Release Date: June 5,2025
The Groundhog Show Popping Up for Its Fifth Year
Akron, OHIO (June 3. 2025) — The Groundhog Show, founded in 2021, is an annual pop-up art exhibition celebrating northeast Ohio artists and creators. The heart of the show is celebrating art and life, the weird, bad, good, ugly. Over the years it has become incredibly popular among artists and art enjoyers alike with significant participation from the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all in all stages of their creative journeys. This year The Groundhog Show has been able to expand to feature over 170 artists and 230+ pieces of art, including two community interactive works.
Curated by Liana Gonzalez (they/them), Karl Anderson (he/they), and Taylor Clapp (she/they) with awards selected by Bronlynn Thurman (she/her) and Maddie McSweeney (they/she).
This year the show will be open Friday, June 6 to Saturday, June 14 located at 21 N. Main St, Akron, OH.
Special thank you to The Groundhog Show Partners: The County of Summit, Curated Storefront, Summit Artspace, Moo, and Downtown Akron Partnership.
Public Hours:
- Opening Reception
Friday, June 6 , 7-10 p.m. - Saturday, June 7, 1- 9 p.m.
- Sunday, June 8, 1- 9 p.m.
- Thursday, June 12, 5 - 9 p.m.
ArtWalk - Friday, June 13, 1- 9 p.m.
- Saturday, June 14, 1- 9 p.m.
Programming:
Opening Reception
Friday, June 6 , 7-10 p.m.
Opening Night performances!
- 7:00- DJ C-Star
- 7:30- Ari Ashpis
- 8:30- UglyHotGF
- 9:00- Awards & Announcements
- 9:30- Twink Priests
Saturday, June 7, 1 - 9 p.m.
Free to attend
- 3:00 p.m. Special preview of Sticks by Emmett Podgorski
- Play to be premiered in full at Wild Oscar's June 19, June 20, and June 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
- Introducing Sticks, a play about Avery, a trans man, and Liz, a lesbian, who have been dating since before Avery came out. Years later, they’re living together, have a cat, and are struggling to make their relationship work. Avery and Liz decide to explore polyamory as a way to fix their relationship. Will Avery and Liz’s relationship survive new partners, self-discovery, and a bachelor party camping trip?
Wednesday, June 11, 6 - 9 p.m.
- Free to attend – tips for model encouraged
- Queer People, Live! Live figure drawing MOO and QuACC
Thursday, June 12, 5 - 9 p.m.
ArtWalk
- 6-9 pm Free Screenprinting!
Bring your own shirt, tote, or anything fabric and flat to get the Groundhog Logo screen printed on. Two image size options will be available in either black or white ink. - Performance by DJ Sissy Bunny
Friday, June 13, 1- 9 p.m.
- 5 p.m. Ceramic Throwdown! (Free to attend)
A competitive ceramic demo featuring Grant Ederer vs. Mary Clark battling for the groundhog crown. Grant and Mary will go through five rounds of throwing ceramics with a variety of challenges, including but not limited to: speed throwing, blindfolded, one handed, and a special sabotage round. - 7p.m. Performance Dr. Doppler
Saturday, June 14, 1- 9 p.m.
- 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Tunisian crochet workshop with MOO (Free to Attend)
- 5 - 7 p.m. Necklace making with Citrus Witch Craft $25 per necklace
For more information about The Groundhog Show please go to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aXdk7sNmsnKoS1KKqf9pu413P02jkBVC
Our goals with The Groundhog show continue to be:
- Create an inclusive and safe environment for people to be inspired and showcase their work
- Have fun
- Affordable entry for artists
- Celebrate local artists at any stage in their careers
- Give an opportunity to network and build community
- Connect artists with galleries
Special thank you to The Groundhog Show 2025’s sponsors: The Richard and Alita Rogers Family Foundation, Gay Community Endowment Fund, Harvey and Kim Nelson, Akron Pride Festival.
Presenting sponsor Akron Pride Festival as well as our Groundhog level sponsors: Gay Community Endowment Fund, Harvey and Kim Nelson, The Richard and Alita Rogers Family Foundation, and Summit County Land Bank.
Follow The Groundhog Show on social media: Instagram
Website: https://www.clappforart.com/ghs2025