CLEVELAND, Ohio - Summer is short in Cleveland. We get snow nearly half the year. Our hottest month, July, only has an average high temperature of 83 degrees.
So we need to embrace and enjoy every moment, ice cream cone, festival and outdoor concert possible - especially after last winter's record-setting cold. We've earned it, and then some.
Read on for 100 activities through Labor Day that can make any Northeast Ohio summer complete. And share your Hot 100 progress and favorites by tagging them #myclesummer on Twitter and Instagram. Your Tweets may be featured on cleveland.com and in The Plain Dealer.
1. Get your fingers and face sticky with some ribs this Memorial Day weekend at Berea's National Rib Cook-Off at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds or the Marc's Great American Rib Cook-Off at Nautica Entertainment Complex.
2. Say Opa! for the 45th annual Tremont Greek Fest, Friday through Monday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 2187 West 14th St., Cleveland.
3. Launch your summer movie season with a visit to "Tomorrowland," the family-friendly sci-fi George Clooney, Britt Robertson flick opening Friday, May 22.
4. Kick off summer with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's new Kids Days Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, with animal enrichment demonstrations; a parade; and a meet PBS characters including Clifford the Big Red Dog.
5. "Make Your Summer Count" with the Cuyahoga County Public Library summer reading program for kids and adults. Begins Saturday, June 6.
6. Groove with R&B greats Earth Wind & Fire, Tuesday, May 26, at Hard Rock Live at the Rocksino at Northfield Park.
7. Free your summer with Coventry Village's free concerts, films, pinball parties and more, beginning with free bike tune-ups Saturday, May 30. Highlights include the July 9-10 "Back to the Future" marathon and July 23 pie fight.
8. Shop la dolce vita at the Little Italy Murray Hill Art Walk, Friday-Sunday, June 5-7.
9. Get to know neo-folksy singer Elle King when she performs Friday, June 5, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, part of the new Sonic Sessions Series.
10. Rock with original riot grrrls Ann and Nancy Wilson when Heart plays Hard Rock Live at the Rocksino at Northfield Park on Tuesday, June 9.
11. Be WOWed by the sight and sounds of Wade Oval Wednesdays - picnics and concerts on the greens in University Circle, June 17-Aug. 26.
12. Party on the beach at Edgewater Live, the Thursday-night Happy Hour concert series at Edgewater Park, beginning June 11.
13. Welcome the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland's summer exhibit season at the Friday, June 12, opening-night party with curator lectures, music and kid-friendly activities throughout the museum and on Toby's Plaza.
14. Be awed by the World's Largest Dinosaurs exhibit, opening Saturday, June 6, at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
15. Encourage your kids of all abilities to run free at Preston's HOPE playground at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood.
16. Browse, eat, drink and be merry at the Cleveland Flea, one Saturday a month at 3615 Superior Ave. Summer dates: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8.
17. Grab your blanket for movies on the beach when the Cleveland Metroparks launches its Citizens Cinema at Sunset series at Edgewater Park: Sundays, June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9.
18. Take a trip to "Jurassic World" at a movie theater near you on Friday, June 12; it's set 22 years after the events of "Jurassic Park."
19. Revel in the artful 26th Parade the Circle, Saturday, June 13, around Wade Oval.
20. Top off a night in Ohio City with a scoop of Key Lime Pie or Fresh Strawberry flavors at Mitchell's Ice Cream on West 25th Street.
21. Branch out with the Cleveland Botanical Garden's "Treehouses, Nature Exploration & Adventure" exhibit and activities, May 23-Aug. 23.
22. Spend a musical day in Wooster for the Ohio Light Opera's "Brigadoon," Kurt Weill's "One Touch of Venus" and more, June 13-Aug. 8.
23. Treat your honey to a homemade Honey Hut scoop or Big Bee Bar - or another sweet treat (several area locations).
24. Test your nerves on Cedar Point's new Rougarou floorless coaster.
25. Spend the night with Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa, at Blossom Music Center, Tuesday, June 16.
26. Hit a home run with the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage's "Chasing Dreams: Baseball & Becoming American" exhibit, through Monday, Sept. 7.
27. Take a Hike with free downtown Cleveland walking tours of the Gateway District, the Warehouse District, Playhouse Square, Canal Basin Park in the Flats and the Civic Center, through Wednesday, Sept. 16.
28. Feather your hair and get out your acid-wash jeans for New Kids on the Block at The Q, Wednesday, June 17.
29. Drive back in time for a first-run film or cult classic at the retro-cool 1960s-era Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-in Theatre, 33395 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville.
30. Spend a classic night with the Cleveland Orchestra under the stars at Blossom Music Center, from Beethoven to Broadway Divas and the British Invasion.
31. Pony up for a family day at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland.
32. Stick with dad on Father's Day weekend at the Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, Friday-Sunday, June 19- 21, at Veterans Memorial Park.
33. Watch the Tribe's fireworks - on the field and after the game - at a fireworks night at Progressive Field.
34. Spend a night in the country with Lady Antebellum, Saturday, June 20 at Blossom Music Center.
35. Enter the Cone Zone, 4081 Rocky River Drive, for more soft-serve than you can imagine.
36. Raise a glass to summer alfresco in Little Italy, the Warehouse District, Tremont, Ohio City or East Fourth Street.
37. Make a homecoming at a local home days, such as Middleburg Heights' fantastic Summer in the City with a parade, fireworks and more, Wednesday through Saturday, June 17-20.
38. Pay homage to the new Heinen's in the magnificent, restored Cleveland Trust rotunda on Euclid Avenue and East Ninth Street.
39.Take a spin on the Little Dipper with the little ones at the 63-year-old Memphis Kiddie Park, 10340 Memphis Ave., Cleveland.
40. Lick it old-school at East Coast Original Frozen Custard, 6240 Pearl Road, Parma Heights.
41. Explore the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Cuyahoga Valley with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's Bike Aboard program, which allows bikers to ride one way for just $3.
42. Spend a world-class night at the best art party of the year, the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art's annual Summer Solstice Party, Saturday, June 20.
43. Pull up your lawn chair for one of the best block parties in town, the Larchmere PorchFest on June 20.
44. Experience the Bard in the great outdoors with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. This year's touring productions include "The Life of Timon of Athens" and "The Merchant of Venice," June 5-Aug. 2.
45. Have a food truck lunch at Walnut Wednesday or Food Truck Friday or another day.
46. Go "Beyond Rubik's Cube" at the Great Lakes Science Center's hands-on celebration of the iconic puzzle, May 30-Sept. 7, including four Summer Solve-It weekends.
47. Add French flavor to your weekend at the Cleveland Flea's Sunday food and crafts market, 1455 West 29th St. in Ohio City: May 24, June 21, July 19, Aug. 16.
48. Experience AsiaTown at night at the new summer Night Market at Rockwell Avenue and East 21st Street: food, fun, market stalls and more. Fridays, June 26, July 31 and Aug. 28.
49. Show your pride at Cleveland Pride, Saturday, June 27, at Voinovich Bicentennial Park.
50. Explore Cleveland's burgeoning Waterloo entertainment district at the annual Waterloo Arts Fest, Saturday, June 27.
51. Visit the Highlands at the Ohio Scottish Games, with traditional dance, music and athletics, Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, at the Lorain County Fairgrounds.
52. Spend a night in the city, Ohio City, when the Cleveland Museum of Art brings its popular City Stages free Wednesday-night concerts back to the Transformer Station, 1460 West 29th St., beginning July 1.
53. Live the high life at the chic new rooftop Azure bar at the Metropolitan at The 9 in downtown Cleveland.
54. Celebrate Independence Day at the Cleveland Orchestra's annual "Star-Spangled Spectacular" Wednesday, July 1, on Mall B.
55. Say "Eins, Zwei, Drei, G'suffa!" for the keg tapping on the first Wednesday of every month at Hofbrauhaus Cleveland: June 3, July 1, Aug. 5.
56. Rock and Boom and watch the fireworks with the Great Lakes Science Center's Independence Day party on the deck of the Steamship William G. Mather. Reservations required: 216-621-2400.
57. Mark the 50th anniversary of the Cleveland Grand Prix - the first show-jumping grand prix in the Western Hemisphere - July 2-12 at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills. Three rings of daily competition, family activities and more.
58. Wish the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage a happy 10th birthday when they gift YOU with a free weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5.
59. Travel the world from the back patio of Prosperity Social Club, with their new Summer Wine Tasting Series, from Oregon to Argentina: June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14. Reservations required.
60.Let your summer evening bloom at the Cleveland Botanical Garden's Wednesday-night Summer Gourmets in the Garden events, June 3-Aug. 26.
61.Join the arts and crafts movement at the Cain Park Arts Festival in Cleveland Heights, Friday-Sunday, July 10-12.
62. Laugh with the "Minions" when Stuart, Kevin and Bob and the others get their own movie, opening July 10.
63. Shake your hips to one of America's great garage bands, Pittsburgh's Cynics, July 10 at the Beachland Ballroom.
64. Jazz up your summer at the 36th annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, July 9-11 at Playhouse Square: jazz, blues, big band, zydeco, gypsy swing, Latin, calypso, bop and smooth jazz.
65. Raise a glass to the effervescent sounds of Pink Martini at the Cleveland Museum of Art's Gartner Auditorium, Thursday, July 16.
66. Take your princess to Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," July 21-Aug. 2 at Playhouse Square's Connor Palace.
67. Dust off your Vans for the annual Warped Tour, a daylong punk-fest at Blossom Music Center, Thursday, July 23.
68. Spend a musical Tuesday evening at Holden Arboretum's sixth Summer in the Garden concert series, with local musicians, snacks, a cash bar and lovely views, July 21-Aug. 25.
69. Get your Irish up at the 33rd annual Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, Friday-Sunday, July 24-26, at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.
70. Spend a musical night with Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden, Sunday, July 26.
71. Take on another "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation," when Tom Cruise and the crew return, Friday, July 31.
72. Go on "Vacation" with a new generation of Griswolds, when grown-up Rusty takes his kids back to Walley World, Friday, July 31.
73. Pay tribute to surf-guitar legend Dick Dale Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.
74. Sweeten your night with an "original Euclid Beach Park strawberry custard" at Sandy's Frozen Whip, 17635 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland.
75. Celebrate family at the 11th annual Family Unity in the Park Festival, Saturday, July 25, at Luke Easter Park, featuring Stephanie Mills, Evelyn Champagne King and the S.O.S. Band.
76. Say goodbye to the Cleveland Cinematheque Aitken Auditorium on Thursday, July 30, as they show their final film before moving to their sleek new digs at the Cleveland Institute of Art's Uptown campus. The title is secret, but the film won a contest with more than 1,700 votes.
77. Visit the world at the third annual Cleveland World Festival in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, Sunday, Aug. 2.
78. Spend a really retro weekend at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire, July 11-Aug. 16 (Saturdays and Sundays), 3033 Ohio 534, Rock Creek. It features jousts, turkey legs, wizards, witches and more.
79. Party in the street at the 11th annual Warehouse District Street Festival, Sunday, Aug. 2.
80. Jump with power-rock greats Van Halen at Blossom Music Center, Monday, Aug. 3.
81. Delve into the local music scene at the Cellar Door Rendezvous fest, Tuesday through Saturday, Aug 4-8, at the Rock Hall, House of Blues, Grog Shop and Beachland Ballroom.
82. Drink local at Vintage Ohio, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7 and 8, at Lake Metroparks Farmpark.
83. Double your fun at the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 7-9.
84. See cinema the way it was meant to be seen, at Playhouse Square's annual Cinema at the Square festival, Aug. 6-23 at the Connor Palace.
85. Get out your hacky sack for Phish, Friday, Aug. 7, at Blossom Music Center.
86. Show your wild side at Ohio's tallest waterslide - 100 feet! - at Wildwater Kingdom, 1100 Squires Road, Aurora.
87. Meat your friends at Akron's National Hamburger Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9, at Lock 3 Park.
88. Spend a retro day with the animals and carny rides and cotton candy and corndogs at the 119th Cuyahoga County Fair, Monday through Sunday, Aug. 10-16, at the fairgrounds in Berea.
89. Take in the beauty of the bridges and river with a pre-concert drink and a bite at the Music Box Supper Club patio on the west bank of the Flats.
90. Add Italian flavor to your summer at the 117th Feast of the Assumption in Cleveland's Little Italy, Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 13-16.
91. Habla espanol at the Latin Arts & Culture Celebration of Greater Cleveland & 46th annual Puerto Rican Parade, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, on Mall C.
92. Shout at the devil one more time with Motley Crue and guest Alice Cooper, at The Q, Tuesday, Aug. 18.
93. "Let It Go" at Blossom Music Center on Friday, Aug. 21, when Broadway/"Frozen" star Idina Menzel performs.
94. Get a taste of Romania when St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, 3256 Warren Road, Cleveland, celebrates with a festival, Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23.
95. Walk, eat and drink like an Egyptian when St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 2100 E. Pleasant Valley Road, Seven Hills, holds its annual festival Friday-Sunday, Aug. 21-23.
96. Celebrate a Cleveland icon, and welcome new Clevelanders, at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens' 70th One World Day, Sunday, Aug. 23, Rockefeller Park, Cleveland.
97. Get a second chance to see "The Book of Mormon" when the lauded musical returns to Playhouse Square's State Theatre, Tuesday through Sunday, Aug. 25-30.
98. Raise a mug to the Great Lakes Burning River Fest, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28 and 29, at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island.
99. Relive a simpler time at the Labor Day weekend Great Geauga County Fair in Burton, Sept. 3 - 7, with more than 13,000 exhibits and animals.
100. Say prosit to fall at the Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest, Sept. 4 - 7, at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.