Winter’s gray skies and continued potential for lake effect snow are likely to have even the hardiest of winter-loving Clevelanders reeling from cabin fever. Instead of pulling that escape hatch and skipping town, locals can scratch their travel itch from now through early April at a variety of creative and horizon-broadening cultural festivals, events and celebrations in The Land.
The Land of seeing the world from home
Locals can layer up and come together at some of the area’s most iconic mid-winter events, all celebrating the diverse people and places that embody Cleveland’s unstoppable spirit.
Brite Winter Festival
Nothing showcases Cleveland’s fearless winter weather vibe quite like Brite Winter, the outdoor music and arts festival on the West Bank of the Flats. Locals can embrace the chill with a frosty beer, outdoor games and ice sculptures – not to mention three stages of live music and a wide array of local art installations. There are also bonfires, warming tents and cocktail “igloos” for those who aren’t looking to be in the cold for too long.
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Feb. 25, 3 p.m. – midnight
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West Bank of the Flats; Cleveland
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Tickets (starting at $10 for general admission) available online
Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival
Cleveland is home to the largest Slovenian population outside of Slovenia, so it’s no surprise that Cleveland Kurentovanje is quite the celebration. The festival, also known as Slovenian Mardi Gras, features nearly two weeks of events that range from the awakening of the furry Kurenti monsters who scare away winter to lessons in polka dancing and Slovenian cooking. Clevelanders itching for the start of spring can help chase winter away with the celebration’s parade and festival in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.
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Feb. 5-18; main parade and festival Feb. 18
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Slovenian National Home: 6417 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland
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Free admission, more details and festival schedule online
Orchids Forever at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
A tropical escape is an easy trip – no plane ticket required! – with a visit to the steamy and lush Cleveland Botanical Garden’s newest exhibit, Orchids Forever. General admission includes viewing the exotic beauty of more than 3,000 unique flowers from around the world.
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Wednesday, Feb. 1 - Sunday, Mar. 12
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Cleveland Botanical Garden: 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
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Exhibit included in admission ($19 adult, $13 child); Tickets available online or in person
Cleveland International Film Festival
Movie buffs and artsy types can get the popcorn ready in preparation for the 47th annual Cleveland International Film Festival, one of the longest running and largest film festivals in the United States. With in-person and streaming options, this Academy® Award-qualifying event gives Clevelanders the chance to travel the world through filmmakers’ lens.
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Live showings March 22 - April 1; Online streaming April 2-9
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Playhouse Square: 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
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Full festival passes or single-show tickets available online
Towpath Trail Lantern Parade
The new Towpath Trail Lantern Parade shines a light on the creative and sustainable solutions that are revitalizing The Land’s outdoor amenities. Attendees can stroll the Towpath and welcome spring to the banks of the Cuyahoga River, all with their own homemade recycled lantern to light the way.
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March 11, 6:30 p.m.
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Sokolowski’s Overlook: 1201 University Rd., Cleveland
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Free admission, registration online
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Bring on the shamrocks, green gear and that luck of the Irish for the beloved Cleveland tradition of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Cleveland. The 2023 parade begins on Superior Avenue at E. 18th St. and ends at the intersection of Rockwell Avenue and Ontario Street, with plenty of merriment throughout Downtown Cleveland all day long.
The Land of going beyond the history books
February continues to offer special exhibits and performances in honor of Black History Month. To complement these can’t-miss, one-time cultural events, residents can tempt their tastebuds and support the city's delicious Black-owned restaurants year-round.
History on Tap: A Celebration of Black Culture
Lift a glass to learning something new at the Cleveland History Center’s monthly happy hour event, “History on Tap.” February’s event focuses on the life and works of Allen E. Cole and the ongoing perspective of black culture through art in Cleveland. Music provided by DJ 8-bit. Local artists meet and greets available.
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Thursday, February 23, 5:00 p.m.
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Cleveland History Center: 10826 East Blvd., Cleveland
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Free with paid admission to the museum
“R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” an Aretha Franklin Musical Celebration
The Land of Rock & Roll unapologetically loves Aretha (the first female inducted into the Rock Hall in 1987), so locals need no excuse to shimmy to the Queen of Soul’s greatest hits. This toe-tapping tribute concert features a live band and phenomenal vocalists and will have Clevelanders and their visiting friends and family dancing in the aisles.
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Live performance on Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
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The Connor Palace Theatre: 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
“Red Summer” at Karamu House
With America’s oldest Black producing theater right here in The Land, catching a show at Karamu House should be high on every Clevelander’s hometown bucket list. The production “Red Summer” uses music, dance, poetry and local artists to tell the unheard stories of America’s 1919 summer of racial violence and explore what we as a nation have learned since.
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Feb. 24-March 5, performance times vary
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Karamu House: 2355 East 89th St., Cleveland
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Tickets (starting at $25) available online
“Linking Legacies” at The Music Settlement
Music lovers can celebrate local Black composers and artists at this special event at The Music Settlement in University Circle. Curated and performed by tenor Cornelius Johnson, cellist Khari Joyner, violist Chris Jenkins and pianist Dianna White-Gould, the concert features multiple generations of African American classical artists who perform and live in Ohio, while honoring African American composers with deep ties to Northeast Ohio.
Arts of Africa Gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art
The cultural significance of historic African art pieces at the always-free Cleveland Museum of Art is reexamined in the museum’s newly reinstalled Arts of Africa Gallery. Artifacts include a central African elite’s luxurious wooden sandals and a Zimbabwean ceremonial ax, as well as popular pieces made by the royal Asante goldsmiths’ guild.
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On display through July 2
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Cleveland Museum of Art: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland
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Included in free public admission
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa)
Modern art really is for everyone, and the early 2023 events and exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa) showcase the diversity of the human experience.
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moCa Black Arts Showcase
The Black Arts Showcase celebrates the various forms of artistic expression and creativity deeply embedded in African American culture with a program including meditation, open mic poetry, artist discussions, live painting and local vendors.
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Feb. 18, noon-4 p.m.
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Museum of Contemporary Art: 11400 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
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Free admission, reservations online
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moCa presents “Big Butch Synergy”
Spring exhibits include Nina Chanel Abney’s “Big Butch Synergy,” which explores and celebrates expressions of Black masculine women.
Branch out at Cleveland Public Library
Book lovers can hand in their returns and stay for a session on Black visionaries and artists throughout history. Special Black History Month events at Cleveland Public Library branches include:
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Celebrating our Black Leaders (Collinwood Branch) - Focus on Black scientists, politicians, activists and artists through books, videos, art and more. (Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, 4-5 p.m.)
Beyond Black History Month
There are year-round opportunities to discover more about Cleveland’s Black culture. Ongoing cultural exhibitions and significant historic sites include:
Hotter Than July: Photographs by Bruce Talamon
Every music fan should plan to visit the Rock Hall for photographer Bruce Talamon’s “frenzied, passionate” photography exhibition capturing the golden age of soul, R&B and funk. This visual representation of Blackness features iconic artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Bootsy Collins.
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Exhibit through July 2
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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: 1100 East 9th St., Cleveland
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Admission free to City of Cleveland residents, ($$) for non-residents. Advance tickets recommended and available online
Walk through history’s footsteps
Every Saturday, doors open to the Cozad-Bates House, the only pre-Civil War home remaining in University Circle and a well-known home of abolitionist leaders. Experience the new interpretive center, which highlights this area’s history as a center of anti-slavery activism and honors those seeking freedom.
Cleveland Civil Rights Trail
Locals can step back in time and retrace the footsteps of civil rights advocates as they marched across Cleveland in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Historic markers at each site tell the story of and significance for the Civil Rights Movement.
DON’T FORGET: Destination Cleveland’s concierge team is available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact the team via email (cleconcierge@destinationcle.org), live chat at thisiscleveland.com, or stop at the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland) Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. for planning assistance.
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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 stimulate economic growth by attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland’s diversity, creativity, and contagious passion. In 2021, visitation to Cuyahoga County rebounded to 16.1 million visits, a 17% increase after the COVID-19 global pandemic reduced visitation by 30 percent in 2020. Destination Cleveland continues its work to rebuild the travel and tourism industry, with the goal of exceeding pre-pandemic success as quickly as possible. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.