Last weekend, we kicked off our signature Campaign event series, ArtsWave Days, brought to you by Macy's. The 2019 series began with Destination: West Side! Hundreds of West Siders and visitors from other neighborhoods stopped by three unique venues in Westwood and Price Hill. At the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, they witnessed a special preview of "Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver" and toured the historic building. At the nearby Frisch's^® Big Boy^®, they took in music and storytelling at Cincinnati Opera's "Opera Express" truck. At the new Madcap Education Center, they made spinning wheel art, learned a new dance and watched as Madcap performed "Rumpelstiltskin."

Next week, get ready for a celebration where freedom, history and arts meet. Join us at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for Freedom Celebration! The Freedom Center will open their doors to the public at no cost all day. Inside, you'll experience a variety of arts that tell the story and struggle for civil rights. It will begin in the lobby, where Ed "Sax" Thomas and groups from the School for Creative and Performing Arts will perform.

A string of acts will grace the Grand Hall, starting with MYCincinnati. The youth orchestra will present works from composers of the African Diaspora. The Children's Theatre will then explore Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, through excerpts from Martin's Dream, an unforgettable one-man show. Talented young royalty from City Gospel Mission's Princesses Ballet will portray freedom through dance.

Cincinnati Black Theatre Company will keep the momentum going with powerful monologues from "For Colored Girls." Sharon McCollum of Shanay Productions will recreate an urban radio show similar to WCIN (Cincinnati’s first radio station for African Americans) during the civil rights era. Finally, witness the shear talent of Elementz as they showcase spoken word, dance, rap and music from hip-hop culture.

Get the full schedule at ArtsWave.org/Days. It's all FREE as part of the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign!