Mentor CityFest 2026: What Residents Need to Know About the Two-Day Festival at Civic Center Park

The CityFest Parade will step off from Shore Middle School at 10 a.m. Saturday; the Color Dash & Walk will follow at 4 p.m. in Civic Center Park; and 7 Summers will take the amphitheater stage at 8 p.m. For Mentor families trying to catch it all, the city's two-day festival will be as much about planning the day as choosing which activity comes first.

Mentor CityFest 2026 runs Friday, Aug. 14, from 5 to 11 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 15, from noon to 11 p.m., at Mentor Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Road. Admission and parking are free. CityFest consistently attracts more than 20,000 attendees annually and is recognized as the largest gathering in Lake County, according to the city's vendor information sheet.

Friday evening kicks off at 5 p.m., with Just Like Pink, a Pink tribute band, performing at 8 p.m. on the Mentor Civic Amphitheater stage as part of the Mentor Rocks concert series.

Saturday opens at noon and runs through 11 p.m., with 7 Summers, a Morgan Wallen tribute band, taking the amphitheater stage at 8 p.m., also as part of Mentor Rocks. Beer and wine sales are available on-site during the evening tribute concerts. Interactive entertainment throughout the festival includes strolling performers and a Fest Money game.

The 2026 CityFest Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday from Shore Middle School at 5670 Hopkins Road and ends at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater. The route heads south on Hopkins Road, continues south on Center Street, turns left on Civic Center Boulevard, and turns right on Munson Road to finish at the amphitheater. This year's theme is "America 250: Candles, Cheers, and 250 years!" celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, with over 100 participating groups including the Mentor High School Marching Band. Parade participants must report to Shore Middle School between 8 and 9:30 a.m. and line up by 9:30 a.m.

The CityFest Color Dash and Walk is a 2.6-mile fun run and walk starting at 4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of Civic Center Park, with race-day check-in from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Participants can register in advance for $25 or on race day for $30 through GreaterClevelandXC, with perks including T-shirts, sunglasses, and post-race activities.

The Kids Zone features giant inflatables including the Lava Bounce House, Cotton Candy Bounce House, Mermaid Bounce House and Slide, Dual Slide Inflatable, a Giant Slide, Mobile Ninja Warrior Course, Warrior Dash, 70-foot Obstacle Run, Radical Run, Rock Wall, Extreme Trampoline, and Zip Line. While festival admission is free, bounce houses and some Kids Zone activities require a wristband available for purchase at the event. A Kids' Corner near the Main Street Tent offers face painting, crafts, games, candle making, and ceramic painting, and the Kids Entertainment Stage features a full schedule of kid-friendly performances throughout the day.

Free parking is available at Mentor High School, Mentor Senior Center, Mentor Fire Station #5, Mentor Police Department, and the Laketran parking lot on Market Street, with over 2,700 paved spaces total. Most designated lots are within a five-minute walk of Civic Center Park, but the Laketran Park and Ride lot is a 15-to-20-minute walk. An additional lot is located just east of the Ice Arena at Civic Center Park. Handicapped parking is available at the Mentor Municipal Center main lot and the eastern portion of the grounds for those displaying a permanent Ohio handicapped plaque, with staff available to assist. Parking is prohibited on the grass along the bike path side of Munson Road from the Civic Center Park expansion lot to the Police Station, with vehicles in no-parking zones subject to ticketing or towing.

Over 15 food vendors will serve festival staples including sausage sandwiches, funnel cakes, lemonade, and other sweet treats, and the Main Street tent hosts more than 45 local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

For more information, attendees can contact the City of Mentor Parks and Recreation department at 440-974-5725.