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

Columbus Day Parade in Cleveland

 The Columbus Day Parade, sponsored by Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), took place in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood on Monday, Oct. 10 along Mayfield and Murray Hill roads. Hundreds of units marched - elaborate floats, marching bands, local artifacts, and city leaders - to celebrate Northeast Ohio's deeply rooted Italian American culture.

After Mass at Holy Rosary Church, 92.3's Anthony Lima served as MC of the Parade.

He introduced ISDA National President and Greater Cleveland Columbus Day chairman Basil M. Russo who gave a few brief remarks.

Basil has said, "On Columbus Day, Italian Americans pay tribute to our ancestors, and to all walks of life, who arrived in Northeast Ohio and built better lives for their families. Many aren't aware of this, but Columbus' parades and statues were used by early Italian Americans to fuel assimilation and fight discrimination during a decades-long period of oppression. In fact, the first national Columbus Day celebration honoring Italian Americans was held in 1892 as a way to ease tensions after 11 innocent Italian immigrants were murdered in New Orleans, in front of the largest lynch mob ever to assemble on U.S. soil."

Watch a video of the opening before the Parade stepped off. 

Watch a video of highlights of the Columbus Day Parade. (As usual we did not include any of the many politicians who marched.)

 

See more pictures and video form the Columbus Day parade in Cleveland

Polish Constitution Day Parade

 The Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 was the first constitution to follow the 1788 ratification of the United States Constitution. May 3 was restored as an official Polish holiday in April 1990, after the fall of communism. It is celebrated in Cleveland with events including a ceremony at the Polish American Cultural Center in Cleveland's historic Slavic Village neighborhood and this parade down Ridge Road in Parma.

Fr. Eric Orzech and MC Bruce Kalinowski

See more from the Polish parade and festival

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland 2022

 The 2022 St Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland took place after missing 2 years because of the Covid pandemic.

Before the Parade honorees and dignitaries gathered on the steps of the Cosgrove Center including Grand Marshall Tom McManamon, Mother of the Year Rita Lally, Inside Co-Chair Eileem Mangan Stull and Outside Co-Chair Patricia Coleman Lavelle.

Because the 2020 Parade had to be cancelled, the 2020 honorees were also there: Grand Marshall Tom Scanlon, Mother of the Year Kathleen Mangan, Inside Co-Chair Maureen Mohney and Outside Co-Chair Christopher Cooper.

Bishop Edward Malesic and Mayor Justin Bibb

Mayor Justin Bibb, Bishop Edward Malesic and Council President Blaine Griffin were also there.

Jim Kilbane served as MC and Katie Cooper led the Irish anthem in Gaelic and then the US anthem. Watch a video of the ceremony before the Parade:

We have posted photos and videos of the entire Parade broken down in segments.

Main St. Patrick's Day 2022 page 

Start of the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade

Irish American Club East Side

Division 1 of the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade

West Side Irish American Club

Division 2 of the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade

2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade - Photo Page

 

It was a great day and we have some great photos and videos

Polish Constitution Day Parade 2019 in Cleveland’s Slavic Village

MC Ray Vargas announced the groups marching in the 2019 Polish Constitution Day Parade as they approached the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.

More from the Polish Constitution Day Parade 2019 in Cleveland’s Slavic Village 

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.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Cleveland 2017

The annual Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and by people of Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. It is acknowledged internationally in many other cultures. The multi-day holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.

In Cleveland, the celebration centered at the Cleveland Public Theater. There was Latin food, live entertainment, displays and activities throughout the day.

A highlight was the parade, Skulls and Skeletons.

See lots of photos of Day of the Dead

Kurentovanje in Cleveland

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?

The 5th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - began with a parade. The units gathered at Sterle's on East 55th and marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.

This video is highlights of the Parade.

More photos and video from Kurentovanje

Slovenians in Cleveland

Special Parade Grand Marshal at Cultural Gardens One World Day

For Immediate Release

August 1, 2016

Cleveland, OH – Since 1945 the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) has celebrated One World Day exemplifying the theme of the Gardens: “Peace through Mutual Understanding." Sunday August 28, 2016 will be the 71st annual One World Day held in the Cultural Gardens. 

2016 is the Centennial year of the Cultural Gardens (the first Garden was established in 1916) and the CCGF has hosted a number of special centennial events.  The celebration will culminate in One World Day on August 28 from 11AM – 7PM.

The Parade of Flags is always a popular and much anticipated part of One World Day.  Marchers parade down East Blvd and then MLK Blvd wearing the costumes and carrying the flags of the ethnic heritage they represent.

Befitting a Centennial celebration, the 2016 One World Day Parade of Flags will be special because the dozens of nationality groups will be led by a celebrity Grand Marshal.  You may have seen Stipe Miocic in the Cleveland Cavaliers Championship Parade.  Now you can see him as Grand Marshall of the One World Day Parade of Flags. 

Stipe Miocic is the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Heavyweight Champion of the world and he hails from Cleveland.  Stipe Miocic was a Cleveland Golden Gloves boxing champion and NCAA Division I wrestler at Cleveland State University. 

Stipe is of Croatian heritage and will lead the Croatian and other delegations in the parade.  He will be on hand for photos and autographs after the Parade of Flags.

Concerned about parking? Don’t be. There is free parking at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center’s VA with free shuttle services transporting from the VA Parking Lot to the Chinese Garden (South) and at Cleveland Metroparks lot (North Gate at the Gordon Park) at walking distance to One World Day events.  Several 13-Passengers Golf Carts will be available to transport those who need it throughout the gardens. See more on parking and transportation at http://clevelandoneworldday.org/2016/parking-transportation/.

About the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and One World Day

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens consist of 29 nationality gardens along East Blvd and MLK Blvd with several more in the planning and development stages.   One World Day on August 28 is the official annual celebration of the Gardens.  11 AM- 7 PM.  Free admission and free parking.

The One World Day Centennial Celebration is a Councilmatic Event Presented by Councilman Kevin Conwell, County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell and in partnership with University Circle, Inc.

Major sponsors include Key Bank, Councilman Kevin Conwell, City of Cleveland, County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, University Circle Inc., Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Medical Mutual, Alex Machaskee & Associates LLC, Cuyahoga Community College, ImageLab Media Services and Hofbräuhaus Cleveland.

Contact

Cleveland Cultural Gardens
President Sheila Murphy Crawford    sheilacrawford99@gmail.com

One World Day Committee Co-Chairs:

Dr. Richard Crepage              rich.crepage@gmail.com       440-812-1370 cell

Svetlana Stolyarova               realtorsvetlana@msn.com     216-548-4663 cell

One World Day Producer
Johnny Wu                              johnny@mdifilm.com             216-539-4634 office

###

For more information on this release contact Dan Hanson at dan@clevelandpeople.com or Debbie Hanson at 216-406-6594 cell.

Polish Constitution Day Parade in Parma Ohio

Highlights of the 2016 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Parma Ohio.   http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Ben Stefanski at Cleveland Polish Parade

Ben Stefanski was the Grand Marshall of the 2016 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.  He spoke in front of the Shrine Church of St Stanislaus and told how his grandmother came to the neighborhood and Church in 1886.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Chief Ed Rybka at Cleveland Polish Parade

Cleveland Chief of Regional Development Ed Rybka spoke in front of the Shrine Church of St Stanislaus after the Polish Constitution Day Parade in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.  He told how the Shrine Church is the center of the neighborhood and Polish community.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Irish and US national anthems at St Patrick’s Day Parade

Katie Cooper sang the Irish National Anthem in Gaelic and then the United States National Anthem at the beginning of the 2016 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.


See more of the Irish in Cleveland

2016 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade Honorees

Grand Marshall Jack Coyne, Irish Mother of the Year Bridget McIntyre, Outside Co-Chair Teresa Reilly Kowalski and Inside Co-Chair John Myers honored on the steps of the Bishop Cosgrove Center before the 2016 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

See more of the Irish in Cleveland

Grand Marshall Jack Coyne – Cleveland St Patrick’s Day 2016

Grand Marshall Jack Coyne blows the whistle to start the 2016 Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  

Irish in Cleveland

West Side Irish American Club 2016 float

Tim Campbell of the West Side Irish American Club in Cleveland explained the club’s float in the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The theme was "Commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising and Ireland's Quest for Freedom" and the float featured the actual signing of the proclamation that declared Ireland free from British rule.

Irish in Cleveland

Irish American Club East Side 2016 float

Jim Peppard of the Irish American Club East Side float committee for the St Patrick's Day Parade explained the club’s 2016 float.

The theme was "Commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising and Ireland's Quest for Freedom" and the float featured lots of motions, sounds, smoke and even LED lights.

This float won Best of Parade.

Irish in Cleveland

Kurentovanje Parade - Cleveland 2016

The 4th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - began with a parade. The units gathered at Sterle's on East 55th and marched up St Clair to 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.

Lots of pictures from Kurentovanje

Here is a video of parade highlights

2016 Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland

Some highlights of the 2016 Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland.

Lots of scary Kurents, polka music, Slovenian groups and others.
They marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.

See more of Slovenians in Cleveland and more Kurentovanje highlights

2015 Cleveland Puerto Rican Parade highlights

Some highlights from the 2015 annual Puerto Rican Parade in Cleveland.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/puertorican/puertorican.htm