The Cleveland Cultural Gardens will come alive with the sights, sounds, and flavors of more than 50 cultures for the 78th annual One World Day (OWD) this Sunday, August 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed from the Cleveland Metroparks North Marginal Trail to the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center—transforming the street into a pedestrian-friendly celebration filled with cultural displays, live music, vendors, dance performances, educational activities, a variety of international cuisine, and three beer gardens.

One World Day“It's a very interesting way to learn about the diversity we have here in Cleveland and how the gardens bring everybody together to work on understanding each other and each culture that we have,” says event producer and filmmaker Johnny Wu, who also organizes the popular Cleveland Asian Festival and owns the International Horror Film Festival.

OWD will begin with a Naturalization Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Centennial Peace Plaza, where new U.S. citizens will take their oaths of allegiance. Wu says this ceremony is a highlight of the day, symbolizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in our community.

“We try to make it special,” he explains. “We’ll have some performers singing ‘America the Beautiful’ to welcome the new citizens, and they’ll receive congratulations letters from Senator Sherrod Brown’s office. A lot of people come just to witness all the new residents becoming new citizens, and then they can stick around and enjoy the rest of the day.”

Following the Naturalization Ceremony, the Parade of Flags will kick off at 12 p.m. in the Ethiopian Cultural Garden, where marchers from more than 50 cultural groups will march north past the Centennial Peace Plaza, and end at the CLE Script Sign near the German Cultural Garden.

Last year’s parade included participants like the United Moroccan American Association and Brazilians in Cleveland, among many others. This year, even more communities are expected to join along with Cleveland public officials, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Cultural Garden delegates.

“The parade started very small [more than 50 years ago],” shares Wu. “Now, we have over 1,000 people participating. We also invite people who don’t have a garden but have an ethnic group. [Everyone is] dressed in their cultural outfits, showcasing their cultures. It’s become very, very exciting.”

Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy performances by music and dance groups from across the globe, as well as activities and games, in many of the cultural gardens, while the main stage at Centennial Peace Plaza will host acts that include the Living Traditions Folk Ensemble, which specializes in Carpatho-Rusyn, Croatian, and Polish traditions, and Abrepaso Flamenco, a local flamenco music, dance, and education ensemble. Meanwhile, smaller performances and demonstrations will take place in each of the Gardens.  

One World DayFamily-friendly fun

OWD is designed to be a family-friendly event, with a variety of activities for adults and children alike. The newly expanded Children’s Village, located north of the British Cultural Garden on East Boulevard, will feature interactive games and educational experiences from organizations like the Cleveland Cavaliers, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Cleveland Public Library.

“Kids can learn about different cultural things in Cleveland like the music, orchestra, museum, and so much more,” says Wu. “We use education as a forefront to showcase the gardens because the gardens are all about culture and diversity.”

To fully experience the gardens’ cultural offerings, Wu encourages visitors of all ages to grab a Passport to Peace at the event’s welcome booth. Collect stamps by visiting and completing simple activities at each garden, like learning to say 'hello' in different languages. When the passport is completed, it can be redeemed for prizes at the Federation Booth.

“We thought at first that this would only be for kids, but we realized now adults also want to do that too,” laughs Wu.

History and traditions

Established in 1916, The Cleveland Cultural Gardens consist of 36 public gardens in University Circle’s Rockefeller Park, stretching a mile-and-a-half down MLK, Jr. Boulevard to symbolize the city’s commitment to peace through mutual understanding, which is the theme of OWD.

One World DayEach garden represents a different culture from around the world—celebrating the important impacts and contributions of immigrants on Cleveland’s community.

“When I first took One World Day over [a decade ago], I didn't know anything about how the gardens were managed,” says Wu. “Now I know that every garden is managed by a nonprofit organization. The city provides the land, but this nonprofit organization (the Cultural Gardens Federation) had to raise the money and put in the time, effort, and resources to beautify the whole area. I think it’s so important to have this event that raises that awareness.”  

One World Day is free and open to the public. Free parking is available at the Metroparks 8701 Lakeshore lot on the north end and the VA employee parking got on the south end, 1606 E. 105th St. Shuttle services will run from the VA lot starting at 9:40 a.m. and run throughout the day, with a final drop-off at 6:30 p.m.

This year, trams will run along MLK to shuttle guests between the Cultural Gardens. Scooters will be available to rent. Pedestrians and bicycles are welcome. For a full schedule of events, vendors, and details, visit OWD’s website.

FreshWater Cleveland is a media sponsor of One World Day.