United States Ohio Free Things to Do in Cleveland By Sandy Mitchell Sandy Mitchell Sandy Mitchell is the author of multiple books about Cleveland, Ohio, including "Cleveland's Slavic Village" and "Cleveland's Little Italy." She has lived in the area since 1980. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/18/19 Cleveland, Ohio has an amazing array of small museums, art festivals, and concerts, all available for free. Learn more about what to do in Cleveland and the surrounding area, without spending a dime. 01 of 11 Westside Market Stu Spivack / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 View Map Address 1979 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-664-3387 Web Visit website The spectacular produce and meat products aren't free, but watching the bustling stream of people from all of Cleveland's neighborhoods as well as the piles of shiny fruits and vegetables is free. So is admiring the Byzantine architecture of this early 20th-century building. If you haven't been to the "market", make a point of visiting soon. It's truly one of Cleveland's treasures. 02 of 11 Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewery Tours Tim / Flickr / CC BY 2.5 View Map Address 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-771-4404 Web Visit website The Great Lakes Brewing Company, in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood, is Cleveland's oldest microbrewery. The brewery/restaurant, opened in 1988, produces the popular Dortmunder Gold amber ale as well as Eliot Ness Porter and Burning River Ale, among others. The Brewery offers free tours of their beer-making facilities every hour, on the hour. 03 of 11 The Money Museum at the Cleveland Federal Reserve Stu Spivack/cc license View Map Address 1455 E 6th St, Cleveland, OH 44114-2566, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-579-2000 Web Visit website The new Federal Reserve Bank Museum of Money, opened in January 2005, features 30 exhibits about the history and the power of money. The most striking feature is a 23-foot tall money tree located across from the museum's entrance. This interesting museum is located in the Fed Building on E. Sixth St. in downtown Cleveland. It's open Monday thru Thursday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM and is free to the public. 04 of 11 Concerts at the Cleveland Institute of Music (courtesy of University Circle Inc.) View Map Address 11021 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-791-5000 Web Visit website The Cleveland Institute of Music hosts over 500 FREE concerts each year, reflecting virtually all genres of music. Most of the concerts feature students and alumni, but some past guest performers have included YoYo Ma and Isaac Stern -- all for free. The concerts are held at the school in University Circle and at area churches, museums, and country clubs. Continue to 5 of 11 below. 05 of 11 International Women's Air and Space Museum Aeroplanepics0112 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 View Map Address 1501 N Marginal Rd Ste. 165, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-623-1111 Web Visit website The International Women's Air and Space Museum, located inside the lobby and west wing of downtown Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport, celebrates the contribution of women in air and space flight with a rotating schedule of temporary exhibits. The museum is free to the public. 06 of 11 Monthly Tremont ArtWalks J. Greenburg; Courtesy of Cleveland CVB The second Friday of every month, the trendy and historic Tremont neighborhood invites the public into its many diverse art galleries. Art, in a variety of media, is displayed and available for purchase, free refreshments are served, and live music gives the event a festive air. This is one of the best art events in the city, if not the state, and it's free. 07 of 11 National Polka Hall of Fame Stu Spivack/cc license View Map Address 605 E 222nd St, Cleveland, OH 44123-2031, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-261-3263 Web Visit website Long before Rock and Roll reigned in Cleveland, Polka was king, introduced to Cleveland culture by the hundreds of Czech, Polish, and Slovenian immigrants. The National Polka Hall of Fame celebrates this music genre. Located in Euclid, the museum has exhibits on inductees, including hometown favorite Frankie Yankovic, as well as instruments, clothing, and other polka memorabilia. 08 of 11 Museum of Contemporary Art sarahnrehm/WikiCommons View Map Address 11400 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-421-8671 Web Visit website The Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), located on Euclid Avenue at University Circle, offers visitors a changing array of temporary exhibits, featuring local, nationally-known, and international artists. The museum offers free admission to all. Continue to 9 of 11 below. 09 of 11 Hungarian Heritage Museum View Map Address 1301 E 9th St # 2, Cleveland, OH 44114-1804, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-523-3900 Web Visit website History Museums 4.3 This small, friendly, and colorful museum is located on the second floor of the Galleria, adjacent to the Erieview Tower, on East Ninth St. The museum features changing exhibits about the history, art, and culture of Cleveland's Hungarian community. 10 of 11 Lake Erie Nature and Science Center Courtesy of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center View Map Address 28728 Wolf Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140, USA Get directions Phone +1 440-871-2900 Web Visit website Families 4.4 The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center (LENSC), located east of Cleveland in Bay Village, is a place where young and "not-so-young" can learn about wildlife and nature. The center, founded in 1945, houses an animal rehabilitation clinic as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor animal exhibits. 11 of 11 Frazee House Tom Bower / Flickr / Public Domain View Map Address 7733 Canal Rd, Valley View, OH 44125, USA Get directions Phone +1 216-524-2497 The Frazee House sits adjacent to the Ohio-Erie Canal in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The two-story, brick house, built in 1825, is one of the earliest homes in Northeastern Ohio and a good example of traditional Western Reserve land use. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email