08/26/2026
Fresh Fest Cleveland is not a row of social-service tables.
It is economic development in practice.
When Randy, a co-founder of Rid-All Green Partnership describes Fresh Fest as a family reunion, block party, and cookout, he is also describing what it looks like when people see possibility in a place too often defined by disinvestment.
People come from across Cleveland and beyond. They see a working farm, local vendors, artists, food entrepreneurs, and residents creating an experience together. They see investment already taking place in the urban core.
That changes the story people tell about a neighborhood and the kinds of investments they believe are possible.
At EHW, we see Fresh Fest as a proof of concept for community ownership. Local people create the value. Local entrepreneurs and artists are centered. The community gets to show what it is building on its own terms.
As Randy put it: “Maybe they’ll go back to their communities and say, we can do the same thing and invest in our own community.”
That is the point.
Join us for Fresh Fest Cleveland 2026 on Saturday, September 12, from 1–9 PM at Rid-All Farm + Otter Park, 8129 Otter Ave., Cleveland, OH 44104. Free and open to all. Learn more at freshfestcleveland.com
