Labor Day Weekend Freebees in Cleveland 2012

Photo Credit

Well, I haven't come across too many freebees for this weekend, unfortunately! There is a lot going on in Cleveland, though! Fox 8 has created an extensive list of events in the area (some are FREE), which include Oktoberfest, Navy Week, and the National Air Show, just to name a few. Check out the full list here for more information!

The freebees that I'm aware of are as follows:

• Block Party at Chick-fil-A (Great Northern Blvd, North Olmsted): Fun activities (featuring a bouncy house and more!) for the whole family on Friday, August 31st from 5-8pm. 
• FREE Lunch at Giant Eagle (Biddolph Rd, Brooklyn): Come to the Brooklyn Giant Eagle for Customer Appreciation Day on Sunday, September 2nd from 11am-3pm for a FREE lunch! Lunch is 1/person and includes a hot dog, bag of chips, and a Giant Eagle bottled water.
• If you know of any others, please leave a comment!

Some other FREE ideas to celebrate the end of summer:

• Have a cookout with family and friends
• Go on a picnic by the lake
• Visit the beach 
• Catch up on some sleep
• Have a movie day
• Start a new book
• Enjoy the outdoors by going on a hike or playing yard games

Whatever you decide to do, have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Cleveland Beats & Eats Starts Tomorrow, 8/21!

Admission is FREE and open to the public! Cleveland Beats & Eats is an mid-day outdoor celebration of the diversity found in Cleveland, featuring local food (restaurants and vendors), live music, art, and culture. Come out an see the best of Cleveland!

Farmer's Markets in the Cleveland Area 2012

Farmers markets are FREE to attend, and a lot of them will offer free samples, tastings, demonstrations, and more! Buying local produce is not only better for you but is good for our local farmers and economy, so stop by one close to you! Here's a roundup of the markets in the area I'm aware of (special events are italicized):

Farmers Market at Farmpark

• Every Wednesday 3-6pm, May 18th-October 12th
• Located in the Lake Farmpark parking lot in Kirtland
• Featuring locally grown seasonal produce and products. Click here for a list of items, updated each week, that can be found at the market.

Geauga Fresh Farmers Market

• Every Saturday 9am-noon, rain or shine, starting May 19th
• Located at Rt. 306 and Bell St. in South Russell
• Featuring lots of fresh produce, herbs, flowering plants, honey and maple syrup, handmade soaps and lotions, meat, cheese, kettle corn, jewelry, crafts, and more!

Medina Farmers Market

• Every Saturday 9am-1pm, June 2nd-October
• Located in Medina Public Square
• Featuring fresh flowers, plants, herbs, produce, foccacia, cookies, pies, and more!

North Coast Harbor Farmers Market

• Every Thursday 11:30am-2:30pm, June 2nd-September 8th
• Located on the E 9th Street Pier
• Features produce, cheese, flowers, canned items, jewelry, clothing, cooking demonstrations, and much more!
• FREE parking

North Union Farmers Markets

• One of the top 20 Farmers Markets in the US and voted "Best Farmers Market" in Cleveland
• There are many North Union markets in the area:
• Shaker Square Market, Saturdays 8am-noon, April 7th-December 22nd. This will be followed by the Shaker Square Winter Indoor Market.
• Crocker Park Market, Saturdays 9am-1pm, April 14th-December 22nd
• Crocker Park Evening Market, Thursdays 4-7pm, June 14th-August 30th
• Chagrin Falls Market, Sundays 10am-1pm, June 3rd-October 21st
• Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Market, Wednesdays 10:30am-1:30pm, June 6th-October 24th
• Cleveland State University Market, Thursdays 11am-2pm, June 7th-September 27th
• Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Market, Wednesdays 11am-2pm, July 25th-September 26th
• Click each link for more information about each market, including location, vendors, and more!
• Flower Days at the Market on Saturday, May 19th from 9am-1pm at Crocker Park and again on Saturday, May 26th from 8am-noon at Shaker Square. It's an event focused on getting your garden and yard ready for summer. Win a FREE Troy-Bilt Lawnmower! Click here for more details.

Tremont Farmers Market

• Every Tuesday 4-7pm, May 1st-October 30th
• Located in Lincoln Park in Tremont
• Featuring eggs, cheese, produce, spices, coffee, tea, honey, meat, bread, salsa, local artisans, musicians, and more!
• Visit their website for more information on vendors and other weekly happenings at the market
• Flower Power Dance Workshop on Tuesday, June 5th from 5:00-5:45pm for ages 3-7. Children can participate in a FREE creative movement dance class with Tremont Moves. Wear play clothes and tennis shoes. Click here for more details. 

Don't see your local Farmers Market listed? Click here for an extensive list of Ohio Farmers Markets to find one near you! Enjoy!

FREE Outdoor Concert Series in Cleveland for Summer 2012

Here is a round-up of all the great, local outdoor concert series that are starting for the summer! They start THIS WEEKEND and most run through early September. Hopefully you will take time to enjoy some of them! :)

Concerts Over the Valley at Mapleside Farm

(Photo Credit: Mapleside Farms)

• Every Friday night from May 25-September 28, 6-9:30pm (gates open at 5pm)
• Concerts feature a wide variety of genres and styles
• Admission is FREE, with the exception of June 15th, July 20th, August 31st (these are Premium Concerts and cost $2/person or $5/Family of 3 or more)
• Wine, beer, and food are available for purchase
• Bring your own chair or blanket, relax, and enjoy the view! 
• For the complete concert schedule, click here. 

Legacy Live at Legacy Village

• Every Friday & Saturday night from May 25-September 15, 6-9:30pm
• Concerts feature a wide variety of genres and styles
• Concerts take place on the Lawn, located between California Pizza Kitchen and Bar Louie
• Subject to change/cancellation due to weather when applicable
• For the concert schedule through June 30th, click here.

Music in the Park at Crocker Park

(Photo Credit: Crocker Park)

• Every Friday & Saturday from May 25-September 1, 6-8:30pm
• Enjoy a variety of musical talents
• Concerts take place behind GameStop by the large grassy area (off the roundabout)
• For the complete concert schedule, click here. 

Rally in the Alley in Medina Square

(Photo Credit: Main Street Cafe)

• Every Friday night starting May 25th and ending with a large event the entire Labor Day Weekend (September 1 & 2)
• Admission is FREE with the exception of Saturday and Sunday Labor Day weekend
• Wine, beer, spirits, and food are available for purchase
• For the complete concert schedule and other details, click here. 

Summer Concert Series at Shaker Square

• Every Saturday night from June 23-August 18, 6-9pm
• Admission is FREE
• Bring a chair or blanket, or you can listen from a restaurant patio while you enjoy dinner!
• There is currently no concert schedule posted

First & Main Music Nights in Hudson

• This concert series takes place on the Green at First & Main in Hudson
• Concerts run from July-August on Fridays and Saturdays, 7-9pm
• Schedule and more details will be posted when they become available

FREE Breakfast at Chick-fil-A September 6-10th

From September 6 – 10, 2011, participating Chick-fil-A^® restaurants are giving away a variety of FREE breakfast entrées to customers who make a reservation online. Go here to make your reservation now, and enjoy!

Mums, Music, and More at the Annual Barberton Mum Fest This Weekend

The 20th Annual Barberton Mum Fest featuring MUMS, MUSIC and MORE! 20,000 mums in full bloom - more than one million blooms, plus FREE ADMISSION, Fabulous Food, FREE Musical Entertainment, Historical Displays, Kid's Place, Water Ski Shows, Canoe Races, Arts and Crafts, and Sand Sculpting.
It all takes place this weekend, September 25 & 26, from 10am-6pm at Lake Anna Park. See the link below for directions and the schedule of events, and enjoy!

http://www.cityofbarberton.com/govt/MumFest/

FallFest: A FREE 18th Century Festival in the Cleveland Metroparks

No radio, cell phones, TV, Playstation, not even telephones – how did colonial people get by? Experience a day-in-the-life of an 18th century colony at the free “FallFest: 18th Century Festival”. Enjoy a variety of hands-on early settlers arts and crafts, including: candle dipping, quilting, stenciling, quill pen writing, reed ornaments, carding wool, dying wool with natural dyes, and more. Event-goers can also sample a variety of 18th century traditional foods, such as fresh-pressed apple cider, butter, cornbread, honey, and more.

Sunday, September 26
11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Meadows Picnic Area
Brecksville Reservation • Brecksville

Calling All Kids 12 and Under! Print out and color in the FallFest logo coloring page and redeem the finished coloring page at The Big Show Catering concession stand at FallFest for a FREE treat! And, redeem the attached coupon to The Big Show catering concession stand for a Buy One Hot Dog, and Get One FREE at FallFest! Visit http://www.clemetparks.com/events/fall_fest2.asp for the coloring page and other details.

Enjoy a FREE Nature Walk with Your Toddler in the Metroparks

Stroller Science: All things yellow will be what we are looking for today. Bring your precious little one out to discover and explore the wonderful world of bees, flowers, leaves and bugs.

September 28
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. North Chagrin Nature Center
Ages: 2 years & under with adult
Register beginning September 1
440-473-3370
http://www.clemetparks.com/events/programs/months_progs.asp#25

Children get FREE Admission to the Zoo with a Teddy Bear

Teddy bear need a check-up? Then bring your fluffy friend to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to receive the latest in teddy bear care. The Zoo's third annual Teddy Bear Day celebrates the best bear care (for personal teddy bears and the Zoo's real bears). Kids with a teddy bear (or plush animal of any species) receive FREE Zoo admission with a paid adult. This Saturday, September 25, from 10am-5pm only. Special activities take place from 10am-2pm at the Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine (unless otherwise noted). See the link for the Activity Schedule! Enjoy!

http://www.clemetzoo.com/events/event.asp?event_id=51

Fall Fashion & FREE Flick at Southpark Mall

When you spend $200 or more on Fall Fashion starting Thursday, September 9th, you will receive 2 free Cinemark Movie Tickets. Present your same-day receipts and a valid e-mail address to the Shopping Concierge on the Lower Level near JCPenney to receive your free movie tickets. Offer is valid for a limited time. One pair of tickets per customer for total receipts presented. Must be at least 19 years old to participate. Now granted, you have to spend $200 to get the tickets, so this is really only "free" for the people who were going to do that anyways! Enjoy!

7th Annual Fall Festival in Old Brooklyn on September 25th

Come join hundreds of other Clevelanders for a completely FREE Fall Festival at Grace Church in Old Brooklyn on Saturday, September 25 from 12-4 pm. Lunch, games, and music are all FREE for kids and adults alike, so bring your friends and family for some fun! This year's event features bouncy houses, arts and crafts, basketball, balloon animals, haircuts, massages, and more! Grace church is located at 2503 Broadview Rd, Cleveland OH 44109. Enjoy!

Chalk Festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Septemeber 18 & 19

"Children and adults enjoy this annual event where community members join professional artists in using the walkways around the Fine Arts Garden as a colorful canvas. Begun in 1990, our festival is a modern expression of a Renaissance tradition from 16th-century Italy, in which beggars copied paintings of the Madonna by Raphael and his contemporaries, using chalk on the plazas outside cathedrals. Watching the chalk artists and enjoying the entertainment is FREE." See the link for more details, and enjoy!
http://www.clevelandart.org/

FREE Admission to Cleveland's Ingenuity Fest

September 24-26 at the Detroit Superior Bridge. "The Ingenuity Festival is Cleveland’s annual weekend-long celebration of art and technology, designed for audiences of any age and experience, staged in Downtown Cleveland. Prominent international masters present original works alongside the finest of Northeast Ohio’s performing and visual artists. High technology firms and major colleges and universities are presented alongside acclaimed artists to create a dazzling display of exciting and immersive new work. Ingenuity pushes boundaries, creating a unique festival experience that draws and celebrates diversity, and involves the audience as both spectator and participant." See the link for the schedule and more details.
http://ingenuitycleveland.com/

FREE Halloween Bands for Westfield Family Members at Southpark Mall

"Starting Saturday, September 25 - October 30, present your WFamily Card at Shopping Concierge and receive a Halloween Shaped Band. One shape per week, one band per child. Child must be present. While supplies last."

September 25 – Cat
October 2 – Witch Hat
October 10 – Pumpkin
October 17 – Bat
October 24 – Ghost
October 30 – Candy Corn

"Westfield's WFamily program makes shopping EASY for parents, and FUN for the kids. Enjoy the great retail offers, special family events and activities, terrific amenities, and helpful shopping guides that make Westfield SouthPark a wonderful destination for the whole family." Don't have a WFamily Card? Sign up FREE online today at http://westfield.com/southpark/wfamily/JoinToday.html!

Enjoy the View at FREE Local Art Festivals This Fall

Fall Art Festival at Crocker Park, September 18 & 19
"Grab your favorite sweater and your favorite pal and celebrate the change of season with Crocker Park as it introduces the Crocker Park Fall Fest & Fine Art Fair, Saturday, September 18, 10am-7pm & Sunday, September 19, 11am-5pm. The unique and charming Crocker Park is at the intersection of Crocker and Detroit Roads in Westlake. The Fall Fest will feature a wine tasting, fresh apple cider, a fun clam bake, a special fall farmers market, children’s activities and a fine art fair with artist demonstrations all in the unique setting of the elegant Crocker Park. It’s a weekend of fun, food, wine, art, fashion, music and more!" Admission and parking are FREE.

2010 Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival, September 18 & 19
"The Twelfth Annual Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival returns to Lincoln Park. The weekend Festival is comprised of four categories or program areas which include: Children's-hands-on arts, historical, and educational projects; Community-area non-profit organizations presenting material about their mission and services; Cultural-food sales by Tremont churches, other non-profit organizations, and Tremont restaurants reflecting the ethnic diversity of the neighborhood; and sales of paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, and photographs created by Tremont and Northeast Ohio artists. The Festival will also have music and dance performances both Saturday and Sunday on one main stage located near Kenilworth Avenue between West 14th Street and West 11th Street. Admission to the festival is FREE." See the link for a schedule of events.
http://www.merrickhouse.org/tacf

Art in the Village II at Legacy Village, September 25 & 26
Saturday, September 25 – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday, September 26 – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
"Art in the Village is back for a fall appearance! Don’t miss an eclectic mix of the nation’s most talented artist, who will collectively display millions of dollars in artwork. The artists, juried by an independent panel of expert judges, are hand-selected from hundreds of applicants based on quality and diversity. Admission and parking are FREE."

2010 Tremont ArtWalk
This event has taken place all year on the second friday of each month from 6-10 pm, and the remaining dates for this year are October 8, November 12, and December 10. Many galleries and studios that normally keep restricted hours are open for ArtWalk. There is usually music or other performance art. Tremont is rich in fine dining and pub life. For those who prefer a quieter experience, many galleries are open the following day (Saturday).

Concerts Over the Valley at Mapleside Farms

This concert series at Mapleside Farms takes place on select Friday nights from 6-9 pm, June through October. Food and wine tents open at 5 pm. "Grab your lawn chair and come enjoy great music, delicious food, fine wine, cold beer and an amazing sunset!" Admission is FREE except on July 16th. See the link for the concert schedule.

http://www.mapleside.com/Concerts_over_the_valley_postrsm.pdf

Crocker Park Offers FREE Movies in the Park

Every Thursday night from June 3-September 2, Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio will be showing a FREE movie from 9-11 pm. The movie selection is diverse, so there should be something for all audiences to appreciate. For the movie schedule, see the link below, and enjoy!

http://www.crockerpark.com/events.php?id=493

Rally in the Alley, a FREE Weekly Outdoor Concert Series

Rally in the Alley is a free outdoor concert series that runs every Friday night throughout the summer, starting on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and ending in September. Held in Medina, Ohio, right off Public Square, this event benefits a different Medina County charity every week. Food and drinks are available to accompany the fantastic entertainment, and it's a night the whole family will enjoy! The event will open every week at 4:30 pm with the opening band taking the stage at 5:30 pm. See the link below for more details and the concert schedule!

http://www.themainstreetcafe.com/rally.php