Ceata Romanian Folk Ensemble

 Ceata Romanian Folk Ensemble is a cultural dance group led by founder and director Mariana Somogyi and dance instructor and choreographer Ovidiu Ghioda. They performed three dances from the Fagaraa region in Transylvania Romania at the annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in the Slovenian National Home in Cleveland Ohio.

Ceata Romanian Folk Ensemble dancers at Kurentovanje

See photos and videos of the Ceata Romanian Folk Ensemble performance

Kurentovanje Festival

 The annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring cooking demos, language instruction, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje Parade followed by the festival celebration on Saturday February 18, 2023.

Kurentovanje Queen Eva Ozbolt Kisley (born in 1921!)
and Prince Blaz Vavpetic

See lots of photos and videos from Kurentovanje

Kurentovanje Parade

 The annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland Ohio was held Saturday February 18, 2023. The large Kurents (kurenti) are there to scare away winter and usher in spring. Thousands lined the street near the Slovenian National Home at 64th and St. Clair to watch the Parade and then have music, food, dancing, drinks and lots of fun with the Kurents and thousands of people of Slovenian heritage - at least for the day.

Here are some video highlights from the Parade

See more photos and video from the 2023 Kurentovanje Parade

Kurentovanje - Slovenian Mardi Gras

The 10th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a week long event featuring cooking demos, language instruction, a dance party, fun run and more. But the highlight was the annual Kurentovanje parade followed by the festival celebration. Because of Covid concerns the festival was held outside the Slovenian National Home.

That did not dampen the spirit as crowds lined St. Clair for the Parade and then went to the heated tents for music, food and fun. Young and old dressed in costumes to scare away winter. And of course everyone wanted to take a picture with a Kurent or a Krampus character.

See many more photos from the Kurentovanje Festival

Here is a video of some of the highlights of the 2022 Cleveland Kurentovanje Parade beginning with the units lining up and getting ready to march on St. Clair Ave. to the Slovenian National Home. You will see the St. Martin de Porres HS drummers and cheerleaders as well as the scary Krampus characters, various Slovenian schools, the King and Queen of Kurentovanje, Councilman Mike Polensek and, of course, lots of Kurents! .

See lots of photos from the Kurentovanje Parade

Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland

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.


See photos and videos of the Kurentovanje Parade

Here is a video of highlights of the 2019 Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland.

Kurentovanje Parade 2018 in Cleveland

The 6th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a weeklong 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.


We have 2 videos of the Parade - a short one and a longer one.  Follow this link:

Kurentovanje parade videos and pictures


The Krampus and other scary creatures, especially the Kurents, are supposed to scare winter away.

The Kurentovanje Parade units gathered in a freezing drizzle at St. Martin de Porres High School gym. Here is a short video of the St Martin de Porres High School drum line and dancers warming up before the parade.

See more of the St Martin de Porres High School drum line and dancers 

Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje - Philip Monreal and Abigail Bartlett

Congratulations to the Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje 2018 in Cleveland - Philip Monreal and Abigail Bartlett.

Folklorna Skupina Kres dancers at Cleveland Kurentovanje 2018

The 6th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - was a weeklong 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.

One of the highlights was the performance by Folklorna Skupina Kres who performed two dances at the 2018 Kurentovanje festival.

Here's one of the dances.

See the other dance and lots of pictures of Folklorna Skupina Kres 

Snowrators from Pirc Landscaping at Kurentovanje

Pirc Company Landscaping & Snowplowing LLC is located in Wickliffe, Ohio.  Before the 5th annual Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland they gathered in the parking lot and explained their Snowrator machines and introduced the company’s unofficial mascot, the miniature golden-doodle Hurley.  Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek stopped by to take a look too.

Kurents and other creatures at Kurentovanje

Kurents and other creatures hung around the Slovenian Heritage Museum in Cleveland at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival.


Slovenians in Cleveland

Posing with scary monsters at Kurentovanje

Kids (of all ages) wanted to pose with the scary monsters at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.

Kurentovanje in Cleveland

In Heaven there is no beer polka at Kurentovanje

The Joey Tomsick Orchestra played the ‘In Heaven there is no beer’ polka at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.

Slovenians in Cleveland

University of Akron Ice Carving Team at Kurentovanje

Tell the truth.  Did you know that the University of Akron had an Ice Carving Team?

Not me.

The University of Akron Ice Carving Team performed at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.   They carved a swan, an elephant and a dolphin.

Pokemon Pikachu vs Pikachu – The Thriller at Sterle’s

Before the 2017 Kurentovanje Parade stepped off in Cleveland two Pikachus from Pokemon engaged in a fun battle – the Thriller at Sterle’s.

Watkins Glen visitors at Cleveland Kurentovanje

A couple from Watkins Glen, New York travelled over 5 hours to attend the annual Kurentovanje Parade and Festival in Cleveland Ohio.

Kurentovanje in Cleveland

Pokemon Pikachu dances a Polka

Before the 2017 Kurentovanje Parade stepped off in Cleveland a polka was played, we met the Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje and Pikachu from Pokemon danced a Polka!

More from Kurentovanje

PIAST Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble at Kurentovanje

The PIAST Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America performed at the 2017 Kurentovanje Festival at the Slovenian National Home. The dancers performed a Pysanky Dance where the young ladies dressed as Easter Eggs - pysanky - and the young men dressed as roosters. They also danced some old Warsaw polkas.

 

More Polish dancing from PIAST at Kurentovanje

Folklorna Skupina Kres

The Folklorna Skupina Kres was established in 1954 and the current group of Kres Slovenian Folklore Dancers performed at the 5th annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival.

More photos and videos of Kres Slovenian Folklore Dancers

Kurentovanje Festival

After the Parade, the Kurentovanje celebration continued at the Slovenian National Home. Music, dancing, food and fun.

Everyone wanted to pose with a Kurent or other monster.

More creatures and people at Kurentovanje

Slovenians in Cleveland