📰 Summer Festivals You Didn’t Know You Needed 🌞

Together With

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop. Your trusty sidekick for summer chaos in Cleveland! Whether you're mapping out your festival hops, waiting for a chicken-themed space launch in Parma 🗺️🎪🐔

Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here)​

In today’s 216 Scoop Edition:

• Your roadmap for the summer: The 216 Scoop Cleveland Festival Guide

• First look: Astro Chicken almost ready to start clucking in Parma

• Cleveland hangs tough, even as housing headwinds point to slowdown

• ‘Personality Crisis’: CLE punk-a-rama hits Foundry

  
  
  John Petkovic & Victor Takakura

🎉 Advertise with Us! 🎉
Get your brand in front of over 25,000 highly engaged Clevelanders every single week! Whether it’s boosting your visibility or driving traffic to your events, we’ve got you covered. Let’s connect you with an audience that’s excited about what’s happening in the 216.
📩 Reply to this email to get started today!

IN THE NEWS

Your roadmap for the summer: The 216 Scoop Cleveland Festival Guide

Yes, there’s food and drinks and music. But there’s much more, something bigger that makes Cleveland festival season the highlight of the year.

The celebrations boast what’s best about Cleveland: Diverse people coming together to tell the stories of communities and neighborhoods with culture, cuisine and traditions.

From May through September, dozens of ethnic and cultural celebrations, street parties and fairs will assault the senses with enough music, food and partying to make you feel as if you’d traveled your way around the world.

The recent Asian Festival marked the start, but things get going Memorial Day Weekend with four celebrations.

Roll out the 216 Scoop Cleveland Festival Guide – down below in the 216 Rundown.

A MESSAGE FROM SWANWICK

😴 Sleep Better Tonight with Swanwick! 👓

Say goodbye to restless nights and hello to deeper, more restorative sleep. Swanwick’s anti-blue light LED bulbs and night lights help protect your natural melatonin production—without sacrificing brightness or style. Whether you're winding down with a book or setting the perfect sleep-friendly ambiance, our amber and red lights are a dream come true. Trusted by 47,000+ customers, we’re here to help you wake up refreshed.

✨ Block the blue. Embrace the Zzzs.

🛒 Shop now & get FREE shipping on orders $50+

👉 Visit SwanwickSleep.com

First look: The Astro Chicken is almost ready to start clucking in Parma

The fast-food chicken coup is about to get a new tenant. Layne’s Chicken Fingers has set a tentative opening date for its Ohio debut – June 9, in the former Boston Market space, 1350 W. Pleasant Valley Road, Parma.

A sign on the front door hyped the tentative opening date: “Hello there future Astro Chickens… Come back and see us then! Let’s Get Cluckin!”

Founded in 1994, in College Station, Texas, the restaurant chain is known for its “soon to be famous chicken fingers,” crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and signature sauce – not to mention small-town, homespun approach and ‘Astro Chicken’ mascot that is central to its branding.

Layne’s, which has 20 franchises in Texas, has added sandwiches and wraps and milkshakes as it pursues an ambitious expansion plan in the Midwest en route to doubling its shops to 50 by the end of the year.

 “The Parma location is a great starting place for us to serve the community,” said Layne’s CEO Samir Wattar. “And there’s potential for even more restaurants in our future.”

Cleveland hangs tough, even as housing headwinds point to slowdown

Houses are taking longer to sell. Homebuilding sentiment is down. And high prices and soft demand are projecting a downturn.

Yet, Cleveland remains resilient amid national headwinds.

A new report by Redfin finds that the spring homebuying season has been lackluster, with record-high housing costs and economic instability keeping would-be homebuyers at bay. 

Mortgage-purchase applications are down 6% month over month, while pending home sales fell, too, declining 2.8% year over year nationwide.

Cleveland is hanging in, however.

• It’s in the top five metro areas when it comes to year-over-year prices increases – sitting in 3^rd behind Newark, N.J. and Milwaukee, Wi. with a 7.6% year-over-year appreciation.

• The median age of a home sold in the Cleveland area was 65 years – 30 more than the national average, per Redfin. Homebuilding activity has been lower than the national average for decades – which has resulted in constrained supply.

• Cleveland is perceived as an affordable-housing market among out-of-staters. Not so much among locals – as the rise in prices and tight supply have priced out many out.

  A MESSAGE FROM CORDELIA

Experience Cleveland's Best at Cordelia!

Indulge in a fresh take on Midwestern cuisine at Cordelia, where locally sourced ingredients meet bold, flavorful dishes. Located in the heart of East 4th Street, we celebrate Cleveland’s culinary heritage with scratch-made meals, craft cocktails, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're craving shareable plates, signature entrees, or innovative drinks, Cordelia offers an unforgettable dining experience. Perfect for date nights, gatherings, or a night out in the city—come taste what makes us special.

📍 2058 E 4th St, Cleveland, OH

🔥 Reserve your table today at CordeliaCLE.com and experience the best of Cleveland!

The 216 Rundown

The 216 Cleveland Festival Guide: Cultural celebrations, street parties and fairs  

May 22-25

Blossom Time Festival: Hot air balloon races, a carnival, pizza-eating contests and live music amid Chagrin Falls’ picturesque setting. Info.

May 23-26

Berea's National Rib Cook-Off: A chowdown filled with countless sauces served with ribs, yes, but also chicken, carnival food, rides, games and bands. Info.

53^rd Tremont Greek Festival: Greek culture served with delicacies, music, beer and spirit – a season highlight for 50-plus years. Info.

May 24-25

Reggae Fest: Everything’s irie as soulful food and chill vibes and 10 bands makes it feel like Jamaica. Info.

June 7

Pride in the CLE: One of the season’s biggest parties: A parade with 3,000 marchers, 150 vendors, performers and ancillary events. Info.

June 14

Juneteenth Freedom Fest: Family-friendly celebration with stage shows by Karamu House, DJ sets, live bands, games, a Vendor Village and ‘Soul Food Row.’ Info.

The Hooley: Irish street party with two live music stages, step dancing, art, a beer garden and vendors. Info.

Parade the Circle: Giant puppets, stilt-walkers and floats and an artful celebration with music, activities and food.  Info.

June 27-28

Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival: Since 1977, it has celebrated traditional dance, music and athletics of the ancient Highland Games and Celtic culture. Info.

Saturday June 28

Larchmere Porchfest: More than 30 acts -- from rock to folk to funk to jazz – play on porches to create a swinging street party. Info.

June 28-29

11^th Lebanese Food and Music Festival: Small plates, traditional dishes and grilled items served with performers, music, games and activities. Info.

June 28-29, July 4-6

51^st Boston Mills Artfest: Two-weekend soiree: 300 artists from 35 states to go with scenic views, live music, wine and food. Info.

July 5-Aug. 17 (Saturdays and Sundays)

Great Lakes Medieval Faire: A song-, food- and crafts-filled Renaissance and medieval party with wizards, wenches, knights and patrons gnawing on turkey legs. Info.

July 9-13

99^th Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival: Old-timey festival and fair that look, feels like something out a movie. Info.

July 11-13

48^th Cain Park Arts Festival: Arts-sensory overload, with more than 150 artists, countless food possibilities and folk, bluegrass and jazz. Info.

July 18-20

Irish Cultural Festival: Three days of bands from America and Ireland to go with dancers, bagpipers, art, drama, food, beer and, yes, Celtic pooches. Info.

July 19

Lakewood Summer Meltdown: Block party blow-out with 15,000 attendees, vendors, activities and races. Link

July 20

Taste of Tremont: A spotlight on Tremont’s foodie scene served with live music and church tours. Info.

August 1-3

Twins Day Festival: The gathering of twins (and other multiples) rolls out look-alike contests, a parade and entertainment. Info.

August 2

Lakewood Arts Fest: Multiple stages for bands and performers, along with street-party vibes and offerings. Info.

August 2-3

Puerto Rican Parade and Festival: The parade and fest are a colorful mix of Caribbean food, Latin art and sweaty dancing. Info.

August 5-10

Cuyahoga County Fair: The animals and the demolition derby are grand. It also rolls out human tricks – clowns, amusement rides and games, tractor pulls, tons of bands. Info.

August 14-17

126th Little Italy Feast of the Assumption: A religious observance meets a street party, carnival, art fair and a food fest… a fine way to pasta time away. Info.

August 15-17

Cleveland Pagan Pride: Drum circles, Druids and broom dances – not to mention magic, music, spells, rituals and herbs. Info.

Romanian Festival: The oldest Romanian parish in the U.S celebrates tradition with folk dancers, bands, church tours and food. Info. 

Donauschwaben Sommer Oktoberfest: Break out the lederhosen, dirndls, bands, folk dancers, bratwurst and beer. Info.

August 22-24

Egyptian Festival: This celebration bridges old and new worlds. Food and music are paired with a bazaar and tours of St. Mark’s that recount the early days of Christianity. Info.

August 24

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 79^th One World Day: A celebration amid the beautiful stretch of gardens and monuments that was started in 1916 to honor ethnic groups. Info.

Aug. 28-Sept. 1

Geauga County Fair: The 203^rd edition of Ohio’s oldest fair rolls out a demolition derby, truck-tractor pull, pig race, frog jumping competition and rooster crowing contest. Info.

Aug. 31

69th Scout Festival: Ohio's largest Hungarian fest is a marathon of music, dance, food and drink -- colorful costumes, violinists, game and goulash. Info.

Aug. 31-Sept 1 and Sept. 5-6

Cleveland Oktoberfest: Bavarian bash with hose beloved Wiener Dog Races, and enough food, bands and entertainers to keep even King Ludwig entertained. Info.

Aug. 31-Sept. 1

Serbian Cultural Festival: It's a fest and a feast – and partyers of all background come to eat cheese strudel, grilled meat and drink plum brandy. Info.

September 13

Waterloo Arts Fest: This street party has been instrumental in reviving Collinwood and boasts bands, performers, DJs, food and vendors. Info.

NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

9 p.m. Tuesday: CLE punk-a-rama hits Foundry

The Foundry Concert Club has expanded its themes and offerings since reopening in a bigger space on March 29 in Old Brooklyn. It’s hosted records fairs, Goth proms, new wave dance and trivia nights – and, recently, kicked off a  classic CLE punk night dubbed ‘Personality Crisis.’ The evening digs into Cleveland’s storied punk past with DJs spinning bands – local and out-of-town – that defined and impacted the scene. At 9 p.m. Tuesday, the latest installment of the punk-a-rama hits the Foundry, 4256 Pearl Road, Cleveland.

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

Cars navigate high water on a flooded road through the Rocky River Reservation,1931.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @216Scoop on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

Extra Sprinkles

Fly More, Spend Less 🌍✈️

Hey, jet-setters! Who says bucket list adventures have to break the bank? Ovago hooks you up with cheap flights and unbeatable deals so you can explore the world without emptying your savings. Why overpay for airfare when you could save big and travel more? Grab your next steal of a flight deal today and let’s turn those travel dreams into boarding passes! Book now👉 here ✨

Happy Pets, Healthy Life 🐶💊

Pet parents, we see you! Keeping your furry best friend healthy shouldn’t feel like a full-time job (or drain your wallet). EntirelyPets Pharmacy makes it easy with affordable, vet-approved meds, supplements, and wellness products—all delivered straight to your door. Shop now and score the best deals on pet care essentials! 🐾 Get started 👉 here

WEATHER

Monday, May 19

59 🌡️ 50 | ☁️ | 6% | 💨 WSW 6 mph

Tuesday, May 20

64 🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ | 57% | 💨 NNE 12 mph

Wednesday, May 21

70 🌡️ 59 | 🌧️ | 56% | 💨 N 4 mph

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Live Shows in the 216

🗓️ Monday, May 19

• Breaking Benjamin at Blossom Music Center – 5:45 PM

• GRIZZLED at The Winchester – 7:00 PM

• Kevin Ford at Grog Shop – 8:00 PM

• Lakeview at Blossom Music Center – 5:30 PM

• LibCor at Biased Footwear Company – 6:00 PM

• Rent Strike at Matinee – 7:00 PM

• Staind at Blossom Music Center – 5:30 PM

• Wage War at Blossom Music Center – 7:00 PM

🗓️ Tuesday, May 20

• Anees at House of Blues Restaurant & Bar – 7:00 PM

• Asher Roth at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – 8:00 PM

• Diamond Cafe at Jacobs Pavilion – 7:00 PM

• DJ Teddy Eisenberg at Beachland Tavern – 7:00 PM

• Ramona at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – 7:00 PM

• Teddy Swims at Jacobs Pavilion – 6:30 PM

• Thor Platter Band at Dogg House – 6:00 PM

• Twin Seas at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – 8:00 PM

🗓️ Wednesday, May 21

• Aaron Stanley at 1875 Winery & Event Center – 6:00 PM

• Carole King & James Taylor at Robins Theatre – 7:00 PM

• Cheater Slicks at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – 8:00 PM

• Colin John Music at Early Show Transmission Room Stage – (time not listed)

• Dan Clews at Robins Theatre – 7:00 PM

• Dennis Van Crash at BOP STOP @ The Music Settlement – 7:00 PM

• Ethan Timm at The Treehouse – 8:00 PM

• Jon Spencer at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – 8:00 PM

• Melrose Avenue at Mahall’s – 6:00 PM

• Melrose ave (Tour) – 7:00 PM

• Mike Zito at Music Box Supper Club – 7:30 PM

• Phoebe Katis at Robins Theatre – 7:00 PM

• The Word Alive (with The Funeral Portrait + Melrose Avenue) – 6:00 PM

The 216 Sports Area

Upcoming Games

Guardians

Away vs. Twins, 7:40pm EST, Monday 19th.

Away vs. Twins, 7:40pm EST, Tuesday 20th.

Away vs. Twins, 1:10pm EST, Wednesday 21st.

Thanks for reading The 216 Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who loves Cleveland winters, but only because of the snowboarding.

Watch this quick video (start at 0:50) to see how easy it is to add our app to your home screen!