Asian Festival
Cleveland’s 15th annual Asian Festival roars to life this weekend with food, dance and dragons galore. Head to Cleveland’s AsiaTown, at the corner of East 27th Street and Payne Avenue, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Also, Ideastream Public Media’s Gabriel Kramer hosts a food competition both days and trivia challenge Sunday at 3 p.m.
Highland Square Film Festival
Legendary Akron band Devo gets a tribute Saturday as part of the Highland Square Film Festival, featuring the band’s groundbreaking music videos accompanied by a live orchestra. Other festival highlights include a celebration of great film scores, a student film competition and a children’s film fest. The festival takes place at various Akron venues throughout the day, culminating in the Devo tribute at the Highland Square Theatre at 4:25 p.m.
Choreography as conversation
The National Center for Choreography - Akron welcomes award-winning Colorado choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins for a free performance at People’s Park in Akron Saturday. Wilkins is in residence at NCCAkron working on his multi-year, national project “The Conversation Series,” which is taking him to all 50 states. He debuts his new piece inspired by the Akron community, “Choreographic Ritual,” Saturday at 3 p.m.
Celebrating Sojourner
First Congregational Church of Akron stages the free performance Celebrating Sojourner in anticipation of the opening of the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza later this month. A slate of actors and performers are scheduled to honor the late Civil War-era abolitionist on Saturday, including a rendition of Truth’s historic Akron speech performed by Jasmine Davis, a 5th grader from Columbus. Celebrations begin at 4:30 p.m. at the church located on East Market Street.
Terence Blanchard and friends
Both the Cleveland Orchestra and the City Club of Cleveland welcome Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard on Tuesday. At noon, Blanchard speaks at the City Club on Power and Artistry. Then at 7 p.m., Blanchard performs A Celebration of Wayne Shorter with his E-Collective band and the Turtle Island Quartet at Severance.
