CLEVELAND (Jan. 5, 2022) – With an enticing lineup of original experiences, hotel additions, new waterfront restaurants and breweries and easy road trip accessibility, 2022 is the ideal year to explore Cleveland. Highlights for visitors include all-star sports, notable music events and the return of a contemporary art triennial that transforms the region into a cultural playground.
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All-Star Events and Attractions Offer a Year of Exciting Sports and Recreation
- 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 18-20)
The league’s best and brightest stars will gather in Cleveland for NBA All-Star Weekend 2022. The weekend includes the
NBA Crossover fan event,
Rising Stars game,
All-Star Saturday Night and the
71st All-Star Game. The schedule of events also includes celebrations of the NBA’s 75
th anniversary and the first-ever
NBA HBCU Classic, a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup between Howard University and Morgan State University men’s basketball teams.
- Cleveland Guardians Home Opener (March 31)
On March 31, the newly christened
Cleveland Guardians MLB team will begin a historic season at Progressive Field. The name gives a nod to the iconic Guardians of Traffic statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge that watch over the ballpark and city.
- Tall Ships Festival (July 7-10)
Cleveland’s Tall Ships Festival will offer visitors the rare chance to explore several majestic vessels from around the world. This 4-day waterfront event returns to the Lake Erie shore with highlights including the Parade of Sail event and educational tours.
- Tennis in the Land – WTA 250 (Aug. 21-27)
The top tennis athletes will compete in the second
Tennis in the Land, a Women’s Tennis Association 250 event and part of the U.S. Open Series. A temporary stadium court will be constructed in view of the downtown skyline at the riverfront Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.
- Cleveland National Air Show (Sept. 3-5)
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the
2022 Cleveland National Air Show on Labor Day weekend. The show will be the Cleveland debut of the Blue Angels flying a larger jet platform with the F/A-18 Super Hornet and a new logistics support aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules.
- The Fieldhouse at Studio West 117
Nearly 100,000 square feet of real estate on Cleveland’s west side border is being renovated to create
Studio West 117, a new LGBTQ community hub. The first phase will be completed in spring with The Fieldhouse. The building will be home to a new LGBTQ youth sports league and feature an indoor/outdoor sports facility, three restaurants and rooftop deck.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame will score big with additions to the
Hall of Fame Village. Phase Two is underway and includes construction of a Hilton Tapestry Hotel, an esports entertainment complex and an indoor football-themed waterpark.
Powerful Performances & Engaging Exhibits Create an Arts & Culture Playground for Visitors
The city’s notable arts and culture institutions, together with independent artists and community organizations, are flexing their creative muscle in 2022. The efforts culminate in a year full of timely and thought-provoking experiences for travelers.
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Black Art in Focus (Feb. 20–June 25)
Drawn from the Museum’s extensive collection,
Black Art in Focus is a series of provocative vignettes by well-known and up-and-coming artists that explore the social, political and intellectual connections of Black art, artists and thinkers.
- The New Black Vanguard (May 8–Sept. 11)
The New Black Vanguard presents vibrant images of Black lives, bodies and heritage through a combination of photographs, videos, publications and fashion installations. The exhibition features 15 emerging artists, including Tyler Mitchell, the first African American to shoot a cover for Vogue magazine, and Awol Erizku, whose work has appeared in Vogue, GQ, The New York Times and The Museum of Modern Art.
- FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art (July 16–Oct. 2)
The second edition of
FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art will be comprised of artist commissions, performances and films that embrace art as an agent of transformation and healing. Visitors can embark on a free region-wide art scavenger hunt with projects including a
virtual reality arcade,
an astronomical observatory and an
installation on Lake Erie exploring the social and economic disparities that impact access to clean air and water.
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Celebrating a century of scientific advances, conservation and community,
100 Years of Discovery runs through July. This interactive journey guides visitors through some of the institution’s most awe-inspiring moments and discoveries, including a ride on a schooner during a 1923 expedition to the South Atlantic, dashing on a dogsled with Balto across an Alaskan snowscape and observing bald eagles through the eyes of a naturalist.
- Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa)
- Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program
The AIR Programsupports the work of emerging and early-career artists in Cleveland. Photographer
Amber N. Ford (Jan. 28–June 5) is best known for her work in portraiture and explores the topics of race and identity.
Erykah Townsend (July 5–Nov. 30) is a multimedia conceptual artist that creates paintings and objects influenced by pop culture and comments on consumerism and art history.
- Aram Han Sifuentes: Who Was This Built to Protect? (Jan. 28–June 5)
Korean American artist Aram Han Sifuentes uses sewing as a medium to investigate citizenship, protest and belonging in the United States. This exhibit centers on six large-scale red silk curtains with white text of excerpts from the U.S. Constitution.
Visitors can explore Cleveland’s legacy as a powerhouse of painting, sculpture, ceramics, poster design, fashion design and industrial design in
Honoring Our Past Masters: The Golden Age of Cleveland Art, 1900-1945, which runs through April 4. During this period, Cleveland supported a vibrant community of artists, including journalist-photographer Margaret Bourke-White and Viktor Schreckengost, creator of the Jazz Bowl regarded as a masterwork of American Art Deco.
- Playhouse Square Broadway Series
The
2021/2022 KeyBank Broadway Series includes “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” and Disney’s “Frozen.”
- Karamu House 2021-2022 Season
The historic
Karamu House, recognized as America’s oldest African American producing theater, finishes the 2021-2022 season with Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop” in February and Keith Hamilton Cobb’s “American Moor” in May.
Live Events and a New Venue for Music Lovers
- Brite Winter Music Festival (Feb. 26)
Brite Winter turns the riverside Flats district into a chill, winter wonderland. The event marries fire, participatory art, food, music and games to help locals and visitors embrace the winter. Attendees can play skeeball, warm up by a bonfire or enjoy the dynamic light installations and ice sculptures as more than 30 musical acts perform during the free festival.
- Welcome to the Farm (Early 2022)
Country music star Chase Rice will bring a bit of his Tennessee farm to the Flats East Bank with his new entertainment venue,
Welcome to the Farm. The expansive live music complex and bar features a center stage and large garage doors that open to a waterfront patio.
One of the state’s largest music events,
WonderStruck music festival fills a 400-acre site at Lakeland Community College’s campus with multiple stages hosting more than 25 performers.
- The Cleveland Orchestra 2021-2022 Season
The
Cleveland Orchestra’s 104th season features ten guest artist debuts, acclaimed guest conductors and more than 30 new works performed for the first time, including 16 led by music director Franz Welser-Möst in his 20
th season with the Orchestra. The season culminates in May with an opera festival surrounding performances of Verdi’s Otello.
New Restaurants & Breweries Reflect the Diverse Ethnicities of Cleveland
Despite the impact of the pandemic and loss of iconic eateries, entrepreneurial Clevelanders continue to enhance the culinary landscape. Recent and soon-to-open options include:
- Primo African Quisine (Dec. 2021)
West African native Prince Marouane shares the foods and flavors of his homeland at
Primo African Quisine, now open in Downtown Cleveland. Guests can savor authentic dishes, including Nigerian egusi soup, thiep – the national dish of Senegal, a street food version of spaghetti called Diallo, jollof rice and fufu.
- Martha on the Fly (Jan. 2022)
The pop-up
Martha on the Fly is moving to a permanent home in the Tremont neighborhood. Chef Ryan Beck will feature the popular breakfast sandwiches as well as pies and sides for carry-out. Guests can look forward to counter service and patio seating in the spring.
Acclaimed chef Doug Katz’s Indian fusion ghost kitchen,
Amba, will become a permanent restaurant in the Ohio City neighborhood. Adjoining Amba will be A Bar, where visitors can enjoy cocktails in a casual, lounge-style atmosphere.
- Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon (Early 2022)
James Baker, son of local barbecue king and retired NFL star Al “Bubba” Baker, will open
Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon in the Flats East Bank. Guests can dine on Texas-style barbecue cooked low and slow over local fruitwood while live music, mechanical bull rides and a dance floor provide entertainment. Visitors can also savor sunset views, cocktails and small plates on the Sundance Lounge rooftop bar or escape to the intimate Cassidy Room for cigars and high-end spirits.
Ultra-modern décor and a DJ-guided soundtrack will provide the backdrop for Instagrammable 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 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.
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
- Immigrant Son Brewery (Oct. 2021)
Immigrant Son pays homage to the owner’s Hungarian heritage and the melting pot of ethnic influences shaping Cleveland’s culinary and beer scene. The expansive taproom serves multiple house beers along with seasonal and specialty collaborations. A menu of globally inspired dishes includes Hungarian lángos (fried bread) and cheddar-filled pierogies with butter and onion.
- Schnitz Ale Brewery (Nov. 2021)
Brothers Igor and Goran Djurin opened
Schnitz Ale Brewery across the street from their family’s Das Schnitzel Haus restaurant. First-generation Polish American brewmaster Jerome Moore focuses on German styles, including a dark Kolsch and a smoked amber ale rauchbier.
Visitors to the Little Italy neighborhood can sip and swirl at a new winery and bistro,
High & LowGuests can enjoy house made wines in the two-sided tasting room – one side features a refined setting and the other has a more rustic, casual vibe. A Mediterranean-style bistro menu and beer, bourbon, cognac and wine cocktails round out the experience.
The exclusive craft cocktail club
Giappone opened beneath chef Dante Boccuzzi’s popular Japanese restaurant
Goma. The intimate, swanky space is adorned with a copper bar and features nightly DJs.
The Cleveland outpost of Scotland’s
BrewDog is located on a bend of the Cuyahoga River and features a 10,000-square-foot taproom and restaurant with 28 beers on draft and a massive riverfront patio with a kids’ play area, dog park and firepits.
- Cherie Wine Bar (Early 2022)
Featuring velvet seating and French flare, wine enthusiasts will revel in the
Cherie Wine Bar & Lounge experience. Guests can look forward to a carefully curated wine selection with a range of styles to enjoy in flights, glasses or by the bottle. The indoor-outdoor bar sits on the riverfront and will offer a selection of small plates and shareables.
New Hotel Projects and Shopping & Entertainment Hub Welcome Visitors
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:
An iconic, 1930s art deco building in the heart of Downtown is entering a new era as a hub for shopping, dining and entertainment. Developers of
Tower City Center have partnered with
Cleveland Chain Reaction to bring local small- and minority-owned businesses to the landmark shopping center. Visitors can also experience a new store and event space from fashion retailer
XHIBITION. Plus, The Land x
Complex Shop pop-up (Jan. 7-Feb 20) will feature a highly curated selection of products, including exclusive shoes, clothing and more.
- ROOST Apartment Hotel (Early 2022)
Opening late-winter/early-spring,
ROOST Apartment Hotel blends the comfort and practicality of an apartment with the amenities and design of a boutique hotel. ROOST will span three floors of The May building, an adaptive restoration of a historic department store built by renowned architect Daniel Burnham in 1915. The 62 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments are available for stays of all lengths, with amenities including a yoga studio, large makerspace, three-story open-air atrium and panoramic rooftop terrace.
A former NASA site is being converted into
The Orbit Hotel, a 54-room, boutique hotel with mid-century modern design, fitness center and outdoor pool. The building was constructed in 1964 while Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center played an important role during the space race.
A 1960s modernist skyscraper in Downtown Cleveland will host a new
W Hotel, opening in 2023.
Plans for the 210-room hotel include a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and event center, a full-service spa and gym and a restaurant and bar on the 38
th floor with panoramic city views.
After extensive renovations, the
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel will be rebranded as the Hotel Cleveland, returning the city's second-largest hotel to its original, historic name. The 491-room hotel will be part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of distinct, independent hotels. Renovations to the 1918 building are to be completed in 2023.
LOOKING AHEAD
Over the next few years, Cleveland will welcome visitors for several notable events. Here’s a look at what’s ahead.
- 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four
After hosting this Championship in 2007, Cleveland will again welcome the
NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four in 2024 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
- 2024 Pan-American Masters Games (PAMG)
Held every four years in the Americas,
PAMG is an Olympic-like sports festival for athletes over 30 years old. It features nearly 20 medal-contending sports including track and field, tennis, basketball, pickle-ball and cycling. The event is expected to be the largest international gathering in Northeast Ohio’s history, bringing over 7,500 athletes from more than 50 countries.
It will be a blackout in Cleveland on April 8, 2024, as the city is in the direct path of the total solar eclipse. Ohio will be one of just 13 states left in the dark as the moon passes between Earth and the sun. The darkness will be longest in Northeast Ohio, nearly four minutes.
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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. In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic reduced visitation by 30 percent, with 13.8 million visits occurring. Prior to the pandemic, Cleveland hosted 19.6 million visits annually, with the County experiencing annual visitation increases that surpassed the domestic travel growth rate for nine consecutive years. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.