Cleveland's Slovenian Winter Festival, Kurentovanje, Expands With Six Days of Festivities

Chasing away winter for the seventh year in a row, Cleveland’s celebration of the Slovenian Mardi Gras festival Kurentovanje is expanding to six days this year.

After 2,000 people showed up to the first Cleveland Kurentovanje in 2013, surprising the local Slovenian-Americans who organized the one-day event, it grew to four days with an estimated 8,000 people in attendance last year.

This year, Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood is set to host Kurentovanje from Monday, Feb. 25 through Saturday, March 2.

Starting off the week on Monday with a dinner comprised of traditional Slovenian cuisine, the week’s events also include an art exhibit, live cultural performances and music, more Slovenian food and a “Kurent Jump,” which will take place at Hofbrauhaus on Friday. Saturday begins with a 5k at 10 a.m. and the festival culminates at noon in a free parade down Superior Avenue.

Taking its name from “Kurent,” a well-known Slovenian Carnival figure and the central force believed to scare away winter and lure in spring, the masked celebration is one of the most popular events in that country.

Check out the schedule of Cleveland events and ticket prices here.