The West Side Market, described as the “Best Food Lovers Market” in the country (Food Network, 2010) and one of “10 Great Public Spaces” (American Planning Association, 2008) offers an authentic and culturally diverse shopping experience with 100 vendors attracting over 1 million visitors a year. The West Side Market is not only a special place in Cleveland but also the region and the nation.
In 2012, The West Side Market will celebrate its Centennial with yearlong activities to commemorate this jewel and is being facilitated by a unique public/private partnership between Ohio City Incorporated and the City of Cleveland.
The West SIde Market Centennial, presented by Charter One Bank, is pleased to announce its calendar of official centennial events!
KICK OFF ♦ Saturday, June 2nd (Rain Date June 23rd) ♦ 6–10 pm
The Official Kick Off of the Centennial Celebration, sponsored by VIP, a Cleveland-based masonry, restoration, glass and glazing company, will be held at the newly renovated Market Square Park, directly across from the Market. This event will take place on June 2nd (rain date on the 23rd) and will be a family-friendly, multi-cultural celebration with ethnic delights, a neighborhood fireworks display, and an ice cream social provided by Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream. This event is free and open to the public.
8TH INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC MARKETS CONFERENCE ♦ September 21–23rd
The 8th International Public Markets Conference, co-hosted by Project for Public Spaces, will set a new direction for the vital role markets play in transforming local economies and communities. The conference will highlight Cleveland’s burgeoning local food community and its commitment to sustainability in collaboration with Mayor Jackson’s year of Local Food and SC2019 Summit. To celebrate the highly anticipated release of The West Side Market: 100 Years and Still Cooking, local authors Laura Taxel and Marilou Suszko will be the featured guests at Friday’s private reception for conference participants. Following the reception, the Ohio City Market District will be bustling with entertainment and street vending open to the public.
STREET FESTIVAL + PARADE ♦ Sunday, October 7th ♦ 11am–7pm
A Street Festival + Parade, produced by Live Nation and supported by Councilman Joe Cimperman, on Sunday, October 7, 2012, will attract 30,000 attendees to fill West 25th Street and enjoy live entertainment and delicacies from local Ohio City restaurants, food trucks and artisan vendors. Central to the festivities, the historic West Side Market will be open on a Sunday for the first time in a decade! Kicking off the Festival will be a Parade with costumes designed by the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle community workshops. This event is free and open to the public.
CENTENNIAL GALA ♦ Saturday, November 3rd ♦ 6–11pm
A Centennial Gala will be held on Saturday, November 3rd—the first day of the Market’s next 100 years. Co-chaired by Cleveland’s Iron Chef Michael Symon and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef Jonathon Sawyer, the Gala will feature food sourced from the West Side Market and prepared by to-be-announced national and local chef talent. Great Lakes Brewing Company, Ohio's award-winning craft brewer of lagers and ales, will also be handcrafting the official Centennial brew for the celebration. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to embark on renovations and improvemetns to the Market building.
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Supporters (Committed as of February 6th):
Charter One Bank
and
City of Cleveland
Clear Channel Outdoor
The Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland Magazine
Consolidated Graphics Group
Councilman Joe Cimperman
The George Gund Foundation
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Neighborhood Progress Inc.
The William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation
United West Side Market Tenants Association
VIP
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please review the Sponsorship Overview or check out the detailed listings of sponsorships available by event:
To learn more, contact Amanda Dempsey at adempsey@ohiocity.org or call 216.781.3222, extension 108.
