6 Cultural Reasons to Visit Cleveland This Year

Cleveland consistently punches above its weight in cultural matters.

Seriously.

The city’s world-renowned orchestra has been thrilling audiences for almost a century, and its already-fantastic art museum recently wrapped up a $350 million renovation and re-imagining.

2018 is looking to be a watershed year for the Northeastern Ohio city, with six exciting cultural events on the calendar that are must-sees:

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FRONT International

This brand-new triennial global contemporary art exhibition is debuting from July 14 to September 30, 2018. With pieces from more than 50 local, national and international artists, Cleveland will blend its rich reputation for classic art with modern masterpieces.

The exhibition will showcase art at a dozen venues in the region, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, Spaces Gallery and Transformer Station. Artistic director Michelle Grabner (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) is developing a series of exhibitions exploring the theme of “An American City,” with creative expression of artists from around the world inspired by the collective memory and landscape of Cleveland.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions

Come April 14, rock’s royalty will descend on the city for the Rock Hall’s annual Induction Ceremony. Being celebrated as the Class of 2018 are Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe—quite an amazing collection.

The Rock Hall, an iconic building that sits at the edge of Lake Erie near downtown, is a must visit, as well.

Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors

The Cleveland Museum of Art is hosting this internationally recognized exhibition from July through September in 2018, the second-to-last stop on its world tour. Visitors can experience six of Kusama’s “Infinity Mirror Rooms” alongside a selection of her other key works, including a number of paintings from her most recent series, “My Eternal Soul.”

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Cleveland Orchestra’s Centennial Celebration

Pitch-perfect programs ranging from the classical repertoire to operas will delight visitors as the famed Cleveland Orchestra celebrates the centennial of its founding and begins its second century of performances this fall.

The Cleveland Orchestra plays in residence at the architecturally stunning Severance Hall in the University Circle area, while its summer home is the Blossom Music Center, located in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 30 miles south of downtown.

Hamilton

The Broadway smash-hit musical arrives atCleveland’s famed Playhouse Square–the U.S.’s largest performing arts center outside of New York City—for a six-week run, from July 17 to August 26.

READ MORE: Want To Spend the Night at Cleveland’s ‘A Christmas Story’ House?

Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies

Located just down the road in Canton, Ohio, the ceremonies for the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame run for an entire week, and more than 120 living inductees typically gather for the celebrations.

Also part of the fun is the Hall of Fame Game, held right on the Hall of Fame campus at Tom Benson Stadium. The campus is in the midst of an incredible $600 million transformation, with a new hotel and conference center opening in 2018 and a fan village during 2019.