About the 2025 Festival
The theme of the 2025 Cleveland Humanities Festival is APPETITE. Feast. Famine, Ambition. Desire. Craving. Appetite is both a bodily state and an emotive force. As we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the CHF, we will explore the multifaceted ways that humanistic inquiry has engaged this theme. What do we hunger for in our personal and civic lives? How does longing shape the human psyche? How have artists and makers explored the role of appetite in creative production? What metaphors of appetite resonate across diverse time periods and cultural milieus? How will AI and new technologies impact our collective appetites for knowledge? These questions and more will be addressed by Cleveland area arts, cultural and educational organizations through a series of public events in the spring of 2025.
An Appetite for Ancestry: A Conversation with Mel Michelle Lewis on Food, Folklore, and Identity
February 19, 2025
Mel Michele Lewis and Isaiah Hunt
6:30 pm | Virtual Event
Step into the rich tapestry of Gulf South culture with Mel Michele Lewis, author of the new Biomythography Bayou, as part of our exploration of our appetite theme.
Put Spring in your Step, Cleveland!
March 5, 2025
7:00 PM Cuyahoga County Public Library North Olmsted Branch 27403 Lorain Road North Olmsted, OH 44070
Discover Northeast Ohio's best urban and rural trails with hiking expert Diane Stresing! Explore scenic spots, historical trails, and hidden gems within 60 miles of Cleveland. Perfect for hikers of all levels.
Book sale and signing to follow.
This event is sponsored by Cuyahoga County Public Library and is free and open to the public.
Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers?
March 6, 2025
7:00 PM Cuyahoga County Public Library Independence Branch 6361 Selig Drive Independence, OH 44131
Discover the story of African American soldiers on the Western frontier after the Civil War. After the Civil War, many sought a fresh start in the West. Learn how the 9th and 10th Cavalry, known as the "Buffalo Soldiers" played a vital role in westward expansion and helped lay the groundwork for the National Park Rangers.
Presented by Jermaine Crayton, M.Ed, CTRS, Yogi.
Shucked: A New Small-Town Musical in a Big-City Medium
March 11, 2025
7:00 PM Cuyahoga County Public Library Olmsted Falls Branch 8100 Mapleway Drive Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
Join Music Historian Stephanie Ruozzo to explore Shucked, a “corny” new musical redefining Broadway. With a score blending country, folk, and blues, Shucked challenges traditional Broadway norms and broadens its appeal across class, geographical, and racial lines, giving marginalized voices a modern stage.
This event is sponsored by Cuyahoga County Public Library and is free and open to the public.
43rd Annual William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition Award Ceremony
March 15, 2025
4:00 – 5:30 PM Room 176 of the Samson Pavilion/Health Education Campus 9501 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States
Thirst for Knowledge: The Florist of Millionaire's Row
March 17, 2025
7:00 PM Cuyahoga County Public Library Strongsville Branch 18700 Westfood Drive Strongsville, OH 44136
Celebrate gardening and Women’s History with this fascinating presentation about this local green thumb. Explore the rich history of gardening through the life of Ella Grant Wilson, the celebrated Florist of Millionaires Row. Known for her exceptional work with Cleveland’s elite, Ella was instrumental in shaping horticultural practices of her time. This engaging talk blends her gardening expertise with her legacy as a pro-women advocate.
On Eating and Reading: A Conversation with Dwight Garner
March 18, 2025
Dwight Garner
6:00 pm | Wolstein Building Auditorium | 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Dive into the delicious intersection of food and literature with Dwight Garner, celebrated New York Times book critic, as he discusses his latest work, The Upstairs Delicatessen: On Eating, Reading, Reading About Eating, and Eating While Reading.
He will be in conversation with Elysia Balavage, Anisfield-Wolf Fellow and member of the CWRU Department of English.
Cooking Vareniki (Ukrainian Pierogis)
March 18, 2025
7:00 PM Cuyahoga County Public Library Brecksville Branch 9089 Brecksville Road Brecksville, OH 44141
You’ll see step-by-step how to assemble and cook this traditional Vareniki (Ukrainian pierogis). In this hands-on program you will build your Vareniki, choose fillings, learn to fold and crimp this Ukrainian favorite using premade dough discs. You will leave with Vareniki ready to be cooked at home. Supplies limited.
This event is sponsored by Cuyahoga County Public Library and is free and open to the public.
Travel the Silk Road: Journey Through Asia
March 19, 2025
10:00 AM Cuyahoga County Public Library Richmond Heights Branch 449 Richmond Road Richmond Heights, OH 44143
History on Tap: 90s Girls' Game Night
March 20, 2025
7:00 PM Cleveland History Center 10825 East Boulevard Cleveland, OH 44106
Satisfy your craving for connection and empowerment at this 90s-themed Girls' Game Night. Celebrate Women’s History Month with iconic games, throwback music, and themed cocktails. Dive into 90s pop culture, fashion, and art through lively discussions led by museum professionals. Bring your best denim and scrunchies for a night that captures the playful energy and hunger for fun that defined the decade.