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Release Date: August 14,2024

City of Akron Hosting Second Annual Akron City Festival Celebrating Akron’s Future Leaders on Sunday, Sept. 1

Parade kicks off at 1pm on Main Street

Akron, Ohio, August 14, 2024 — Today, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced the second annual Akron City Festival to be held in downtown Akron on Bowery St. by Lock 3’s Backyard on Sunday, September 1st from 12pm-6pm. Residents can expect a family-friendly atmosphere as the city celebrates Akron’s youth as they start a new school year. The festival will include a parade, live DJ, games, basketball, face painting, fashion show, cheer show, magic show, food vendors, gaming trucks, inflatables, and more! Watch a video from last year’s event here. View the flyer here and schedule of events below:

  • 12 pm: Event Kick-Off
  • 1 pm: Parade Kick-Off
  • 2 pm: Cheer Show
  • 3 pm: Fashion Show
  • 4 pm: Magic Show
  • 5 pm: Talent Show

A parade featuring student athletes, extracurricular clubs and youth-serving organizations will begin at 1pm. It will start at Main St. and Rosa Parks Dr. and will travel along Main Street, turning left on Bowery and ending at the Lock 3 Backyard Stage. The festival will be hosted by Night Lyfe Entertainment on Bowery Street and in Lock 3’s Backyard.

If your organization wants to be a part of the parade, please email Youth Opportunity Strategist, Denico Buckley-Knight at dbuckley-knight@akronohio.gov with a description of your group by Monday, August 19.

“The Akron City Festival is a great way to bring our community together and celebrate back to school time for our students,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “We want to start off their academic year with a fun, celebratory event that helps set the tone and puts them on a path for a joyful, successful year. This event is fun for all ages and will help empower our students and our community.”

The festival is presented by the City of Akron, and supported by Akron Public Schools, Lock 3, and Downtown Akron Partnership.