Mashup of monsters, movies
Monsterfestmania at Quaker Station will feature celebrity guests, horror hosts, movies (including the locally shot zombie film The Dead Next Door at 9 p.m. Friday), memorabilia and a costume contest. The gathering runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Quaker Station is at 135 S. Broadway, Akron, and tickets are $10 Friday, $15 Saturday or $20 for both days. www.monsterfestmania.com.
Justin Townes Earle’s in town
Justin Townes Earle plays at Musica at 9 p.m., with opener Corey King. Tickets are $20 at 330-374-1114, http://liveatmusica.com. Musica is at 51 E. Market St., in downtown Akron’s Maiden Lane district.
‘Willy Wonka’ at Weathervane
Get your golden ticket to the youth production of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, part of the Emerging Artist Series at Akron’s Weathervane Playhouse. The musical version includes favorite songs from the 1971 film like The Candy Man and Pure Imagination, as well as new ones. It opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday and runs through Aug. 14. Tickets are $18, $14 for students 17 and under at 330-836-2626, www.weathervaneplayhouse.com.
Arr, there be pirates in the parks
Young scallywags can join the Metro Parks Pirate Adventure at Little Turtle Pond from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wear pirate gear, look for hidden treasure, learn how to use a compass and make a boat from natural materials. Little Turtle Pond is at Firestone Metro Park, 2400 Harrington Road, Akron. 330-865-8065.
July 4th fireworks (on July 29th!)
The Cleveland Orchestra had to postpone its usual free Fourth of July concert due to construction in Public Square, but the Star-Spangled Spectacular finally goes off Friday in the newly renovated square. The gathering begins at 6 p.m. with food trucks on Rockwell Avenue; the program of all-American and patriotic music starts at 9 and the fireworks around 10:15. www.clevelandorchestra.com.