ClevelandPeople.Com Celebrating Cleveland's Cultural Diversity
Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
Established in 1977, the long standing Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival is presented by members of The Ohio Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of their proud Scottish Heritage and ancestry.
The Grand Parade was a highlight and featured lots of bagpipe units, many Clans in their namesake tartans, Irish wolfhounds, knights in armor, Clydesdale horses and more.
One of the most interesting parts of the Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is seeing the different clans that are represented and watching the interesting people.
On June 28, 2026 the Cleveland Russian Cultural Garden hosted an Ivan Kupala celebration at their Garden and hundreds attended. There were activities for the kids, dance and music performances, and great food.
The Irish American Club East Side hosted an event to showcase the display from EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, about Ireland and the Making of America. A week earlier it was on display at the West Side Irish American Club. The exhibit examines the journey of Irish immigrants and their influence on the growth and development of the United States. Presented as part of the Cleveland Irish American 250 celebration, this exhibit offers a unique look at the connections between Ireland and America through history, culture, and community.
Marilyn Madigan, immediate past national president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, who spearheaded the effort to get the exhibit to Cleveland. Marilyn spoke about the various connections and contributions of the Irish and explained the information boards. After the presentation, IACES President Mary Alice Curran gave some remarks and then led a toast to America at 250. Slainte.
Paul Burik, president of Sokol Greater Cleveland, led a celebration of America 250 outside the historic Hall for the community on July 3, 2026. Community partner Fountain Of Grace Outreach Ministries prepared burgers, ribs and other food. There was food, music and camaraderie as well as a History Quiz to see what people knew about 1776. The gathering raised the flag, sang the national anthem and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Later, the group gathered at the electronic sign on Broadway and placed 50 American flags around it.
Hierarchical Blessing Ceremony in the Greek Cultural Garden
Hierarchical Blessing Ceremony in the Greek Cultural Garden
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek Garden Association of Cleveland hosted an historical Hierarchical Blessing of the Greek Cultural Garden led by His Eminence Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America, and the Metropolitans of the Holy Synod.
In this episode of Fun with Maps host Dan Hanson showcases Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts in honor of America 250. On April 19, 1775 the "shot heard around the world" was fired in Lexington which launched the Revolutionary War and led to America's independence. Later in the day the famous Battle of Concord took place at the Old North Bridge over the river in the town of Concord.
We touch on the history leading up to these events like the Boston Massacre in 1770, Boston Tea Party (1773), the British Parliament passing the Intolerable Acts (early 1774) and in February 1775, the British government declaring Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion and targeting Adams, Hancock and others. We look at the path that Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode to warn (The British are coming!) area militias of the British plans and the approaching British Army expedition from Boston.
We look at the route that General Thomas Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts, ordered to capture Hancock and Adams and destroy the supplies in Concord. We look at the lady who was a secret ally of the Patriots. And we look at the shot heard around the world and the Battles of Lexington and then Concord. We discuss the fabled Minutemen, an elite force of young men.
We also look at the amazing literary figures who all lived in Concord - Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne (Scarlett Letter and House of the Seven Gables), Louisa May Alcott's (Little Women) father, Henry David Thoreau (Walden) and others. And we look at the reactions from leaders such as John Adams, Thomas Paine and George Washington who, after hearing of the Battle of Lexington, realized that this was war. There's also a fun fact covering a special Concord food that you are probably familiar with.
The Cleveland Public Library's One Cleveland civic pride campaign "celebrates the individuals whose leadership, impact, and contributions have helped shape Cleveland's story and continue moving our city forward."
I am humbled and honored that my sister Debbie and I are included and featured as two of Cleveland 230 "Coalition Builders." Debbie lives on in honors such as this. I wish she was here to see it but she won't be forgotten.
The list starts with Moses Cleaveland and then Alan Freed, Charles F. Brush, Dick Pogue and other amazing people. In our just released video segment, host Leon Bibb talks about us at about the 3:40 mark, right before Jim Brown and the other Cleveland Summit leaders. Are you kidding me? Watch the video.
The Joey (Berardenelli) Maxim Story
The Joey (Berardenelli) Maxim Story
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli was born and raised in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland on March 28, 1922 to John and Henrietta Berardinelli, Italian immigrants who raised a large family amid the challenges of working-class life. The family included three brothers-Emmanuel, John, and Richard-and two sisters, Lucille and Janet, all growing up in a close-knit Italian-American household during the Great Depression, when economic hardships affected many immigrant communities in industrial Cleveland.
He was one of only two Cleveland natives, along with Johnny Kilbane, to become world champions on January 24, 1950 he defeated then champ British boxer Freddie Mills.
We always get asked what are the best ethnic events each year. While "best" is a subjective term we decided to put together a list of annual ethnic events that we have experienced and think that every Clevelander should attend at least once. There are a lot of one-time or every few years' events that you should attend as well (like the Lithuanian Song Festival in June or the Convencion Hispana every 3 years). But this initial list will be annual events.
We want your input. What does every resident of, and visitor to, The Land need to witness? We will be collecting your input and merging with our long list and then narrowing down to a definitive (in our opinion) checklist. Let us know how many of these you have already experienced. You can email us with your suggestions.
Here's a short alphabetical list of "must-do's" to get started. Don't be offended or worry if your favorite is not listed. This is just the start.
Cleveland Asian Festival (AsiaTown - 30th and Payne)
Columbus Day Parade (Little Italy)
Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductions (Windows on the River)
Feast of the Assumption (Little Italy)
Greek Independence Day Parade (West 14th)
India Republic Day (various)
Juneteenth Celebration (African American Cultural Garden)
Liszt Concert (Hungarian Cultural Garden)
Lunar New Year (AsiaPlaza and other)
Mexican Day of the Dead (Gordon Square)
Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival (County Fairgrounds)
Oktoberfest (County Fair Grounds)
One World Day (Cleveland Cultural Gardens)
Opera in the Italian Garden
Polish Constitution Day Parade (Polish Village in Parma)
Puerto Rican Day Parade (West 25th by Metro)
Romanian Festival (St Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral)
Slovenian Kurentovaje (62nd and St. Clair)
St. Patrick's Day Parade (Superior Ave downtown)
Ukrainian Independence Day Parade (Ukrainian Village in Parma)
They're Baaaaack - in AsiaTown
They're Baaaaack - in AsiaTown
The three young unintentional heroes who solved a series of murders in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens find themselves in the middle of another mystery.
In Murder in AsiaTown DJ, Ren and Peggy, called a modern Mod Squad, discover a decades old murder case from Cleveland’s Chinatown. While working to showcase and document the history of the Chinese community and neighborhood they stumble upon some disturbing news. Their efforts take them all over the Chinatown and AsiaTown neighborhoods of Cleveland Ohio and includes numerous historic facts and stories. When it looks like they have the case solved, a surprising twist emerges.
This is Cleveland author Dan Hanson's second book. The first book, Murder in the Cultural Gardens, is a “whodunit” murder mystery set in the real world Cleveland Cultural Gardens. An unlikely new “Mod Squad” stumbles upon a series of murders in their beloved Gardens and assist in solving the crimes. All 30+ of the Cultural Gardens are covered in the book so readers learn about this treasure while trying to figure out the mystery.
You can find them on Amazon and in local bookstores like Mac'sBacks on Coventry. Or email for autogaphed copies. They make great Christmas gifts!
Murder in the Cultural Gardens
Murder in the Cultural Gardens
"It just didn't seem right to DJ. A body found bludgeoned in a place known for "Peace through Mutual Understanding." But there she was, crumpled behind a bust of composer Franz Liszt in the Hungarian Cultural Garden. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. "What is the nature of your emergency?" the dispatcher queried. With a suddenly very dry mouth DJ managed to get out, "There's been a murder in the Cultural Gardens."
That's the beginning of the recently published first novel by Dan Hanson.
The whodunit, titled Murder in the Cultural Gardens, takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and all 30+ gardens are featured during the mystery. You may even recognize some of the characters.
Click the link above to learn more or to purchase in paperback or Kindle version from Amazon. Or contact Dan via the Murder in the Cultural Gardens webpage to have a signed book delivered.
Cleveland is a diverse city with about 120 distinct ethnic heritages represented. We at ClevelandPeople.com and the Cleveland International Hall of Fame believe that this ethnic diversity makes us a much richer city and that we should all celebrate this fact.
We asked people from various ethnic groups to create a tile representing their heritage. These 3 quilts are a product of that effort. We hope that other ethnic groups will want to add their own tile to these patchworks showcasing our ethnic diversity.
This DVD is a Living Rosary in the sense that over 200 people participated in saying a prayer. 3 bishops, numerous priests and sisters and a variety of lay people all said a prayer (Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary or Glory Be) that when put together combine to form the complete Rosary.
We hope that you will pray along with the diverse group of people on this DVD. They are young and old, different races and ethnicities, in Church and outside, alone and in groups. The prayers are said in English, but occasionally there is a prayer in another language. You may not know the language but will understand, and be able to pray along, because of the context.
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If you want your group's events listed in our Calendar, please send an e-mail to events@clevelandpeople.com with the details. Please allow at least 2 weeks lead time.
Do you need a Hungarian Flag? A shirt that says "I love Slovenian girls"? How about a sign that says No Parking except for Irish Grandmother?
These and hundreds of other items for your particular ethnic group are available for browsing at our on-line store. It's safe, fast, easy and fun. And there is a wide selection you will never find in the stores!
