76th One World Day celebrates Cleveland’s cultural diversity
On a sticky but sunny late summer day, The Land joined in the festivities at the 76th annual One World Day on August 28, 2022. The festival, which courses through the Glenville neighborhood via Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from Lake Erie and University Circle, is hosted by the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation.
People of all ages wearing colorful traditional clothing and waving flags of different countries marched and danced along MLK Jr. Drive in the Parade of Flags on Sunday, representing the cultural and ethnic diversity in Cleveland. Throughout the 76th One World Day celebration at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, guests watched a naturalization ceremony, dance performances, and live music in Centennial Peace Plaza, and they enjoyed food and festivities while visiting the gardens.
The Land joined in Sunday’s festivities at the 76th annual One World Day. The festival, which courses through the Glenville neighborhood via Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from Lake Erie to University Circle, is hosted by the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation. Check out these photos of the parade and some of the gardens at the celebration.
The Ukrainian Cultural Garden kicked off the Parade of Flags at One World Day. People wearing vyshyvanka, or embroidered clothing, beaded necklaces, and flower crowns greeted the crowd and waved Ukrainian flags. Marchers shouted “Slava Ukraini, heroiam slava,” which means “Glory to Ukraine, glory to heroes.” (Photo by Cindy Bailie)People marching with the Chinese Cultural Garden perform a dragon dance, maneuvering a Chinese dragon puppet while marching in the Parade of Flags. (Photo by Cindy Bailie)A marching band performs in the parade with the Association of African American Cultural Gardens. (Photo by Mandy Kraynak)Two people marching with the Colombian Cultural Garden smile as they dance to the music. Marchers with the Colombian Cultural Garden shouted “¡Viva Colombia!” which means “Long live Colombia!” as they walked by. (Photo by Cindy Bailie) Marchers with the Mexican Cultural Garden swirl and spread their skirts as they walk in the parade. (Photo by Cindy Bailie) Dancers representing the India Cultural Garden perform in the parade, holding Indian flags and instruments moving to the beat of the drums. India celebrated its 75th year of independence on Aug.15, and people cheered “Happy Birthday, India” during the parade. (Photo by Cindy Bailie)Romanian flags hang in a row near the Romanian Cultural Garden. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)A choir performs at the Romanian Cultural Garden. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)John Omar stands next to a table of wood carvings at the African American Cultural Garden. Many of the carvings, which Omar makes by hand, are of Adinkra symbols such as the Sankofa, and Gye Nyame, as well as the Egyptian ankh, or key of life. The Sankofa means learning from the past, and the Gye Nyame symbolizes the omnipotence of God. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)Matt Scharver, Deputy Director of Watershed Programs at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, stands near a Doan Brook archway at the One World Day celebration. The Doan Brook watershed flows along MLK Jr. Drive to Lake Erie, and it runs through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)People at the Ukrainian Cultural Garden admire baked goods and art at a booth decked out in Ukraine’s national colors, blue and yellow. The entrance to the garden and a monument were also decorated with blue and yellow-painted rocks, sunflowers (Ukraine’s national flower), and signs that read “We stand with Ukraine.” Aug. 24 marked Ukraine’s 31st year of independence, and six months since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the country. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)The Vietnamese Cultural Garden broke ground in 2020. A 14-foot marble statue of a woman is being carved in Vietnam and will eventually take the place of the model pictured here between the United States and Vietnamese flags. (Photo by Hannah Mosley)
Keep our local journalism accessible to all
Reader support is crucial as we continue to shed light on underreported neighborhoods in Cleveland. Will you become a monthly member to help us continue to produce news by, for, and with the community?
A published writer, poet, artist, and nonprofit executive, Cindy has dedicated her 30-year career to strengthening and leading nonprofit organizations to financial sustainability and programmatic relevance and coaching the people who are transforming communities through purposeful work.
The See Our Light project recruited residents to share stories and used digital fabrication technology to transform those stories into an art exhibit. The exhibit…
Día de Muertos, a jubilant celebration honoring life and remembering the dead, brings the rich traditions of Latin America back to Cleveland on October 29.
Get The Land's free newsletter in your inbox 2-3x a week
This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy.
