Summer is just around the corner and it’s the ideal time to get out on the water and soak up some sun! And where better to spend the summer than in picturesque Lorain, Ohio, right by the shores of Lake Erie? This charming lakeside city has plenty to offer this summer, from festivals and music to local artisans and markets.
Whether you’re staying with us for a day or the whole season, we here at Port Lorain Marina want to help you have the best experience possible while you’re in town. So check out our list of the hottest summer events happening right here in Lorain!
Summer Events in Lorain, OH
Lorain International Festival
The Lorain International Festival and Bazaar is an annual, week-long celebration of all the different cultures and nationalities that make this city so bright and colorful. Usually held on the last full week of June, the festival features performances and events paying homage to different countries all over the world and culminates with a three-day weekend bazaar full of international cuisine and drink, costumes, live performances, craft vendors and artisans, and an international beauty pageant.
This year’s festival will be the 55th since its founding and will take place from June 23 to June 25, 2023, at the Black River Landing Festival Site in Lorain.
Rockin’ on the River
Rockin’ on the River is Lorain’s premier outdoor concert series! It’s the longest-running and highest-attended music festival in Northern Ohio, bringing you live music from local, regional, and national bands and artists, a stunning light and sound show, and food and drinks to last you the entire night.
Head on over to Black River Landing for an unforgettable night of music and good times! There’s guaranteed to be a show almost every week, so be sure to check their schedule of events for all upcoming performances.
The Summer Market
In the mood for some shopping? The Summer Market has everything you could ever want and more! This fundraising event features over 100 unique vendors that sell everything from food and fresh produce to clothes, jewelry, furniture, art, and handmade crafts. Support small local businesses and entrepreneurs while you treat yourself to some rare, one-of-a-kind finds!
The 18th annual Summer Market takes place on July 21, 2023, from 3 to 9 PM, and July 22, 2023, from 9 AM to 5 PM at Black River Landing in Downtown Lorain. And be sure to bring your biggest shopping bags! You can even dock your boat by the venue for easy access and transportation.
BrewFest Waterfront District
BrewFest is Lorain’s annual craft beer festival and a chance to partake in hundreds of high-quality craft beers and beverages from breweries, wineries, and cideries both local and national. But it’s got more than just drinks! There’s food, live music, games, and other fun activities for everyone to enjoy, so you can drink your fill and have some more fun while you’re at it.
The event starts on August 12, 2023, from 1 PM to 6 PM at Black River Landing.
Lakeview Park Sunset Concert Series
Every summer, the Lorain County Metro Parks hold outdoor music performances in many parks all across Lorain County. And in Lorain’s very own Lakeview Park, visitors can enjoy live music from local bands and artists while taking in the beautiful natural scenery of the park. Grab a seat with friends or a special loved one and make this a night to remember.
Lakeview Park’s Sunset Concert Series happens every Friday night in July, starting on July 7, 2023, from 6 PM to 8 PM, and features indie, rock, soul, and jazz music from local acts Wish Garden, The RPJ Project, Red Idle Rejects, and Bethany Joy. If you’re not able to catch the Sunset Concert Series, Lakeview Park also has Music Under The Stars, starting with a performance from Chloe and the Steel Strings on August 6, 2023, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Lakeview Park is located at 1800 West Erie Ave., Lorain.
FireFish Art Festival
And what better way to send off the summer in Lorain than with the annual FireFish Art Festival? The FireFish Art Festival aims to promote’s Lorain’s unique arts and culture community with various art workshops and programs happening throughout the summer, from painting to lantern making. The FireFish Festival is held as a culmination of these summer workshops, starting with a lantern parade (featuring lanterns that were made during one of the workshops) and ending with the symbolic “Burning of the FireFish”.
There’s food, drinks, music, dance, and pyrotechnics that are sure to be an altogether fiery experience for the whole family. Immerse yourself in the culture and arts of Lorain at the FireFish Art Festival on September 16, 2023, at Black River Landing.
There’s never been a better time to visit Lorain, Ohio, than in the summertime! With this spectacular itinerary of upcoming events and festivals, any day spent here at Port Lorain is a day well spent.