Late February in Cleveland? In the Flats on the Cuyahoga River? The temperature might be 8 degrees, but it very possibly could be pushing 70 degrees. After all, it is Cleveland—a perfect time for the 16^th Brite Winter this Saturday, Feb. 22.

The one thing that is predictable this time of year in Northeast Ohio is that the weather isn’t going to stop people from attending a great festival—especially when there is music, creativity, community, and fire!

That was the original vision back in 2009, when the organizers envisioned a low cost, accessible event occurring at what many would deem Cleveland’s darkest hours of the year—the period between New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day—an event that everyone could enjoy, celebrate, and come together for fun, art, and music.

Warming up by the firePeople came to the first Brite Winter, despite the blizzard conditions, and they have continued to come out for the past 15 years. And they are expected en masse this Saturday, Feb. 22 to the East Bank of the Flats to embrace one of Cleveland’s “underserved” times of the year.

Brite Winter 2025 is moving from the West Bank to Old River Road on the East Bank this year, says Brite co-founder and executive director Emily Hornack, for a new feel and change of scene.

“We are excited to be exploring a new neighborhood in the East Bank of the Flats,” she says, adding that temperatures are supposed to climb into the 30s on Saturday. “This new festival site gives the same great views of the river and bridges but also offers more access to indoor spaces to warm up.”

Preparing the venue

Since January, artists, volunteers, and Ingenuity Cleveland Ingeneers have been gathering at IngenuityLabs in the Hamilton Collaborative on Thursdays and Saturdays for free, public workshops—creating plenty of sweet-themed props and installments to bring the whole Sweet 16 theme together for this weekend.

The artists and volunteers who built the installations.Brite Winter art director Emily Appelbaum says the creations produced in the workshops impresses her more every year.

“It is always so thrilling to see so many different ideas come together to create the visual landscape at Brite—this year, over 100 different Art Crew and Volunteers met to build larger-than-life candy and sweet treats of all varieties from repurposed and upcycled materials,” Applebaum says. “It's a way to do something real, face-to-face, hands on, that you can touch, alongside people who might be different than you—which is more important than ever!”

Projects this year include “Sweet Treats & Upcycled Eats,” “Candy-Colored Crafty Creations,” and a “Brite Birthday Cake,” among others.

Event sponsor installations include the DayGlo Dock Stage, the Duck Brand Sweet Shoppe, and the Bedrock Stage.

Jamming out

There will be nearly 30 musical acts on five stages (three outdoors and two indoors), with a healthy offering of kid-appropriate music; food trucks and plenty of local food and drink; and fire pits at the giant winter party.

Award-winning DJ and hybrid artist E-V brings his unique blend of talents to the Main Stage as Brite Winter headliner Saturday night at 9:15 p.m. “This is our first time having a DJ as our headliner,” says Hornack. “E-V will bring a ton of energy and will get us all dancing under our giant disco ball.”

Jinari KemetE-V rounds up a list of artists that include NicNacc, Da Land Brass Band, and TRUSS—just to name a few—and hip-hop fusion artist Jinari Kemet and the Black Jackets will make their Brite Winter debut at 8:30 p.m. on the Bedrock Stage.

The tunes start rocking the stages at 1 p.m. and keep jamming all the way to the Brite Winter’s end at 11 p.m.

Kids rock, too

Brite Winter organizers were sure to make the day a family affair, with plenty of kid-friendly music and activities scheduled throughout the day.

“Brite is also happy to be hosting more kid-friendly programming this year,” says Hornack. “As always, we have the School of Rock Headliners kicking things off on the main stage, but we also have crafting sponsored by Duck Brand, and two great kid-friendly musicians playing in our indoor Sweet Shoppe art space.”

Hornack says local children’s musician Mr. Jeff, who just won a World Entertainment Award for “Best Children's Album,” will play the Duck Brand Sweet Shoppe at 1 p.m. “And [singer/songwriter] Shelby Olive is bringing a trio of musicians to entertain the kiddos,” Hornack adds.

Whether guests choose to be inside, around a fire pit, or outdoors, there’s an option for everyone. “We'll have warming temperatures on Saturday, and plenty of space to duck into Collision Bend Brewing or our Sweet Shoppe to warm up,” Hornack assures guests.

Gotta eat and drink

Enjoy Collision Bend beer, cocktails, and other drinks from the Big Brite Bar. Or grab coffee and hot chocolate to warm up.

Additionally, a variety of food trucks will be on-site along Old River Road. Manna Food Truck, You Enjoy My Donuts, Swensons Drive-In Restaurants, Feelin Good Ice Cream, and Fahrenheit-Cleveland will be serving up customer favorites from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Tickets

Brite Winter occurs this Saturday, Feb. 22, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the East Bank of the Flats. Tickets start at $12 for general admission ($17 at the door); $30 for general admission ticket with a limited edition Brite Hat and koozie to support the artists and musicians that make Brite come to life.

Live on the Brite side at the event with a $75 Fluri's Clubhouse admission, which provides access to Fluri’s private area inside Collision Bend with cash bar, Brite koozie, and a 2025 commemorative Brite hat.

Or, for $250, be a HSBrite Backer to show support for the Brite musicians and artists.

Ticket includes access to the exclusive, heated, HSBrite Backers lounge, Brite koozie, 2025 commemorative Brite hat and an exclusive Brite Backers gift.

Need more information? Check out Brite Winter’s Know Before You Go page for answers to questions.