Lakewood Summer Meltdown To Heat Up City On July 9

Last year's Summer Meltdown drew nearly 10,000 attendees to Downtown Lakewood.  Photo Credit: The Lakewood Observer

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Much-Anticipated Festival Returns to Downtown Lakewood; Schedule of Events Unveiled

Summer 2016 continues to sizzle and one of the region's hottest events is right around the corner. The Lakewood Summer Meltdown – sponsored by Melt Bar & Grilled and presented by LakewoodAlive – returns for its seventh year on Saturday, July 9, from 4 to 10 p.m. in Downtown Lakewood.

One of the region’s most highly-anticipated street parties, the Summer Meltdown drew nearly 10,000 attendees from across Northeast Ohio to the heart of Lakewood last year. This "something for everyone" event and fixture on our city's summer calendar takes place on Detroit Avenue between Marlowe and Elmwood, offering seemingly endless recreation and celebration opportunities, including a 5K race, 1 Mile Kids Fun Run, street festival, outdoor activities, games, food vendors, beer garden, live music and more.

Families will love the street festival component, which features free programs from 50+ businesses and nonprofit organizations, including numerous interactive opportunities. Activities range from a sprinkler park to skateboarding to demonstrations of yoga and other exercises.

The ever-popular Meltdown 5K draws hundreds of participants annually, as it features a fast course, chip timing, a fashionable t-shirt for participants and prizes for top finishers. Both this running event and the 1 Mile Kids Fun Run afford participants a rare opportunity to partake in an evening race.

Local brews available in the beer garden like the "Lakewood Lager" and the "Summer Meltdown Ale" from Buckeye Brewing Company will complement dining options from vendors and food trucks. Up-and-coming band Front Porch Lights will rock the stage with a sound that "dances across a dynamic range of moods and colors," according to Cleveland Scene.

"We are proud to announce our schedule of events for the Seventh Annual Lakewood Summer Meltdown," said Ian Andrews, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive. "The wide range of community offerings encompassed within this event truly has something for everyone, improving quality of life for our residents and upholding our dedicated mission to foster and sustain vibrant neighborhoods in Lakewood."

For more information, please visit LakewoodSummerMeltdown.com.

Lakewood Summer Meltdown Schedule:
4-7:30 p.m. – Meltdown Street Festival
5-10 p.m. – Beer Garden Presented by Buckeye Beer Engine
5:30 p.m. – Race-day registration begins at the intersection of Detroit and St. Charles Avenues
6:00 p.m. – 1 Mile Kids Fun Run Presented by the Lakewood Family YMCA begins at Belle Avenue
7:00 p.m. – Meltdown 5K begins at Belle Avenue
7:00 p.m. – Front Porch Lights performs in the Beer Garden