The energy of a block party, the flavors of a cookout, and the connection of a family reunion—that’s the vibe Randy McShepard says the fifth annual Fresh Fest Cleveland will bring to the Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone at Rid-All Farm & Otter Park this Saturday, Sept. 14.

“If you think about all those events, they’re generally happy events… that’s really the spirit of Fresh Fest,” shares McShepard, co-founder of Rid-All Green Partnership in Kinsman.

The day will feature live music, fresh food, local artists, health and wellness vendors, and a variety of family-friendly activities—including a kid zone. Fresh Fest is a free, day-long celebration of arts, urban agriculture, and wellness, running from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 8129 Otter Ave.

“Fresh Fest has created a social landscape where individuals from all cultures can come together, enjoy, and mix and mingle,” says Keymah Durden, co-founder and acting executive director of Rid-All Farm. “Though it's nestled on the east side of Cleveland, in the inner city, we get people from all over the county and the region who travel in.”

FreshFest 2023Location is key

Fresh Fest was first launched in 2019 by Environmental Health Watch, Rid-All Green Partnership, and Brittany's Record Shop, with the goal of blending food, arts, culture, and wellness with community engagement in an often overlooked area.

From the jump, the festival has worked to revitalize the Kinsman neighborhood, once known as the “Forgotten Triangle” for being a food desert, its poverty, and lack of opportunity. That first year, Fresh Fest drew more than 6,000 people to the neighborhood farm—helping reverse that reputation.

Rid-All’s urban farm provides the ideal setting to meet these goals. Established in 2010, the 26.5-acre site was once filled with debris, old tires, and abandoned homes. Today, it focuses on sustainability, urban agriculture, and community engagement through education and fresh food production.

“There's not many places you can go in the country, I would argue, where you could say there's an 18-acre urban farm in the heart of the city,” McShepard says. “People just showing up and looking around and saying, ‘Wow, what is this!’ is powerful in and of itself.”

Hosting the festival at the farm introduces visitors to urban agriculture while also highlighting the importance of healthy eating and plant-based diets.

“It's all contributing to the quality of life in urban poor communities,” McShepard says. “We need healthy air, healthy food, healthy environments, and healthy places for people to recreate—all those things come together in this one event.”

Food focus

On Saturday, Durden will spend his day in the Rid-All Community Kitchen—cooking up healthy, farm-to-table meals featuring plant-based dishes and other culinary specialties, including seafood grown directly on the farm.

FreshFest 2023“Traditionally, we raise tilapia at our farm—over 75,000 to 80,000 fish at any given time,” Durden says. “When you talk about fresh, you can get it out of the tank and eat it within an hour. That’s hyper-fresh for Fresh Fest!”

In addition to Rid-All’s food contributions, there will be a host of food trucks on-site, a beer garden, and a farmers market run by the Central Kinsman Wellness Collective.

Attendees can purchase fresh, locally grown produce and participate in food demonstrations and tastings at the market. Free produce will also be available for those unable to afford vendor purchases.

“Not only can individuals buy prepared food, but they can also take home fresh local food from the farmers market, which has always been a prominent feature,” Durden adds.

Music and performances

Kim Foreman, lead event organizer and CEO of Environmental Health Watch, says music has been a pillar of Fresh Fest since its inception.

“I'm dating myself,” Foreman laughs. “But when I grew up, there was a Fresh Fest concert featuring hip-hop. [When we began organizing the festival] we looked at our culture and the project we were starting in a community with a lot of public housing.”

Music has been a pillar of Fresh Fest since its inceptionShe notes that because hip-hop originated in public housing, she and her team saw it as a natural link to cultural ownership—showcasing how something born in marginalized communities could grow to dominate globally.

This perspective has shaped Fresh Fest’s mission of using hip-hop as a symbol of empowerment and cultural pride while providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent and connect with the broader community.

“We thought that was a great connection,” Foreman adds.

Curated by Brittany Benton, local DJ, producer, and owner of Brittany’s Record Shop, and Wallace Settles, a local talent buyer, event producer, and owner of Loud Jones Entertainment, this year’s festival offers a musical experience with something for everyone.

The lineup features hip-hop icon Big Daddy Kane headlining alongside local artists like Charity Evonna, DJ Corey Grand, Zell, A.M. The Queen, and Floco Torres—with the performers blending R&B, funk, jazz, blues, soul, and more. A DJ-led dance party will cap off the night.

"Get ready for the biggest year of Fresh Fest yet," Settles teases.

Activities for all ages

There’s no shortage of things to do at Fresh Fest—the day includes an art zone, art installations, health and wellness workshops, roller skating, a kids' zone featuring recess-style games, and even a kids’ spa.

There’s no shortage of things to do at FreshFestFor the sports lovers, there’s a 3-on-3 basketball tournament (registration required) with cash prizes, and a gaming truck to keep things fun.

In the health and wellness zone, festivalgoers can explore yoga, meditation, reiki, and mental wellness activities. There will also be sound baths, tarot readings, and more.

“I think that mental health piece is the major health component of the Fresh Fest because you get out, you get to socialize, you get to interact, you get to eat good food, and look at art and culture,” says Durden. “[There are] a lot of things for people to do and share. Most folks, if not all, walk away with a big smile on their face and they had a wonderful time at Fresh Fest.”

Admission to Fresh Fest is free, but registration is encouraged. Volunteers and donations are welcomed. Rid-All Farm & Otter Park are located at 8129 Otter Road, Cleveland 44104

The Fresh Fest organizers are committed to making the event accessible to everyone, with designated seating for seniors and individuals with disabilities, plus a wheelchair-accessible shuttle service. Free secured festival parking is available at Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority.