Play Days at the CMA are free opportunities for families to be creative and curious and connect through art together. Events include music, storybook readings, games, and art making for the whole family. Each event has a theme that relates to an exhibition, artist, or artworks in the CMA’s collection.

Come grow with us and watch imagination bloom! Inspired by the CMA’s exhibition Manet & Morisot, join us in planting seeds of inspiration and celebrate the special friends and grown-ups that helped us blossom. 

Play with music, games, and more!

Overview

Join us the second Saturday of every month in 2026 for FREE activities with artists from the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning.

Join us the second Saturday of every month in 2026 for FREE activities with artists from the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning. Separate sessions for children in grades K-2 and 3-5. Each class will be from 12:30 – 1:30 pm.

Join us every month or pick and choose the topics of interest for your child. Class sizes are limited and registration is required for each session. Classes will be held at the UH Rainbow Ahuja Center at 5805 Euclid Ave.

Lunch is served every month before the arts classes, starting at 12:00 pm.

May's classes are focused on the art of theater and storytelling.

K-2: Seuss and Song w/Lara Troyer

Based on her popular Seuss in Song Show, Ms. Troyer will lead this workshop using many of the same songs, written with the zany lyrics of Dr. Seuss. Participants will be involved with a variety of hands-on activities – a percussion ensemble to accompany the rest of the group singing a 3-part song; games and exercises using our “expressive voice;” songs about math and onomatopoeia. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own thunderstorm soundscape using only their hands and feet.

3rd-5th: Improv w/Imposters Theater

Be silly, on purpose! Improv helps kids explore their imagination and collaborate with their friends through fun, interactive games. We use structured play to boost confidence and communication skills. Everyone can participate up to their comfort zone. In this beginner level workshop, all games are focused on fun, creativity and support

JCPenney Kids Zone - make a craft flower bouquet for Mother's Day from 11am to 12pm! Plus 10% off coupon for parents to shop

For Ages 7-12

The New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems has created a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic. Amber Ren's illustrations and Jessie Montgomery's music beautifully bring Willems' story to life, reminding us that sometimes the smallest moments have the biggest impact.  

Sunday's performance will be a sensory-friendly concert, and a welcoming and inclusive experience for people of any age with autism spectrum disorder or sensory sensitivity, as well as anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed concert environment. The relaxed house rules will allow for talking, clapping, and moving, and calming spaces will be available. Modifications such as dim lighting, quiet areas, headphones, and fidgets will be provided.

Each $15 adult ticket qualifies for an Under 18 free! Staff and volunteers from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be onsite to provide additional support and guidance.

Step into a story you know by heart—told with heart, humor, and narrated ballet.

Watch Cinderella’s world transform before your eyes as kindness triumphs over cruelty and a little magic changes everything. Set to Sergei Prokofiev’s sweeping score and brought to life through Janet Dziak’s imaginative choreography, NPB’s professional artists create a production filled with warmth, wonder, and our signature accessibility features that welcome every audience member into the story.

Share the joy of live ballet with your family and experience Cinderella in a way that feels fresh, heartfelt, and unforgettable—because sometimes, dreams don’t just come true… they dance.

Lorain Palace Theatre

Tickets

• Sensory-Friendly Performance • $10

  • Children ages 2 and under, seated on a lap, may attend for free.

  • All ticket purchases subject to Lorain Palace Theatre fee of $5.

  Questions about tickets can be directed to boxoffice@northpointeballet.org

Free to all

This monthly program welcomes Metroparks naturalists each month at moCa as they facilitate interactive workshops focused on nature-based themes.

Each session features three nature stations inside moCa and outside our front door in Cleveland Metroparks’ Mobile NatureTracks, alongside an immersive artmaking experience led by Wave Space Studio. Observe, reflect, and create while exploring the shared ground between ecological systems, contemporary art, and everyday experience.

The program is connected to the exhibitions currently at moCa Cleveland, with a strong thematic anchor in Ohio Now: State of Nature. Participants are encouraged to consider how artists and naturalists alike use observation, experimentation, and curiosity to understand the world around them.

Developed in partnership with moCa and the Cleveland Metroparks.

Family Fun supported by PNC.

Produced by TheaterWorksUSA 
Adapted from the book series by Cleveland native Dav Pilkey 
Book and Lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila 
Music by Brad Alexander 

Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics! Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious book series.  

Recommended for ages: 6-12
Two showtimes: 11am & 2pm
Running time: 60 minutes  

The 11:00 a.m. performance on Saturday, May 2, 2026 will have a sign language interpreter. Guests who need the assistance of the interpreter should request seats on the right side of the auditorium.

For Ages 7-12

The New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems has created a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic. Amber Ren's illustrations and Jessie Montgomery's music beautifully bring Willems' story to life, reminding us that sometimes the smallest moments have the biggest impact.  

Poetry Takes Over the Bookstore

The Wandering Lantern is a stop on Literary Cleveland's Poetry Crawl — and we're handing the mic to four teen poets for a quick, powerful half-hour of readings.

What to Expect

• 4 teen poets reading original work

• 30 minutes — short, sweet, and worth showing up for

• Part of a city-wide crawl, so you can hit other venues before and after

Details

• Free and open to all ages

• No registration required — just come in and listen.

Cleveland Play House’s Director of Community Development Marcela Rodriguez-Gonzalez says, “In multiple Latin American nations, Día del Niño is celebrated to remind adults that children deserve protection, education, and a healthy childhood—regardless of where in the world they were born. This is a day where all children should feel special.” She continues to share, “Children are the world’s most vulnerable population. It is important to spread awareness around issues acutely impacting children, as well as protect their rights.”   

Join us at the Community Arts Center and throughout the PIVOT Center for Art, Dance, and Expression for a collaborative cultural event, bringing community partners together to provide fun art-making activities, movement, and resources for caregivers related to mental health, parenthood, and more.  

Free; All Ages; All Experience Levels; Supplies Included   

La Directora de Desarrollo Comunitario de Cleveland Playhouse, Marcela Rodríguez-González, dice: “En varias naciones de América Latina, el Día del Niño se celebra para recordar a los adultos que los niños merecen protección, educación y una infancia saludable, independientemente del lugar del mundo en el que hayan nacido. Este es un día en el que todos los niños deben sentirse especiales”. Continúa compartiendo: “Los niños son la población más vulnerable del mundo. Es importante crear conciencia sobre los problemas que afectan gravemente a los niños, así como proteger sus derechos”.  

Únase a nosotros en eTe invitamos al Centro de Artes Comunitarias y en todo el Centro PIVOT para el Arte, la Danza y la Expresión para un evento cultural colaborativo, que reúne a los socios de la comunidad para brindar actividades divertidas de creación artística, movimiento y recursos para los cuidadores relacionados con la salud mental, la paternidad y más.  

Gratis; Todos Edades; Todos los Niveles de Experiencia; Suministros Incluidos   

Come on out for our FREE Third(ish!) Friday Family Art Workshop, presented in partnership with Art Therapy Studio. Families are invited to spend an evening creating art side by side in a welcoming, supportive space. No experience needed, just come ready to make something together.

Friday, April 24 | 6:00–7:30 PM
Where: Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center
2800 Archwood Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109

Join us every third Friday and make art as a family. Learn more by visiting juliadeburgos.org/calendar and make sure to register before our spots fill up! Questions? Call (216) 894-5664 or email info@juliadeburgos.org

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NO habrá Taller de Arte Familiar del Tercer Viernes este viernes — ¡se nos cruzaron los cables con el calendario! Mejor acompáñanos el PRÓXIMO VIERNES — 24 de abril, de 6:00 a 7:30 PM. Trae a tu mami, papi, hermano, hermana, primos, los nenes y tus mejores amistades. ¡Queremos verles a todes!

Ven y date la vuelta por nuestro Taller de Arte Familiar GRATIS de “Tercer (más o menos) Viernes”, presentado en colaboración con Art Therapy Studio. Invitamos a las familias a compartir una noche creando arte juntes en un espacio acogedor y de apoyo. No necesitas experiencia — solo ganas de crear en familia.

Viernes, 24 de abril | 6:00–7:30 PM
Dónde: Centro Cultural Julia de Burgos
2800 Archwood Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109

Únete cada tercer viernes para crear arte en familia. Para más información, visita juliadeburgos.org/calendar y asegúrate de registrarte antes de que se llenen los espacios. ¿Preguntas? Llama al (216) 894-5664 o escribe a info@juliadeburgos.org

An Improvised Fairytale

from $5.00

Get your Sunday sillies on at our family-friendly show! At our interactive “An Improvised Fairytale,” the KIDS get to make choices that dictate the action as performers act out a traditional fairytale. After the show, kids and their favorite grownups are invited to play improv games with the cast.

Dates: Sunday 04/19
Doors 3pm/Show 3:30pm

Price: $10 Adults/$5 Children

All sales are final. If the show is sold out and you have not arrived by the listed showtime, you may lose your spot.

Location: Imposters Theater 4828 Lorain Ave Cleveland OH 44102

Food/Drinks: We have a full bar (& N/A menu) with popcorn and other small snacks.

Parking: Enter the main entrance to Urban Community School on W. 47th Street, south of Lorain Ave. Follow the driveway to the main oval parking lot in front of the red tower. You can park in any space marked with a green square. You can then follow the sidewalk to Lorain Ave. You will see Imposters directly across Lorain Ave. from the school.

Repertoire

• TATE   Woodland Songs (2025), [Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (MM ’00)]

• MAHLER   Symphony No. 1 in D Major, “Titan” 

Performed by

• CIM Orchestra

• Tito Muñoz, conductor

• Davis Fischer, baritone, student artist

• Kiana Lilly, soprano, student artist

• Morgan Potts, mezzo-soprano, student artist

• Hanyue Zhang, soprano, student artist

• Jingdian Zhou, tenor, student artist 

Ticket Information

Admission is free, but a reservation is required.

Free Parking

Loretta Paganini School of Cooking has partnered with Donna Forgetta (Little Italy Cleveland’s own Italian-American children’s brand) on a ‘Nobody Likes Spaghetti’ themed cooking class for parents and their children. 

Learning objectives: Making pasta and bread doughs; sauce making, grilling, baking, and custard making.

Menu: Grilled Pizza Margherita; Homemade Spaghetti Pasta & Meatballs with Tomato Sauce; Brownie Ice Cream Sundaes with all the Toppings

$95 for 2 family members; 1 adult & 1 child (6-12)

Welcome to the Fairmount Novelty Open Studios: Earth Day event!

Join us at Fairmount Center for the Arts Novelty on April 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM for a day filled with nature crafts and activities. Celebrate Earth Day with the whole family at this community event.

Reservations recommended but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairmount-novelty-open-studios-earth-day-tickets-1976910236735?aff=oddtdtcreator

Play Days at the CMA are free opportunities for families to be creative and curious and connect through art together. Events include music, storybook readings, games, and art making for the whole family. Each event has a theme that relates to an exhibition, artist, or artworks in the CMA’s collection.

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families can zoom in on creativity as they snap, experiment, and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on activities. 

Welcome to the Fairmount Chardon Open Studios: Earth Day event!

Join us at our new location for Fairmount Center for the Arts Chardon on April 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM for a day filled with nature crafts and activities. Celebrate Earth Day with the whole family at this community event.

Reservations recommended but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairmount-chardon-open-studios-earth-day-tickets-1976907577782?aff=oddtdtcreator

We invite you to the Community Arts Center for a Family FUNday with Claudio Orso to craft your own magical mask! In anticipation of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle, build an upcycled mask that reflects your identity. This workshop is open to people of all ages and all artistic abilities. All materials are provided. Small children must be accompanied by an adult.  

Multidisciplinary Italian artist Claudio Orso leads participants in this exciting mask- making workshop. Claudio has exhibited his prints in the US and internationally, and his masks and floats have been featured in the CMA’s Parade the Circle and in Oberlin’s Big Parade. Claudio has worked as an independent art teacher for the past 25 years, contributing to programs by Oberlin College, the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, and the Broadway School of Music and the Arts. He’s received grants from the Ohio Arts Council, and he was one of the first two artists rewarded by the National Endowment for the Arts to be working at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory. Learn more about Claudio and his work on his artist website (opens in a new tab).  

This monthly program welcomes Metroparks naturalists each month at moCa as they facilitate interactive workshops focused on nature-based themes.

Each session features three nature stations inside moCa and outside our front door in Cleveland Metroparks’ Mobile NatureTracks, alongside an immersive artmaking experience led by Wave Space Studio. Observe, reflect, and create while exploring the shared ground between ecological systems, contemporary art, and everyday experience.

The program is connected to the exhibitions currently at moCa Cleveland, with a strong thematic anchor in Ohio Now: State of Nature. Participants are encouraged to consider how artists and naturalists alike use observation, experimentation, and curiosity to understand the world around them.

Developed in partnership with moCa and the Cleveland Metroparks.

Family Fun supported by PNC.

Open Studio days provide free, drop-in art-making sessions designed for the whole family, encouraging creativity and bonding through hands-on activities.

March 2026: Picture This!

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families will zoom in on creativity as they snap, experiment, and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on photo activities.  

CIM Opera Theater brings the beloved fairy tale Hansel and Gretel to life in a magical staged production. A tale of two children trying to survive a dark forest… a mysterious house made of candy… and a witch.
Performed by
-CIM Opera Theater
-Directed by JJ Hudson
-Conducted by Harry Davidson
-CIM Orchestra

Tickets: $35–$45 Reserve your tickets now!

For more information contact CIM Box Office
We're open 10am to 3pm EST
Monday through Friday
t. +1 216.707.3163

Join Inlet for a creative movement workshop designed especially for children and their families, based on What Do You Do with a Problem?, the New York Times best-selling book by Kobi Yamada. This is a story for anyone, at any age, encouraging readers to look closely at problems and discover the possibilities they can hold. In partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center, families will step inside the creative world of dance together—no prior movement experience required.

Each session includes:

● A Live Story Reading—Gather together as the story comes to life through expressive storytelling.

● Performance Preview—Watch a short movement excerpt performed by Inlet’s dancers.

● Theme Exploration—Dive into meaningful conversations inspired by the story and dance excerpts.

● Interactive Movement Adventures—Move as a family while learning the foundational exercises and improvisation games Inlet uses to create and explore original choreography.

This workshop invites children and adults alike to stretch their imaginations, connect through movement, and discover the creative tools dancers use to turn stories into motion.

Come ready to listen, watch, move, and create—together.

Join Inlet for a creative movement workshop designed especially for children and their families, based on What Do You Do with a Problem?, the New York Times best-selling book by Kobi Yamada. This is a story for anyone, at any age, encouraging readers to look closely at problems and discover the possibilities they can hold. In partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center, families will step inside the creative world of dance together—no prior movement experience required.

Each session includes:

● A Live Story Reading—Gather together as the story comes to life through expressive storytelling.

● Performance Preview—Watch a short movement excerpt performed by Inlet’s dancers.

● Theme Exploration—Dive into meaningful conversations inspired by the story and dance excerpts.

● Interactive Movement Adventures—Move as a family while learning the foundational exercises and improvisation games Inlet uses to create and explore original choreography.

This workshop invites children and adults alike to stretch their imaginations, connect through movement, and discover the creative tools dancers use to turn stories into motion.

Come ready to listen, watch, move, and create—together.

Come bring the kids and join us for our Spring Break Paint Your Own Pottery Jam @ The Lucky Penny Cafe' on 3/24/26 from 9am-Noon! Variety of unique coffee drinks, bubble tea, and snacks available! Many pottery options available! Cost is based on what you select to paint!

RSVP for the event in three easy steps!

1. Click on www.theartshackpottery.com website.

2. Go to Pottery Options page via the menu to see all of the pricing/options currently available and note the piece(s) you would like to paint(do not place in cart).

3.  Go to Local Events page and click on RSVP for the Spring Break Paint Your Own Pottery Jam @ The Lucky Penny Cafe' on 3/24/26 and fill out the form with some contact details and the piece(s) you selected to paint.

Open Studio days provide free, drop-in art-making sessions designed for the whole family, encouraging creativity and bonding through hands-on activities.

March 2026: Picture This!

Get ready to capture the fun during this photography adventure! Inspired by the imaginative work of Ann Hamilton, families will zoom in on creativity as they snap, experiment, and discover how technology and storytelling come together through hands-on photo activities.  

Calling all fans of Crazy Aaron’s putty! Globs of fun are on the way with two different feel-good events that add a dash of science to sensory play. At our first event, kids create custom concoctions and learn how color, light and sparkle interact. At our second event, they’ll make gooey-but-cute creatures from another realm! Swing by our Play & Discover area to get hands-on with featured products. And parents and guardians, be sure to check in when you arrive for a chance to win a $100 Lakeshore e-gift card!

This is a free, walk-in event held at all locations during the hours listed. No reservations needed.

Apollo’s Fire invites you to meet the music and ancient instruments from far-away places, including Jerusalem, Spain, Italy, and Africa! 

We sing songs of friendship and explore how music connects cultures across the globe. 

Arrive early at 10:00 a.m. to participate in a hands-on art-making activity inspired by the themes of the performance, presented in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center! The performance begins at 11:00 a.m. 

Following the performance, enjoy Apollo’s Fire’s famous “Instrument Petting Zoo,” when the audience swarms the stage to try the instruments themselves—delightfully noisy!