CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the 19th year, the event Sparx in the City will allow Clevelanders the opportunity to explore the hidden arts and culture gems in downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods.
It’s hosted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Vice President of Marketing Heather Holmes says the event usually brings out thousands of people.
“In normal times we would have a great number of trolleys that would take folks from downtown to treatment to superior arts district to Ohio City, all around downtown and it’s surrounding neighborhoods,” Holmes says.
The pandemic limited the Downtown Cleveland Alliance staff and participating artist and vendors abilities to host in-person events. But this year, participants can enjoy virtual trolley tours, behind-the-scenes tours of Playhouse Square’s historic theaters, virtually meet local artists and their works and take part in interactive live workshops and happy hours. Holmes says there will even be options for in person experiences.
“We are also highlighting opportunities for people to come downtown safe socially distance. You know, whenever you’re ready to explore both take a hike—take a hike is produced by one of our neighborhood partners the Gateway District and it is a walk in history tour with your phone and your headphones. We also have a number of different murals in downtown as part of the ‘Voices of CLE’ and we’re expecting five new murals over the sparks weekend on Friday, the 11th,” Holmes says.
Holmes says it’s important to the Cleveland community to maintain this annual event that celebrates the cities rich culture, even with this year’s unusual circumstances.
“This is our opportunity every year to highlight the arts and culture scene in Cleveland is very unique. Just like other, you know, major cities have a very unique arts and culture scene and so do we. And so we didn’t want to let the opportunity to go by without shedding light and highlighting these individuals and these institutions,” She says.
To view the complete event schedule and to find out how you can participate in Sparx in the City, click here.
