12 Surprising Spring Things to Do in Northeast Ohio | Cleveland, Canton, & More

With the sun shining, birds chirping, and flowers blooming, there are plenty of reasons to make the most of spring in Ohio. The list of possibilities for fun is endless. Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor fun, here are the top spring things to do in Northeast Ohio.

Unique Spring Things to Do in Cleveland Ohio

Believe it or not, spring comes to Cleveland, and when it does, it can be truly amazing. To make the most of it, put these things on your spring bucket list.

Go to a Maple Sugaring Event 

Nothing signals the arrival of spring quite like the sight of tree tapping for sap and the smell of maple syrup. Lots of Ohio maple syrup events in Cleveland are worth checking out. You can get your fill of maple goodies, visit sugarbushes, and see how fresh, homemade maple syrup is made:

• Maple Sugar Days at Hale Farm and Village
• Maple Sugaring at Cleveland Metroparks
• Maple Sugaring at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
• Sap’s-a-Risin’ at Swine Creek Reservation
• Geauga County Maple Festival

Go See Some Flowers

There’s nothing better (or perhaps more beautiful) than seeing flowers bloom in spring after a long winter. Two of the best places to take in the spring flowers are Cleveland’s Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum.

The Botanical Garden is in University Circle and is open year-round. The Arboretum is in Kirtland (also open year-round) and a great place to look for early spring flowers, like snowdrops. The Kalberer Emergent Tower and Murch Canopy Walk are popular spots at the Arboretum and usually open around April 1.

If you’re a fan of daffodils, there’s no better place to see them than at Lake View Cemetery during Daffodil Days. The bloom usually happens in mid-April, and the sight of hundreds of thousands of daffodils bursting up at once is really something!

Visit With Some Animals

Spring is a time for getting outside in good weather, and what better way to enjoy the weather than going to the zoo? It’s the perfect place for a family outing — not to mention, it’s just a lot of fun.

The Lake Metroparks Farmpark is the perfect place to see baby animals. It’s also a working farm, so you’ll get to see the animals in action and learn about what they do.

If you’re up for a slightly longer drive, Majestic Meadows in Medina has an alpaca farm. It raises mini cows, goats, sheep, and other animals too. Visitors can hand-feed the animals, which is an exciting experience for young children.

Chase Some Waterfalls

Since spring in Northeast Ohio tends to be wet, it’s the perfect time to look for waterfalls in Ohio. You can travel all over the Buckeye State to see waterfalls, but some of the best ones are around Cleveland:

• The East and West Falls at Cascade Park in Elyria
• The Garfield Park Reservation’s Mill Creek Falls
• Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• The Bedford Reservation’s Great Falls of Tinker Creek

Go for a Bike Ride

Once the weather warms up, spring is the perfect time to take your bike out of the garage and go for a ride. Temperatures are usually warm enough for a leisurely ride, and there are several great bike paths around Cleveland to explore:

• The Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway is a 17-mile paved trail that runs along the Lake Erie shoreline and connects Lakewood and Euclid.
• The Ohio to Erie Trail connects Cleveland to Akron by the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. It leads riders through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Eventually, it will connect Cleveland to Cincinnati.
• The Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail is great for a short ride. In time, it will connect The Flats and Tremont neighborhoods with the lakeshore.

Attend a Festival

In many places, summer is festival season, but not in Cleveland. There are plenty of noteworthy events that happen in spring:

• The Cleveland International Film Festival is held in March and April and screens hundreds of films each year.
• The Tremont Greek Fest in May celebrates all things Greek, including food and culture.
• The Cleveland Asian Festival in May is also a great place to soak up culture and nosh on delicious food in AsiaTown.
• For fans of Indian classical music, the 12-day Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is the largest event of its kind outside of India.
• For more than two decades, the Easter Bazaar at the Ukrainian Museum-Archives has been a tradition in Cleveland. Visitors have been dazzled by pysanky — intricately dyed Ukrainian Easter eggs — and soaking up the culture.

One-of-a-Kind Spring Things to Do in Canton Ohio

There’s plenty of fun to be had around Cleveland in springtime. But, there are plenty of things to do in Canton as well.

Visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame

No visit to Canton Ohio is complete without stopping by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thousands of people flock here every year to soak in football history, such as Superbowl rings and ticket stubs, hands-on exhibits, live presentations, and so much more.

Plan on spending several hours here because there’s a lot to see. Whether or not you’re a football fan, this Hall of Fame truly is a sight to behold.

Check Out Clay’s Park

In late May and early June, there’s nothing more fun than going to a water park once the weather is warm enough. Clay’s Park is a great place for a family adventure with inflatables, zip lines, waterslides, and more.

Visitors are advised to get here early to avoid long lines for attractions like the zip lines and waterslides. In addition to the water park, there are camping spots, a mini-golf course, a pool, restaurants, and more.

Take a Wine Tour

Just 15 minutes from downtown Canton, Gervasi Vineyard is the place to be if you want to be transported to the Italian countryside. Whether you want to take a walking tour, have a special meal, or have a romantic getaway, Gervasi offers opportunities for all of that.

When you see the lake, grapevines, and rolling hills of the vineyard, you’ll understand how special it is. There are several other vineyards and wineries near Canton Ohio too.

Tour a Chocolate Factory

There’s plenty to see and do in Canton, but one of the most fun activities is touring Harry London’s Chocolate Factory. The tours are about 45 minutes long and free!

During the tours, visitors can sample chocolate, watch it being made, and learn the history of the factory. Once you’re done, you can buy some chocolate goodies to take home.

Visit An Amusement Park

Another great place for a family outing is Sluggers and Putters in Fulton Ohio. It’s a great place to keep kids entertained, and it offers fun for all ages.

The park includes an arcade, batting cages, go-karts, mini golf, and bumper boats. If that’s not enough, there are classic amusement park attractions — bumper cars, a roller coaster, the scrambler, and flinging swings. Daily specials and season passes are available, so come prepared to have fun.

Visit a Museum

The Buckeye State, especially Northeast Ohio, is home to a lot of museums that should be added to your list. Some of the most notable museums include:

• Blue Water Majesty Museum — A museum of model ships that includes replicas of 18th-century ships.
• Canton Museum of Art — This is one of the premier art museums and features national touring exhibits.
• A Christmas Story House & Museum — If you love the movie, you’ll love this museum, which is restored inside and out to look just as it did in the film. It features many of the movie’s props, and you can get “A Christmas Story” goodies at the museum gift shop.
• Cleveland Museum of Art — Admission is free and the exhibits, including a diverse collection of artwork, are stunning.
• Dennison Railroad Depot Museum — A National Historic Landmark, this building is a fully restored railroad depot, museum, gift shop, and restaurant.
• Feline Historical Museum — Established in 1990, this museum educates visitors about cats and their history.
• First Ladies National Historic Site — This museum promotes and educates visitors about the roles that the First Ladies of the United States have played in the country’s history.
• National Museum of the US Air Force — This is the United States Air Force’s official museum, and it’s the oldest and biggest military aviation museum on the planet with over 360 aircraft and missiles to see.
• William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum — It highlights lots of information and exhibits about the 25th president. The museum also includes exhibits about Stark County and has an interactive science museum and planetarium.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — The mecca of all things rock ‘n’ roll, this museum features artifacts, exhibits, videos, interactive exhibits, and more.

Enjoy More Fun Spring Things to Do in Northeast Ohio

As you can see, there are plenty of spring things to do in Northeast Ohio, whether you want to be inside or outside, in the middle of a big city, or in a quaint small town.

Whether you’re cycling, looking at flowers, touring a museum, or living it up at a festival, springtime fun awaits in the Buckeye State. So, get outside and start exploring!