Culture of Akron, Ohio facts for kids

Cool street art in Akron, Ohio, inspired by graffiti.

The culture of Akron, Ohio is a mix of many cool things that make the city special. Akron was started in Summit County way back in 1825.

Delicious Food in Akron

Akron has a super tasty food scene! Long ago, many people from Germany came to Akron. Later, more people arrived from places like Italy, Poland, and Ukraine. They brought amazing foods like pastrami, pierogis, pizza, and sauerkraut balls. Today, you can also find African, Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Mexican food.

Akron also loves "urban farming." This means growing food right in the city! Many new restaurants have opened, like Bricco and Crave. You can also find unique grocery stores such as Mustard Seed Market.

Did you know Akron claims to be where the hamburger was invented? For many years, the city even had a "National Hamburger Festival" to celebrate this yummy food!

Amazing Art and Movies

The Akron Art Museum is a great place to see art. It opened in 1922 and got much bigger in the early 2000s. The museum shows art from all over the world, along with local collections.

Right across from the museum is the Nightlight Cinema. This small movie theater shows special films. It focuses on movies made by local artists, interesting documentaries, and independent films. These are often movies you might not see anywhere else!

Writers and Stories

Akron has been home to many famous writers. The big newspaper company Knight-Ridder started in Akron. It grew from two smaller newspapers, the Akron Beacon Journal and a German-language paper.

Rita Dove, a famous poet, was born in Akron. She even became the Poet Laureate for the Library of Congress!

In 1851, Sojourner Truth gave her powerful "Ain't I A Woman" speech in Akron. This happened at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention.

Other award-winning writers from Akron include David Auburn and Terry Pluto. Adrienne Miller, a former editor for Esquire magazine, grew up near Akron. She later wrote a book called The Coast of Akron.

Comic Book Connections

The famous Luigi's pizza shop in Akron inspired a place in the Funky Winkerbean comic strip. The comic's creator, Tom Batiuk, is from Akron.

In the Flaming Carrot Comics, the city where the main character lives, Iron City, is based on Akron. It's shown as a hardworking town.

The writer and artist Bill Watterson, who created Calvin and Hobbes, also lived in Summit County.

Music Scene

Akron has a rich music history. Many different types of musicians have come from here, including:

• Country singer David Allan Coe
• Rhythm and blues singers Howard Hewett and James Ingram
• Jazz musician Jeff Golub
• Folk musician Len Chandler
• Opera singer Russell Oberlin
• Singer-songwriters Joseph Arthur and Roger Hoover

Rock Music History

In the late 1970s, a band called Devo became very famous. After that, music scouts looked for more talent in Akron. Soon, people started talking about the "Akron Sound." This was a special music scene with bands like the Waitresses and Rachel Sweet. Other popular local bands included Tin Huey and Rubber City Rebels.

Other major rock musicians from Akron are:

You can learn all about Akron's music history at the Akron Sound Museum. It opened in 2015.

Places to Hear Music

The Akron Art Museum hosts free outdoor concerts every summer. This has been happening since 1984!

Big places to see concerts in Akron include the Akron Civic Theatre and E.J. Thomas Hall. The Blossom Music Center is also a popular spot. For fans of newer bands, Annabelle's and Paolo's are great places to catch live music.

In the early 1900s, the North Hill neighborhood was well-known for its jazz music.

Sports and Fun

Akron is the hometown of basketball superstar LeBron James. Part of Main Street was even renamed "King James Way" to honor him!

The city has its own Minor League Baseball team, the Akron RubberDucks. They play their games at Canal Park.

Every year, the World Championship finals for the Soap Box Derby are held in Akron. This exciting race takes place at Derby Downs.

If you love being outdoors, the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is perfect. This trail runs through Akron and goes all the way to Cleveland. It's great for hiking and biking!