CLEVELAND (June 30, 2021) – Visitors to Cleveland can enjoy a variety of new experiences and offerings, including expanded lakefront trails, engaging exhibits, numerous restaurant and brewery openings and an international mural festival that will bring to life the streets of a growing neighborhood.
NEW ATTRACTIONS, EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
SPORTS AND RECREATION
Fans of the gridiron can descend upon Canton for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2021 Enshrinement Festival, taking place August 5-9. They can see and interact with their idols as more than 100 Gold Jackets (living Hall of Famers) return each year to be a part of Enshrinement Week. This year’s event also includes a rescheduled ceremony for the Class of 2020.
The “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” welcomes guests to a special 150th anniversary season that features a daily festival in the park’s Frontier Land with live music, interactive games, street entertainers, and a multi-sensory parade each night. The park’s new Snake River Expedition immerses riders in a river boat journey that has them performing secret tasks, encountering surprises and avoiding “danger” around every bend.
The top women’s tennis athletes will compete in the inaugural Tennis in the Land, a Women’s Tennis Association 250 event and part of the U.S. Open Series. From August 22-28, players will compete in 54 matches, vying for a $300,000 prize. A temporary stadium court and five additional courts will be constructed in view of the Downtown Cleveland skyline at the riverfront Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica and surrounding area.
Scenic city views dominate the new Cleveland Metroparks Red Line Greenway. Starting near the historic West Side Market, the nearly two-mile all-purpose trail runs through eight neighborhoods and connects two public transit stops on RTA’s Red Line, providing new connections to shopping, restaurants, and parks.
Downtown Cleveland and two lakefront parks are now connected with the completion of the Wendy Park Bridge and Whiskey Island Trail. More than four miles of bike and pedestrian trails provide a direct path between beaches, parks and a marina. Visitors can enjoy expansive views as well as interpretive spaces that share the area’s rich history.
A new pump track for mountain bike and BMX riders will open this fall in the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, located south of the city in the Cuyahoga River valley. Additionally, an extension of the existing mountain bike trail will open next summer and feature areas for beginner, intermediate and advance riders as well as a flow trail with jumps. The reservation also connects to the extensive Towpath Trail that runs from Cleveland and continues through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
ARTS & CULTURE
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Private Lives: Home and Family in the Art of the Nabis, Paris, 1889–1900
Running through September 19,
Private Lives explores for the first time intimate depictions of home and family life by four artists of the Post-Impressionist Nabi brotherhood: Pierre Bonnard, Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton and Édouard Vuillard. The collection features more than 40 paintings and 110 works on paper, including items on loan from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris; the Petit Palais, Paris and Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
- Parade the City and New Community Arts Center
A beloved arts celebration that traditionally brings colorful floats, giant puppets and stilt walkers to University Circle takes on a different form this year. Cleveland Museum of Art paired artists and community groups to create eight celebratory art installations throughout the city. Visitors can “
Parade the City” to view the installations and continue the experience at the Museum’s new
Community Arts Center in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Its opening exhibit, “Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community,” showcases the large puppets, costumes and masks featured in previous Parade the Circle events.
- Crossroads: Still We Rise - Augmented Reality Exhibition Series
The Sculpture Center will introduce an augmented reality (AR) exhibit at 12 historic sites around Cleveland from July 16 through September 26.
Crossroads: Still We Rise features Cleveland-based Black artists who will display their artwork, using AR through a free app, over historic and socially significant sites in six communities that were diminished overtime by racial divide.
- Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland
Visitors to the Cleveland History Center will be fascinated by the fashion and life of the designer in
Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland. Establishing herself as the preeminent fashion teacher and mentor in the predominantly African American Fairfax neighborhood, the exhibit – on display through the end of 2021 – showcases the designer’s more than six-decade career from the opening of the Clarke School of Dressmaking and Design to roles with the National Urban League, the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP.
- Great Lakes Science Center “Science Under the Sun”
Guests to the Great Lakes Science Center will put their imaginations and engineering skills to use at its newest adventure,
“Science Under the Sun!” Running through September, the experience takes place in outdoor tents overlooking North Coast Harbor. Each month features a different STEM theme from Weather and Water to Robotics and Space.
- Transformer Station: New Histories, New Futures
The Cleveland Museum of Art presents
“New Histories, New Futures” at the Transformer Station through September 21. The exhibit represents three contemporary artists’ engagement with historical revisionism that’s rooted in the past, present and future. Johnny Colman depicts a family’s journey through the Underground Railroad in an immersive installation that includes sculpture, sound and projection. The Harlem Renaissance-style paintings of Cleveland-based Antwoine Washington’s own young family counteract the stereotype of absent Black fathers. The “North Star” series by Kambui Olujimi features paintings and video of weightless, floating Black bodies “freed from the gravity of oppression.”
Starting July 14, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be transformed for the fourth time with more than 70 large-scale illuminated displays featuring over 1,000 individual lanterns for the
Asian Lantern Festival. There will be live performances every hour, including acrobatics, foot juggling, contortion, and martial arts along with an Asian craft market and culturally inspired cuisine, including fare from local restaurants Li Wah, King Wah and others. The limited time, after-hours event will run Thursday through Sunday evenings through September 5.
- Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center
The only surviving pre-Civil War structure in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood, the
Cozad-Bates House presents the area’s history as a hub of the abolitionist movement. Soon-to-open indoor exhibits will feature photographs, newspaper articles, handbills, engravings and more. The outdoor space includes plants that are edible or carry medicinal properties to illustrate the difficult journey of the Underground Railroad and indigo-colored educational signage references a staple crop of the exploitive slave economy.
- Cleveland Walls! International Mural Program
More than 20 buildings in the MidTown neighborhood will be transformed into large-scale canvases when
Cleveland Walls! International Mural Program arrives August 23-28. Created in partnership with POW! WOW! Worldwide founder Jasper Wong, the event brings together local, national and international artists to help transform the neighborhood into a vibrant celebration of the diversity of the community. The week-long event features family-friendly activities, performances and artist talks in addition to the real-time mural creations.
- Playhouse Square Broadway Series
The 2021/2022 KeyBank Broadway Series kicks off this Fall and includes “The Prom,” “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” and Disney’s “Frozen.” Additionally, “The Lion King” will return to Cleveland for a two-week run beginning October 1.
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History Centennial
Celebrating 100 years of scientific discovery, conservation and community,
Cleveland Museum of Natural History will open the
100 Years of Discovery exhibit in November, exploring the institution’s history and rise as a renowned leader in human-origins research and conservation.
MUSIC
- The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The
36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place October 30 at a new home, Cleveland’s
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The
Class of 2021 Inductees include Tina Turner, Carole King, The Go-Go’s, JAY-Z, Foo Fighters and Todd Rundgren.
- The Biggest Show on Turf: 55 Years of Halftime Shows
On display through September 2021,
The Biggest Show on Turf honors the dynamic history of the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Fans can relive iconic moments spanning more than two decades, including The Weeknd’s infinity room experience, Bono’s flag-lined jacket, Katy Perry’s Left Shark, Prince’s turquoise suit, and more.
The Cleveland Orchestra, hailed as America’s best by The New York Times, returns to its beloved summer home at Blossom Music Center for the
2021 Blossom Music Festival. The 10-week Festival lineup includes the works of Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Elgar, and Dvořák. The series culminates on September 11 with a high-energy orchestral celebration with legendary rock star and composer Stewart Copeland, one of the founders of The Police.
- WonderStruck Music Festival
Concertgoers will rejoice when
WonderStruck music festival returns July 24-25. The multi-stage, outdoor festival will fill the sprawling 400-acre Lakeland Community College campus and features more than 25 performers including Portugal. The Man, Walk the Moon, Third Eye Blind, AJR, Trombone Shorty, Noah Cyrus, Lennon Stella and more.
An integral part of the Cleveland music scene for more than four decades, the
Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland returns September 11-12 at Cain Park Amphitheater. The lineup celebrates the roots of jazz and the forward-thinkers in the genre today. Performers include world music collective Banda Magda, piano trios led by Christian Sands and Emmet Cohen, Grammy Award-winning Catherine Russell and the explosive salsa of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
NEW RESTAURANTS
Despite the impact of the pandemic and loss of iconic eateries, entrepreneurial Clevelanders continue to enhance the culinary landscape. Recently opened and soon-to-open options include:
- Keep the Change Kitchen Collective (March 2021)
As chef owner Ben Bebenroth reevaluated his restaurant business during the pandemic, work-life balance, equitable pay and flexibility were the driving forces. His solution:
Keep the Change Kitchen Collective, a virtual food hall with a pickup and delivery options. The name references embracing the positive changes and enhancements to quality of life that occurred due to COVID-19. Current concepts include Winner Winner!, which features roasted spatchcocked Ohio Amish chicken and homestyle sides, Leif with “burly” salad and grain bowls and Woo! Noods & Rice.
- Pearl’s Kitchen (April 2021)
Registered nurse-turned-chef Tiwanna Scott-Williams brings her inspired comfort food concept
Pearl’s Kitchen to the growing list of options at
Sauce the City food hall. Diners are tempted with flavorful Southern-inspired dishes like blackened salmon BLTs, shrimp and grits, loaded Cajun fries, mac and cheese and bourbon cream bread pudding.
- Acqua di Luca (June 2021)
Inspired by chef owner Luca Sema’s childhood near the Adriatic sea,
Acqua di Luca offers a daily selection of fresh oysters and fish, specialty pizzas including truffle and lobster and seasonal specials like roast osso buco. The restaurant’s contemporary design embraces the industrial vibe of the 147-year-old building in which it resides.
- Heart of Gold (June 2021)
Heart of Gold is a casual-yet-elevated neighborhood bar and kitchen, offering guests a seasonal menu featuring fresh cocktails, green bowls, burgers and entrees including a Szechuan eggplant bowl, galbi ribeye sandwich and everything spice waffle fries.
Japanese fusion restaurant
Goma builds on chef Dante Boccuzzi ‘s experience as executive chef at Nobu/Milan. An extensive selection of sushi rolls and shareable plates along with a full sake menu and sake-infused cocktails are highlights. An exclusive craft cocktail club, Giappone, lies below the restaurant.
- Haunted House Restaurant (July 2021)
The aroma of freshly popped popcorn, a box office-style host stand and servers dressed in theater usher uniforms welcome guests to the
Haunted House Restaurant, a new restaurant inspired by classic horror films. Darnell “SuperChef” Ferguson helped create a menu of urban eclectic American dishes, including a “brinner” menu with breakfast-for-dinner-style plates.
Ultra-modern décor and a DJ-guided soundtrack will provide the backdrop for Instagram-able moments at restauranter Kyler Smith’s new dining and nightlife destination,
Filter. Chef Jarrett Mine will guide the not-your-typical steakhouse menu, while the venue will feature art, décor and an atmosphere that promises to leave a lasting impression.
Visitors to the Flats East Bank entertainment district can add Asian fusion to the growing list of culinary specialties when
Jade opens. The waterfront restaurant will feature three levels of dining spaces, including a rooftop bar and lounge.
Partners Gabriel Zeller and Julie Mesenburg will open
Indie restaurant this fall on Downtown Cleveland’s East 4
th Street. Celebrating their love for indie music, walls will be covered with posters from 17 years of concerts attended by the pair. The menu will feature seasonal small plates, sharables and signature dishes, along with a lengthy list of craft cocktails.
Acclaimed chef Doug Katz’s Indian fusion ghost kitchen,
Amba, will become a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Ohio City neighborhood this November. Visitors can look forward to an enhanced menu that features signature Indian flavors and a dining space with a dark, sultry vibe.
Admired for its stunning architecture and prime location across from the West Side Market, restaurateur Morgan Yagi and chef Dante Boccuzzi will open
Bartelby in the historic United Bank Building. The modern supper club will feature a restaurant, bar, private dining and event space.
NEW BREWERIES, BARS & NIGHTLIFE
- Goodnight John Boy (May 2021)
Break out the bell bottoms and get the sequin shirts ready as Studio 54-style disco and dancing at
Goodnight John Boy nightclub in the Flats. Inspired by one of the most famous lines in 1970s-era television, the space features wood paneling, shag carpet, linoleum floors and 70s-style wallpaper, in addition to lighted dance floors and a gigantic disco ball sure to set the mood.
- Twin Palms at The Spotted Owl (June 2021)
Cocktail den The Spotted Owl, recognized as one of
Esquire’s best bars of 2020, introduces a new outdoor-only concept and courtyard space this summer.
Twin Palms at The Spotted Owl references Frank Sinatra and poolside casino vibes with a menu of build-your-own cocktails, highballs and other libations.
- North High Brewing (June 2021)
Columbus-based
North High Brewing has joined the growing list of craft beer options in the Ohio City neighborhood. Taking on different vibes throughout the day and evening, the taproom and kitchen is part of a new
COhatch coworking space. Five year-round beers and a half-dozen seasonal options are complimented by a brewpub menu of munchies and shareables.
- Immigrant Son Brewery (Summer 2021)
Immigrant Son pays homage to the melting pot of ethnic influences shaping Cleveland’s craft beer scene and the owner’s Hungarian heritage as a first-generation American. An expansive taproom will feature 20 house beers along with brew-friendly food, wine and cocktails.
- Brewdog (Late Summer 2021)
Cleveland’s craft beer scene continues to make waves with the much-anticipated addition of Scotland-based
BrewDog. A new 10,000-square-foot taproom and restaurant will feature a massive outdoor beer garden, kids’ area and dog park along a bend of the Cuyahoga River.
- Bark & Brew (Summer/Fall 2021)
Visitors with four-legged friends will soon have a new place to roam with
Bark & Brew indoor dog park and daycare set to open later this summer. The all-seasons space will include a dog pool crafted from a shipping container, quiet lounge areas and a dog wash, while human companions can enjoy a self-pour bar featuring 15 beer taps, wine and cocktails.
NEW ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS
The latest updates to attractions, hotels and Cleveland’s public spaces enhance the visitor experience as well as the city’s landscape. Recent and upcoming projects include:
- Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown
The newly renovated
Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown puts visitors steps away from the East 4
th Street entertainment hub and sporting and concert events at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field. An updated design for the 142-room hotel reflects the history and popular attractions of the neighborhood.
Set to open in 2022, the owner of the
Cleveland Hostel & Guesthouse is developing the
Hulett Hotel in the Ohio City neighborhood. The
boutique hotel will blend new construction and renovation of a vintage building to offer 25 guest rooms and a rooftop patio space. The hotel is named after the inventor of the Hulett Automatic Ore Unloader, which played a pivotal part in the development of the region’s iron ore industry and the growth of Lake Erie’s port cities.
- Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
Extensive renovations are planned for the historic
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, located on Public Square in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. The first phase of the project will update the 1918 building’s ornate lobby, ballroom and meeting rooms. A second phase of the project will include renovations to the hotel’s 491 guestrooms.
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History Expansion
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History broke ground in June 2021 on an expansion project that reimagines the museum’s campus. It pioneers a new model for natural history museums to engage the public, protect the environment and empower individuals to be a voice for the planet. The new approach will form integrated storylines of planetary and biological processes to make these powerful forces tangible and relevant to contemporary life. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2023 with exhibits ready for the public by July 2024.
Nearly 100,000 square feet of real estate on Cleveland’s west side border is being renovated to create a new LGBTQ community hub.
Studio West 117 will feature three complexes developed with a focus on intersectionality and inclusivity. The Fieldhouse will include sports facilities, a restaurant and rooftop lounge and will be home to the region’s first LGBTQ youth sports program. The Phantasy Entertainment Complex will feature a theater, multiple bars and lounges, a coworking space, a podcast studio and retail, including a clothing store and barbershop that cater to transgender and nonbinary individuals. The final complex is comprised of apartments and additional retail space.
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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.