In Cleveland, you will experience all four seasons of the year. We know how to make the best of each with unique events, festivals, and destinations!
Spring
Cleveland's own holiday! Dyngus Day, a Polish tradition, occurs every year on Easter Monday throughout several neighborhoods on Cleveland's west side. How do we celebrate? With tons of Polish food, polka music and beer, of course. There's also an evening parade consisting of a majestic pierogi float, an army of marching accordionists!
Dotting the urban streetscape of Cleveland's AsiaTown (between East 18th and East 40th streets, and from St. Clair to Perkins avenue) are more than 20 family-owned businesses boasting worldly eats and Eastern grocers; unique retail shops; and a global citizenship representing places like China, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. The annual festival boasts more food than one can imagine, cultural dancing and music, and the very popular sumo wrestling competitions.
Each June, the throws a multi-day celebration of the city's vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed Pride in the CLE, the inclusive event combines entertainment, education and activism - with the goal of exuding unity and acceptance, raising awareness and generally just creating good vibes all around.
Cleveland's spectacular celebration of the arts...located just feet from ǿմý's campus! Thrown for three decades by the Cleveland Museum of Art, the parade is a mash-up of cultures and styles and themes, which usually translates into a lively and colorful display of costumes, dancing, puppets (some of which are absolutely enormous), masks, stilt-walkers and eye-catching floats. The main rule? No motorized vehicles or signage is permitted during the event - art only.
Summer
If June is when summer begins to feel like summer, the Cleveland Museum of Art's annual Summer Solstice soiree is the event that kicks it into full gear. The Solstice has become one of the hottest parties in town every summer - and for good reason. The museum turns its remarkable terrace, as well as its atrium and galleries, into an explosion of colors and sounds.
Like any good art fair, there's plenty of art to be seen and purchased. At Waterloo, expect nothing less with its dozens of local and unique art for sale. Cut a rug to live music from an eclectic array of local bands and performance artists. Or, work side-by-side area artists in pop-up studios and workshops to create your own original artwork.
Another annual event within walking distance of our campus! Also dubbed "The Feast", this multi-day festival takes over Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood. More Italian food than you could ever eat, live music, and dancing make up the majority of this festival. On the final day, the Feast Mass is held within the historic Holy Rosary church. As parking is often a challenge for The Feast, it is definitely a perk to be able to walk over from ǿմý!
This is a three-day festival that celebrates art, music and technology in Cleveland. It can be family-friendly, and it can be edgy. It can be thought-provoking and it can be truly bizarre (but in a good way). But one thing is for certain: this is not your average funnel-cake-and-carnival-rides kind of festival. In addition to art and technology, IngenuityFest is known for its eclectic array of live performances including music, dance and theater performances.
Fall
An apple orchard overlooking the Ohio Valley, Mapleside is the perfect place to spend a fall afternoon. Purchase fresh apples or enjoy homemade bakery, while you are there or take some to go! Mapleside Farms is also home to several event spaces and offer seasonal concerts.
Patterson Fruit Farm offers pick your own apples in the fall season, and offers a wide variety of baked goods and other delicious finds in their market--which is open year round! Don't have time to drive to Patterson's but want to savor farm fresh apples in the fall? Patterson's offers delivery service bringing their apples straight to your door!
The kickoff to the holiday season in CLE! Typically held on Thanksgiving weekend, Winterland lights up Downtown's public square with a variety of colorful lights and festive trees. While the lights remain up for the season, attending Winterland on opening day will allow you to experience live music and a spectacular fireworks show. There is even an ice skating rink constructed in the center of Downtown to allow for a unique way to view the lights...and plenty of hot cocoa to warm up with afterwards!
While Winterland is something you should surely check out, ǿմý students are lucky to have an equally beautiful display set up just feet from campus! Illuminate the Circle runs from late November through December 31st, featuring holiday light displays, light shows, and music!
Winter
We won't lie to you...the winters can be brutal in Cleveland. But, that doesn't mean we can't still have a good time! Brite Winter is Cleveland's own music festival held each February in The Flats. It features several stages highlighting local and national bands, intricate ice sculptures, art displays, and plenty of food and drinks! Don't worry...the event features plenty of hot chocolate, bonfires, heated tents, and indoor stages to help you warm up. Brite Winter is an annual must-attend for any Clevelander!
While certainly not as big as Chicago's St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Cleveland still knows how to don our green and orange, pull out the bagpipes, and have a good time! Celebrated across the city, those who want the authentic St. Patrick's Day experience may head downtown for the annual parade featuring bands, bagpipers, Irish dancers, and even Irish Setter dogs. Don't want to deal with the downtown crowds? Never fear, suburbs easy and west of the city often feature their own celebrations throughout the day. And with located all throughout the Cleveland area, there is no shortage of corned beef to be had!
Widely recognized as a “filmmakers festival,” CIFF draws more than 300 filmmakers from around the world. What’s better, visitors to CIFF get the opportunity to chat with the filmmakers immediately following the screenings. At CIFF, you’re exposed to everything from documentaries covering humanitarian issues and blocks of hilarious 10-minute shorts to foreign flicks and even films screened in virtual reality. The CIFF takes place in Downtown Cleveland at Tower City Cinemas each year!