The City of Cleveland, in partnership with the Cleveland Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, hosted the inaugural Log Jam Fest on Saturday, Nov. 8, celebrating the city’s rich logging history.
The idea for the festival stemmed from Cleveland’s 90th anniversary and the city’s desire to create a signature event that would draw the community together for a day of fun, local shopping, and entertainment.
Log Jam Fest was held in conjunction with the Chamber’s annual cycling event, Pedal in the Pines, formerly known as Rock-N-Ride. The name change came naturally as organizers embraced the bike route that winds through the Sam Houston National Forest. This year’s ride drew nearly 300 cyclists from across Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and the Greater Houston area. Many riders return year after year, citing the fun atmosphere, strong safety presence by local law enforcement, and live music at the finish line.
The day began early, with cyclists setting out at 7 a.m. as the band Tomfoolery kicked off live music at the finish line. Mayor Danny Lee officially opened Log Jam Fest with a ceremonial log-cutting, followed by a “Blessing of the Chainsaws” delivered by Pastor Brad Dancer of Hope Church.
“This inaugural Log Jam Fest began as a response to resident feedback calling for a signature community festival for families, but it’s grown into a partnership between the City, EDC, and Chamber to help spark downtown revitalization and reestablish downtown Cleveland as a central gathering place for our community,” said Emilio Levario, the city’s director of community and economic development. “We look forward to building on this success and making Log Jam Fest a Cleveland tradition for years to come.”
“As a longtime volunteer of Rock n Ride—now renamed Pedal in the Pines—I was especially excited to see it combined this year with the City of Cleveland’s first-ever Log Jam Fest,” said Kari Duggar, longtime volunteer and past chair of the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. “Many of our cyclists were able to stay and enjoy the festivities, and the feedback was incredible. Riders shared how much they’ve loved watching the event evolve over the years, and many said it’s become one of their very favorite rides.”
Committee chair for Pedal in the Pines, Camille Landry, shared similar enthusiasm.
“We could not have asked for a more perfect Saturday for the 8th annual ride! I cannot express how wonderful it is every year to see our returning riders as well as all the new faces, especially the excitement on the return,” Landry said.
Victoria Good, president of the Greater Cleveland Chamber, said the Chamber had long hoped to bring back a community festival.
“The Chamber has wanted to add a community festival back into our annual event plans for a few years now, so when we started bouncing ideas around with our City of Cleveland/EDC partners, Log Jam Fest just made sense,” she said. “The three of us, Chamber, City, and EDC each had our own areas to organize throughout the past few months, so to be able to see it come to fruition and watch people enjoying the festivities…that meant a lot! We’ve even gotten downtown businesses involved by initiating a Downtown Committee, so we can get input, feedback, and ideas for events to host downtown. I think we all want that area to thrive and become a hub for all the things that make Cleveland great!”
Good added that the headliner, Chad Cooke Band, lived up to expectations.
“They were a 2024 Texas CMA Band of the Year. They had a guy on the stage grilling during the set and throwing out hot dogs to the crowd,” Good said, lamenting that she didn’t capture the moment in a photo.
“Log Jam Fest was a great event for the City of Cleveland. Lots of fun, lots of fellowship, and a reminder of what makes this community so special,” said Mayor Danny Lee. “I’m thrilled to see how the City, the EDC, and the Chamber are working together to make events like this possible — and that kind of teamwork hasn’t always been the case. I’m proud of our staff and leadership who are helping shape a bold new Cleveland, with new events, a fresh brand, and a clear vision to promote our community as a prime destination for investment and opportunity. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!”