Release Date: May 5,2026
Downtown Akron Partnership Announces 2026 Summer Downtown: Wellness Classes, Roller Skating, Lunchtime Concerts, Walking Tours & Pop-Up Programs
May 5, 2026, Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is pleased to announce the 2026 schedule for Summer Downtown, which will include the return of the popular Wellness on the Plaza programs, themed roller skating events, lunchtime concerts, downtown walking tours, cornhole leagues, yoga on the Northside Green and—new this year—a handful of creative workshops.
DAP President & CEO Kimberly Beckett says, “Providing exciting, accessible public space programming that welcomes all people to the neighborhood is essential to DAP’s mission of building a vibrant and valuable downtown. Events large and small activate the neighborhood and provide an invitation for people of all walks of life to connect, build community and experience shared joy—all of which contributes to the neighborhood’s vibrant, buzzing atmosphere and helps propel ongoing downtown development efforts.”
This year’s Wellness on the Plaza classes include vinyasa yoga, kickboxing, functional fitness, line dancing and Pilates. DAP will also offer monthly yoga classes on the Northside Green. All wellness programs are free for the public to attend, but participants are invited to register in advance on Eventbrite. Walkups are still welcome. The programs are led by certified instructors who design the sessions for all levels of ability. Classes take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, running May 19 – September 6.
Roller skate nights on Cascade Plaza are also free to attend, and skates are available to rent in a wide range of children’s and adult sizes for $2 per pair. Patrons may bring their own skates if they have them. The skating is done on the concrete surrounding the grass on Cascade Plaza, and skate nights will be augmented with themes, DJs, yard games and refreshments including DORA beverages available for purchase from The Shed. This summer’s skate night themes include:
- June 13 • Space Cowboy Skate
- June 27 • K-Pop Skate
- July 18 • Christmas in July Skate
- August 1 • Back to School Skate
- August 22 • Pride Skate
- September 5 • 90s Throwback Skate
DAP is also partnering with Summit Sports and Social to offer two five-week sessions of cornhole leagues on Cascade Plaza, starting May 27. Those interested in participating can register as free agents or as two-person teams to meet new people and compete for prizes every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 pm.
Also on Wednesdays, DAP is bringing back lunchtime programming with Midday on Main concerts. These events, taking place each week from 12 to 1:30 pm, will invite downtown residents, visitors and employees to bring their lunch—whether from home or a nearby downtown restaurant—and enjoy it on the Frances and Richard Buchholzer Balcony at Lock 3, or in front of Cascade Plaza. This year’s featured local musicians will include Anna Beau, Matt Zukes, Shelby Olive, Rachel Roberts, Scott Sopata, Victor Samalot, Jeri Lee Sapronetti, Bethany Joy, Abby Riley and others yet to be announced.
Discover Downtown Akron Walking Tours will return this summer, as well, with lunchtime tours happening the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 to 12:15 pm and weekend tours happening the final Saturday of each month from 12 to 1 pm. Tours meet on the sidewalk in front of Lock 3 and will feature information on the neighborhood’s exciting public art projects, small businesses and downtown developments. Tours are free to attend.
New this year, DAP will add Create at Cascade, a monthly series of laid-back crafting events, which will also be free to attend, with pre-registration on Eventbrite preferred. More information about Create at Cascade is coming soon and will be listed on the DAP website.
The full Summer Downtown schedule, as well as links to register for wellness classes, can be found at https://www.downtownakron.com/explore/summer-downtown. A general overview is below.
Summer Downtown Programs
Tuesdays, May 19 – July 7 (no class June 30)
Vinyasa Yoga on the Plaza led by Yoga Squared • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Kickboxing on the Plaza led by Black2Life Fitness Ministry • 6:40 – 7:40 pm
Tuesdays, July 14 – September 1
Vinyasa Yoga on the Plaza led by Yoga Squared • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Functional Fitness on the Plaza led by Operation Keep It Moving • 6:40 – 7:40 pm
Wednesdays, May 20 – September 2 (no classes July 1)
Midday on Main Lunchtime Concerts* • 12 – 1:30 pm
Line Dancing on the Plaza led by JustUs Line Dance Crew** • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Cornhole Leagues led by Summit Sports and Social*** • 6 – 8 pm
*Midday on Main begins May 27.
**Line Dancing runs 5:30 – 7:30 pm on May 20 and July 29
***Cornhole Leagues run May 27 – June 24 (Session 1) and July 15 – August 12 (Session 2).
Thursdays, May 21 – September 3 (no classes July 2)
TBA • 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Pilates on the Plaza led by PilatiBarre • 6:40 – 7:40 pm
Sundays, May 24 – August 30
Line Dancing on the Plaza led by JustUs Line Dance Crew* • 3 – 4 pm
*Line Dancing runs 3 – 5 pm on August 23.
Skate Nights on the Plaza
June 13 • June 27 • July 18 • August 1 • August 22 • September 5
5 – 8 pm
Yoga on the Green
June 21 • July 19 • August 16 • September 6
10 – 11 am
Discover Downtown Akron Walking Tours
May 13 • June 10 • July 8 • August 12 • September 9 • October 14
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
May 30 • June 27 • July 25 • August 29 • October 31
12 – 1 pm
NEW: Create at Cascade
May 24 • June 21 • July 19 • August 16 • August 23
1:45 – 2:45 pm
Support for Summer Downtown is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and additional support for arts and culture performers is provided by Ohio Arts Council.