Lakewood's Creative Street Party Turns 49

Good morning, Cleveland! Our latest 216 Insider — this time free to all of our readers — looks at Lakewood Arts Festival. It’s one of the most interesting and unique festivals of the summer — a street party that helped mold the image of Lakewood as a welcoming hub for creativity.

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John Petkovic

For decades, Lakewood has been hailed as one of the area’s most welcoming communities – where all walks are welcome not just to live, but to enjoy life.

It’s built that reputation on art and culture, restaurants, galleries, music clubs, the Screw Factory art hub and the Beck Center for the Arts.

For 49 of those years, the Lakewood Arts Festival has brought the color, spirit and life of the city onto the street.

It returns Saturday August 1, with color, sound, and imagination on Detroit Avenue.

Founded in 1978, the fest started a small, simple idea: Bring neighborhood residents together for a summer stroll with art as the attraction.

These days, it’s one of the area’s most important and unique festivals – attracting more than 15,000 visitors near and wide.

It also a labor of love – for the nonprofit Lakewood Downtown Arts Festival, Inc., its army of volunteers and it’s participants.  

“I grew up on Belle and Franklin and would go to the festival every year,” says artist Garrett Bodnar. “I have fond memories of it and it fueled me as a child.”

Bodnar was inspired by the idea of turning Detroit Avenue into one big gallery on the street.

But also by the curious crowds and a mission that started in 1978: To bring neighborhood residents together for a summer stroll with art as the attraction.

Bodnar absorbed the happening – and proceeded to pursue art.

For six years, the Cleveland artist has displayed his striking, enchanting and often challenging prints, paintings and sculptures at Lakewood Arts Festival.

“Unlike a lot of festivals, it has an expansive understanding of local culture,” he says. “It places an emphasis on the wide range of art rather than just about making money.”

“It’s not about selling pretty watercolor painting that you can hang in your bathroom,” he adds. “You can find that, sure, but also brutalist and experimental work and things will challenge you.”

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Detroit Avenue between Arthur and Belle avenues will host more than 170 juried regional and national artists displaying paintings, prints, photography, glass, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and other media.

They come from the city — but also the Midwest and East Coast.

For a complete list of artists, go here.

Lakewood Arts Festival is one of the rare festivals that emphasize a balance of fine art, decorative work, and accessible price points.

“I’ve done other festivals, but this one is so much more inclusive,” says Bodnar.

“I appreciate beauty and aesthetics – but I’m all about art that pushes the envelope and explores grey areas where people are confronted with images that make them think about what brings them disconcert and pleasure.”

Of course, there are various ways to experience pleasure.

The festival rolls out multiple stages for some of the most eclectic bands and performers in the area.

OPUS 216 mixes classical with Irish fiddle, French and South American jazz, to original music.

Papa Assane M'Baye Senegalese Drums is a driving, poly-rhythmic experience.

Moon Echo Garden rolls out psychedelic folk. Good Morning Valentine brings the haunting indie folk. Cats on Holiday is a swampy blues trip.

For a complete list of performers, go here.

The festival takes the same approach with its food offerings.

The Pop Up Food Truck Park offers a wide range of international and local cuisines – from Parilya-Taste of the Philippines to Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Desperado Quesadillas, Fahrenheit, Proper Pig BBQ and Juicy Vegan.

For a complete list of food offerings, go here.

Above all, it’s a street party that helped mold the image of Lakewood as a welcoming place, where all walks are welcome and the spirit is creative.

Lakewood has brought us legendary shows at the Phantasy Nite Club, up-and-comers at Mahall’s and the Winchester. Popular and experimental theater. Unique restaurants, cool dive bars. A community of artists.

The Lakewood Arts Festival sits at the intersection of the city’s cultural traditions.  

By closing a main commercial artery for a single day of juried art, live performance, and public gathering, it makes the city’s creative life spill out onto the street for the block party of the season.