring them into the street, listen to some 80s music and dance, and make it more party like. Oh, yeah, we also will have EDM, country, blues, jazz… so many different genres on Saturday. There has to be something for everyone's musical taste.”

Other notable performances on Saturday include community favorites playing at Tavern Company—Blue Lunch at 7:30 p.m. and Apostle Jones on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Blue LunchHeights Music Hop’s final day on Sunday is in Coventry Village, which Bailey describes as "its own mysterious being.” Check out DJs, hip-hop artists, and dance activities. Coventry will embrace a street festival atmosphere with vendors, food trucks, and local artisans setting up shop along the street.

Looking ahead

Baley says Future Heights is already planning changes for 2026.

"Cleveland Heights is growing and changing," she says. "The Noble Road business district is coalescing, and they have a new business association. The Cedar Taylor Merchants association is also growing."

Apostle Jones will play at Tavern Company for Heights Music Hop.To accommodate this growth, Future Heights is considering a new approach for future years—making turning Cleveland Heights’ neighborhoods into a revolving music destinations.

"We're looking at breaking down and doing multiple Music Hops throughout the year," Bailey teases. "Each one would focus on one business district, which gives community members the opportunity to go to all of them, as opposed to if we cram it all in one weekend."

Bailey’s vision aligns with the event's core mission. "That's celebrating local business, local music and the sense of community that we have in Cleveland Heights, which is pretty unique," she says.

The complete schedule of performances and venues can be found on Future Heights’ 2025 Music Hop website, with updates continuing through the morning of the event.