Fri 2/21-Sat 3/1
In 2013, members of Cleveland’s Slovenian community launched their version of Kurentovanje (pronounced koo-rahn-toh-VAHN-yah), based on a popular Slovenian festival that celebrates the coming of spring, with furry costumed “kurents” who chase away the winter with their big bells. Now it takes place every year at and around the Slovenian National Home and Slovenian Museum & Archives at St. Clair and East 65th Street.
The family-friendly event has grown rapidly, with the kickoff parade getting larger and the Slovenian National Home more packed with people enjoying the food, drinks, music, dancing, vendors, crafts and bocce. And it’s evolved into a week’s worth of activities leading up to the big day which this year is Saturday March 1.
They start with a couple of online events: a free screening of the film Carnival King of Europe 2.0 on Friday February 21 and a virtual talk about “The Evolution of Slovenian Mardi Gras (Carnival) Festivals” with Adela Pukl, advisor and curator at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, also on February 21.
Its first big in-person event is its fundraiser, the Kurent Jump, taking place at the Slovenian National Home Saturday February 22.
On Sunday February 23, there’s a Slovenia points of interest bus tour (free but you should make a reservation) and a virtual interview with the Slovenian Consulate & former Ohio State Senator, Kenny Yuko. Tuesday February 25, there’s an in-person Slovenian wine tasting, and on Thursday February 27, a free, in-person screening of the Slovenian film Grandpa Goes South (Dedek gre na jug).
Get information about, and tickets to, all these events here.