View our Summer Meltdown Photo Album
Every July, for one day each summer, a transformation takes place in Downtown Lakewood. Detroit Avenue shuts down and becomes an urban playground for families, friends, festival-goers, runners, beer enthusiast and music lovers alike to celebrate Lakewood’s liveliness.
Lakewood Summer Meltdown 2019 – sponsored by Melt Bar and Grilled and presented by LakewoodAlive – attracted an estimated regional crowd of 12,000 to the heart of the city along Detroit Avenue on Saturday, July 13. Attendees at the 10th annual installment of Lakewood’s summer street fest were not disappointed, as they enjoyed everything from street vendors to road races to a beer garden with live music.
The Summer Meltdown began at 4 p.m. with the street festival component, featuring vendor displays from more than 100 businesses and organizations. Meanwhile, at the eastern end of the Summer Meltdown attendees enjoyed the skate park sponsored by West Side Skates and the ever-popular “Water Moose” sprinkler park.
Lakewood native Michael Gill constructed the initial version of his Water Moose sprinkler park nine years ago with assistance from Lakewood Hardware. This web of sprinklers connected to a fire hydrant has developed into a fan favorite at the Summer Meltdown, inducing shrieks of laughter from wet, yet happy children.
The One Mile Family Fun Run and Walk – sponsored by Lakewood Family YMCA and Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department – once again proved to be a highlight of the Summer Meltdown. Nearly 100 children (some accompanied by parents) participated in this out-and-back race up Belle Avenue, with some high-fiving the crowd and others holding hands as they crossed the finish line.
The Meltdown 5K sponsored by Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center saw hundreds of runners take off along a fast course through the neighborhoods east of Lakewood Park. Runners endured the heat, caught glimpses of Lake Erie and, in some cases, set personal-best race times. Mark Grogan and Heather Conger placed first among male and female participants, respectively. Top-finishers from each division received their awards at the Race Results Tent sponsored by The Exchange.
Back for its third year, the Summer Meltdown Bike Raffle resulted in two lucky contestants winning Cannondale Quick bicycles courtesy of Beat Cycles. The raffle winners were drawn on stage near the end of the festivities, culminating a raffle that began in mid-June through ticket sales online and at Beat Cycles.
Sponsored by First Federal Lakewood, the Gary K. Bish Memorial Beer Garden drew thousands of attendees to enjoy craft beer and cider. Beer enthusiasts complemented their beverages with cuisine from food vendors and local restaurants.
Crowd-pleasing band Front Porch Lights capped the evening with an energized performance on the Meltdown Stage. Led by frontman Conor Standish, the band delighted the large crowd with a mix of rock, alternative, indie and cover songs.
LakewoodAlive thanks its sponsors, its volunteers, the City of Lakewood, the Lakewood Police and Fire Departments and all participants and attendees for making Lakewood Summer Meltdown 2019 a tremendous success.
“This community event would not be possible without the support of our city, our generous sponsors and our contingency of nearly 100 volunteers who helped us bring approximately 12,000 people to Downtown Lakewood,” said Ian Andrews, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive. “Each year our Summer Meltdown gets better and we’re proud of the role this event plays in upholding our mission to foster and sustain vibrant neighborhoods in Lakewood.”
For more information regarding Lakewood Summer Meltdown 2019, please visit LakewoodAlive.org/Meltdown.
The Lakewood Summer Meltdown is generously supported by the following sponsors:
Title Sponsor:
Melt Bar and Grilled
Gold Medal and Beer Sponsor:
First Federal Lakewood
Gold Medal Sponsors:
Beat Cycles
City of Lakewood
Cleveland Property Management Group
Cuyahoga Community College
The Exchange
Meltdown 5K Sponsor:
Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center
1 Mile Kids Fun Run Sponsor:
Lakewood Family YMCA
Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department
Table Sponsor:
Eric Lowrey, Berkshire Hathaway/Lucien Realty
Silver Medal Sponsors:
Bath Fitter
Blue Ridge Media Company
The Ferry Cap and Set Screw Company
Lakewood Public Library
Peace Racing
thunder::tech
Universal Windows Direct
West Side Skates
Bronze Medal Sponsors:
HomeAdvisor
Profile by Sanford
The Lakewood Citizen
Window Universe Cleveland