Kenmore Boulevard from 13th to 16th streets was blocked off for a parade, arts and music and, of course, food on Saturday as part of Akron’s bicentennial celebration and the neighborhood’s annual block party, sponsored by the Better Kenmore CDC.

Children's musician Mr. Jeff
Children’s musician Mr. Jeff gets the kids pumped up during his performance at the Kenmore BLVD Block Party. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Umojah Nation performs on the main stage at the Kenmore BLVD Block Party
Umojah Nation performs on the main stage at the Kenmore BLVD Block Party Saturday. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Gabrielle Oke, also known as the flute-playing chef
Gabrielle Oke, also known as the flute-playing chef, performed at a pop-up art gallery at the 2025 Kenmores BLVD Block Party Saturday. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Dave Lamson of the American Legion Firestone Memorial Post 449 color guard
Dave Lamson of the American Legion Firestone Memorial Post 449 color guard waits to march in the Kenmore BLVD Block Party Saturday. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
A BMX rider with the Curtis J. Rhoden III Memorial Foundation
A BMX rider with the Curtis J. Rhoden III Memorial Foundation performs during the Kenmore BLVD Block Party parade. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Allona McCunne leads the Chapperells Baton & Drum Corps at the Kenmore BLVD Block Party parade.
Allona McCunne leads the Chapperells Baton & Drum Corps at the Kenmore BLVD Block Party parade. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Bentley Martin, 4, checks out a rabbit at a petting zoo during the Kenmore BLVD Block Party.
Bentley Martin, 4, checks out a rabbit at a petting zoo during the Kenmore BLVD Block Party. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)
Spectators watch the parade pass on Kenmore Blvd during the BLVD Block Party.
Spectators watch the parade pass on Kenmore Blvd during the BLVD Block Party. (Michael Francis McElroy / Signal Akron)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.