Fresh Fest Cleveland was first introduced in 2019.
Fresh Fest Cleveland was first introduced in 2019. Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

Fresh Fest Cleveland will be returning to Rid-All Farm/Otter Park on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival, now in its fifth year, is a multicultural event that aims to “celebrate the arts and urban agriculture, promote health and wellness, while breaking down the barriers of the neighborhood and emphasizing cultural unity.”

Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

Keymah Durden, co-founder and executive director of the Rid-All Green Partnership, looks forward to the farm hosting Fresh Fest Cleveland for another year. He believes the success of the festival is a testimony to what can happen when people invest in their communities.

“We went from a place where the average citizen was afraid to go to a place where people feel safe. People feel life and positive energy there. You have women walking their dogs and families using the local park there, which was unheard of prior to our existence there,” Durden said. 

“We have broken the myth that we can’t work together and have found a way to come together to change the narrative of how our communities are viewed and judged,” Durden said. “When people commit to reinvesting in their own neighborhoods, what else is possible?”

This year’s event will feature live musical performances with headliner Big Daddy Kane, art installations, local vendors, food trucks, a kids’ zone and more.

Attendees party into the night during last year's Fresh Fest.
Attendees party into the night during last year’s Fresh Fest. Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

A fresh start

The event came to life in 2019, when Rid-All Green Partnership collaborated with Environmental Health Watch. Rid-All would bring fresh produce to the Environmental Health Watch monthly meetings. That led to the organizations supporting each other’s projects. While brainstorming about what they could do to educate the community while bringing them together, the idea of Fresh Fest was born.

Kim Foreman, CEO of the Environmental Health Watch, is one of the co-creators of Fresh Fest Cleveland. She believes the work the 40-year-old nonprofit has done to introduce environmentalism into the community has contributed to the large crowd turnout. Last year, more than 9,000 people attended. The festival committee is expecting an even larger turnout this time around.

A stilts performer greets attendees during last year's festival.
A stilts performer greets attendees during last year’s festival. Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

“I think when we produce something and bring it to the public, it resonates with them based on authenticity,” Foreman said. “I think trust is built when you show up for people and remain consistent. It’s built with hearing, listening, action, then asking again and adjusting. That’s something we have been doing for years, and all of that work has manifested in the attendance.”

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Centering joy

A complimentary shuttle will be transporting attendees back and forth from the festival to the designated parking lot until the end of the festival. 

Randy McShephard, one of the event coordinators for Fresh Fest Cleveland, encourages peopleto come out with their families and enjoy the unique experience of the farm and the festival.

The festival will be accessible via shuttle, RTA, or bike.
The festival will be accessible via shuttle, RTA, or bike. Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

“Fresh Fest is a bit of a journey in many ways because you can go from listening to music to having a cocktail in the beer garden, then going to a more serene atmosphere with people doing yoga and meditating. There really is something for everybody,”  McShephard said.

He also understands what events like this mean for predominantly Black neighborhoods.

 “Quite frankly, there is something special about Black folks coming together to celebrate each other and be joyful, instead of just gathering for funerals and tragedies.”

The festival will go on rain or shine, but, regardless of the weather, one thing is for certain. There will be plenty of joy on display.

There will be plenty of line dancing, so bring your dancing shoes!
There will be plenty of line dancing, so bring your dancing shoes! Credit: Ned Sanders III / Photocredned

McShephard wants to see vendors do well and wants people to support those businesses and get them excited to come back next year.

“At the end of the day, I think all of us really look forward to just seeing people have a good time.” 

Fresh Fest encourages community participation by volunteering for the event or by making a donation. To volunteer, click here. To donate, click here. Tickets are not required, but registration is encouraged. To register or to get more information on the festival, such as parking, vendors and a schedule of events, click here.

Community Reporter (he/him)
I work to gain the trust of Cleveland residents through direct community engagement and storytelling. My goal is to amplify and celebrate the residents and stakeholders who contribute to the success of city neighborhoods. I’m hoping to erase the negative stigma that has been cast on some neighborhoods throughout the years.