Kurentovanje in Cleveland 6417 St Clair Ave. March 3, 2019
The 7th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring dinners, a dance party, bocce tournament and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration in the Slovenian National Home.
The units gathered before the parade at the St. Martin de Porres High School gym. The units then gathered on Lausche Ave. Here is a short video of some musicians jamming before the parade.
NOTE: All the images below with a white arrow in the middle are videos. (The other images are just photos) You can click on the white arrow to watch the video of whatever is described. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner.
Enjoy these other images from before the Parade.
Getting ready to be the smallest Kurent
Established in 1954, Folklorna Skupina Kres is a Slovenian folklore dance group
Getting ready for the Kurentovanje parade
Councilman Mike Polensek and Krampus
St Martin de Porres ladies
More Krampus
Pikachu getting ready to march
Kurentovanje float
Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje with Councilman Mike Polensek
Krampus losing his head
Cleveland Museum of Art
PIAST Polish dancers and a Kurent
Slovenian ladies
The parade stepped off from Lausche and proceeded to St Clair ending at the Slovenian National Home.
Kurentovanje is a cultural event which connects ethnology, culture, arts, and people from all over Europe. It has been celebrated in Slovenia for the past 50 years. The central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers. Kurentovanje has a Mardi Gras feel so many participants wore masks to help scare away winter.
Did you know that there are more Slovenians in Cleveland Ohio than anywhere in the world except for Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia?
Crowd at Slovenian National Home for Kurentovanje Parade
Kurent and baby Kurent
When the Parade was over people entered the Slovenian National Home for music, food, shopping and fun. Here is a video of a polka from inside the hall.
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