Top Free Things to Do in Greater Cleveland This Summer

Enjoying summer in Cleveland doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, a surprising number of Northeast Ohio attractions are free, at least one day a week. Below is just a few of the things you can do this season without spending a dime.

Go to the Zoo.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
3900 Wildlife Way in Cleveland
216-661-6500

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is free to all Cuyahoga County residents every (non-holiday) Monday. See the new dinosaur exhibit and "Flutter," a exhibit about butterflies. Explore the natural Africa savannah, the Australian Adventure, and the waterfowl lake. The zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and parking is also free. (The rainforest exhibit is not included with free Monday admission.)

(http://www.clemetzoo.com/visit/)

Enjoy a free Rock Hall concert.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard in Cleveland
(East Ninth Street at Lakeside Avenue)
216-781-7625

Enjoy a portion of Cleveland's most popular attraction for free. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosts a series of summer concerts in front of the iconic building and in the lobby, most of which are free. Events range from local high school bands to favorite regional artists to theme events, such as the annual "Rock and Soul" festival.

(http://rockhall.com/events/)

See the Cleveland Orchestra at Public Square.

Cleveland celebrates Independence Day each year with a free concert on Public Square with the Cleveland Orchestra. More than 100,000 people attend to see fireworks and hear the Orchestra perform a variety of classical and popular tunes, ending with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." The concert starts at 8:45 p.m., but arrive early in the day for the best seats. The 2010 date is July 1.

(http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/)

Admire the flowers at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.

Located just off of Martin Luther King Boulevard, south of I-90, the Rockefeller Greenhouse is one of Cleveland's hidden treasures. The facility, opened in 1905, features a variety of indoor and outdoor gardens. Highlights include the orchid room and the manicured Japanese garden outdoors. The Rockefeller Greenhouse is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parking is free, also.

(http://www.rockefellergreenhouse.org/)

Attend a (free) festival.

Summer is festival season in northeast Ohio and many of these family-friendly events offer free admission. These include Brecksville Home Days in late June; Little Italy's Feast of the Assumption, held the weekend nearest August 15 each year; and the Elyria Apple Festival in mid-September.

(http://www.elyriaapplefestival.com/)
(http://www.brecksville.oh.us/homedays/homedays.html)
(http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2010/05/from_food_to_music_to_art_clev.html)

Explore the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Cleveland Museum of Art
11150 East Boulevard in Cleveland
(216) 421-7340

The Cleveland Museum of Art is a joy to visit any time of year, but on June 26, the museum opens 17 new galleries, the latest phase of the museum's $350 million renovation project. The new galleries are home to the museum's collection of ancient Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and African art as well as works from the Middle Ages and Byzantine periods. The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission to the Cleveland Museum of Art's permanent collection is free year-round.

(http://www.clevelandart.org/about/newsroom.aspx - may 12 release)

See how Cleveland beer is made.

Great Lakes Brewing Company
2516 Market Avenue in Cleveland
(216) 771-4404

Cleveland once had dozens of small breweries. Prohibition forced most of these small operations to close and for decades the city languished without a locally-made brew. In 1988, the Great Lakes Brewing Company changed that when they opened their Ohio City facility and brewpub. Free tours of the brewery are offered on Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

(http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/brewpub/customer-perks/tours-and-tastings)

Attend an Art Walk.

Art festivals abound each summer in northeast Ohio and many of them are free. Cleveland's trendy Tremont neighborhood hosts a monthly art event the second Friday evening of each month; Chagrin Falls welcomes artists each July for their two-day art event; and Lakewood fills Detroit Avenue with art one Saturday each August.

(http://yourhometownchagrinfalls.com/calendarmodule/viewmonth/view/Monthly+List/time/1280631600/src/@random49b3dbeb79da9/)
(http://www.restoretremont.com/arthop/)
(http://lakewoodartsfest.org/)

Watch the Cleveland Browns practice.

Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex
One Lou Groza Boulevard (First Avenue) in Berea

Tickets to Cleveland Browns stadium are expensive, but each summer fans can watch the Browns get ready for the season at their training facility in Berea. Training camp spans three weeks from late July to mid-August and most events are open (and free) to the public. There are even special days where kids can get autographs and families can enjoy $1 hot dogs and other concessions.

(http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/06/cleveland_browns_first_team_pr.html)

Walk along the Ohio-Erie Canal.

Cleveland Metroparks Ohio Erie Canal
East 49th Street, between Grant Avenue and Canal Road in Cuyahoga Heights

Recreation combines with history along the Ohio-Erie Canal, which extends from Cuyahoga Heights through Valley View and into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A modern biking and hiking trail hugs the canal, which was created in 1825 and served as a major commercial route for decades. Along the way you'll see some of the original locks and a visitor's center explaining the history of the canal.

(http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Explore.aspx)
(http://www.clemetparks.com/visit/index.asp?ispopup=yes&action=featuredetails&features_id=1162)