The BorderLight Theatre Festival returns to Playhouse Square July 8-11, featuring productions across 15 stages with artists from 12 states and three countries. The four-day fringe festival offers live performances and diverse programming with flexible ticket options and a commitment to accessibility. The festival kicks off with Fringe Unleashed, a high-energy preview night at The City Club of Cleveland.

The Cleveland Asian Festival returns May 16 and 17 with its largest celebration to date, featuring a record number of vendors, expanded culinary offerings, and a full slate of cultural programming. From K-pop performances and traditional dance to community initiatives, this year's festival highlights the diversity and growing impact of AsiaTown.

Downtown Cleveland, Inc. will host a community meeting this week to discuss a  public art project that will transform  Huron Road in the Gateway District into a mural. The project, by artist Ryan Jaenke, is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies to improve pedestrian safety, boost foot traffic, and support businesses.

City officials and Rock Entertainment Group, Bedrock, and Cosm last week broke ground on Cosm Cleveland—its fifth nationwide location—featuring a state-of-the-art 12K+ LED dome designed to create immersive sports, cinema, and entertainment experiences. The  development will host four major events daily when it opens in 2027.

Literary Cleveland will distribute 500 free books by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison at the West Side Market this weekend as part of the statewide "Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison" initiative. The giveaway features re-released editions of Morrison's three Ohio-set novels: "The Bluest Eye," "Sula," and "Beloved," honoring the Lorain-born author's literary legacy and deep connections to the state.

Stacey Tenenbaum's "Tough Old Broads," profiles three women who broke barriers in male-dominated fields: marathon pioneer Kathrine Switzer, White House photographer Sharon Farmer, and climate justice activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier. Tenenbaum is offering two free tickets to one of the sold-out screenings. Find out how to enter and learn more about these real-life tough old broads.

Photographer Johnny Joo and painter Tessa LeBaron explore mental health, resilience, and creative renewal in “Emergence,” a collaborative exhibit at 78th Street Studios that reflects their personal journeys and the healing power of art. The show features Joo's photography and LeBaron's paintings.

Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, Cleveland Public Theatre's Arabic-speaking theater group, presents "The Wolf" Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6 as part of the Test Flight play development program. The production, written and directed by Shakeeb Julien, follows a young villager's journey of learning and growth, while also serving as a creative outlet for the ensemble who represent Arabic-speaking communities from across the Middle East and North Africa.

"The Origin of a Villain," a collaboration between the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Public Theatre, explores the complex relationship between circumstances and personal choice through the lived experiences of 14 Y-Haven Treatment and Recovery Center residents. Now in its 27th year, the Y-Haven Theatre Project weaves together stories of recovery into a unified narrative of hope and redemption.

FAN EXPO Cleveland attracted pop culture enthusiasts to the Huntington Convention Center this past weekend, featuring headliners William Shatner, Hayden Christensen, and other notable celebrities. There were opportunities for autographs, cosplay, shopping, and interactions with both Hollywood stars and local cultural organizations, continuing its decade-long tradition as a favorite among Cleveland fans.

Destination Cleveland issued a call for artists in its Murals Across the City program. Three artists will be chosen to create murals on Cleveland buildings—adding to the nine existing murals in city neighborhoods. Artists have until March 30 to submit their portfolios.

Canalway's annual Towpath Trail Lantern Parade brought the city together last Saturday for a celebration along the Cuyahoga River in Tremont. Five commissioned artists created illuminated works of art from upcycled materials to celebrate the Ohio & Erie Canalway's history, while others crafted their own lanterns at a free workshop led by Upcycle Parts Shop.

FAN EXPO Cleveland returns to the Huntington Convention Center on Friday, with celebrity guests William Shatner and Hayden Christensen along with stars from fan faves like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The three-day pop culture convention has exhibits, celebrities, fan groups, cosplay, and gaming.

The Short.Sweet.Film Fest opens its 15th year this week, showcasing 338 short films from 26 countries across 33 programs at Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. The festival has grown from a small basement gathering to a platform for independent short filmmakers. Highlights include Women in Focus, featuring 29 films directed or produced by women.

Cleveland's annual Brite Winter festival landed in the Waterloo Arts District last weekend, offering a much-needed winter escape with music, art, and community celebration. Brite Winter has been the winter arts and culture scene for more than 15 years, and photographer Reuben Kutash documented the 2026 version on Saturday.

Lake Erie Ink and Cleveland Museum of Art will host the 14th annual Kids' Comic Con with free workshops, seminars, and events for young artists. The three-day event at CMA's Clark-Fulton Community Arts Center includes virtual programming with Nickelodeon storyboard artists, a teen cosplay party, DIY workshops, and craft talks—all in a space where young comic enthusiasts can learn, create, and connect.

Photographer Jason Toth is partnering with Opus 216 founder and violinist Ariel Clayton Karas to produce "The Smallest Concert in Cleveland," in Toth's 78th Street Studios space. With limied space, the March 6 event will feature improvised original music by Opus 216 ensemble members, The passion project is the realization of Toth's dream to create special musical experiences.

The mythical Kurenti symbolically chased away winter at the 14th annual Cleveland Kurentovanje parade down St. Clair Avenue and the festival at the Slovenian National Home. Photographer Reuben Kutash documented the parade, bocce games, and live music before the Kurenti retreated for another year.

The annual Brite Winter festival will ignite the Waterloo Arts District this Saturday, Feb. 21, with more than 30 bands performing on stages, interactive art installations, fire pits, and local food vendors. Headlined by local favorite LoConti, the festival starts at 2 p.m.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden's annual orchid show heads to the Wild West his year with "Orchid Rodeo," featuring more than 3,000 orchids throughout its glasshouse biomes. The exhibit challenges  fallacies about orchids' fragility while celebrating their resilience in harsh environments.