Next Wednesday, May 1, Cleveland State University (CSU) will transform part of its campus into a daytime carnival for students and Cleveland residents alike. The second annual CarniVike aims to be a family-friendly day of fun and inclusive community engagement.

Inspired by the carnival scene at the end of the 1978 classic film “Grease,” CarniVike was last year’s brainchild of now-senior CSU student Sydney Schlabs, a speech pathology major. She had been assigned to plan a campus event as a semester project for her leadership class.

“I thought it would be something fun for students on campus towards the end of the year,” she recalls, “to be like, ‘Oh, here's something fun before finals so that you don't feel as unmotivated.’ It really resonated with people and turned into something bigger than I thought.”

CarniVikeThis year, under the guidance of Tyisha Blade, who is earning her master of fine arts in CSU's creative writing program, and CSU’s Division of Hospitality Services, CarniVike has expanded to the lawn outside the university’s Music and Communications Building from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to current and prospective students, as well as the general public.

“We take up a lot of space in Cleveland,” says Blade, “So we really wanted to switch it up this year and make it for the entire Cleveland community.”

This year’s carnival-style festivities will feature a variety of games and prizes, an inflatable obstacle course ,and an 18-foot slide. There will be classic carnival foods and other dining options available, and entertainment will include a special performance by the Shaw High School Marching Band.

"I'm really looking forward to the marching band—they're so great,” says Blade, a Shaw alumna and a former member of the band herself.

Blade emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and community involvement in planning this year’s event. She says she hopes to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone—promoting active community participation and connection.

“The objective is definitely community involvement and inclusivity because sometimes I go places and I don't feel like I belong there,” Blade explains. “I want everyone to feel included and comfortable.”

CarniVike: CSU's Community Carnival ReturnsIn addition to several of CSU's own student groups and services, Blade has recruited a list of participants committed to fostering inclusivity on campus and in the community.

Those setting up shop at CarniVike include local businesses and organizations like Cleveland Asian Festival, the National Congress of Black Women, Cleveland Public Library,  FreshWater Cleveland staff, and Food Strong.

There is something for everyone at CarniVike, Blade says. “The biggest thing for me is the diverse amount of people who we're inviting, who are showing up, [and] who are supporting the diverse [number] of departments that we have attending and helping out,” she says.

CarniVike founder Schlabs says she is most excited to see the increase in community engagement this year.

“Our motto at Cleveland State is that the city is our campus,” she says. “We really have a unique relationship with how close the campus is to everything throughout the city. [As a student,] it's really interesting and fun to be a part of [downtown Cleveland]. Now, for CarniVike, we're bringing in so many other people from the community—it ties in so many different aspects of the community and the campus.”

Schlabs says she hopes this year’s event will boost the morale of the greater community, just like it lifted the spirits of the students struggling through their finals last year.

“It took my mind off of everything and I think it helped other students, too,” she shares. “To me, the campus seemed happier, compared to years before. And I know that it definitely helped me because I was super stressed leading up to finals. It felt like this whole day at the carnival eased the stress.”

CarniVike will be held on the lawn of the Cleveland State University’s Music and Communications Building, 2001 Euclid Avenue, on Wednesday, May 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The free event is open to the CSU campus, prospective students, and the public. For more information, email Tyisha Blade.