Italian-American Festival, 50 Cent at Blossom highlight things to do in Akron this weekend

It's never too early to plan your weekend because, let's be honest, we're looking forward to it as soon as the week begins. From concerts to festivals to farmers markets to comedy shows, we've got a regional list of events from Akron to Cleveland to Youngstown and more. Whether you're planning a girls' night out, a date night or a family-friendly activity, we've got you covered.

Here are the events coming up this weekend into the following weekend that are worth highlighting:

Italian-American Festival

Thursday through Saturday at W. Bowery St. between State Street and Main Street. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Concerts start at 7 p.m. Thursday: China Grove (Doobie Brother Tribute), Friday: ABBA Mania (ABBA Tribute), Saturday: Lights Out (Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). Fireworks Saturday at 9:45 p.m. Free admission. More information here.

Barbie Party at Whiskers & Wine Cat Lounge

Saturday, Aug. 5, from 4-9 p.m. at Whiskers & Wine Cat Lounge, 932 Kenmore Blvd., Akron. $30. More information at Whiskers & Wine Facebook page. Read more about the lounge here.

50 Cent at Blossom

7 p.m. Sunday at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. With Busta Rhymes and Jeremih. ticketmaster.com.

Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Celebration

Aug. 7-13. Family-friendly events and activities. For details, visit www.cityofcf.com. Read more about the Falls' celebrations here.

“Six”

Aug. 8-Sept. 10 R Connor Palace Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $35-$120. playhousesquare.org.

The Encounter: Akron

Aug. 10-11 at 7 p.m., Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. at Sandefur Theatre, Guzzetta Hall, 228 E. Buchtel Ave., University of Akron. Pay what you can; suggested donation $2-$10. Limited number of free tickets. More information at rubbercitytheatre.com.

Nickelback at Blossom

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. With Brantley Gilbert and Josh Ross. ticketmaster.com.

Steve Miller Band at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, 201 S. Phelps St., Youngstown. ticketmaster.com

The Beach Boys at Jacobs Pavilion

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland. ticketmaster.com.

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival presents Inlet Dance Theatre

8:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St., Akron. Free. Master class for advanced dance students at the University of Akron at 11 a.m. Saturday. akrondancefestival.org

Read more about the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival here.

LL Cool J at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Court, Cleveland. With The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Common, Method Man & Redman, Jadakiss and MC Lyte. Tickets start at $59.50. rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

RuPaul’s Drag Race

8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at KeyBank State Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $39.50-$79.50. playhousesquare.org

Here are other events in the area through this weekend into the following weekend:

Bluey’s Big Play: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at KeyBank State Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $39.50-$69.50. playhousesquare.org.

Brunch with The Fourons: 11 a.m. Sunday at Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. Free. jillysmusicroom.com.

Medina County Historical Society Open House: 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the John Smart House Museum, 206 N. Elmwood, Medina. A self-guided tour of the museum. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for members and seniors, $3 for Students 7-18 and free to children 6 or younger with an adult. 330-722-1341 or mchs@zoominternet.net

Friends of Rodman Library Book Sale: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday at the Alliance Commons, 405 Linden Ave., Alliance. rodmanlibrary.com.

Reggae Sundays with Sun Shade: 4 p.m. Sunday at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

Ohio Shakespeare Festival "Twelfth Night": Thursdays-Sunday through Aug. 13 performed outdoors at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 6 p.m. gates open for picnicking, green show at 7:30 p.m. with the play at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15. ohioshakespearefestival.com.

Trey Kennedy: 7 p.m. Sunday at Connor Palace Theatre, Playhouse Square, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $29-$75. playhousesquare.org.

The Revivalists: 7 p.m. Sunday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland. ticketmaster.com.

Baylen Levine: 7 p.m. Sunday at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

End of Summer Bash: Doors open at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. $12. grogshop.gs.

Shawn Maxwell Quartet: 7 p.m. Sunday at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. themusicsettlement.org.

Happy Together Tour 2023: 7:30 p.m. Sunday at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. With The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett, The Vogues and The Classics IV. ticketmaster.com.

Barberton Farmers Market: 2-7 p.m. Tuesday at West Tuscarawas Avenue and Second Street across from McDonnald's. barbertonfarmersmarket.com.

Alter Bridge: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland. With Sevendust. ticketmaster.com.

A New Adventure Widows & Widowers: A social group for all ages meets for lunch and conversation at 2 p.m. Wednesday. 330-630-9275 or 330-929-5430.

Son Gitano: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wade Oval, 10820 East Blvd., Cleveland. Free. universitycircle.org.

Point of No Return Improv Comedy: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. Free. jillysmusicroom.com.

Ice Nine Kills: Doors open at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Agora, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. With August Burns Red, Veil of Maya and Mikes Dead. agoracleveland.com.

Radkey: Doors open at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. With Whiffler, Feverland and Blossom Park. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. grogshop.gs.

Paul Thorn: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

Comedy Open Mic Night: 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Funny Stop Comedy Club, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. funnystop.com.

Dead Letter Office: Tribute to R.E.M.: 8 p.m. Wednesday at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

A New Beginning Lunch/Dinner Meetings: A social support group for widows and widowers meets for dinner and conversation Thursday. For time and location, call 330-7445-6239, 330-351-7322 or 330-331-7066.

Foulmouth: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. With Gars and Guitars and TunnelVision. $8 in advance, $10 day of show. grogshop.gs.

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School: 7 p.m. Thursday at Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. $10 to draw. jillysmusicroom.com.

Gojira: 7 p.m. Thursday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland. With Mastodon. ticketmaster.com.

Will Burkart: 7 p.m. Thursday at Hilarities, 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com.

Sixth City Comedy Festival Night 1: 7 p.m. Thursday at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. themusicsettlement.org.

"Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical": Aug. 10 to Sept. 3 at Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Prices range from $14 to $36. 330-836-2626 and weathervaneplayhouse.com

Matt Fraser: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. ticketmaster.com.

Mike Trixx: 8 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Funny Stop Comedy Club, 1757 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls. funnystop.com.

The Wallflowers: 8 p.m. Thursday at the Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. $55-$72. kentstage.org.

Apostle Jones and Tobyraps: 8 p.m. Thursday at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Union Home Mortgage Plaza, 1100 E. Ninth St., Cleveland. Free. rockhall.com.

Dirty Little Blues Band: 8 p.m. Thursday at the House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Friday Matinee Film Series: 2 p.m. Friday at Barberton Public Llibrary, 602 W. Park Ave. Go to barbertonlibrary.org for more information or call 330-745-1194 for movie titles.

Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson & Family: 4:30 p.m. Friday at Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. With John Fogerty, Kathleen Edwards, Flatland Calvary and Particle Kid. ticketmaster.com.

Becky Robinson: 6 and 9:30 p.m. Friday at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Zoso: Tribute to Led Zeppelin: 7 p.m. Friday at Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron. With Neil Zaza. $5. lock3live.com.

Dark Star Orchestra: Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday at the Agora, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. agoracleveland.com.

Christopher Titus: 7 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Hilarities, 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com.

Sixth City Comedy Festival Night 2: 7 p.m. Friday at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. themusicsettlement.org.

Spyro Gyra: 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. $32-$42. kentstage.org.

Rufus Du Sol: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland. ticketmaster.com.

M.A.G.S.: Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. With Death Lens. $16 in advance, $18 day of show. grogshop.gs.

Den Zon & Redhouse: 8 p.m. Friday at Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. Free. jillysmusicroom.com.

Three Dog Night: 8 p.m. Friday at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. ticketmaster.com.

Carl Baldassarre’s Led Zeppelin Revival: 8 p.m. Friday at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

Motown & More with Nitebridge: 8 p.m. Friday at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

A New Adventure Widow & Widowers Breakfast Meeting: 8 a.m. Saturday at Farmer Boy, 610 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron. 330-630-9275 or 330-929-5430.

A New Beginning: 9 a.m. Saturday at Fa-Ray's, 1115 Wooster Road N., Barberton. A social support group for widows and widowers meets for breakfast and conversation every Saturday morning. 330-745-6239.

Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Central Intermediate School parking lot, 151 Main St., Wadsworth. wadsworthfarmersmarket.com.

Hale Farm & Village Civil War Weekend: 10.am. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath. Admission rates are $15 for adults, $8 for children 3-12 and free for members and active duty military. wrhs.org.

Massillon Fun Fest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. More than 80 social service agencies, civic groups, law enforcement agencies, churches, arts organizations and businesses will set up games, art projects, activities, and health and safety information stations. The outdoor event will be centered on the Massillon Museum lawn, 121 Lincoln Way E., Duncan Plaza and First Street Southeast. massillonmuseum.org.

Postcard Show: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at St. George Serbian Social Hall, 4667 Applegrove St. NW, Jackson Township. More than a dozen dealers will buy and sell postcards and some paper items. Admission $3. Handicapped accessible facility. Food on premises. Contact Dave or Ginny Pool at 330-832-5992 or lincolnway@sssnet.com.

The Friends of the Louisville Library Book Sale: 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Discovery Center building, 504 E. Main St., Louisville. https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheLouisvillePublicLibrary.

Mickey Avalon: 7 p.m. Saturday at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Doe Boy: Doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. grogshop.gs.

Sixth City Comedy Festival Night 3: 7 p.m. Saturday at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. themusicsettlement.org.

The Numbers Band: 8 p.m. Saturday at Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. $5-$10. jillysmusicroom.com.

Motor City Gold: 9 p.m. Saturday at the House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Affair on the Square Craft & Vintage Fair: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 13 at Medina Square. Crafts, art, food, music, children's activities. Admission is free. affaironthesquare.net

Beatles Brunch with The Sunrise Jones: Noon Aug. 13 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

Picket Fence Art Show: 1-5 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Johnson Barn in Richfield Woods Park, 4100 Broadview Road. Original framed art, ceramics, photography, jewelry and fine crafts. Free. 330-659-0336 or go to richfieldohiohistoricalsociety.org.

Akron Metro Parks Hiking Club Picnic: 1:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St., Akron. Drinks and chicken will be provided. Bring a picnic food to share. There will be a 3-mile hike. Hike Leader Billy, 330-968-7898. akronhikers.org.

Cliff Habian Trio: 2-3 p.m. Aug. 13 at Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St. Free.

Macramé Pot Hangers Workshop: 2:30-3:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E. Adults and children ages 8 or older are invited to join the Lepley & Co. workshop. $35 per person or $32 per member. MassMu.org.

Reggae Sundays with Ras Khalifa: 4 p.m. Aug. 13 at Music Box Supper Club and Concert Hall, 148 Main Ave., Cleveland. musicboxcle.com.

Steve Gillespie: 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at Hilarities, 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com.

Ann Marie: 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. houseofblues.com/cleveland.

Hobo Johnson: Doors open at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. grogshop.gs.

Sunny Side: 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. themusicsettlement.org.

Pablo Cruise: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. $40-$50. kentstage.org.

The Fab Four: Tribute to The Beatles: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at MGM Northfield Park, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. ticketmaster.com.

New concerts

TripleS LOVElution: 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron. $52.50-$128. goodyeartheater.com.

Van Sailin’: 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Knight Stage, Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. $10. akroncivic.com.

Harvest: Neil Young Electric and Acoustic Tribute: 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St. $20. akroncivic.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron events: List of things to do this weekend concerts, events