Kurents Chase Away Winter at Cleveland Kurentovanje

Annual festival celebrates Slovenian folklore tradition with colorful costumes and rituals.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 Cleveland Kurentovanje festival featured the Kurents, traditional Slovenian figures who are believed to chase away the winter and usher in spring. Dressed in elaborate fur costumes with bells and horns, the Kurents paraded through the streets of Cleveland's Slovenian neighborhood, performing rituals and dances to banish the cold weather.

Why it matters

The Kurentovanje is an important annual celebration of Slovenian culture and heritage in Cleveland, which has a sizable Slovenian-American population. The festival helps preserve traditional folklore and customs, bringing the community together through music, food, and time-honored rituals.

The details

The Kurents, central figures in Slovenian folklore, are costumed performers who take part in the Kurentovanje festival. Wearing handmade fur suits, carved wooden masks, and bells that jingle as they move, the Kurents dance through the streets, interacting with spectators and conducting rituals intended to drive out the winter season.

  • The 2026 Cleveland Kurentovanje festival took place on February 14-16, 2026.
  • The Kurent costumes and performances are a centuries-old tradition dating back to pre-Christian pagan rituals in Slovenia.

The players

Cleveland Kurentovanje

An annual festival in Cleveland, Ohio that celebrates Slovenian culture and folklore, including the tradition of the Kurents.

Kurents

Costumed performers who are central figures in Slovenian folklore, believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with their elaborate fur suits, wooden masks, and jingling bells.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Kurents are such a vibrant and unique part of our Slovenian heritage. It's wonderful to see the tradition continue to thrive in Cleveland.”

— Milena Zupan, Cleveland resident (Cleveland Scene)

What’s next

The 2027 Cleveland Kurentovanje festival is scheduled for February 13-15, 2027, continuing the annual celebration of Slovenian culture and folklore.

The takeaway

The Kurentovanje festival in Cleveland preserves an important Slovenian tradition, allowing the local Slovenian-American community to share its cultural heritage with the broader public through colorful costumes, lively performances, and time-honored rituals.