Cleveland’s annual MGK Day celebration will return Aug. 7-8 with a weekend of live music, skateboarding, community events, local vendors, food, and art, culminating in a hometown performance by global multi-platinum recording artist MGK alongside GRAMMY and Golden Globe-nominated artist Wiz Khalifa.
The city-sanctioned event, now one of Cleveland’s signature summer traditions, honors the artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly while highlighting local artists, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. Organizers said this year’s celebration will include the Red Bull Best Trick Contest, the annual Harley-Davidson City Ride, and the MGK Day Art + Community Festival powered by Webull.
The festival will conclude Saturday evening at North Coast Yard with a headlining performance by MGK and Wiz Khalifa, followed by fireworks.
The two artists reunite after spending the summer touring together on the Lost Americana North American Tour. They also recently released the collaborative mixtape “blog era boyz,” a nine-track project featuring songs including “family > everything,” “everything tatted,” “girl next door,” and “passport.”
Friday’s events begin at 5 p.m. with the Red Bull Best Trick Contest at Crooked River Skatepark. The skateboarding competition will feature vendors, food trucks, live music, merchandise, and additional activities throughout the evening.
Saturday’s schedule opens with the MGK Day Tailgate at North Coast Yard at noon. Organizers encourage attendees to decorate their vehicles and participate in tailgate games and competitions for prizes before the day’s programming begins.
The annual Harley-Davidson City Ride will gather at South East Harley-Davidson in Bedford Heights at 2 p.m., with riders departing at 3 p.m. for the festival grounds.
Festival gates at North Coast Yard open at 3 p.m., while performances on the main stage begin at 6 p.m. In addition to live music, attendees can expect local artists, food trucks, vendors, merchandise, and community-focused activities before the evening’s headlining performance.
Fans may purchase general admission tickets, reserve a tailgate package that includes noon entry, or purchase a commemorative MGK Day T-shirt that includes festival admission.
MGK Day has expanded from a hometown celebration into a large-scale community event focused on music, art, and philanthropy. Through partnerships with Lost Poets Society and other nonprofit organizations, the event supports arts, wellness, and community initiatives benefiting underserved youth and families.
This year’s official MGK Day poster was designed by artist Mike Giant, whose work is widely recognized in skateboarding, tattooing, and street art.
The event also builds on MGK’s ties to Cleveland. In 2022, he performed before more than 50,000 fans at Huntington Bank Field, becoming the first Ohio native to sell out the stadium. The concert followed Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s proclamation recognizing Machine Gun Kelly Day.
MGK Day 2026 Schedule
Friday, Aug. 7
- Red Bull Best Trick Contest
- Crooked River Skatepark
- 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland
- Begins at 5 p.m.
- Vendors, food trucks, live music, merchandise, and additional programming
Saturday, Aug. 8
- MGK Day Tailgate
- North Coast Yard
- 515 Erieside Ave., Cleveland
- Opens at noon
- Harley-Davidson City Ride
- South East Harley-Davidson
- 23105 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights
- Meet at 2 p.m.
- Ride departs at 3 p.m.
- MGK Day Art + Community Festival Powered by Webull
- North Coast Yard
- 515 Erieside Ave., Cleveland
- Gates open at 3 p.m.
- Main stage begins at 6 p.m.
- Headlining performance by mgk and Wiz Khalifa
- Live music, local artists, vendors, food trucks, merchandise, community activations, and fireworks at dusk.
