We Strengthen Our City By Welcoming Our World

Welcoming Week 2022

September 9-18

Welcoming Week brings together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.

Welcoming Events


Friday, Sept. 9

InterCLE

InterCLE is Global Cleveland’s international student welcoming event that reaches hundreds of international students.
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

The Paulaner Cleveland Oktoberfest

An assortment of more than 15 craft Oktoberfest-style beers (with Great Lakes Brewing Company being the 2nd-weekend craft beer sponsor), a full lineup of recognized tribute bands, wiener dog races, authentic German and European foods, fireworks, Bavarian Shopping Village and the largest glockenspiel in the entire country. Entertainment from Grammy-nominated Alex Meixner Band, Chardon Polka Band and Fred Ziwich & International Sound Machine, among others.
Time: 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Location: 19201 E. Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights

Ormantik Komedi - Cleveland

A Turkish comedic play filled with laughter with four professional and well known stage actors. 120 minutes with one intermission.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Near West Theatre
6702 Detroit Ave
Cleveland, OH 44102

Saturday, Sept. 10

The Paulaner Cleveland Oktoberfest

An assortment of more than 15 craft Oktoberfest-style beers (with Great Lakes Brewing Company being the 2nd-weekend craft beer sponsor), a full lineup of recognized tribute bands, wiener dog races, authentic German and European foods, fireworks, Bavarian Shopping Village and the largest glockenspiel in the entire country. Entertainment from Grammy-nominated Alex Meixner Band, Chardon Polka Band and Fred Ziwich & International Sound Machine, among others.
Time: 12 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Location: 19201 E. Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights

Beebridge Behive Painting

Join Global Cleveland and The Fare Project for bee talk, seed planting, food, and painting hives with a local artist.
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: St. Claire Sprout Garden, 6925 St. Claire Ave.

Colombian Carnival 2022

We are very much honored to invite you to the fundraising event which is organized to build a Colombian Garden at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Time: 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Location: Novelty, OH

Sunday, Sept. 11

Novak Djokovic Dedication in Serbian Garden

Join us as a bust of Novak Djokovic is dedicated by local clergy in the Serbian Cultural Gardens.
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Serbian Cultural Garden
780 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Echo in the Woods in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens

World on Stage at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Free and open to the public. Cleveland Opera director Dorota Sobieska will perform operatic pieces fropm Polish and other composers.
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Cultural Gardens Centennial Peace Plaza
1051 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Monday, Sept. 12

County Executive Forum Watch Party

Join us for a free forum with County Executive Candidates Lee Weingart and Chris Ronayne where we will host a discussion with Cleveland’s international community. Q and A at the end.
Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Jukebox, 1404 W 29th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

Tuesday, Sept. 13

Welcoming Ukrainian Children

We will be collaborating on an event aimed at welcoming 70 new Ukrainian children into a local school district. We will provide interpretation of a school tour, a meet and greet with teachers and staff, as well as invite members of the community to come and speak with the new arrivals. We will also be providing them with translated leaflets of services and charities around the area that can help meet some basic needs!
Private Event

Wednesday, Sept. 14

Landed: Stories of Newcomers Podcast with Verónica Tomaschek

Listen to our podcast with Verónica Tomaschek premiering during Welcoming Week 2022! Born in Mexico City to a multicultural family, Verónica speaks - and now translates - English, Hungarian, and Spanish.

Thursday, Sept. 15

Global Rising Networking Event

Private Event
Time: 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: TBD

11th Annual GCUFF Film Festival

The 11th annual Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival kicks off Sept 15-23, in the heart of Cleveland at our Shaker Square headquarters as well as our virtual platform. Enjoy nine days of unique films, celebrities and events celebrating urban culture.
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 13116 Shaker Square
Cleveland, OH 44120

Friday, Sept. 16

Naturalization Ceremony

Twice a month, Global Cleveland sends representatives to naturalization ceremonies to hand out welcome packets, and collect information on our newest American citizens.
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House in the Jury Assembly Room

20th Annual Cleveland Armenian Festival

The Cleveland Armenian Festival is hosted annually by St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church of Richmond Heights, OH. Each year, we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to sample our delicious cuisine, learn about our culture and meet our community. Learn about Armenia’s ancient culture and customs. Hear Armenian music, tour our church, and visit our souvenir shop to take home a unique treasure from our festival. Our festival is fun for the entire family. Children enjoy outdoor games, arts and crafts, and more. The picnic-style atmosphere is a great way to take in the last days of summer.
Time: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church
678 Richmond Rd. Richmond Heights

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at South Branch

Enjoy the sights, sounds, and traditions of Cleveland’s Hispanic heritage, including live music and dance performances, along with a sampling of Latinx treats.
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Public Library South Branch Outdoor Patio
3096 Scranton Road

Hispanic Heritage Opening Ceremony

Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions.
Time: 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: 601 Lakeside Avenue East
Cleveland, OH 44101

Saturday, Sept. 17

20th Annual Cleveland Armenian Festival

The Cleveland Armenian Festival is hosted annually by St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church of Richmond Heights, OH. Each year, we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to sample our delicious cuisine, learn about our culture and meet our community. Learn about Armenia’s ancient culture and customs. Hear Armenian music, tour our church, and visit our souvenir shop to take home a unique treasure from our festival. Our festival is fun for the entire family. Children enjoy outdoor games, arts and crafts, and more. The picnic-style atmosphere is a great way to take in the last days of summer.
Time: 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church
678 Richmond Rd. Richmond Heights

Dozynki Polish Harvest Celebration

The public is invited to attend the first ever Cleveland Dozynki Polish Harvest Celebration. This first-of-its-kind event is being jointly hosted by the Cleveland Polish-American Cultural Center and the Cleveland Polka Association, who recently joined forces to partner on this and similar events and dances.

The Polish custom of the Dozynki (doh-zhyn-kee) dates back to ancient pre-Christian times, and is held during the autumn to give thanks for an abundant harvest and to celebrate the changing of the season. Singing, dancing, feasting, drinking, and games are customary for this celebration in Poland, and the Cleveland Dozynki will be no different!
Time: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Polish-American Cultural Center
6501 Lansing Ave.

13th Annual India Festival USA

India Festival USA is an annual event that attempts to bridge cultures, generations and communities through one-day of togetherness. It is a day when visitors are encouraged to participate in a thematic display of the rich culture and diversity of two of the greatest nations on earth – India and USA. India Festival USA promises an immersive environment that salutes history, embraces globalization and celebrates communities.
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School
6380 Mill Rd., Broadview Hts., Ohio 44147

120th Anniversary of the Kossuth Statue

Celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Kossuth Statue and of the United Hungarian Societies of Cleveland
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: David E Davis Sculpture Garden
Euclid Avenue and Stearns Rd.

Sunday, Sept. 18

Cleveland Jewish Film Fest

This 16th annual event presents 30 films from 10 countries spread across three in-person venues (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cedar Lee Theatre plus a virtual option as well. The program includes dramas, comedies, documentaries, shorts and TV shows that speak to the Jewish and Israeli experiences. Tickets start at $10. Now through Sept. 18.
Location: Cedar Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood

Additional Events

Writers Center Stage: Marlon James

Marlon James is a Jamaican LGBTQ+ author whose award-winning books tackle a wide range of issues, such as the consequences of slavery and government corruption, rooted in cultural histories and mythologies.
Date: Tuesday, September 20
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Maltz Performing Arts Center on the campus of Case Western Reserve University

Naturalization Advice Clinic

This is a totally free event hosted by The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in partnership with the Ohio Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association in which immigration attorneys and paralegals will assist in the preparation of naturalization applications. Appointments are preferred (call 888-817-3777), but walk-ins are welcome.
Date: Saturday, September 24
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
1223 West Sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113

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