08.19-08.26.2026 Which Way

 

 

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Which Way

08.19-08.26.26

Are we at an inflection point? Does it sometimes feel like end times, or just the end of our willingness to work together to make our world better? We have a better idea. In fact, a bunch of them. Don’t give up on which way this community is going, be a part of it. Jump on a bike & join the Fundo rolling out from Edgewater to make our streets safer, or join other families and set lanterns afloat on Coe Lake in Berea, or dress up as your favorite character and catch the Video Game Symphony at Severance Hall, or connect with the local film industry at The Schmooze at BOP STOP, or stroll the streets in freedom and harmony at Akron Pride, or test drive a new play by a local author at convergence/continuum, or smile along with three of the region’s best singer/songwriters at Riverdog Barn, or share your gardening knowledge at the Western Reserve Herb Society’s Herb Garden talk, or savor the flavors at the Tomato Tasting Festival in our National Park, or bring the kids to the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes for the End of Summer Soiree. Which way from here? It’s up to you.

-Thomas Mulready

CoolCleveland.com 

Photo by Thomas Mulready

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FEATURE

 

 FREEDOM TAKES WORK 

The original Freedom Summer in 1964 flooded Mississippi with voter registration and civil rights workers from across the country—three of whom were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. Maybe nothing that dramatic is happening now (or is it?) but national activists decided it was time for Freedom Summer 2026 in light of the rollback of hard-fought rights.

And this Saturday at Garden View Hill Park in Cleveland, local activist Kenn Dowell has organized Cleveland Freedom Summer 2026 where residents, especially on Cleveland’s east side, can connect over music, food, a spoken-word open mic and a rap cypher, while learning what they and their neighborhood can do total back the power. All are welcome.

 

NEWS

 

 MORE LANTERN TIME 

Originally scheduled to end this weekend, the Cleveland Metropark Zoo’s annual Asian Lantern Festival has been extended through September 12. Its final day will feature a spectacular choreographed drone show which is sure to be hugely popular, so grab your tickets now.

 CAP WINNERS REVEALED 

The Cleveland Arts Prize has announced the winners of its 66th annual awards, with the event to fete the winners on October 29. The three winning artists will be familiar to area arts lovers: collagist Dexter Davis is the lifetime achievement winner, with papermaker Aimee Lee getting the mid-career prize and spoken word artist/filmmaker Chris Webb named the emerging artist. Other special prizes went to supporters of the arts.

WEDNESDAY
8/19

 

Cleveland’s Musicians Against Dictators is holding a fundraiser to benefit voter registration & turnout group Mobilize the Vote NEO. It will feature a string quartet of Cleveland Orchestra members as well as a trio of noted local jazz musicians.

 MORE on WEDNESDAY… 

* Da Land Brass Band brings Wade Oval Wednesdays to a close.

THURSDAY
8/20

 

Convergence-continuum theater’s Verum series presents short runs of new plays by local authors. This weekend catch Calvin Adkins’ General Knowledge in which four women bicker over a chance to win a Trivia championship.

 MORE on THURSDAY… 

 

FRIDAY
8/21

 

Any local music festival headlined by Apostle Jones is going to automatically be a big event. Now add bands such as LoConti, Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band, Hubbs Groove and Hello! 3D, and you can wallow in the best of NEO music, today and tomorrow at South Euclid’s 17-band Rock the Block festival.

 MORE on FRIDAY….

* Heights Arts shows feature emerging artists and an artist doing first solo show.
* See lots of art at 78th Street Studios’ Third Friday.
* Market Garden Brewery celebrates its 15th year with events tonight and tomorrow.
* Connect with the Cleveland film industry at the Schmooze.

SATURDAY
8/22

 

The nonprofit Bike Cleveland does valuable work advocating for safer street infrastructure for all users. Its biggest fundraising event is its Fundo, where riders are invited to join family, friends and strangers to ride pre-set 10-, 30- and 60-miles course based on their personal skills and stamina.

 MORE on SATURDAY… 

 

SUNDAY
8/23

 

NEO’s Video Game Symphony is a 100-musician orchestra and choir that specializes in … well, the name says it all. They’ll be at Severance Hall to play music from popular games old and new, and there’s even a costume contest where you can vote on which cosplayer does it best.  

 MORE on SUNDAY… 

MONDAY
8/24

 

Fair season is winding down so don’t delay! This week, the Lorain County Fair officially opens today (it has a free day Sunday with arts & crafts judging) for a full week of the usual fair fun, including harness racing, a tractor pull and the inevitable demolition derby closing things down on Sunday.

TUESDAY
8/25

 

The Western Reserve Herb Society maintains the herb garden at the  Cleveland Botanical Garden, a lovely oasis of scent and color. And once a month, it offers a Tuesday talk about an aspect of its work. This morning, the talk is about “sweet herbs” — stevia, mint, basil and more.

 

WEDNESDAY
8/26

 

Downtown Cleveland has been presenting an interesting range of music in its free Wednesday concerts on Public Square. This week you can catch “bizarro rock band” King Buu and Frida and the Mann, featuring the dynamic vocalist Frida and her powerful band.

 MORE on WEDNESDAY… 

BACKTALK

 

 VIDEO 

Are you going our way?-Thomas Mulready
CoolCleveland.com
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