The Downtown Cleveland Alliance and its Down & Aroundtown partners (the neighborhoods of downtown Cleveland and those that connect directly to downtown) are proud to announce that the 8th Annual Sparx City Hop will take place on Saturday, September 11th, from 11am - 11pm.
Sparx City Hop is a free all day event that celebrates the visual, culinary and performing arts of Cleveland’s most central and metropolitan neighborhoods. Free trolley service by Lolly the Trolley allows individuals and families to “hop” through the neighborhoods of Downtown (Historic Gateway Neighborhood, Historic Warehouse District, PlayhouseSquare and the Campus District) plus the neighborhoods that connect directly to Downtown (Tremont, Ohio City, MidTown, AsiaTown and St. Clair Superior). The trolley routes connect people to over 60 galleries & artist studios, over 100 restaurants, several markets and dozens of specialty retail shops. In addition, Sparx City Hop includes a variety of sidewalk concerts, main stage performances, special gallery and studio events, the Terminal Tower observation deck, the Tower City Street Fair, the Sparx Classic Car Show, a variety of merchant specials and so much more.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 people participate in the Sparx City Hop each year. Don’t miss this opportunity to get out and explore what makes the core of our city so special!
Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio Affiliate Partnership:
This year, Sparx City Hop is excited to be partnering with the Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure, which will also be taking place on Saturday, September 11th. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested nearly $1.5 billion since its inception in 1982. Thanks to events like the Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from their partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, Komen Northeast Ohio has invested over $17 million dollars in our community since 1994. Up to 75% of the funds raised thru the Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure stay in our community for educational programs, screenings and survivor support programs.
“Sparx City Hop is an event that celebrates the strength and power of our community and we couldn’t think of a better partner to help celebrate the power of community than the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure©,” said Joe Marinucci, President and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance. “Our hope is that everyone participating in the race will stay throughout the day and enjoy everything the center of the city has to offer. We also encourage everyone in the community to not only participate in the Sparx City Hop, but to support the fight against breast cancer by participating in this year’s Race for the Cure©.”
On race day, as part of the partnership with the Race for the Cure©, all race participants who wear their pink race-day shirt will be able to take advantage of a variety of special merchant offers at over 60 City Hop locations. These special offers will also be available to anyone in the public via the brand new Sparx City Hop Passport (see below for more information).
“Komen Northeast Ohio is pleased to partner with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and the Sparx City Hop event” said Sophie Sureau, Executive Director of Komen Northeast Ohio. “Our supporters continually tell us that they enjoy being downtown near the many great restaurants, hotels, attractions and merchants. Together, we will brighten the city with an even greater energy from dawn to well after dusk.”
Sparx City Hop Passport:
This year’s Sparx City Hop event will introduce a free new promotion…the Sparx City Hop Passport. The passport will have two uses:
1. It will act as the trolley pass for participants in this year’s Sparx City Hop. Simply show your passport to the trolley driver in order for you and your family to ride for free!
2. And the City Hop Passport will list over 60 special offers at participating City Hop locations. Simply show your passport to a participating City Hop merchant and take advantage of the special!
Not only will passport holders be able to take advantage of these specials during the Sparx City Hop event on September 11th, but they’ll be able to get those same specials throughout the entire year! Starting September 11th, 2010 (and lasting till August 31st, 2011), all promotions in the passport will be available to passport holders, simply present this passport at any participating Sparx City Hop location.
The Sparx City Hop Passport is free but it will be distributed only two ways:
1. Look for your Sparx City Hop Passport insert in the September issue of Cleveland Magazine or
2. Get your passport at the Sparx City Hop event on Saturday, September 11th. The passports will be distributed at designated trolley stops that day.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get special discounts throughout the year, make sure you mark this year’s Sparx City Hop on your calendar!
Sparx City Hop is presented by:
Sparx City Hop is presented by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and is made possible through the collaboration of its Down and Aroundtown partners.
Down and Aroundtown Cleveland is a collaboration between Cleveland’s most central and metropolitan neighborhoods. Together, these districts not only offer the most dynamic mix of city life in our region, but they represent a unified trade district that attracts over 7.4 million visits, employs over 160,000 people and is home to more than 43,000 residents.
Down & Aroundtown Cleveland includes: Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Historic Gateway Neighborhood, Historic Warehouse District, PlayhouseSquare District Development Corp., The Campus District, St. Clair Superior Development Corp., AsiaTown, MidTown Cleveland Inc., Tremont West Development, Ohio City Near West Development Corp., and Flats Oxbow
For information on this summer’s upcoming Sparx City Hop, go to
www.downtowncleveland.com/sparx
