Amidst Feelings of Betrayal and Hope, Cleveland’s Leather Annual Weekend (CLAW) Leaves Its Namesake City

Amidst Feelings of Betrayal and Hope, Cleveland’s Leather Annual Weekend (CLAW) Leaves Its Namesake City

CLAW announced that the 2026 event was moving to Columbus after they were unable to book a contract with any Cleveland-area hotels or venues.

Columbus or Bust: Amidst feelings of betrayal and hope, Cleveland’s Leather Annual Weekend (CLAW) leaves its namesake city

(Cover photo courtesy of Ray Birch Media Solutions) Three men huddled on the patio of Leather Stallion Saloon on Cleveland’s East Side on a cool Monday night in late October. They were reminiscing about the early days of Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend (CLAW), an event that dates back to 2001.  CLAW has drawn thousands of participants to Northeast Ohio from across the world, all dedicated to the “advancement, education, and celebration of adult…