🍺 Brats, beer, and goodbye to summer

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You know it’s the end of summer festival season when Bavarians don dindles and lederhosen, roll out the giant glockenspiel, unleash the racing wienerdogs and raise multiple steins of bier.

Prost! The Cleveland Oktoberfest is back to lead summer’s last hurrah – Friday through Monday and Sept. 5-6 at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.

The blowout boasts enough Bratwurst, pierogi, potato pancakes – not to mention polka bands, spirited entertainers and beer to keep even King Ludwig entertained.

It opens with a keg tapping, after which the tappers growls "O'zapft is!"… "The barrel is tapped!"

Oktoberfest’s roots go back to Bavaria, 1810. The origins of the Cleveland’s celebration of it go back a bit less, to 1962. Info.

It’s the last dash of summer, but what a dash… So many festivals, so little time. Here we go…

Geauga County Fair: The 203^rd edition of Ohio’s oldest fair rolls out a demolition derby, truck-tractor pull, pig race, frog jumping competition and rooster crowing contest. Friday-Monday. Info.

69th Scout Festival: Ohio's largest Hungarian fest is a marathon of music, dance, food and drink -- colorful costumes, violinists, game and goulash. Sunday.  Info.

Serbian Cultural Festival: It's a fest and a feast – and partyers of all background come to eat cheese strudel, grilled meat and drink plum brandy. Saturday-Sunday. Info.

St. Rocco Church: What’s more remarkable: The greased pole climb or that this festival has been going strong since 1914? The celebration of Italian food and culture is a blast. Friday through Monday. Info.

Cleveland Taco Fest: Taco and tequila and more than 50 bands in Jacobs Pavilion? Yup, and it also boasts Lucha Libre wrestling, a taco and hot-sauce-eating contests. Friday-Monday. Info.

Kamm's Corners Greek Festival: Food and dance, bands and drinks – it’s a vibrant celebration of the authentic flavors of Crete and the lively culture of Greece.  Info.

We’re not even through Labor Day and Clevelanders are already hanging out with ghosts?

At 8:30 tonight, the Cleveland Metroparks will host Twilight Stargazing at Squire’s Castle in the North Chagrin Reservation. Attendees get to observe the stars at night through telescopes and binoculars.

It’s also a chance to explore one of the area’s most stunning October haunts and a magnet for ghost-hunters.

Built in the 1890s and abandoned since 1922, the castle is said to be haunted by Mrs. Squire – who roams the ruins with a glowing red lantern in hand when the moon comes out.

Even if she doesn’t pop up, a nighttime trek through its faded opulence and the surrounding woods is ooky-spooky. Info.

Nine Inch Nails: The road started in Cleveland.  Trent Reznor moved here in 1985, and would go on to play in synth-pop outfits such as the Innocent, Slam Bamboo and Exotic Birds. He had darker ideas, however. He played his first NIN show at the Phantasy, in 1988, and recorded his 1989 breakthrough album, ‘Pretty Hate Machine,” while working as a janitor in a downtown studio. At 8 p.m. Sunday, Reznor brings the band’s Peel it Back Tour to Rocket Arena. Info.

Real American Freestyle: Before he died in July, Hulk Hogan co-founded Real American Freestyle – a new wrestling league that’s unscripted and boasts folk-style entertainment. He chose Cleveland for its debut, and it’s coming to the Wolstein Center at 7 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Brent Terhune: The blue-collar smart-ass comic mixes self-deprecation with takedowns of all things sacred, including his audience. His breakout occurred during the pandemic and he’s gone on to net 65 million views on social media. He hits Hilarities for four shows Friday and Saturday. Info.

Crystal Method: In the 1990s, the Las Vegas duo helped pioneer the big beat and electronica scenes with high-impact breakbeats and synth loops. At 7 p.m. Saturday, CM hits the Winchester. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Egads, there’s a gaggle of scream queens, space freaks and movie geeks on the loose.

Join them at Nightmare Weekend Cleveland. The celebration of cult movies opens a three-day stand today at the Huntington Convention Center.

It rolls out stars from flicks like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Friday the 13^th,” “Halloween” and “Buffy the Vampire “ – not to mention competitions, cabarets and wrestling matches for cosplayers.

Of course, there are also the movies. NW will screen 100 hours of footage and host panels and Qand As with actors. Info.

Cleveland Labor Day Parade, 1917 – East Sixth Street and Superior Avenue.

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66°F 🌡️ 58°F | 🌤️ | 3% | 💨 NNW 10 mph (≈ 9 knots)

69°F 🌡️ 57°F | ⛅ | 2% | 💨 NNE 8 mph (≈ 7 knots)

72°F 🌡️ 60°F | ☀️ | 2% | 💨 NE 8 mph (≈ 7 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00pm September 07 (Sunday)

Home vs. Mariners, 7:10pm Friday

Home vs. Mariners, 7:15pm Saturday

Home vs. Mariners, 1:40pm Sunday

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