SCAM ALERT: THIS IS A FREE EVENT. THERE ARE NO TICKETS SOLD FOR THIS EVENT; DO NOT BUY TICKETS FROM ANYONE CLAIMING TO BE SELLING TICKETS TO THIS EVENT.
The main festival day of the 2023 Cleveland Kurentovanje will kick off with the Fifth Annual Kurent Dash 5K at 10 a.m. The celebration continues with a parade at Noon featuring cultural and local organizations, groups of masquerading friends and the highlight of the day, the Kurenti.
Following the parade, revelers will enjoy free musical and cultural performances, authentic food and drink, kids crafts and much more.
This year’s Cleveland Kurentovanje, will be celebrated both inside the Slovenian National Home and outside in the adjoining courtyard and open areas, where outdoor seating and heaters will provide plenty of space to enjoy the features of the day. Attendees should dress like they’re tailgating for a Browns game in the Muni Lot, going sledding at the Toboggan Chutes, or preparing to party outside all day in whatever weather Cleveland may bring to our festival. Participants are also encouraged to dress in costume of any kind to celebrate in the Mardi Gras tradition.
Full schedule for the day:
9:00 a.m.: Fifth Annual Kurent Dash 5K Race registration and packet pickup begins at St. Vitus Hall. Register for the race today: https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Cleveland/KurentDash5K
10:00 a.m.: The Fifth Annual Kurent Dash 5K Race departs from the St. Vitus Parish Hall at East 60th and Lausche Ave.
10:00 a.m.: Gates open at the Slovenian National Home & surrounding festival grounds. New this year will be a nearly 3000 square foot Children’s Village which will feature play zones, crafting, face painting, children’s programming and more.
12:00 p.m.: The Parade kicks off the 11th Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje, stretching throughout the neighborhood. Departing from Saint Martin de Porres High School gym (E. 62nd and Lauche Ave), participants will proceed down St. Clair Ave, past the Slovenian National Home to Addison Rd. The procession will include the Kurenti, polka and marching bands, dance and cultural troupes, and other parading ensembles. Community organizations and groups of friends/family are encouraged to participate in the parade by signing up at www.ClevelandKurentovanje.com.
1:00-5:00 p.m.: Party time! Cleveland Kurentovanje is excited to offer full programming on multiple outdoor stages at the Slovenian National Home that will be sure to entertain an all-ages audience. Participants will enjoy ethnic food and drinks, free face-painting and crafts for kids and numerous musical acts and cultural performances. Cleveland Kurentovanje Kurent Pivo craft beer brewed by Collision Bend Brewing will be available for onsite purchase and consumption.
5:00 p.m.: The closing ceremony, called the "Pokop Pusta" in Slovenian, symbolizes the ending of the festival. Personified as a human effigy in a coffin, the festival is burned or buried until the following carnival season. The crowd will toast the burial with a Slivovitz toddy before the Kurents relinquish control back to the city.
5:30 p.m.: Event ends.