100 things to do in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The end of August can be exhausting. Ditto for the week leading up to Labor Day. Trying to cram so much fun into so little time until the sun permanently sets on the summer is tiring.

Still have a lot on your summer must-do list? It's understandable with such a cold and rainy start to the season. But there's no time to sit and fret.

1. Just beachy: Nothing sums up summer better than a carefree day at the beach. So make it point to get wet in the next few weeks. Options range from lovely Huntington Beach in Bay Village to the always-popular Mentor Headlands and the urban oases of Euclid Beach and Edgewater Beach.

Want more than simple splash thrills? Soak City at Cedar Point and Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom are open through Labor Day.

2. Make it festive: End the summer on a festive note at one of the many street parties and feasts coming up on the calendar. The last few weeks of summer are jammed with festival fun. This weekend, it's the Great Lakes Burning River Fest on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29, at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island.

Then Labor Day weekend gets busy with the fifth annual Cretan Greek Fest in Kamm's Corners; St Rocco's 101st Italian festival at 3205 Fulton Road; and a Serbian Cultural Festival at St. Sava in Broadview Heights, 2151 W. Wallings Road.

Of course there are the biggies: the Great Geauga County Fair in Burton, with more than 13, 000 exhibits and animals; and the chance to say prosit to fall at the Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.

3. Amuse yourself: What's summer without a trip to an amusement park? Cedar Point is open though Halloween weekend, with lots of scary fun popping up on Halloweekends beginning in September (the park goes to Friday through Sunday-only hours after Labor Day). Closer to home, treat the kiddies to one last trip to 63-year-old Memphis Kiddie Park for a spin on the Little Dipper or a vintage carousel.

4. Let your evening Blossom: It's a Cleveland classic - a night with the Cleveland Orchestra, not to mention some wine, cheese and nibbles, under the stars at Blossom Music Center. Remaining concerts for the year are stellar, including the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and the Cleveland Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 29; and virtuoso Gil Shaham playing Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 on Sunday, Aug. 30.

5. Hit a home run: No reason to wait till next year, even if the Indians have to. A night at the ballpark - with peanuts and Cracker Jack; ketchup, mustard and onion racing; and the crowds and the hot dogs and the fun and families - is a classic summer outing. Treat your family to a night of Americana with the Tribe; go to cleveland.indians.mlb.com or call 216-420-HITS (4587).