Vermilion notebook

Free concert The summer concert series continues at the Lorain County Metro Parks' Vermilion River Reservation every Sunday evening through the summer. Concerts start at 6 p.m. in the Bacon Woods Amphitheatre, 51211 N. Ridge Road., Vermilion. This Sunday will feature Legends of Rock playing covers of Elvis, Beatles, and music from the '60s. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs. Cleveland boat trip The Vermilion YMCA is hosting an excursion to the Flats in Cleveland for a cruise on The Lady Caroline Aug. 19. A bus will depart from the Vermilion YMCA at 10:15 a.m. for Cleveland, and the cruise leaves on the Cuyahoga River and sail out into Lake Erie. There will be a buffet lunch and music on the climate-controlled decks and there is an open-air upper deck. A full bar will be available for an additional cost. Following the cruise will be a behind-the-scenes tour of Playhouse Square, featuring five fully restored historic theaters. The bus will return to Vermilion around 5 p.m. Cost will be $124 for YMCA members and $134 for non-members; a $25 deposit is due at registration. Final payment is due by Aug. 5. To register or for more information, call Helen Fisher at the YMCA at (440) 967-4208 or Loni Beverly at (803) 318-4324 or stop by at 1230 Beechview Dr. Cleveland Ballet's summer home The Cleveland Ballet will return to its home, Harbourtown Fine Arts Center in Vermilion, for its annual summer performance July 26. The company will present a special performance of "Encore," drawing inspiration from famed artist Pablo Picasso's lifelong connection to dance and his Spanish heritage. Patrons will enjoy excerpts from "Don Quixote" and "Paquita," and the pas de deus from "Harlequinade," chosen to reflect the vibrant emotion, color and movement found in Picasso's iconic works. The program will finish with "What Do We Do Now," a more modern ballet choregraphed by Cleveland Ballet dancer Katharine Cowan. A wine and hors d'oeuvres reception will begin at 6 p.m. inside the historic Opera House, with the performance to follow on the lawn at 7 p.m. Harbourtown Fine Arts Center is at 736 Main St., Vermilion. To purchase tickets, visit cleveballet.org. Market in the Park Saturday is opening day for Vermilion's Market in the Park. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 30 in Victory Park, 687 Main St., new vendors and new vendors will be featured to keep shoppers coming back all summer. Fresh produce, hand-baked goods, and artisan-made crafts are available within walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants, and Main Street Beach. For information, visit mainstreetvermilion.org. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com