At Mentor Parks & Recreation Department, we’re always working on a new program, special event or fun family activity. Check this section often to find out what’s new, what’s coming up and when to mark your calendar for our next exciting activity.

Registration for summer camps, spring courses & events is underway. Register online 24/7 or click here to get a mail-in/drop-off registration form.

* NEWS FLASH *
May 1 – June 13, 2012
Help the City of Mentor win a new dog park through the PetSafe Bark for Your Park Contest. Details and voting here! Just enter Mentor, Ohio as your city of choice.

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May

Mother’s Day – Mom’s Play Free at Black Brook
Sunday, May 13, All Day
Black Brook Golf Course

Wildwood Garden Club Plant Sale
Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wildwood Cultural Center    Plant Sale Flyer

Mentor Bike Day
Saturday, May 19, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Civic Center Park
Join Mentor Recreation for this FREE event featuring a FREE BMX stunt show, a FREE bike raffle, free games and activities, helmet decorating, and a Mentor Police Department bicycle auction. Listen to our fun DJ, have your bike inspected and get safety information, plus join in a bike rodeo open to all two-wheel bike riders under age 12. The high-energy non-stop action of the BMX ramp team Dialed Action will thrill young and old as they perform some of the biggest tricks in the sport of BMX such as back flips, 360’s, super-mans and countless others. Dialed Action has been features on NBC and performed on the Dew Tour. You can catch them in action at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and it’s all FREE. This event is organized to promote biking as a fun, family-oriented activity that provides an excellent way to stay active and healthy, and can serve as an excellent mode of transportation. Bike Day Lake County is co-sponsored by the Lake County General Health District, Mentor Recreation’s Safe Routes to School program and the Cleveland Clinic. This event will be held rain or shine.  EVENT FLYER

Community Scavenger Hunt
Friday, May 18 – Friday, May 25
Call your friends and start the competition! This new adult scavenger hunt will have you following clues to 7 different locations within the City of Mentor to collect a small token that you’ll find based on the clues Mentor Recreation publishes on our Facebook page and our twitter feed beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, May 18. We’ll release a new clue to a new destination each day with the final clue, released Friday, May 25 providing you with the location of our finale – a fun outdoor party complete with food, games and prizes! This is an event for adults; 21 and over please. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the details beginning May 18!

Just Kids Stuff Garage Sale
Thursday, May 31, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Garfield Park
Clean out the toy boxes, closets, and attics, and get ready for our outrageously popular Just Kids’ Stuff Garage Sale! Reserve city-owned tables beginning April 30 for residents and May 3 for nonresidents or set up your own table on a 10’ x 10’ space for the same fee, collected the morning of the sale. Please keep the following rules in mind when planning your sale: You may not sell out of your car, or hang items on clotheslines from the trees or pavilion. An adult must be present at each table. Residents should be prepared to show a currently utility bill and driver’s license to receive the resident rate. Residents: $20 / Nonresidents: $25

June

City of Mentor’s Summer Concert Series
Tuesdays, June 19 – July 31, 7 — 9 p.m., Civic Center Amphitheatre
Come enjoy a summer evening enjoying some great music! We continue our summer tradition by bringing some impressive local bands to the City of Mentor. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets: no chairs are provided. The concerts are FREE to the public. For more information, please call (440) 974-5735.

June 19
Do Wop Kingz – All your favorite hits from the 50’s sung beautifully in 3-part harmony. Featuring Ronnie Fiorentino, formerly of the 4 Coins and Richard Green from The Motion and Climax. Sponsored by Honda of Mentor

June 26
Arrival – Take the “Journey” with this amazing tribute band. With lights and sound, just like the original! Sponsored by Lake Health

July 3
Pop Tarts – All your favorite 60’s girl group songs as sung and danced to by four adorably energetic gals!

July 10
Driven – The ultimate party band! Dance all night long to music ranging from country to rock to disco and more. With a fantastic three piece horn section, a female lead singer and four male singers, this band has something for everyone! Sponsored by U.S. Endoscopy Group, Inc

July 17
Replay – You’ll love listening to the hits from the 70’s as played by this superbly entertaining horn group!

July 24 To Be Announced

July 31
Chance – This incredible ten piece show dance band plays everything from Sinatra to Motown and more! It’s no wonder they’re Mike Trivisonno’s favorite Band! Sponsored by Honda of Mentor

32nd Wildwood Fine Arts Festival
Sunday, June 24, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wildwood Cultural Center       Artist Application Food Vendor Application
Sponsored by the Creative Artists Association, The City of Mentor’s Wildwood Cultural Center and the Community Arts Commission, the 32nd annual juried Wildwood Fine Arts Festival features over 65 artists with original and unique art of the highest quality, along with live music, refreshments and children’s activities. This event is held on the beautiful grounds of the Wildwood Cultural Center. Event proceeds benefit Wildwood Cultural Center and support college scholarships for students from Lake and Geauga counties planning to study art.  For more information, contact the festival committee at wildwoodfestival@gmail.com, or Wildwood Cultural Center at wildwood@cityofmentor.com, or by calling (440) 974-5735. Resident/Nonresident: $2 Admission

New!
The Wildwood Comedy Club
Wednesday, June 27, 7-9 p.m., Wildwood Cultural Center Southwing
Need a good laugh? Enjoy a FREE evening of classic stand up comedy featuring the smooth, sophisticated style of host Frank Krupa and the homespun humor of Jim Zofchak plus host Linda Brown and a surprise Guest! These acclaimed performers have appeared in sold out Mentor events including: Hollywood, Funny Side Up, Hollywood Gala 2010, and Stars-Stars-Stars. This show is tailored for general audiences. Enjoy the showcase entertainment and spontaneous audience interaction. Combine the hysterical with the historical and experience a complimentary, entertaining tour of Mentor’s beautiful turn of the century Wildwood Estate. Registration here.

July

July 4th Fireworks Display
Wednesday, July 4 , Fireworks at 9:50 p.m., Civic Center Park
Come see a spectacular fireworks display at approximately 9:50 p.m.! The display can be viewed from Civic Center Park and Mentor High School. Continue the summer tradition with your family and spend an enjoyable evening at Civic Center Park. FREE!

Family Fun Day & Picnic
Sunday, July 15, 12 – 4 p.m.
Wildwood Cultural Center   Flyer
Step back in time with your family and enjoy FREE some old fashioned fun, games and entertainment on the historic grounds and estate of the Wildwood Cultural Center. Free historical tours of the manor house will be given. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with your family at one of the picnic tables (or bring a blanket)! Refreshments will be available for purchase. We’ll have Prelude Photography taking photos (no sitting fee), old fashioned games, pony rides, Magic Suzy shows and strolling entertainment, plus Outback Ray Amazing Animal Show, inflatable games, entertainment by The Larry Smith Express and the Wildwood Singers. Sponsored by the City of Mentor’s Community Arts Commission. No grilling, please.

Everything You’ve Always Wanted To Do But Your Mother Wouldn’t Let You…. FAMILY STYLE!
Thursday, July 19, 6:30 – 9 p.m., Civic Center Amphitheatre
You asked us and we heard you! Mentor Recreation is happy to bring you Everything You’ve Always Wanted To Do But Your Mother Wouldn’t Let You…. FAMILY STYLE! Sign up the whole family (ages 5 and older please) for the messiest, gooiest, noisiest family night ever. Parents, this is your chance to crack an egg on your child’s head or give them a shaving cream hair-do, but be careful – they might get you back by turning you into a human ice cream sundae! Families participate in messy games and activities that include foods such as whipped cream, kool-aid, syrup, pudding and come with names such as The Legendary Mud Slide! A one-hour family swim time at Civic Center Pool after a thorough clean-up is included in the evening. Families will need to bring for each family member: a swim suit, towel, change of clothing, and a bag to take home messy clothes. Each participate should wear old clothes and old tennis shoes (sandals are not recommended). Pre-registration is required.  Register here.

Junk-In-Your-Trunk Sale
Friday, July 27, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Mentor High School West Parking Lot
Pack up all of your treasured junk and bring it to the phenomenal, Junk-in-your-Trunk sale. Vendors must pre-register, reserving two parking spaces in the Mentor High School parking lot.; one spot for your car, the other for your “stuff”. No oversized vehicles will be permitted. Everything must fit into your assigned parking place. Vendors supply their own bags, change, tables, racks, etc. All spaces must be reserved in advance. No spaces will be sold the day of the sale. Register for your space by calling (440) 974-5720.

10th Annual Old Village Market
Fridays, July 27 – August 17, 4 – 8 p.m.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Mentor’s Old Village Market is a market with a festival atmosphere! The market includes fresh farm produce, homemade refreshments, juried arts & crafts, children’s activities, strolling performers and old-fashioned fun and games. Our special theme nights include Kids Night on July 27 and Garden Night on August 10. This market attracts more than 4,000 people and is hosted by the National Park Service James A. Garfield National Historic Site, with support from Cardinal Community Credit Union.
Vendor Application

August

Family Campout
Friday, August 10 – Check in & tent setup – 5 p.m.
Saturday, August 11 – Pack up & go home! – 10 a.m.
Civic Center Park & Amphitheater
No need to travel far this summer when you and your family can have a great time at our Family Campout right in Civic Center Park! Families will provide their own tents, sleeping bags, flashlights and personal items. We’ll have a campfire, games and crafts, snacks, swim time at Civic Center Pool and a movie before zipping up your tent! A light breakfast will be provided Saturday morning. Only one tent per family, please. Advanced registration is required. Register early, space is limited.

Doggie Dip Day
Monday, August 27, 6 – 8:30 p.m., Civic Center Pool
Civic Center Pool will officially be going to the dogs! Bring your favorite four-legged pal for a dip and enjoy some good family fun! Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, leashed when not in the pool, and owners must be prepared for clean up duty (we’ll have extra bags). You are welcome to bring dog toys. The cost is $3 per dog with fees going to dog park improvements.