The Cuyahoga River comes to life this weekend (Sept. 16 – 18) with more than 45,000 visitors expected to visit Cleveland for Riverocity. This weekend event combines three heavy-hitting events including Ingenuity Festival, the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta and the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival. Joining together, these groups have planned a weekend focusing on art and athleticism on the Cuyahoga River for locals and visitors alike.
“The concept of holding our three events on the same weekend just makes sense,” Michael Ciccarello, Volunteer Coordinator for the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival, said. “Each of our organizations holds activities on and around the river and draw visitors that might not normally make this location their destination of choice.”
Visitors have the opportunity to cross the river via the lower level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit – Superior) Bridge to experience art and technology during the weekend-long Ingenuity Festival. And, on Saturday, they can watch rowers from around the world compete during the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta on the northeast side of the river. Also on Saturday, spectators can take in the colorful artistry of Chinese dragon boats paddling along the West Bank of the Flats during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival.
“In the next few years, Clevelanders are going to watch the areas surrounding the Cuyahoga River expand and develop exponentially,” Theresa Gang, Executive Director of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation, said. “Riverocity allows us to showcase not only this area’s potential, but what’s already being done to make it a great place to visit.”
On the East Bank of the Flats, a $275 million development project is underway and will include new retail and entertainment facilities, a hotel, offices and a riverfront boardwalk. Additionally, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation is working to reclaim 6.5 acres of vacant, industrialized land in the Flats area, which is being regenerated into green space called Rivergate Park. The Foundation opened its Rivergate rowing facility on the East Bank in May.
On the West Bank of the Flats, visitors can expect to see the new Greater Cleveland Aquarium slated to open this December.
All three events are family friendly and offer free admission.
Ingenuity Festival
Ingenuity Festival is Cleveland’s annual weekend-long celebration of art and technology, designed for audiences of any age and experience, staged on the lower level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit-Superior) Bridge. This unique annual festival brings together artists, engineers, programmers and creators who show projects based on this year’s theme: Cur(Re)nts. Prominent international masters present original works alongside the finest of Northeast Ohio’s performing and visual artists. It’s a one-on-a-kind experience.
-Dates: Sept. 16, 17 and 18, 2011
-Times: Friday 5pm-1am; Saturday 12pm-1am; Sunday 12-6pm
-Location: Lower-level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge
Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta
Make sure soak up sun while enjoying the 16th Annual Head of the Cuyahoga regatta. Cheer on Cleveland's crew teams – high school, collegiate and adult – as they compete with teams from across the US and Canada. 3,000 plus spectators are expected to watch the more than 1,000 rowers and 260 boat entries race down the Cuyahoga on a 2.9 mile course. The event takes place at Rivergate Park and features a Spectator Village with great views of the finish line. Regardless of whether you’re an avid rower or not – everyone is encouraged to be a spectator (free admission) during this incredibly unique competition!
-Dates: Sept. 17, 2011
-Times: 8am – 4pm
-Location: 1785 Merwin Avenue, Cleveland (East Bank)
Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival
Head down to the west bank of the Cuyahoga River and watch as competitors race dragon boats during the 5th Annual Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 17. These 40-foot long colorful boats hold 20 paddlers, a cadence drummer and steersperson and race head to head to bring home the Championship Cup. This event also acknowledges the connection and history dragon boats have with the Asian culture. This once-a-year happening is a free, interesting and lively way to see the beauty of the Cuyahoga.
-Dates: Sept. 17, 2011
-Times: 9am-4pm
-Location: 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland (West Bank)
For more information on Riverocity, including details on each event, maps and other activities happening throughout the weekend, please visit www.PositivelyCleveland.com/Riverocity.
“The concept of holding our three events on the same weekend just makes sense,” Michael Ciccarello, Volunteer Coordinator for the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival, said. “Each of our organizations holds activities on and around the river and draw visitors that might not normally make this location their destination of choice.”
Visitors have the opportunity to cross the river via the lower level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit – Superior) Bridge to experience art and technology during the weekend-long Ingenuity Festival. And, on Saturday, they can watch rowers from around the world compete during the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta on the northeast side of the river. Also on Saturday, spectators can take in the colorful artistry of Chinese dragon boats paddling along the West Bank of the Flats during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival.
“In the next few years, Clevelanders are going to watch the areas surrounding the Cuyahoga River expand and develop exponentially,” Theresa Gang, Executive Director of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation, said. “Riverocity allows us to showcase not only this area’s potential, but what’s already being done to make it a great place to visit.”
On the East Bank of the Flats, a $275 million development project is underway and will include new retail and entertainment facilities, a hotel, offices and a riverfront boardwalk. Additionally, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation is working to reclaim 6.5 acres of vacant, industrialized land in the Flats area, which is being regenerated into green space called Rivergate Park. The Foundation opened its Rivergate rowing facility on the East Bank in May.
On the West Bank of the Flats, visitors can expect to see the new Greater Cleveland Aquarium slated to open this December.
All three events are family friendly and offer free admission.
Ingenuity Festival
Ingenuity Festival is Cleveland’s annual weekend-long celebration of art and technology, designed for audiences of any age and experience, staged on the lower level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit-Superior) Bridge. This unique annual festival brings together artists, engineers, programmers and creators who show projects based on this year’s theme: Cur(Re)nts. Prominent international masters present original works alongside the finest of Northeast Ohio’s performing and visual artists. It’s a one-on-a-kind experience.
-Dates: Sept. 16, 17 and 18, 2011
-Times: Friday 5pm-1am; Saturday 12pm-1am; Sunday 12-6pm
-Location: Lower-level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge
Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta
Make sure soak up sun while enjoying the 16th Annual Head of the Cuyahoga regatta. Cheer on Cleveland's crew teams – high school, collegiate and adult – as they compete with teams from across the US and Canada. 3,000 plus spectators are expected to watch the more than 1,000 rowers and 260 boat entries race down the Cuyahoga on a 2.9 mile course. The event takes place at Rivergate Park and features a Spectator Village with great views of the finish line. Regardless of whether you’re an avid rower or not – everyone is encouraged to be a spectator (free admission) during this incredibly unique competition!
-Dates: Sept. 17, 2011
-Times: 8am – 4pm
-Location: 1785 Merwin Avenue, Cleveland (East Bank)
Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival
Head down to the west bank of the Cuyahoga River and watch as competitors race dragon boats during the 5th Annual Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 17. These 40-foot long colorful boats hold 20 paddlers, a cadence drummer and steersperson and race head to head to bring home the Championship Cup. This event also acknowledges the connection and history dragon boats have with the Asian culture. This once-a-year happening is a free, interesting and lively way to see the beauty of the Cuyahoga.
-Dates: Sept. 17, 2011
-Times: 9am-4pm
-Location: 2014 Sycamore, Cleveland (West Bank)
For more information on Riverocity, including details on each event, maps and other activities happening throughout the weekend, please visit www.PositivelyCleveland.com/Riverocity.