Looking for things to do in Akron this weekend? November 13 to 15, 2026 is the weekend the holiday season quietly starts here. The Holiday Tree Festival opens downtown, a long-running church bazaar fills a South Akron parish hall, and there is a full slate of music from a piano and cello matinee to Mozart. We pulled the best of it into one plan, with dates, times and a link to every official listing.
How we pick
We only list events we can confirm on an official page or a reliable listing, and we link every one so you can check it yourself before you go. We favor things that are open to the public, easy to reach from Akron, and worth planning a day around. Prices and times below were checked on November 12, 2026. Schedules change, so tap through before you leave the house.
Things to do in Akron this weekend: our picks
Holiday Tree Festival opens (Sat Nov 14 to Sun Nov 22)
Akron Children's 45th annual Holiday Tree Festival fills the John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., with decorated trees, wreaths and gifts, and admission is free. Opening weekend hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival runs through Sunday, November 22, with weekday hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Local choirs, bands and orchestras perform through the day; Saturday's schedule runs from the Miller South Piano Department at 10 a.m. to the Metro Parks Ensemble at 7 p.m., and Sunday closes with the Rubber City Ukes at 4 p.m. Santa is scheduled both days, and Breakfast with Santa is held Saturday, November 14 and 21 at 8:30 a.m. Hours, entertainment and Santa schedule.
Happy Holly Days Bazaar (Sat Nov 14 and Sun Nov 15)
This 46-year holiday tradition brings more than 100 craft vendors to St. Matthew Catholic Church and Parish School, 2580 Berne St., along with cabbage rolls, nut rolls and baked goods. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event listing.
Shop-a-Holidays at the Akron Zoo (Sat Nov 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
The zoo hosts a one-day holiday craft show with crafters, artists, its own gift shop and activities for kids. The zoo's street and GPS address is 505 Euclid Ave. Event details.
The Piano Guys at the Akron Civic Theatre (Sat Nov 14, 4 p.m.)
Pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson bring their piano and cello arrangements of classical pieces, pop songs and film themes to the Civic for an afternoon show, part of NEO Chosen Weekend. The Civic notes that this concert features The Piano Guys only. Show page and tickets.
More at the Civic and the Knight Stage
The Civic's calendar also lists Franni Cash on The Knight Stage on Friday, November 13 at 7 p.m., Creedence The Tribute on The Knight Stage on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Queen of the Knight, an MTP benefit, on Sunday at 2 p.m. Wild Thread Theatre's production of Shelter plays Wild Oscar's through November 15. Akron Civic Theatre show listing.
Akron Symphony: Mozart Requiem (Sat Nov 14, 7:30 p.m.)
The Akron Symphony Orchestra and Akron Symphony Chorus perform Mozart's Requiem at E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., on the University of Akron campus. The program opens with Margaret Brouwer's The Art of Sailing at Dawn and Schoenberg's Transfigured Night. Tickets run $20 to $65 for adults, with student and child tickets at $7. Parking is free for concertgoers at the E.J. Thomas Parking Deck, Lot 27 and the North Campus Parking Deck, first come, first served. Concert details and tickets.
The orchestra also lists a free youth concert, the AYS Fall Concert 2026, on Sunday, November 15 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Akron Symphony events.
An afternoon at the Akron Art Museum
The museum at 1 S. High St. is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It offers a guided tour on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. and Mindful Art: Yoga in the Galleries on Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon. Current exhibitions include Naudline Pierre: May the Light Reach You and The Surrealist Impulse. Adult admission is $15, seniors $10, students $8, and visitors 17 and under get in free. Museum calendar and visit information.
Make a night of it downtown
Pair a show with dinner and a drink at places already in our directory: a pie at Totally Baked Pizza or Luigi's, a film at The Nightlight, then a nightcap at Baxter's Speakeasy. Links to each are at the bottom of this guide.
Worth the drive
CVSR North Pole Adventure starts (from Fri Nov 13)
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's 90-minute holiday train runs November 13 to December 22, 2026, departing Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, at 5 p.m. and 7:55 p.m. CVSR lists pricing at $60 to $110 per person, free parking at Rockside Station, and asks riders to arrive at least 45 minutes early. Pajamas are encouraged. Dates and tickets.
Tips for this weekend
- Book the ticketed shows early. The Piano Guys, the symphony and the North Pole Adventure all sell tickets in advance through the links above.
- Parking downtown. The Akron Art Museum points visitors to the High and Market deck across the street or its own lot behind the museum, which is $6 a day through HONK Mobile.
- Stack your Saturday. The Tree Festival, the zoo craft show and the Civic matinee all happen Saturday, and the festival and the Civic are both downtown.
FAQ
What are the best free things to do in Akron this weekend?
The Holiday Tree Festival at the John S. Knight Center is free to enter, and so is the Happy Holly Days Bazaar. The Akron Symphony's youth orchestra concert on Sunday is also listed as free.
Is there anything for kids?
Yes. The Tree Festival has Santa visits and a Breakfast with Santa, the Akron Zoo's Shop-a-Holidays includes kids' activities, and the Akron Art Museum admits visitors 17 and under free.
How often do you update this guide?
This is a rolling weekend guide at a permanent address. We refresh it ahead of each weekend with newly confirmed events.
Where can I find more holiday plans?
See our guide to Christmas lights near Akron for the light displays that open later in November.
Places in this guide
Event details were checked on November 12, 2026 against the official pages linked above. Check them again before making plans.
Photo: Akron Civic Theatre and Knight Stage by Dillguy9, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0.
