Your summer calendar is about to be filled up with all the fun happenings The City of Mentor has in store this year

By Patricia Nugent

The City of Mentor has well earned its reputation for out-of-the-box summertime programming. This week—drumroll, please—the uber-creative planners at City Hall have announced the lineup of events, with something magical for music lovers, beachgoers, foodie fans, wine enthusiasts, car lovers and parade watchers.

According to Ante Logarusic, communications officer for the city, “If there’s one thing Mentor knows, it’s how to throw a party. Our events get bigger and better each year.”

The season officially kicks off with a Memorial Day Parade and ceremony on Monday, May 29.

Art enthusiasts will adore the Wildwood Fine Arts and Wine Festival which features arts and crafts, food trucks, live music, and a selection of local wines on Saturday, June 24.

Ante points out there are three different music programs: The Mentor Rocks summer concert series at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater on Tuesdays, June 6-August 29; Music at the Manor at the Wildwood Cultural Center on Wednesdays, May 24 to June 21; and Tunes at the Lagoons at the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve on select Fridays.

“Our goal is to provide entertainment options people may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience,” he says. “We challenge ourselves to raise that bar every year.”

Of course, the Fourth of July is always a sparkling, star-spangled holiday. This year, the city is offering a concert by Journey tribute band E5C4P3 on the main stage at 7 p.m., followed by a fabulous fireworks display.

A highlight of the summer is always the Headlands BeachFest on Saturday, July 15 at Headlands Beach State Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Discover family-friendly fun, all-day activities and entertainment, professional sand sculptors, food trucks, contests, kite flying and more.

The Mentor Cruise-In on Saturday, August 12 will wow crowds with 800-plus classic cars and live entertainment.

But even the sun sets in paradise, right? Things wind down on Friday and Saturday, August 18 and 19, with Mentor CityFest, which will include a parade, main stage music groups on both evenings, as well as a beer garden, fair food and a color dash and walk.

For a full listing of events and locations, visit CityofMentor.com/Events or call 440-255-1100.