Celebrate CWRU Commencement Weekend in University Circle

Photo credit: Case Western Reserve University

Welcome to commencement weekend in University Circle! 

Case Western Reserve University’s commencement weekend brings thousands of graduates, families, and friends together in the heart of University Circle. From celebratory dinners and museum visits to live music and unique exhibits, there’s plenty to experience before and after the ceremony.

Friday, May 15

The World(s) of Terence Blanchard at Severance Music Center

Step inside The World(s) of Terence Blanchard, the genre-bending opening night of the 2026 Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival, curated by the visionary and versatile trumpeter and composer himself.

Tickets required.

Saturday, May 16

Flower Flash at Cleveland Botanical Garden and Wade Oval

Free and open to the public, the Garden Club of Cleveland transforms donated and upcycled flowers and plants into a grand-scale pop-up floral display that spells "CLE"! You can find it right on Wade Oval in front of the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Don't miss this one-day only photo op!

Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel Birthday Celebration at Cleveland History Center

Join us for a full day of celebration as we honor the 116th birthday of the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel, which first opened to the public on May 19, 1910. This cherished Cleveland icon is now beautifully restored and spinning once again at the Cleveland History Center. 

Included with regular admission.

Sunday, May 17

Courage and Poetry: An Afternoon with Tank Ball at Severance Music Center

Tarriona “Tank” Ball brings her spellbinding blend of spoken word and poetry to the festival with a performance that digs deep into the meaning of courage: how we claim it, carry it, and reshape the world with it. Known for her fierce lyricism and emotional clarity, Tank won her first GRAMMY® in 2025 for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album with her band, Tank and the Bangas. For this special event, she is joined by fellow Grammy-winning composer, trumpeter, and this year’s Festival Curator Terence Blanchard, whose music adds depth and dimension to her storytelling. Together, they create an unforgettable evening where courage becomes a shared, intimate experience of voice, rhythm, and imagination.

Tickets required.

Open All Weekend

Return of the Butterflies at Cleveland Botanical Garden

Step into the Costa Rica biome and surround yourself with hundreds of newly emerged tropical butterflies. Watch as they flutter through the glasshouse, sip nectar from vibrant blooms, and bring the entire space to life with motion and color.

Included with regular admission ticket.

Free General Admission to Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 63,000 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The museum is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship, and performing arts and is a leader in digital innovations. 

Martin Puryear: Nexus at Cleveland Museum of Art

Martin Puryear: Nexus begins with work from the early 1960s and follows the artist’s innovations in form, material, and process since then. Visitors encounter new works that make their first appearance in this show, alongside sculptures that are iconic and those that have not been exhibited publicly in decades. 

Special exhibit: Tickets required.

Manet & Morisot at Cleveland Museum of Art

Manet & Morisot is the first ever major exhibition dedicated to the artistic exchange between Édouard Manet, often referred to as the father of modern painting, and Berthe Morisot, the only woman among the founding members of the Impressionist movement.

Special exhibit: Tickets required. 

Fashion & Feather at Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Fashion & Feather, a collaborative exhibition by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Kent State University Museum, and the Kent State School of Fashion, explores the intricate beauty, cultural significance, and functional marvels of feathers. Organized by species, including peacocks, ostriches, kingfishers, and roosters, it pairs ornithological specimens and cultural objects.

This exhibition is partly located in the Museum’s Visitor Hall, which is always free to the public. To access the rest of the exhibition in Corning Gallery, purchase a general admission ticket.

Free Admission to the Musuem of Contemporary Art - Cleveland for Ohio residents

Visit moCa - Cleveland where admission is FREE for everyone living in Ohio and all youth 18 years old and under, and only $10 for adults living outside of Ohio.