Media
Media Release
Cleveland, Ohio---East 89th Street from Carnegie Avenue to Cedar Avenue and Cedar Avenue to Quincy Avenue will be CLOSED to thru traffic on SATURDAY, JULY 21st from 7:00 am – 10 pm. This thoroughfare in Cleveland's Ward 6 (Cleveland Clinic/Fairfax Neighborhood) will be closed for the Fairfax Arts & Heritage Celebration (FA&HC) that will honor the history and legacy of the Fairfax community with a FREE all-day celebration. A Cleveland Clinic and University Circle, Inc. Shuttle Service will be available.
East 83rd Street from Carnegie Avenue to Central Avenue; East 79th Street from Central Avenue to Quincy Avenue and Quincy Avenue from East 79th Street to East 89th Street will also be CLOSED to thru traffic beginning at 9 am for the FA&HC Parade. The parade will begin at 10:30 am at East 83rd and Carnegie, the site of the new PNC Fairfax Connection and is being led by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, Cleveland Ward 6 Councilwoman Mamie J. Mitchell, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald and top executives from our partners PNC, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. Joining them will be Radio One's WZAK, NASA Glenn Research Center, University Circle Inc., and a host of other area stakeholders.
The mission of the Fairfax Arts & Heritage Celebration is to inspire a sense of community, educate residents about available resources, promote the area as a tourist destination, create collaboration between business owners, residents and other stakeholders and motivate citizen participation in the future growth of the neighborhood.
Chairperson and Ward 6 Councilwoman Mamie J. Mitchell hopes to create a premier annual FREE event that showcases the beauty, history and resources of Fairfax. East 89th Street will feature three stages of live entertainment from local artists such as jazz sensation Horns & Things, jazz and R&B artist Gwen Maul and Vince Robinson and the Jazz Poets on the PNC Stage, hosted by Jae The Gospel Kidd, located in the parking lot of Antioch Baptist Church. The Karamu House Stage located inside the Karamu Theaters, hosted by Karamu Artistic Director Terrence Spivey, will showcase the talents of the nationally renowned Crowtations Puppets, Teen Dance Concert salute to Whitney Houston and Donner Summer and an incredible excerpt from Karamu House's season opener, The Color Purple. The WZAK Stage, hosted by Robyn Simone and comedian Courtney G, will be located in the parking lot of the Karamu House and will feature Latin Soul favorite Saborit, the reunion of Cleveland's own CASH and Def Poetry Jam's Jessica Care Moore. The evening will culminate with a high energy performance from 70's Funk and R&B group ConFunkShun.
Robert "Bob" Render, Celebration Project Manager said "We have a full day of fun for the entire family lined up. There will be something for everyone."
The day will include a Children's Village with an inflatable bounce house, games and prizes and the PNC's Mobile Learning Adventure (MLA) Unit. Cleveland Clinic will provide Body Mass Index Analysis, Blood Pressure and Vision Screenings. At the University Hospitals Otis Moss Center you will find the Rainbow Care Bear, Mobile Dental Unit and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
"We want everyone to feel safe coming out on July 21" stated Officer Michael Cozart of the Cleveland Police's 3rd District. "Between the Cleveland Police and the Cleveland Clinic Police, this is the safest place you can be in the city on this day. We've got you covered."
Other activities include a 3D model of NASA's new rocket, The Space Launch System and the popular Picture Yourself in Space Photo Booth; Cleveland Metroparks 24' sprinter van Eco Explorer where Children have the opportunity to create "Butterfly Balls" full of seeds and use touch screen interactive computers; Child Safety Finger Casting; Line Dancing in the streets with the Line Dance Queen Belinda Haywood; food vendors; specialty booths and much more family fun!
A special Media Day will be held on Friday, July 20 from 11 am – 1 pm at the Antioch Baptist Church parking lot (8869 Cedar Avenue). Among the activities being previewed are NASA Glenn's newest traveling exhibit the 53-foot Journey to Tomorrow Exhibit Trailer that has been transformed into an interactive environment packed with hands-on activities and digital learning stations; Cleveland Metroparks' 40' Nature Tracks trailer that includes exhibits on wildlife, conservation, audio/visual presentations and a treehouse craft for kids; Making a rare appearance in Cleveland is the American Legacy "Know Your History" Mobile Truck that focuses on the milestones and newsmakers of the 20th Century and contains artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and art that thematically mirrors the American Legacy Magazine.
If you would like to stay in Fairfax overnight Saturday, July 21, our partner InterContinental Suites Cleveland has a special room rate of $89. For booking, call 216.707.4300 and ask for the "Fairfax Family" rate.
Thank you to our additional supporters - Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland, Buckeye Area Development Corp, the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, Medical Mutual, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, University Circle, Inc., Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp, E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home & Crematory, Karamu House, A.J.'s Automotive and Remington Dreams. Promotional support provided by 93.1FM WZAK and The Call and Post Newspapers.
