Sat 2/18 @ 10AM-5:30PM
Cleveland Kurentovanje started modestly in 2013, sparked by folks from the National Slovenian Home and Archives on St. Clair who wanted to honor the neighborhood’s ethnic roots. It decided to copy a festival taking place annually in Ptuj, Slovenia that attracts tens of thousands of people, who gather to celebrate led to furry, costumed figures called kurents who ring giant bells to chase the winter away.
The first Cleveland festivals featured a handful of kurents leading a small parade, featuring local businesses, ethnic dance troupes and the requisite polka band. The event has exploded in size and now features a week-plus series of events, ranging from its Kurent Jump benefit to a polka dance, a wine tasting, a film and cooking demos, leading up to the main event, which will celebrate its 11th edition this year (It got 2020 under the pre-lockdown wire, but 2021 was all-virtual; it still hosts some virtual pre-festival activities.)
The main event on Saturday February 18 starts with the Kurent 5K Dash at 10am (registration at 9am at St. Vitus Parish Hall where the race begins). The parade steps off at noon from the St. Martin de Porres High School gym and wends its way down a packed St. Clair Avenue to just past the National Slovenian Home. Past parades have reflected the diversity of the area, with the mostly Black St. Martin de Porres band and the Asian dragon dancers, joining Slovenian polka bands and Austrian and Ukrainian ensembles. And the kurents are always glad to pose for a photo with you or your kids before everyone piles in to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
The doors at the National Slovenian Home open at 10am for a day filled with tons of food and drink, music and dance performances on indoor and outdoor stages, food being grilled outside, and a new Children’s Village where there’ll be crafts, play zone, kids’ programming such as story time and a sing-along, and of course, face painting, from 1-5pm. Dress warm! There’s a full schedule of activities and performances here.
The closing ceremony, “Pokop Pusta,” takes place at 5pm when a human effigy in a coffin is buried to remain dormant until next year’s festival.
The festival and all activities are free, so you can spend more on those tempting pastries and locally brewed craft beer. For more information, go here.
