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WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays '22 Recap
Posted on 08/23/22 by Nicole in Summer in the Circle
Photo by Mock Tuna
WOW! What an incredible 2022 season here in University Circle of Wade Oval Wednesdays.
This summer was definitely one for the books:
- 50,000 guests
- 4 Celebration Nights
- 20+ performers
- 25+ food vendors
- 9 sponsors
Our four celebration nights this summer were to highlight Cleveland's diversity.
The Juneteenth Celebration showcased local organizations and performers within the Black community. Special thanks to Tammy Kennedy, Councilman Kevin Conwell, and many others for joining us!
- CWRU Social Justice Institute
- National Congress of Black Women - Cleveland Chapter
- National Council of Negro Women - Cleveland Chapter
- Shawn Literacy
- Action Cleveland
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Environmental Health Watch
- Black Environmental Leaders/Neighborhood Leadership Institute
- The Greater Cleveland Distribution Collective
Pride Night featured a special 45-minute family-friendly Drag Show, and featured host & performer Sassy Sascha with friends Alejandra J-Love, Dakota Cox, and Bella Sin.
- Partners included: Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce, TransOhio, and Case Western Reserve University.
ADA Cleveland, whose member organizations serve people with disabilities of all ages in different ways, from recreation to employment, were onsite with an ASL interpreter and captioning of the concert as well as a wheelchair charging station.
Our final celebration night of the summer was for Latinx Heritage! The Cleveland Tango School taught a Tango lesson at intermission to the crowd.
Photo by Mock Tuna
This summer was also a summer of firsts for us here at University Circle, having hosted our first Pride Night Celebration. It was also the first full summer back after the Covid-19 pandemic.
WOW this season brought back familiar faces, such as Carlos Jones and Son Gitano, as well as some new performers to the Kulas Stage. Musical genres this season ranged from country to rock to covers, and everything in between allowing everyone to enjoy the music. Despite the heat and rain some days, guests and performers showed up ready to party and have a fun time and dance to classics such as the Wade Oval Wobble or the Cupid Shuffle. Guests most certainly brought their dancing shoes this summer for all the Zumba nights we had as well.
This season of WOW reminded us why we started this summer concert series in the first place… to bring the community together for a fun night free of charge. We love seeing people of all ages and backgrounds come together and enjoy local music and food vendors.
Photo by Mock Tuna
None of this could have been done without the help of our amazing sponsors!
- PNC Bank
- Cleveland Public Power
- Cleveland Water
- Cleveland Water Pollution Control
- Marous Brothers Construction
- Calhoun Funeral Home
- Wayside Furniture
- The Finch Group
- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Photo by Mock Tuna
Here's a look back at the 2022 season lineup:
JUNE 15
Councilman Conwell & The Footprints - Jazz
Opening Act: Kofi Boakye
Special Reading: Honey Bell-Bey
JUNE 22
The Ladies Night - Covers
Intermission Act: Pride Night Drag Show
JUNE 29
Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band - Reggae
Opening Act: Jul Big Green (solo)
JULY 6
Faith & Whiskey - Rock & Roll
Opening Act: Herb Wilborn, Jr. - Jazz Flautist
Intermission: Cleveland Guardians Hot Dog Mascot Race
JULY 13
Erin Nicole's Centric Soul - Soul
Opening Act: David Curtis Band
JULY 20
Tricky Dick & the Cover-Ups - Covers
JULY 27
Hubb’s Groove - Jazz
Opening Act: DJ Ellery
AUG. 3
Son Gitano - Latin/Salsa
Opening Act: The Concert Truck, in partnership with Piano Cleveland
AUG. 10
Raquel & the Wildflowers - Country Rock
Opening Act: Taylor Lamborn
Intermission: Zumba with NuLife Fitness
AUG. 17
The Michael Weber Show - Rock & Roll
Opening Act: Deneal Fletcher
Intermission: Zumba with Kelli Michelle