Rid-All Partnership is about to turn into the town’s greatest block social gathering this Saturday, Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., as Fresh Fest Cleveland returns for its sixth yr. The free competition will take over the Kinsman neighborhood with meals, artwork, wellness actions, and a music lineup led by hip-hop legend MC Lyte.
From vacant heaps to a group hub
FreshFest 2023Since 2019, Recent Fest has drawn 1000’s annually to Rid-All Farm and Otter Park, 8129 Otter Ave., a web site as soon as forgotten and piled with particles and deserted houses. Immediately, the 26.5 acres is dwelling to greenhouses, a tilapia farm, lecture rooms, a group kitchen, and a gathering house.
The competition initially started in 2019 as a partnership between Environmental Health Watch, Rid-All Inexperienced Partnership, and Brittany’s Record Shop as a strategy to spotlight the farm’s city agriculture whereas celebrating meals, tradition, and wellness in a neighborhood ignored all-to-often.
“It is all contributing to the standard of life in city poor communities,” Rid-All Inexperienced Partnership co-founder Randy McShepard advised FreshWater final yr. “We want wholesome air, wholesome meals, wholesome environments, and wholesome locations for folks to recreate—all these issues come collectively on this one occasion.”
Recent additions for 2025
This yr’s competition provides line dancing and yoga classes to the schedule, together with vendors, food, and workshops.
Highlights embody:
- Greater than 80 native distributors, together with Rust Belt Riders, the Cleveland Guardians, Sweetly Vegan, Cakes & Co., ThirdSpace Action Lab, and The Village Tee.
- 12 meals vans, together with Squash the Beef, House of Tacos, and We Want Smoke BBQ.
- A Well being and Wellness Zone with yoga, reiki, a drum circle, a sound bathtub, and a farmer’s market.
- A Children Zone with video games, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and a spa nook.
- A beer backyard.
- Particular applications like Lure Yoga, “The Nature of Therapeutic” artist panel, and two writing workshops.
From public housing to the primary stage
Music has been a part of Recent Fest because the begin. Organizers say hip-hop, with roots in public housing, was a pure match for a competition constructed on group.
Music has been a pillar of Recent Fest since its inceptionHip-hop iconMC Lyte is headlining the performance lineup this yr, the primary feminine rapper nominated for a Grammy Award. Her profession spans greater than three a long time, with performances in every single place from Carnegie Corridor to the White Home.
The lineup additionally options a mixture of native and nationwide artists throughout hip hop, R&B, funk, jazz, blues, and soul, together with DJ Black Unicorn, Sadhu, Armand Rashad, Nuke Franklin, OG Vern, Esther Fitz, Lillian Ruffin, and Kamakazi Kenji.
Know earlier than you go
Though tickets for Recent Fest are free, registration should be made upfront. Stroll-ups might be registered on the entrance gate.
Free parking is offered at Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority, 8120 Kinsman Highway, and on the northwest nook of East 79th Avenue and Kinsman Highway, with steady shuttle service to the competition entrance.
Organizers suggest carrying snug sneakers and bringing alongside sunscreen, a water bottle, and money or card for distributors.
For updates, the complete schedule, and different particulars, go to the Fresh Fest website.
