CLEVELAND (July 15, 2021)— There’s nothing quite like summer in Cleveland. While school will be back in session soon, there’s still plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the quickly escaping warm weather. Whether it’s an outdoor excursion, a cultural experience or a family-friendly festival, Destination Cleveland encourages residents to Roam the Land before another summer fades like a Lake Erie sunset.
CULTURAL FESTIVALS & FUN
Locals know Cleveland is rich with arts and culture, but have they experienced all there is to do? The summer events calendar includes numerous chances to celebrate culture in the CLE, from learning about different heritages that make Cleveland so diverse to a weeklong mural festival that will transform garage doors and empty walls into works of art.
Asian Lantern Festival
When the sun goes down, more than 1,000 lanterns light up the night during the Asian Lantern Festival at
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Back for the fourth year, the festival turns the Zoo into a glowing masterpiece with more than 70 displays. Attendees can also enjoy acrobatic performances, interactive experiences, an Asian craft market and culturally inspired cuisine.
- Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from July 15 - Sep. 5, 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Drive-through dates: Wednesday, July 14, 21 and 28, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
- Advance tickets required (Zoo admission does not include festival access), can be purchased here
CLEVELAND WALLS!
Clevelanders will have a front row seat as new Instagram-worthy art brightens the MidTown neighborhood at the first CLEVELAND WALLS! International Mural Program. Over 20 local, national and international artists will transform 20 empty facades into large-scale murals. In addition to bringing new artwork to life, the week-long event will include family-friendly activities, live performances and artist talks.
- Monday, Aug. 23 - Saturday, Aug. 28
- Various locations throughout Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood, more information online
One World Day
Residents can travel around the globe without leaving The Land at One World Day in the
Cleveland Cultural Gardens. The free event, now in its 75
th year, honors and celebrates the diverse heritages that make up Cleveland. A free ‘Passport to Peace’ will guide attendees’ exploration of all 33 gardens as they enjoy food, drink and entertainment from various cultures. The family-friendly celebration begins with a parade of flags, followed by a naturalization ceremony where dozens of new citizens will take the Oath of Allegiance.
- Sunday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Cleveland Cultural Gardens, along Martin Luther King Blvd. and East Blvd., Cleveland
- More information and full schedule available online
Feast of the Assumption Festival
There’s no better way to experience the Little Italy neighborhood than with a visit to the Feast of the Assumption Festival, commemorating the Catholic Holy Day of Assumption. The four-day event fills a five-block stretch of the community with live music, carnival rides and, of course, tons of scrumptious Italian food. At the heart of it all is the community’s
Holy Rosary Church, which will host several religious services and observances throughout the weekend.
- Thursday, Aug. 12, 6 - 11 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. - midnight; Saturday, Aug. 14, noon - midnight; Sunday, Aug. 15, noon - 11 p.m.
- Holy Rosary Church, 12021 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
- Full schedule of events available online
BRING OUT YOUR SPORTY SIDE
Clevelanders don’t have to be expert athletes to experience the area’s wide range of sports and outdoor activities. Locals can watch the pros or get in a little friendly competition of their own this summer.
Blazing Paddles Paddlefest
Residents can experience the spot voted
best for urban kayaking by USA Today readers during Blazing Paddles Paddlefest, to be held on the Cuyahoga River on July 24. Paddleboarders, kayakers and canoers of all levels will celebrate the beauty of the river and its transformation over the past 50+ years. Paddlers can choose from three racecourses, taking them up and down the river and giving unbeatable views of the Cleveland skyline. There’s also a recreational paddle option for experiencing the river at a more leisurely pace.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
For local sports fans looking for a day trip, a visit to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame might be just the ticket. Located in Canton, the Hall will host this year’s Enshrinement Festival from August 5-9, honoring both the class of 2020 and the class of 2021. Festival attendees can interact with more than 100 living Hall of Famers, attend the Hall of Fame Game and rock out at the Concert for Legends, all while celebrating the newest players to sport those coveted gold jackets.
- 2121 George Halas Road NW, Canton
- Hall of Fame open daily, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Enshrinement Festival details and tickets available here
Tennis in the Land
Professional women’s tennis will come to Cleveland for the first time, transforming Jacobs Pavilion into the center of the action for the week-long tournament, part of the U.S. Open Series. The stadium court will be built under the pavilion, setting the Cleveland skyline as the backdrop for more than 50 matches throughout the week. While tennis will be the main event, the tournament will also feature food trucks, a beer garden, live music and more.
- Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland
- Sunday, Aug. 22 - Saturday, Aug. 28
- Tickets required, available online
SUMMER FAMILY FUN
With scavenger hunts, a visit from Santa and the return of some annual family favorites, there’s plenty for parents, kids and “kids at heart” to explore before school is back in session.
Eat & Explore CLE
Residents can visit a new neighborhood or rediscover a longtime favorite during this summer’s Eat & Explore CLE initiative, a program of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. Different neighborhoods, local businesses and community events will be highlighted all summer long. Unique outdoor spaces will be set up, encouraging families to grab a bite from a nearby restaurant and get to know the community around them.
- Various dates from July-Sept.
- Full schedule of events and featured neighborhoods can be found here
The Grand Piano Pursuit
Families can Roam the Land in search of 15 repurposed pianos decorated by local artists that are on display across the area until August 7. The one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt, a prelude to this year’s
Cleveland International Piano Competition, is the perfect chance for Clevelanders to rediscover the city after months of staying home. Each musical masterpiece carries a theme, including a
Little Richard-inspired piano at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and
a tribute to Cleveland’s architecture at Public Square.
- Pianos on display until Aug. 7
- List of locations can be found here
Crossroads: Still We Rise
This first-of-its-kind exhibit from
The Sculpture Center uses augmented reality (AR) technology to showcase the work of 12 local Black artists at historic and socially significant sites across the city. Residents can take a driving tour through six Cleveland communities that were diminished by racial divide, using AR technology in a free app to overlay the artwork over the public locations.
- July 16 - Sept. 25
- Driving tour map available online
Christmas in July
Have a holly jolly time with a visit to Christmas in July at Voinovich Park. The one-day event will feature a volleyball tournament, live music on the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Union Home Mortgage Plaza and other activities for all ages. There will also be holiday movie showings, including “The Grinch” and the Cleveland classic “A Christmas Story,” and, of course, a chance to take photos with Santa at the North Coast Harbor Cleveland script sign. The festivities end with a parade of boats, each decked out in holiday lights.
- Saturday, July 24, noon - 10 p.m.
- Voinovich Bicentennial Park at East 9th Street Pier, Cleveland
Cleveland Garlic Festival
Pack a breath mint and head to Shaker Square for the annual Cleveland Garlic Festival on August 28 and 29. Clevelanders can enjoy plenty of garlic-laden cuisine, including garlic fries, garlic ice cream and even garlic beer. Top chefs will compete for bragging rights of this fragrant festival, and there’s plenty of family activities ranging from live music, a pedal tractor maze, educational programming and even a chance to take a photo with the festival’s mascot, Mr. Garlic himself.
- Saturday, Aug. 28, noon - 8 p.m. & Sunday, Aug. 29, noon - 6 p.m.
- 13111 Shaker Square, Cleveland
- Tickets available online
Cleveland National Air Show
The high-flying fun of the Cleveland National Air Show returns to the skies over Lake Erie this Labor Day weekend.
Burke Lakefront Airport will host fancy fliers of all kinds, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds who will present a choreographed 50-minute performance. On terra firma, attendees can check out aircraft displays, jump in the cockpit for a photo or watch a truck and a plane race down the runway.
- Saturday, Sept. 4 - Monday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Burke Lakefront Airport, 1501 North Marginal Rd., Cleveland
- Advance tickets required, can be purchased here
DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact the team through email at
[email protected], live chat at
thisiscleveland.com, or stop at the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) Tues. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. to plan your summer adventures.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. This private, non-profit organization’s mission is to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through leisure and business travel. Cleveland welcomes 19.6 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.