Join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026 as we celebrate 60 years of Nature, Community, and Conservation. Gather under the glow of a full moon for an evening of dining, music, and meaningful impact—illuminating the path ahead, together.

Nature Center Members receive exclusive early access to tickets and the opportunity to lock in last year’s pricing. Early Access tickets are on sale now! General ticket sales open April 1. If you are not currently a Nature Center Member and are interested in becoming one, contact Cara@shakerlakes.org.

Trailblazer Ticket Enjoy early entry from 5:00–6:30 p.m. and be part of an exclusive reception featuring VIP menu offerings.

Strolling Ticket (General Admission) Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of great food, festive atmosphere, and unforgettable fun.

In 2026, the Nature Center will celebrate its 60th anniversary. This milestone offers an opportunity not only to honor our past and the group of stalwart volunteers who first envisioned this space six decades ago, but also to shape the next 60 years of impact.

We invite you to experience nature’s ability to adapt, renew, and thrive as twilight fades and moonlit wonders come alive. Enjoy specialty food and drinks from Greater Cleveland’s best restaurants, set against the stunning backdrop of the Nature Center’s grounds in the heart of the Shaker Parklands.

Founded in 1966, the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes was part of a grassroots movement to protect the Shaker Parklands. Today, it remains a destination for birders, nature enthusiasts, and families seeking a safe, engaging outdoor experience. Open year-round and free to the public, the Nature Center is a 501(c)3 organization that receives no tax dollars for its operations or programming.

Funds raised at the event help ensure the Nature Center’s continued success, fostering a place where people of all ages can explore and connect with nature. This year’s benefit will build on past successes, with extensive promotional efforts and a strong volunteer committee to ensure visibility for our corporate sponsors.

MORE EVENT INFORMATION:

Featured Highlights for 2026: Restaurant and Cocktail Partners: Flying Pig Tacos, Tumbao58, FrankieLynn x Chutni Punch, Abundance Culinary, Cordelia, Rosy, Doc's on Harvard, Kiln, Spice Hospitality Group, Rid-All, Luna Bakery and Café, Cleveland Whiskey and more!

Exciting sponsorship opportunities are available, including at the Main Stage, Libation Station, Whiskey Lounge, and VIP Happy Hour. Contact Rob Sikora at sikora@shakerlakes.org. for more information.

Proceeds: Funds support the Nature Center’s environmental education programs and public grounds, which welcome nearly 150,000 visitors annually.

Join us for an evening celebrating nature’s incredible journey. Together, we’ll ensure the Nature Center remains a vibrant space for future generations.

This event sells out early, so purchase your tickets today!

Culinary Chair: Douglas Katz, renowned Cleveland restaurateur and Nature Center trustee

Co-Chairs: Nature Center trustees Erin Connell, Tory Mateo, Trevon Edwards

World Soccer Cup Celebration Opening Concert

Come share a joyful day filled with Brazilian food, music with the Moises Borges Quartet playing Forro', and fun while helping make a difference in the lives of children in two orphanages in Brazil.

$40 Dine in or Takeout Tropeiro beans+ dessert BYOB welcome

More info Tati 4407316986 Tassia 6142042499

Live Bossa Nova Concert with Moises Borges and Ava Preston.

Experience the captivating union of two extraordinary voices in an unforgettable night of music and artistry. Cleveland’s celebrated Bossa Nova King, guitarist and vocalist Moises Borges, born in Bahia, Brazil, is joined by rising jazz star Ava Preston, whose recent performances include stages at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Last May 24th Ava was the winner of the 2026 Blues Alley International Ella Fitzgerald Competition.

Audiences can expect an elegant mix of Samba, Bossa Nova, and Brazilian Jazz, delivered with warmth, sophistication, and world‐class musicianship—an immersive experience that celebrates rhythm, soul, and connection.

When Ava Preston and Moises Borges are on stage together you are transported to another place and time. Ava and Moises’ voices alternate, balance and blend smoothly taking us on the scenic route of this South American musical journey through rich harmonies and expressive storytelling. You will hear their voices intertwining in a performance that is both powerful and deeply intimate.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Moises Borges is a gifted guitarist and vocalist born in Bahia, Brazil. He grew up experimenting with a variety of Brazilian rhythms, especially Samba and Bossa Nova, which are basic to his performances. Borges did an Asian Tour in November 2025 with performances in jazz clubs such as the Blue Notes Beijing, Blue Note Shanghai, Blue Note Naramachi plus other venues in Tokyo, and has performed in numerous countries besides his USA, such as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, France and Brazil, where he headlined and also opened concerts for international stars such as Diego Figueiredo, Stanley Jordan, Luiz Caldas, Sandra de Sa', Joyce Moreno, Joao Donato, Badi Assad, and Jaques/Paula Morelenbaum.

He is also an important presence in the Northeast Ohio music scene. He has played in venues such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Severance Hall, Tri-C Jazz Festival and Cleveland Playhouse Square

Ava Preston is a 21-year-old jazz vocalist and indie singer/songwriter based in Cleveland and New York. She is about to finish her masters at Julliard in June 2026. When performing her wide array of jazz and blues standards, audience members often describe her as an “Old Soul.” Ava is the Winner of the 2026 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition. Ava was voted Best Female Vocalist at the 2024 Cleveland Music Awards. She is a 12x Downbeat Student Music Award Winner: 6x for Vocal Jazz Soloist and 6x for Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist from 2018-2024 and also a 2023 YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz/Voice. Ava was selected as the Vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, which brings together 20 of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians in the country, culminating in a main stage performance at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival. In 2025, Ava created Sidewalk Swing, an event to “bring jazz directly to the people” on 12 street corners throughout Manhattan, which featured student and alumni combos from seven local universities.

Live Bossa Nova Concert with Moises Borges and Ava Preston.

When Ava Preston and Moises Borges Quartet are on stage together you are transported to another place and time. Ava and Moises’ voices alternate, balance and blend smoothly taking us on the scenic route of this South American musical journey. These forever classic Brazilian tunes, and Moises’ seemingly timeless originals, tap into a feeling so many of us long for, a musical vacation, rejuvenation, relaxation, entertainment, enjoyment, fun, nostalgia.

About: Moises Borges Based in Cleveland, Ohio for over two decades, Moises Borges is a gifted guitarist and vocalist born in Bahia, Brazil, He grew up experimenting with rhythms such as Bolero, Baião, Xote, Afoxé, Frevo, Forró, especially Samba and Bossa Nova which are basic to his performances, his soothing voice and charm make for a wonderful evening of entertainment for all lovers of Brazilian Jazz. Performing either solo or with his band, Borges is a wonderful storyteller, and a vivid, funny performer who plays mostly in the Samba and Bossa Nova traditions, interpreting his original songs and soulfully delivering classics by Jobim, Gilberto, Bosco and many others. "Far away from his native Brazil, the music of his homeland is very much alive when he is on stage."

Ava Preston Ava Preston is a jazz vocalist and indie singer-songwriter who enjoys performing jazz, blues, pop/rock and her original songs as a solo artist and as a featured guest with various combos and bands throughout Cleveland and New York.

Ava was voted Best Female Vocalist at the 2024 Cleveland Music Awards. She is a YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz Voice, and is a 12x Downbeat SMA winner, 6x for Vocal Jazz and 6x for Blues/Pop/Rock. She performed at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival as the vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Ava is currently finishing a Masters of Music in Jazz Voice at the Juilliard School.