CLEVELAND (June 10, 2021)— As COVID-related restrictions are lifted and many pandemic-canceled events are back on track, the time is right for Clevelanders to roam The Land and explore its unique and memorable experiences. Whether it’s discovering a new place or visiting a perennial favorite, Destination Cleveland encourages residents to plan ahead for a fun-filled summer in The Land.
BLACK CULTURE IN THE CLE
As work to dismantle systemic racism continues throughout the country, Juneteenth – the day marking the 1865 release of all enslaved Africans in the United States – has gained deserved prominence. Through several events and experiences, residents can reflect and expand their knowledge about the city’s Black culture, important contributors and how Clevelanders helped bring slaves to freedom.
Juneteenth Freedom Fest
Residents and visitors of all ages can celebrate Juneteenth at Cleveland’s inaugural Freedom Fest. The free community event will feature mainstage performances from GRAMMY Award-winning performers Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science with GRAMMY Award winner Lisa Fischer and GRAMMY nominated Mumu Fresh.
Karamu House will present “Freedom on Juneteenth: Songs of Liberation.” Attendees can enjoy interactive art demonstrations, spoken-word performances, a vendor village spotlighting Black businesses, food trucks and beverage concessions. The event will culminate with an evening fireworks display.
- Saturday, June 19 from noon - 10 p.m.
- Mall C in Downtown Cleveland
- Admission is free
Amanda Wicker: Black Fashion Design in Cleveland
Opening June 10, a new exhibit at
Cleveland History Center celebrates designer Amanda Wicker, who moved to Cleveland in 1924 and began the Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design in the Fairfax neighborhood. It became an integral part of the predominantly African-American neighborhood, offering young women the chance to learn fashion design and participate in student fashion shows. The exhibit highlights Wicker’s involvement in the community.
- Hours: Thursdays, noon - 8 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland
- Advance tickets recommended, can be purchased here
Cozad-Bates House & A Bench by the Road
The only surviving pre-Civil War structure in University Circle, the Cozad-Bates House is home to a soon-to-open interpretive center focusing on the neighborhood’s history during the abolitionist movement. Residents can take a
virtual tour of the center or walk the grounds at the house, where art and educational signage highlight the local people and places of the Underground Railroad. Visitors can sit and reflect at a simple black steel bench – a tribute to those who were enslaved, placed there as part of The Toni Morrison Society’s “A Bench by the Road” project.
- 11508 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland
St. John’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church in the Ohio City neighborhood was at the center of the fight against slavery as part of the Underground Railroad. St. John’s became known to many as “Station Hope” as the bell tower served as a hideout for runaway slaves, who would use it to watch for the signal from boats on Lake Erie that would take them to freedom. An historical marker now stands outside the church, sharing the importance of the location.
- 2600 Church Ave., Cleveland
Other ways to commemorate Juneteenth include:
- A week of special events at Cleveland Public Library; the library is also offering a recommended booklist for those looking to learn more about Juneteenth;
- A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebration on the Rock Hall Plaza, featuring a number of performers including Djapo Cultural Arts Institute, Afi Scruggs, Ngina Fayola, All City Choir from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and CowPastor from Cleveland Museum of Art;
- A family-friendly Juneteenth Freedom Ride by bicycle through University Circle highlighting African American contributions and achievements in the neighborhood;
- A Juneteenth Celebration: Traditional Ceremonies, Spoken Word, Music at the Cleveland Cultural Garden’s Centennial Peace Plaza on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive;
- This is Blk Cle Juneteenth Walking Tour, a 45-minute walking tour in Downtown Cleveland that will highlight the contributions of African Americans during the post-Civil War growth of Cleveland. The tour will be offered four times throughout the day;
- A visit to the Underground Railroad Mural in Bedford, celebrating the unique role the city played on slaves’ road to freedom.
A full list of community events is available at
JuneteenthCLE.com.
RETURN TO SUMMER TRADITIONS
After a year of cancellations and virtual experiences, in-person events are returning to Cleveland’s summer calendar – including many perennial events. With festivals, celebrations and sports all back on the schedule, there’s plenty of opportunities to revive traditions or create new ones in the CLE.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
The Cleveland Indians are welcoming back the roar of the crowd as Progressive Field returns to full capacity. After a fan-free season in 2020, residents can get their fill of America’s favorite pastime all summer long, complete with giveaways, special events and, of course, those Dollar Dog Nights (don’t forget the Bertman’s Stadium Mustard). With more than 50 chances to see the team at home before the end of the season, fans should grab their ballcaps and root, root, root for the Indians!
Parade the City
Parade the Circle, the beloved arts celebration that brings colorful floats, giant puppets and stilt walkers to Wade Oval, is taking on a different form this year. Cleveland Museum of Art is pairing local artists and community groups to create eight celebratory art installations throughout Cleveland. Residents can
“Parade the City” to visit the installations, seven of which are open to the public, and then make their way to CMA’s new
Community Arts Center in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, which opens on June 12. The center’s inaugural exhibit,
“Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community,” will showcase a variety of the beloved puppets, costumes and masks that residents have come to know and love.
- Hours: Wednesday - Friday, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Community Arts Center: 2937 W. 25th St., Cleveland
Cain Park Arts Festival
Dozens of artists from across the country will set up shop during this three-day outdoor art festival at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. From July 9-11, residents can check out handmade items from jewelry and ceramics to sculptures and paintings as artisans compete for top prizes in each category. The festival experience is complete thanks to live music and bites from local food trucks.
- Hours: Friday July 9, 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday July 10, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday July 11,
noon - 5 p.m.
- 14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights
- Free admission
Light Up the Lake
Patriotic fireworks will light up the Cleveland skyline for the first time since 2019 as
Light Up the Lake returns to Downtown Cleveland. Residents can pack their blankets and chairs and head downtown to celebrate the Fourth of July. Fireworks will start at dusk, filling the sky from Dock 20 near FirstEnergy Stadium. Plenty of viewing vantage points are available, including the Flats – both the East and West banks – and North Coast Harbor.
- Sunday, July 4; Fireworks at dusk
Blossom Music Festival
The sounds of The Cleveland Orchestra will once again fill the air at Blossom Music Center as the Blossom Music Festival returns. This year’s festival kicks off with patriotic performances on July 3 and 4 and continues for 10 weeks.
- Weekly concerts, July 3 - September 5
- Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corner Rd., Cuyahoga Falls
- Season passes and individual tickets available online
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) Thurs. - Sat., 11 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.