Many of Lakewood's entertaining activities for the community are not only free of charge, they are often scheduled early enough to get the family home by bedtime!

 

For the musically inclined, check out the Band Concerts every Sunday night during the summer at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Park Bandstand. Lakewood Park is at 14532 Lake Avenue, at the northern end of Belle Avenue.

Friday Night Flicks are also offered at the Lakewood Park Bandstand during the summer. The movies are always family oriented, but it must be dark before they can start -- often precluding attendance by very young children. You can check out the movie schedule each summer at Lakewood Public Library or when driving by Lakewood Park during the week. (In case of rain, the movies will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Emerson School gym, 13439 Clifton Blvd.)

For theater thrills, Beck Center for the Arts Theater School produces a travelling show. Usually it's a humorous musical show, about 40 minutes long, and features student actors ranging in age from 7 to 12. Check with the Beck Center for more information.

Engaging storytimes are offered year-round at The Lakewood Public Library  -- all free. "Weekend Wonders" runs Fridays (10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m.), Saturdays (10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.), with no pre-registration. The theme runs through each weekend with stories, songs, movements and a craft all relating to the theme. This program runs about half an hour. For the littlest listeners, the morning sessions are best because they'll be around others of similar ages.
Also, each season, the library offers pre-registration classes -- Just Baby n' Me (9 to 24 months), Toddler Treats (2 to 3-1/2 yrs), Storylore (3-1/2 yrs on up), Shake, Rattle and Roll (2 to 6 yrs), and Pajama Party (any age). The library has two branches: one on Detroit Avenue at Arthur, and the other on Madison Avenue at the west end of Madison Park. All of the storytime programs are offered at both branches.

For playtime fun, The Family Room has many, many free Drop-In play sessions -- where you can chat with other parents and your child/ren can play with a multitude of toys and other kids. (See Getting Off to a Good Start for more on this.)

Introduce our nation's pastime by watching some competitive-quality softball at George J. Usher Field at Madison Park (night games under the lights!) or at Jimmie Foxx Field behind the Mars Shopping Plaza on Detroit Avenue.  The Lakewood Department of Recreation sponsors so many leagues, you're bound to catch a game almost any evening between April and October.

For ample anytime playtime, Lakewood has ten neighborhood parks, and ten elementary school playgrounds, and borders the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks System. (Find out what parks and playgrounds are near you, on our Parks & Playgrounds page.) The Metroparks offer many special events throughout the year. Check the schedule of special events.

Meet exotic animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Every Monday until noon, admission is free for Cuyahoga County residents -- remember to bring identification! If you get an annual family membership, it's free any time you want to go, and includes admission to the Rainforest. Zoo membership also provides reciprocity at over 100 zoos throughout North America. 

If it's winter, check out our Guide to Winter Fun page too!

Lakewood Parents Page