Festivals are back in full swing. Go savor the summer.
The 4th of July is celebrated with backyard fireworks, Cleveland’s traditional extravagant fireworks display, small-town community festivals like Bay Days, and patriotic feel-good all-weekend retailer events like Crocker Park’s holiday event. The festival scene took a back seat to 4th of July, letting the masses celebrate the birth of the United States with picnics, snow cones, and popguns.
After all that fuss, the Cain Park Arts Festival and Tremont Art Walk were respites from the hustle-bustle of life. Thank you to all those event planners who make summer an adventure. We’re back to multiple festivals again this weekend with some noteworthy ideas.
There may not be any vineyards in Hudson, but the Hudson Wine Festival [pictured] is this weekend, Sat 7/16 and Sun 7/17. This charity event benefits local nonprofits and takes place at Village Way in the First & Main shopping district. Music, food, seminars, artists, local businesses, and 250 kinds of wine will be showcased from 1 – 9PM on Sat and 1–6PM on Sun. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include 10 tastings and a souvenir wine glass.
The Deep Blues Festival at the Beachland Ballroom aims to show Clevelanders that the blues are alive and well. Musicians will improvise and jam on into the night on Sat 7/16 from 5PM until 1:30 AM. Bands from as close as Akron (The Misery Jackals) and as far as Austin (Old Gray Mule) will find the essence of blues music. Tickets are $20. If you don’t know where the party is, set your GPS to get you to 15711 Waterloo Road.
On of Cleveland’s favorite neighborhoods will once again celebrate its restaurants this weekend during Taste of Tremont. The Professor Street party is from 12PM until 8PM on Sun 7/17 between Starkweather and Fairfield. Sample chocolate truffles and mini-burgers and when your hands are clean, slip into the galleries or sit at a table to listen to music and watch the crowds go by.
Get out of town and head out to Painesville from Fri 7/15 through Sun 7/17 for the Party in the Park in Painesville Considered Ohio’s largest free music festival, 30 Ohio and national bands play in the park. Beer, wine and food can make the days last in downtown Painesville. Music includes Rock, Reggae, Jazz, Funk, Indie, Folk, Country, Classic Rock, Latin, Soul, and Bluegrass. A new band will make music almost every hour from noon till midnight.
More art… This time in Willoughby and Medina. The Willoughby Arts Festival will be staged on Sat 7/16 from 10AM until 5PM in downtown Willoughby, which has the best Main Street feel around. This event features over 125 artists, and provides entertainment and food for over 10,000 people. The following day, on Sun 7/17, Medina’s Public Square, the 38th Art-in-the-Park juried art show highlights work selected from all over the country by the Medina County Art League. The art show will fill up the square from 1PM until 5PM.
It’s another food, music, and art weekend on the north coast. It’s after the 4th, so summer’s getting short and it’s time to get out and go to a festival. It’s worth the getting up and getting out effort to experience local art.
Claudia Taller’s book Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries was just released by Arcadia Publishing. Find out more about the book by going to http://OhioLakeErieWineries.blogspot.com and order it through Claudia by sending an email to claudia.taller@yahoo.com or order directly through PayPal on the blog.
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