Sat 9/11 @ noon-9PM
We attended the first Fresh Fest at Rid-All Farm in 2019 and had an amazing time checking out the growing facility dedicated to sustainable farming in the middle of an inner-city neighborhood often referred to as “the forgotten triangle.” Fresh food, local vendors, a yoga class, mural painting and live music were all part of this memorable day (It was also memorable as the last local appearance of humorous ’80s rapper Biz Markie of “Pickin’ Boogers” fame, who passed away in July, who did a DJ set.)
Of course it didn’t happen last year because pretty much nothing did, and we didn’t know whether to expect it to return. But it has! This year’s big-name headliner is producer/rapper DJ Spinderella, best known for her stint with Salt-N-Pepa.
But Fresh Fest is about much more than that. It showcases the Rid-All Green Partnership, which was launched a decade ago by three childhood friends from the Lee-Miles neighborhood: Keymah Durden III, Randy McShepard and the late Damien Forshe, who had a vision to turn an expanse of vacant, abandoned land off Kinsman Avenue into a thriving urban farm.
The One Garden Valley Project, Environmental Health Watch and Brittany’s Record Shop have joined with the Rid-All Green Partnership to offer a day of activities centering on wellness, healthy food, the arts and cultural unity. Fresh Fest will against feature a farmers market, chef demos and tastings, a beer garden, art installations, health and wellness workshops, yoga and meditation, and a kids’ zone with games, puppets, and hands-on art activities, including food art with cotton candy and popcorn — sure to be a hit with kids of all types. The local music line-up includes Kyle Kidd who creates “multi-sensory” original music; eclectic dance music by Gumbo Dance Party; Sammy DeLeon’s irresistibly rhythmic Latin Jazz Ensemble; rapper/singer Chelsea Pastel, Akron hip-hop/jazz/rock/funk band Red Rose Panic; and veteran local reggae group Jah Messengers.
It’s also a great opportunity to see all the activity going on at Rid-All Farm and check out the facility the founders and their team have built in the last ten years. It includes greenhouses, hoop houses, an aquaponic fishery, a classroom and a composting area. Learn more about Rid-All Green Partnership and its programs here.
Admission is free and they emphasize, “all are invited.” In 2019, many people attended to discover a wealth of healthy and creative activity in an area they may have previously seen as desolate and dangerous.
