Cleveland’s transformation from an overlooked industrial hub to a vibrant lakefront city continues, and a line-up of unique exhibitions, events and milestones in 2020 make it the ideal time for visitors to experience the city’s resurgence. Whether exploring Cleveland’s tapestry of neighborhoods, enjoying inspired food and beverage offerings, or experiencing action-packed sports or world-class arts and culture (without a hint of world-class ego), visitors can feel the passion, creativity and authenticity of this revitalized Midwest city.
Here’s why Cleveland is a must-visit in the new year:
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebrates 25 Years & Hosts the 2020 Inductions in Cleveland
- Opened in 1995 and designed by world-renowned architect I. M. Pei, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates 25 years on the shore of Lake Erie in 2020.
- It is only fitting that during this milestone year, the annual Induction Ceremony will be held in Cleveland on May 2, bringing rock’s greatest stars and biggest fans to the city to celebrate the pioneering music genre.
- Visitors can bring their dream of being a rock ‘n’ roll star to life in The Garage, the Rock Hall’s new interactive exhibit. The museum’s second floor has transformed into a hands-on area where guests can play, mix and record their own hits on drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and mixing boards.
- After a premier at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Play It Loud” took residency at the Rock Hall in November 2019. The exhibition follows rock music's monumental impact on society and culture through the instruments and sounds that defined its voice. Featuring more than 130 instruments from artists like Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga, Joni Mitchell and The Rolling Stones, the exhibition displays many instruments for the first time outside of a performance setting and celebrates the unique role instruments play in shaping the musical genre.
Engaging Arts and Cultural Experiences
- The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) welcomes “Picasso and Paper” May 24 - Aug. 23, 2020. Featuring more than 300 pieces of art spanning the artist’s entire career, the exhibition highlights new insights into Picasso’s creative spirit and working methods. It is organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris.
- The New York Times has declared The Cleveland Orchestra as “the best in America,” and its 102nd season is no exception. Programming continues to focus on new and under-represented pieces, including a citywide festival that explores music and art that was banned, marginalized and destroyed during the Nazi’s Degenerate Art movement. “Censored: Art & Power” kicks off in May 2020 and centers around a performance of the influential 20th century opera “Lulu,” along with partner programming at notable Cleveland arts organizations, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.
- As the nation commemorates the 100th Anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020, “Women and Politics” will fill the Cleveland History Museum with a series of permanent and temporary exhibits throughout the year. Presented in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland, the exhibits will showcase the story of women and politics, from the early days of the suffragist movement to the successful fight for the 19th Amendment, and the creation and growth of the League of Women Voters.
- From blockbuster Broadway productions to thought-provoking community performances, theater takes center stage in Cleveland in 2020. Playhouse Square, the nation’s second-largest performing arts center, will host fan-favorites like Disney’s FROZEN and the Tony Awarding-winning Hamilton. Innovative community theater programs like Cleveland Public Theatre and Karamu House, the nation’s oldest black theater company, complement the line-up with independent voices and a focus on social justice.
- Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood will be filled with more than 15 colorful murals as it hosts one of the few U.S. stops – and the only Midwest stop – of the POW! WOW! Festival in June 2020. Inspired by the color-filled pages of comic books, the multi-day festival is recognized as one of the most important and well-curated mural festivals in the world. In addition to local, national and international artists painting murals throughout the neighborhood, the festival also features concerts, performing arts, workshops and free family programming built around the celebration and appreciation of art, music and culture.
Sports & Recreation Mecca
- The 2019-20 NBA season marks the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 50th season in The Land. All season long, fans can take a trip down memory lane, remembering the franchise’s special moments, including the 2016 NBA Championship. The Cavaliers began the milestone season in the newly renovated Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Guests immediately feel the transformation as they enter through an all glass façade reflecting the Cleveland skyline. More spacious concourses lead to eight new fan hospitality destinations, featuring specialty food and beverage experiences and cutting-edge technology.
- Founded on the Lake Erie shore in 1870, Cedar Point invites guests to the biggest celebration in the park’s history during the 150th anniversary season. To mark the occasion, guests can enjoy new additions at the park, including the interactive Snake River Expedition ride, a reimagined Town Hall with retrospective exhibits, nostalgic food and merchandise items and a nightly celebration on the Main Midway.
- College basketball’s greatest players and biggest fans can experience the heart-stopping moments of NCAA Basketball in Cleveland at the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in March 2020. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will serve as the perfect setting for the tournament’s first and second rounds, as teams compete for a coveted spot in the tournament’s next round and ultimately vie to bring the championship trophy to their campus.
The Culinary & Beverage Scene Beckons
- James Beard Award-Winner Jonathon Sawyer opened Sawyer’s in November 2019. The restaurant highlights a love of flame-roasted flavors with most dishes being cooked over oak coals, cherry wood, grape vines and house-made charcoal.
- Chef Karen Small will open breakfast-focused Juneberry in March 2020, around the corner from her popular farm-to-table restaurant The Flying Fig in the Ohio City neighborhood.
- Local restaurant veteran Athan Zarnas opened Alea in December 2019, which features flavors of the Mediterranean and natural wines.
- Recognized as one of the fastest-growing breweries in the country, Cleveland brewing mega-house Platform Beer Co. opened a dedicated barrel souring facility and tasting room in November 2019 called Phunkenship, located in the city’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.
- Acclaimed chef Doug Katz opened Zhug in Cleveland Heights in November 2019. The chef/owner of fire food and drink and chef/partner of Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art focuses on Israeli cuisine for the new venture, along with other traditional flavors from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures.
- Building on the success of the EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institution, which offers formerly incarcerated adults a comprehensive hospitality training program, founder Brandon Chrostowski will introduce EDWINS Bakery in early 2020. The bakery joins the French restaurant and butcher shop within the EDWINS family.
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 19.2 million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.