Fri 8/25-Sun 8/27
The Italian sport of bocce has become more and more mainstream, with the surging popularity of recreational sports of all types such as bowling, shuffleboard and of course, pickleball. But the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce, taking place at the Wickliffe Italian-American Club, predated that trendiness: it’s now in its 39th year.
One hundred and twenty-two teams, including 18 in the women’s division, will be coming to Cleveland from across the country and Canada to vie for $25,000 in prize money.
The event opens on Friday August 25 @ 3:30pm with Giovanni Castiglione singing the U.S., Italian and Canadian national anthems, with tournament play starting immediately and running through Sunday on nine covered courts. There’s also live music from 7-11pm. Tournament play starts again at 8am Saturday and Sunday
Even if you aren’t playing bocce or cheering on someone who is, this weekend has a lot going on, with entertainment all weekend on the main stage in the covered pavilion and cultural activities Saturday @ noon-3pm, including a photo display of Italian-Americans in Cleveland, and a cooking demonstration. Sunday is Family Day, with kid-oriented entertainment including magician Rick Smith Jr., Jungle Terry’s Exotic Animal Show, a balloon artist and face painting. Late Sunday afternoon the women’s division and open division championships take place. There’ll be plenty of Italian and American food available to keep you going.
Go here for more information.
29717 Euclid Ave, Wickliffe, OH 44092