5 months ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some made america laugh, immoderate made america cheer and immoderate made america extremity scrolling successful disbelief; cleveland.com’s apical Instagram posts of 2025 captured nan moments that had Northeast Ohio talking.
To look backmost astatine what our assemblage engaged pinch nan most, cleveland.com’s societal media squad utilized reporting devices disposable done Social News Desk to analyse capacity information from each Instagram station shared betwixt January and early December. Posts were classed by full Instagram engagement, which includes video views (if applicable), likes, comments and shares.
For transparency’s sake: Some items person been excluded from nan list, whether it’s because a communicative was shared much than erstwhile aliases taken down by Instagram. When aggregate posts covered nan aforesaid nonstop event, only nan highest-performing station appears connected nan list.
Here’s a look astatine nan Top 20 cleveland.com Instagram posts of 2025:
1. Twiggy nan squirrel goes waterskiing astatine Cleveland Auto Show
A video showing Twiggy nan waterskiing squirrel gliding crossed a mini excavation astatine nan Cleveland Auto Show became cleveland.com’s most-viewed Instagram station this year. The clip exploded acold beyond Northeast Ohio, generating reactions from astir nan world.
Commenters flooded nan post, calling nan stunt cute, hilarious and unbelievable, while others raised concerns astir animal welfare. The station earned astir 18.7 cardinal views, 1.3 cardinal likes, 3,200 comments and 434,000 shares, cementing Twiggy arsenic Cleveland’s astir unexpected viral prima of nan year.
2. Ryan Day’s play cart oopsie aft Ohio State’s nationalist title win
In nan glow of Ohio State’s 34–23 nationalist title triumph complete Notre Dame, not everything went smoothly down nan scenes.
A video captured caput coach Ryan Day and Buckeyes players riding a play cart beneath Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta — until nan driver accidentally collapsed into a wall and grounded to free nan cart.
The group awkwardly climbed retired and walked away, creating an unintentionally cleanable post-championship blooper. Fans roasted nan infinitesimal successful nan comments, turning nan mishap into a viral laugh. The station racked up astir 5.9 cardinal views, 138,400 likes, 7,000 comments and 145,000 shares.
3. New solid span opens astatine Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
Thrill-seekers — and cautious commenters — took announcement erstwhile cleveland.com reported connected nan Falls Edge Glass Walkway opening astatine Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park.
The 137-foot cantilevered solid bridge, suspended astir 50 feet supra Sylvan Creek Gorge adjacent Minnehaha Falls, opened successful May 2025.
The video — by cleveland.com’s John Pana — drew astir 748,000 views, 36,200 likes, 370 comments and 37,400 shares, pinch commenters divided betwixt awe and “nope.”
4. June 14 ‘No Kings’ protests successful downtown Cleveland
One of respective awesome protestation of 2025, a video showing “No Kings” protesters marching done downtown Cleveland generated dense engagement.
The clip featured provocative signs aimed astatine President Donald Trump and nan existent administration, drafting beardown reactions crossed nan governmental spectrum. Several further posts from nan aforesaid day, capturing chants, marches and crowd scenes, besides performed well, but this video classed highest, pinch astir 530,000 views, 26,800 likes, 607 comments and 1,100 shares.
5. Deshaun Watson returns to Browns practice
Browns fans reacted powerfully erstwhile video showed Deshaun Watson returning to believe successful December, his first quality since re-rupturing his Achilles tendon nan erstwhile season. Cleveland yet allowed Watson’s 21-day believe model to expire, keeping him connected nan PUP database for nan last 2 weeks of nan season.
The video earned astir 336,000 views, 14,600 likes, 794 comments and 6,600 shares.
6. Browns clasp infinitesimal of soundlessness for Charlie Kirk
A video showed nan Browns holding a infinitesimal of soundlessness for governmental activistic Charlie Kirk up of their Sept. 21 crippled against nan Packers astatine Huntington Bank Field, pursuing his assassination earlier successful nan month.
The stadium jumbotron displayed a memorial image reference “Charlie Kirk, 1993–2025.”
The station received astir 305,000 views, 16,200 likes, 3,234 comments and 1,100 shares.
7. Brutus Buckeye’s icy pain successful Michigan
Ohio State shot fans relished each 2nd of this one. Following nan Buckeyes’ November triumph complete Michigan, video showed Brutus Buckeye crossing retired nan ‘M’ successful nan extremity area earlier drafting nan iconic “Script Ohio” successful nan snow. Other Ohio State posts from nan rivalry crippled besides performed well, including clips of players interacting pinch fans, but nan Brutus infinitesimal stood supra nan remainder pinch astir 186,000 views, 12,400 likes, 76 comments and 345 shares.
8. ‘Katy Perry’ connected Cedar Point’s Siren’s Curse
Sometimes, nan newsman becomes nan story.
A video showed cleveland.com societal media shaper Josh Duke nervously riding Cedar Point’s Siren’s Curse, nan park’s caller tilt coaster featuring a 90-degree driblet and speeds up to 60 mph. As nan coaster tilted guardant and rocketed away, Duke coped by belting retired Katy Perry’s “Firework.” The comments were filled pinch laughter emoji and remarks insisting he deserved a raise.
The video earned astir 215,000 views, 10,200 likes, 281 comments and 7,661 shares.
9. Northeast Ohio teachers triumph $1 cardinal Powerball prize
One of nan year’s astir feel-good bits of news announced that 10 section simple schoolhouse teachers won a $1 cardinal Powerball prize, prompting an outpouring of congratulations and positivity successful nan comments.
The station earned astir 10,400 likes, 200 comments and 4,900 shares.
10. April 5 ‘Hands Off’ protests extracurricular West Side Market
Another awesome protestation infinitesimal came April 5, erstwhile hundreds — perchance thousands — gathered extracurricular nan West Side Market to protestation nan Trump management and Elon Musk. The video captured crowd size, chants and nan ambiance astir Market Square Park.
The featured video earned astir 243,000 views, 11,100 likes, 724 comments and 2,900 shares.
11. SNL formed personnel Marcello Hernandez creates danasiwa astatine John Carroll
A proud Northeast Ohio infinitesimal followed erstwhile Saturday Night Live formed personnel Marcello Hernandez announced he was creating a danasiwa astatine John Carroll University, wherever he erstwhile studied comedy. Commenters praised Hernandez for giving backmost to his alma mater.
The news schematic received astir 9,500 likes, 76 comments and 1,300 shares.
12. New babe reddish panda astatine nan zoo
Few posts animate instant joyousness for illustration a babe animal. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo amazed followers pinch news of a babe reddish panda, sharing an adorable photograph and teasing a early sanction reveal. Comments poured successful pinch sanction suggestions and bosom oculus emojis.
The station earned astir 6,600 likes, 42 comments and 3,400 shares.
13. Ohio BMV warns residents astir wide scam text
A elemental screenshot carried an important warning. The Ohio BMV alerted residents to a wide scam matter claiming group owed outstanding postulation tickets. Commenters quickly chimed successful to opportunity they had received nan aforesaid message.
The station earned astir 3,100 likes, 341 comments and 5,400 shares.
14. Readers ballot connected champion Cleveland-area steakhouses
A January station listing nan Top 10 Cleveland-area steakhouses, based connected scholar voting successful our “Best of Cleveland” team’s poll, sparked plentifulness of opinions. The eventual winners were Dean Martin’s Lanning’s successful Akron, Schvitz Social Club successful Cleveland and Tutto Carne successful Little Italy.
The station earned astir 3,200 likes, 265 comments and 4,000 shares.
15. Bill Nye picks Guardians to triumph 2025 World Series
During an quality connected MLB Network’s “Hot Stove,” Bill Nye didn’t hesitate erstwhile asked for a prediction, picking nan Cleveland Guardians to triumph nan 2025 World Series.
The station drew astir 6,500 likes, 54 comments and 1,600 shares.
16. Ohio State fans taunt Michigan during Rutgers game
Even erstwhile Michigan wasn’t connected nan field, Buckeyes fans made their feelings clear.
A video showed Ohio State fans chanting during a November crippled against Rutgers, signaling they were already looking up to facing their arch nemesis successful Michigan.
The station earned astir 134,000 views, 6,273 likes, 327 comments and 1,437 shares.
17. Ohio State fans singing ‘Carmen Ohio’ aft nationalist championship
An breathtaking follow-up to nan assemblage shot title triumph successful January showed players and fans singing ‘Carmen Ohio’ connected nan field. Another video featuring nan Ohio State Marching Band besides performed well, but nan ‘Carmen Ohio’ clip hit it retired pinch astir 59,400 views, 7,760 likes, 34 comments and 297 shares.
18. Lakewood lakefront ‘House of nan Week’
A carousel of photos showcasing 17852 Lake Road successful Lakewood offered unobstructed Lake Erie views and a $3.5 cardinal value tag. The lakefront location drew admiration and sticker daze alike, pinch immoderate suggesting that Taylor Swift and Cleveland Heights autochthonal Trice Kelce should return a look astatine nan location to enactment person to Kelce’s family.
The station earned astir 4,041 likes, 62 comments and 3,030 shares.
19. Lola’s Bistro prepares to unfastened successful Chagrin Falls
Food lovers took statement erstwhile photos revealed Lola’s Bistro, a Parisian-style edifice opening successful Chagrin Falls successful nan longtime Rick’s Café space.
The station earned astir 4,500 likes, 79 comments and 2,100 shares, pinch commenters eager for opening day.
20. East Cleveland has lowest median family income successful U.S.
Rounding retired nan database was a sobering news graphic. New Census Bureau estimates showed East Cleveland had nan lowest median family income successful nan United States astatine $37,500, narrowly trailing communities successful Louisiana and South Carolina.
The station prompted governmental fig pointing, earning astir 2,700 likes, 232 comments and 4,000 shares.
