Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
Ethnic and Cultural Events

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Practical Tips for Navigating US-UK Business
11:30 - 1:30 PM
Delmonico's Steak House
6001 Quarry Lane, Independence

Minding the Gap Across the Pond: Practical Tips for Navigating US-UK Business. Join the BACC for an enlightening luncheon on Friday, March 28, at Delmonico's Steak House as we explore the value of the BACC and how it fosters meaningful connections within the transatlantic community. Co-speakers Romilly Taylor, VP and Board Member, British-American Chamber of Commerce of Ohio, and Christy Woskobojnik, Client Manager and Business Development at Dyke Yaxley, are both BACC members and seasoned experts in helping businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of relocating between the US and the UK.

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Sokol Greater Cleveland Fish Fry
5 - 7:30 PM
Bohemian National Hall
4939 Broadway Ave. Cleveland

Historic Bohemian Hall in Cleveland Lenten Fish Fry

Pierogi for the Roof
Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus
3649 E 65th St, Slavic Village

The historic St. Stanislaus Church in Slavic Village needs a new roof- to the tune of $2 million minimum!

St Elias Church Fish Fry
5 - 8 PM
St Elias Church
8023 Memphis Ave. Brooklyn

Historic Middle East Church in Cleveland Lenten Fish Fry

IACES Fish Fry
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Irish American Club East Side
22770 Lakeshore Blvd. Euclid

St Mary of the Assumption Fish Fry
3 - 7 PM
St Mary of the Assumption
15510 Holmes Ave. Cleveland

Historic Slovenian Church in Cleveland Lenten Fish Fry

Eastern European Dinner
6 PM
Balaton Hungarian Restaurant
8564 East Washington St.
Chagrin Falls

Carpatho Rusyn chapter outing. RSVP to Tanner at tanmills22@gmail.com by at least March 15th

Sokol Cleveland Pysanky Workshop
11 AM - 2 PM
Bohemian National Hall
4939 Broadway

Ukrainian Easter Bazaar
Ukrainian Museum-Archives
1202 Kenilworth Avenue

Irishtown Bend Presentation
2 - 4 PM
West Side Irish-American Club
8559 Jennings Road| Olmsted Township

Join us for an informative presentation and Q&A session on the latest plans for the Irish Immigrant Heritage Park.

Friends of the Capatho Rusyn Cultural Garden
2 PM
Parma Snow Library
2121 Snow Rd, Parma

The Capatho Rusyn Cultural Garden organization is hosting a general membership meeting for all current members and those interested in learning more about becoming a member on Sunday March 30th at 2:00PM at the Parma Snow Library. Any questions please contact Fran Burik at 440-655-8176

Beef Gulyás Buffet
3 - 5 PM
Akron Hungarian American Club
694 E. Waterloo Road, Akron

The Akron Hungarian American Club cordially invites you to its Beef Gulyás Buffet on Sunday, March 30 from 3-5 P.M. This amazing meal consists of a hearty bowl of Hungarian gulyás, cole slaw, pickles, rolls and butter, as well as dessert. Coffee, soft drinks, and bottled water are included in the price of the meal. Other beverages available for purchase at the Bar. Cost is $18 for members, $20 for non-members. Cash or checks only, please. Reservations will be accepted for dine-in or take-out until Thursday, March 27 by calling the Club at 330-724-0259.

Padraic Pearse Center Stories & Signatures - Grace O’Malley
4 PM
Irish American Club East Side
22770 Lake Shore Blvd, Euclid

The Padraic Pearse Center is thrilled to invite you to a special evening celebrating the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s most fascinating women! Join us on Sunday, March 30th, as storyteller extraordinaire Karen Vuranch brings Grace O’Malley—the legendary 16th-century pirate queen—to life. Bold, fearless, and endlessly fascinating, Grace O’Malley defied expectations and commanded the high seas, leaving her mark on history. Karen’s captivating storytelling and lively discussion will transport you back in time, sharing tales of courage, adventure, and resilience.

Doors Open: 3:30 PM // Event Begins: 4:00 PM. in the Phil Walsh Cabaret Room. This event promises to be an inspiring evening filled with history, humor, and heart. Your generosity helps keep events like this going strong, and donations will be gladly accepted.

Comic Book-inspired Play El Coquí Espectacular
Teatro Público de Cleveland
6415 Detroit Ave.

Teatro Público de Cleveland kicks off its 12th year with El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom by New York-based (Nuyorican) playwright Matt Barbot. This fun, energetic play is like a live action comic book that speaks to issues relative to the Latiné community, in this case Puerto Rican, and anyone who has had to deal with assimilation while maintaining a sense of self while fitting in with everyone else and their views on what you’re supposed to be.

By day, Alex is a struggling comic book artist tempted by the allure of a steady job, but by night he is "El Coquí Espectacular," a superhero on a mission to save his fellow Puerto Ricans; while his advertising exec brother, Joe, reluctantly becomes the "voice" of Spanish-speaking people everywhere, and he doesn’t even speak Spanish. See how the brothers discover their true identities in this comic book come to life. The play has been a critical success and fan favorite at the theaters in which it was previously performed, and we are hopeful that Northeast Ohio audiences will embrace it as well.

Shahzia Sikander Reanimates Global Visual Histories
Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is pleased to announce that its presentation of Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior opens on February 14, 2025. The exhibition premiered at the Palazzo Soranzo van Axel in Venice. Co-organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) and the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM), it was a Collateral Event in association with the 60th International Art Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia in 2024. After Collective Behavior closed in Venice, iterations of the show traveled to both Ohio institutions, where they are on view concurrently. The CMA presents Shahzia Sikander’s art in relation to historical South Asian works from the museum’s collection that inspire her. Collective Behavior includes works that span Sikander’s career and the many mediums that she has used. It comprises a series of conversations between our own time and the past that illuminate the artist’s primary ideas and inquiries. This iteration of Collective Behavior offers a narrative that the CMA is uniquely well suited to share, carrying forward in time the rich histories that are encompassed in the museum’s renowned South Asian collection. Simultaneously, it situates contemporary artistic practice in relation to the global history that precedes it.

For more than three decades, Sikander (born 1969, Pakistan) has been animating South Asian visual histories through a contemporary perspective. Her work reimagines the past for the present moment, proposing new narratives that cross time and place. Working in a variety of mediums, Sikander considers Western relations with the global south and the wider Islamic world, often through the lens of gender and body politics. Her work is rooted in a lexicon of recurring motifs that make visible marginalized subjects. At times turning the lens inward, Sikander reflects on her own experience as an immigrant and diasporic artist working in the United States.

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Exhibit about Albanian Besa
Lakewood Public Library
15425 Detroit Ave. Lakewood

When post-World War II Europe found itself devastated by the loss of its Jewish population, Albania was the only country to boast a larger number of Jews than it had prior to the Holocaust. Over 2,000 Jews from Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Poland and Serbia were hidden in the homes of Albanian Muslim families during the war. Norman Gershman, an American photographer fascinated with these stories, traveled to Albania and Kosovo to chronicle the tales of the righteous Albanians and their devotion to and dedicated practice of Besa, an Albanian Code of Honor. Besa means “to keep the promise” and is a fundamental guideline of life.

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Czech Easter Bread ("Mazanec") for sale.
Who doesn't remember the smell of fresh baked goods from Mom's kitchen at Easter? Mazanec or houska is a sweet dough with golden raisins and almonds baked into a round loaf with a cross cut into the top. DTJ will again be selling the traditional Czech Easter bread by order only. Cost is $15.00 for a 2# loaf. Orders must be in by April 10th and can be picked up April 13th. Call 440-543-8494 to place orders.

MotivAsians and the CIFF
2:20 PM
Mimi Theater of Playhouse Square

Once again MotivAsians is a community partner for the Cleveland International Film Festival CIFF 49 for the film: THIRD ACT. Saturday 2:20pm April 5th is the viewing at the Mimi Theater of Playhouse Square. Let's sit together! Use MOTIVA when purchasing tickets at https://www.clevelandfilm.org/. Enter your code in the DISCOUNT CODE box on the PAYMENT INFORMATION screen during checkout to take $1.00 off of each ticket in your cart.

Those who would like to meet-up for lunch at Superior Pho -12 noon, prior to the film viewing, please RSVP. For more information: info@motivasians.org or call: 216-421-5221.

CAMEO - Arab American Heritage Month
6:30 PM
St. Elias Cultural Center
8023 Memphis Ave. Brooklyn.

Eastern European Month Dinner
6 PM
American Croatian Lodge
34900 Lakeshore Blvd.

The month of April is designated as "Eastern European Month."

Ukrainian Easter Bazaar
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Church
9672 State Rd. North Royalton

State of the Ukrainian Museum Archives
3 PM
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Church
9672 State Rd. North Royalton

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FICA presents Global Music Icon
See Below

Italian Film Festival USA of Cleveland
Strosacker Auditorium
Case Western Reserve University

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Italian Film Festival USA of Cleveland! You're invited! Enjoy four recent, Italian films and a program of short films. All screenings are in Italian with English subtitles. FREE and open to the public at Strosacker Auditorium on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.

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Four Jewish Poets Speak their truth
7 PM
Maltz Museum
2929 Richmond Rd. Beachwood

Join poetry troupe, ELIXIR OF VOICE: Four Jewish Poets Speak Their Truth for an opportunity to gather in the power and beauty of poetry and the vitality of Jewish life. Poets Charlene Fix, Rikki Santer, David Swerdlow, and Philip Terman will share works reflecting individually on the current moment.

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Hungarian Lecture - Pilgrims in Foreign Lands
2 PM
Hungarian Museum
Galleria at Erieview

"Pilgrims in a Foreign Land: A history of America's Hungarian Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimage Traditions"

The story of Hungarian-American shrines and pilgrimage traditions will be presented by Nicholas Boros. He will share portions of the over 300-page pictorial history he recently completed showcasing the shrines erected during the last century by Hungarian-American Catholics:

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Orange Village, OH)
• Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted (Youngstown, OH)
• Our Lady of Máriapócs (Burton, OH)
• Our Lady of Máriapócs (Matawan, NJ), and
• St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Cleveland, OH) designated as a shrine in August 2023.

Traditions of Perú - 2025 Dinner and Gala
6 PM
Tremont City Side Ballroom
2187 West 14th St, Cleveland

The Peruvian Cultural Association of Northeast Ohio, PERUCAN-OH would like to extend an invitation to celebrate the vibrant spirit of Perú on Saturday, April 12, at the beautiful Tremont City Side Ballroom. Enjoy an exquisite dinner, captivating Peruvian dance performances, dancing to the Latin rhythms of the band Luka y Su Ropa Vieja, and an exciting silent auction packed with unique items. This Gala is an opportunity to make a difference! Proceeds will support the creation of the Peruvian Cultural Garden, a beautiful symbol of Peruvian rich cultural heritage and presence in the community. Early Bird tickets are available at discounted prices for this extraordinary event. Bring your friends and family, reserve a table, and secure your spot today. Please explore available sponsorship opportunities! Muchas gracias!

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Cleveland Carpatho Rusyn Pysanky Workshop
12 - 3 PM
Rockefeller Park Greenhouse
750 E 88th St, Cleveland

Pysanky workshop taught by one of their chapter members. It is a lovely way to brighten up one’s spring. RSVP and payment is required in advance due to limited space. RSVP to zubkojaj@gmail.com and send $15 to venmo @zubtycun or via check to Jacquelin Zubko-Cunha (4632 Sharon Copley Road Medina, OH 44256). Space Is limited to just 15 people and your spot is not held until payment is received.

Polish Swieconka
12:30 PM
Polish American Cultural Center
6501 Lansing Ave. Cleveland

Swieconka means "the blessing of the Easter baskets" and is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions.

Czech Garden Easter Egg Hunt
2 PM
Czech Cultural Garden
880 East Blvd. Cleveland

Holi Celebration
2:30 PM
May Pavillion at Hudson Springs Park
7095 Stow Rd. Hudson

FICA & ICAGA are joining this year to bring you a Holi blast! Prices: Adult: $10 only. Kids 12 and under are FREE. Includes light refreshments. This event is open for all ages. Experience the magic of Holi with Grooving on Desi Holi Songs. Enjoying delicacies. Playing Holi with Dry and Organic colors. Pricing is as follows- Adult: $10 Kids: 12 and under free. Buy your tickets here

Holocaust Book Talk: The Politzer Saga with Linda Broenniman
7 PM
Maltz Museum
2929 Richmond Rd. Beachwood

A house fire in 2011. A box survives. Its contents became the catalyst for a quest whose seeds were planted in 1983—the day Linda Ambrus Broenniman learned that her Catholic father was Jewish and that what little family history she knew was a lie. Searching for truth, Linda pieced together the astonishing story of eight generations of her Jewish ancestors—the Politzer family—and their remarkable lives lost to her father’s secrets.

Join the Maltz Museum for an evening with the author of The Politzer Saga, as she tells the story of finding her roots, and honoring the memories of her family. In helping Linda find her family, András Gyekiczki wrote, “I hardly know any non-fiction sagas to better exemplify Hungarian Jewish fate of the past 300 years as this Politzer story. Illuminating the destructive power of hatred, dehumanization, and injustice, this powerful story encompasses issues that still echo today. The Politzer Saga is the subject of an Exhibition at the Rumbach Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary.

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Ekal Vidyalaya Musical fundraiser
4:45 PM
Independence Middle School
6111 Archwood Rd. Independence

Join us for a delicious dinner and melodious live Bollywood music on April 19th during the Ekal musical fundraiser at Independence Middle School. Accomplished singers from India will sing Bollywood songs and mesmerize you. Four musicians on keyboard, Octapad, tabla, and drums will make it a memorable experience. Ekal promotes basic education in remote rural and tribal India through more than 80k single-teacher schools.

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductions
Doors open 5PM.
Windows on the River

• Dr. Raj Aggarwal (Indian community)
• David Gilbert (Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission)
• Frank G. Jackson (56th Mayor of Cleveland)
• Beverly Kerecman (Japanese community)
• Branka Malinar (Croatian community)
• Svetlana Stolyarova (Russian community)

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Cleveland Polka Association’s Spring Dance
5 - 10 PM
Home Family Club
6450 Pearl Road Parma Hts

Doors open @ 5:00 pm, Music by Keith Stras & Polka Confetti from Chicago 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Donation $18 (18yrs. and under are Free!) NO byob, Beverages & Food will be available, snacks welcome For More Information: (330) 461-1772 Anna

Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival
Cleveland State University

The Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India. It was first celebrated in 1978 and has now grown to be a 12-day festival with more than 10,000 attendees with 5,000 appearing for the opening weekend. The year 2025 is the Festival's 45th year.

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41st Super Button Box Bash
1 - 6 PM
American Croatian Lodge
34900 Lakeshore Blvd. in Eastlake

Wish Canada’s Polka King a happy 90th birthday as the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame salutes the legendary Walter Ostanek, Sunday, April 27, 2025. Top Cleveland-Style Polka entertainers hail his milestone with five hours of music. You won’t want to miss the polka celebration at the American Croatian Lodge in Eastlake, Ohio. Enjoy the finest bands for dancing, Old World cooking, and Slovenian hospitality – all in honor of the three-time Grammy Award winner, 1:00 to 6:00. The birthday party is the high point of the 41st Super Button Box Bash to benefit the Polka Hall of Fame. Featured artists include the Fairport Jammers, Ron Likovic, Hall of Famer Don Wojtila, and Walter’s best musical buddies and gals. The all-accordion stage jam is a squeezapalooza.

Advance ticket, $12 through the Polka Hall of Fame, 605 East 222nd Street, Euclid, Ohio, next to Euclid City Hall. Open Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 to 2:00. $15 at the door. 18 and under free. Order by phone, (216) 261-3263. On-line at PolkaShop@aol.com.

Sokol Czech Sunday Dinner
1 - 2:30 PM
Bohemian National Home
4939 Broadway Ave. Cleveland

Cleveland Asian Festival

Save the Date!

Syttende Mai 2025Norwegian Celebration
2 - 4 PM
Fairview Park Recreation Center
Gemini Center Oak Room - 21255 Lorain Road

SYTTENDE MAI 2025 NORWEGIAN CELEBRATION (Seventeenth of May Constitution Day). Ohio Norsemen will hold their annual Constitution Day celebration on Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 2 to 4 p.m. Pot Luck Meal. Please bring a dish to share. (Norwegian Dish Preferred). Beverages are provided. There is no cost for this event. Reservations are needed by May 11th to reserve enough tables and chairs. (Please no walk-ins). Place your reservation to Libby Rye Filak 216-767-5699

Parade the Circle
10 AM
Circle Village on Wade Oval

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s (CMA) Parade the Circle, the beloved tradition celebrating art, culture, and community, returns on Saturday, June 14. The 33rd annual parade takes place in University Circle and features vibrant and imaginative costumes, towering puppets, floats, and intricately crafted masks. This year’s theme, “Magical Allure: A Vibrant Celebration of the Snowy Owl,” addresses the wisdom and exploration we undertake while undergoing the process of change. The CMA invites everyone to celebrate this mystical messenger, a creature that enchants us with its ethereal presence and silent flight.

Conceived by acclaimed artist Héctor Castellanos Lara, who leads the parade for the third consecutive year, this year’s theme reflects the fact that big changes in our lives are imminent and that, as we search for answers, we undergo a process of deep exploration, seeking awareness and spiritual guidance.

Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in interactive activities offered by esteemed institutions from the area, such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Music Settlement. Attendees can also enjoy culinary delights from local vendors and listen to Councilman Conwell & The Footprints live on the Kulas Stage. Curious about an artist’s process? New this year, attendees can engage with a selection of parade artists on Wade Oval following the event. Come prepared with questions for artists and see costumes and floats up close! The fun continues until 4:00 p.m.

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Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
TBA

Save the Date!

Lithuanian Song Festival
Cleveland Music Hall

Save the Date!

Opera in the Italian Cultural Garden
6 - 7:30 PM
Italian Cultural Garden
990 East Blvd. Cleveland

Beautiful music from Opera, Broadway & Italian songs. The Cleveland Opera & Cleveland Ballet Theater in the enchanting Renaissance Garden. TICKETS ON SALE NOW - (sells out each year). Reserved Seating in Front of Stage $33.00. Lawn area Free admission. Free Wine Tastings: Little Italy Wines. Questions, please call: 216.916.7780. Free parking - Restrooms on site. Michael White School lot - Parkgate Ave. near garden. East Blvd. Across from the garden. Cars ticketed if parked on wrong side of street. Family friendly - bring a picnic! This free performance is presented as part of the Italian Cultural Garden Foundation's "Viva! La Cultura Italiana" cultural series.

Buckeye Rd. Nationality Reunion
11 AM - 6 PM
Hungarian Cultural Center of NE Ohio
12027 Abbot Rd. Hiram

5th Annual WSIAC GOAT
West Side Irish American Club
8559 Jennings Rd, Olmsted Twp

Save the Date for the 5th annual Greatest Irish Weekend of all time - the GOAT.