Kurentovanje: A Slovenian Mardi Gras Festival In Ohio
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By Sarah McCosham
| Published January 16, 2024
Mardi Gras season is upon us and you don’t need to travel to NOLA to experience the excitement and exuberance of this event. Ohioans can celebrate Slovenian Mardi Gras at Kurentovanje, a wholly unique and one-of-a-kind festival in Ohio that captures the pure magic and unbridled spirit of the season! The 12th Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje is happening this February in the charming and historic St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood of Cleveland, and it’s one of the most unique and must-visit festivals in Ohio.
New Orleans, Louisiana, IS Mardi Gras (word nerds know this as metonymy). The history and vibe of this event is second to none, and attending an authentic NOLA Mardi Gras is one of those experiences that certainly belongs on everyone’s bucket list.
Happily, Ohioans need not book a trip to Louisiana to experience this iconic event; Kurentovanje in Cleveland, Ohio, is a multi-day “Slovenian Mardi Gras” festival, celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Since 2013, this beloved tradition has been celebrated annually in Cleveland. For 2024, the festival spans Feb. 3-10, with exciting events happening each day that cover all aspects of Slovenian culture.
Activities during the celebration include a parade and 5K run, wine tastings and global cuisine, and guest lectures and live performances. The Slovenian Museum and Archives is also often open to visitors during the festival, too.
Food is, of course, a big part of any cultural celebration, and Cleveland Kurentovanje is no different! This festival also offers folks the opportunity to indulge in delicious treats, including Lectovo hearts, colorfully decorated honey cookies that are a beloved part of Slovenian cultural identity.
The festival’s unofficial emcee is the Kurent, a furry creature said to chase away winter to make way for spring.
The Kurents will make their first public appearance with a traditional “jump,” so check the schedule and clear your calendar to witness their arrival! Take note of their bold bells, said to produce a sound that helps chase winter from the region.
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Just like the “real” Mardi Gras, this week-long celebration culminates in a big, ole festival; the parade moves down St. Clair and attendees are encouraged to dress up in costumes of any kind to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Whether Kurentovanje chases away winter in Cleveland or not, one thing’s for sure: this Slovenian Mardi Gras festival in Ohio truly is something special. See you there!
Have you attended this Slovenian Mardi Gras festival in Ohio before? Kurentovanje captures the spirit of Mardi Gras and is one of those only-in-Ohio festivals you need to experience at least once!
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CLEVELAND — Ohio’s plan to use unclaimed funds to help fund construction of a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns was temporarily blocked in court on Monday.
What You Need To Know
The class-action lawsuit argues that provisions of Ohio’s two-year, $60 billion budget that took $1 billion from the state’s Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park
The strategy was among several hotly debated topics during Ohio’s budget planning last year.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office said it was reviewing the decision and determining next steps
In her preliminary injunction, Franklin County Magistrate Jennifer Hunt found that plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann are substantially likely to win their case on the merits. Her order pauses the plan while the case is heard.
The class-action lawsuit argues that provisions of Ohio’s two-year, $60 billion budget that took $1 billion from the state’s Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park, south of Cleveland, violate constitutional prohibitions against taking people’s private property for government use, as well as citizens’ due process rights.
The strategy was among several hotly debated topics during Ohio’s budget planning last year.
Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the legal action on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025.
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The litigation challenges specific budget provisions that diverted more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds to create an Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and designate $600 million for the Browns as its first grant.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office said it was reviewing the decision and determining next steps.
Before ending his bid for governor last year, the Republican spoke out against using unclaimed funds for such a purpose, having gone so far as to urge DeWine to veto it. However, the state’s top lawyer has further said that he believed the plan was legally sound.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A Cleveland mother was charged with two counts of murder after her daughters were found in suitcases partially buried in a park near E. 165th and Midland Ave last week.
In the days that followed, we spoke with DeShaun Chatman, who is the father of 8-year-old Mila Chatman.
He said he’s been trying for years to get access to his daughter but felt the courts and Child Protective Services (CPS) weren’t working with him.
There is a law in Columbus working its way through the process trying to clarify parenting roles and rights.
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Senate Bill 174 (SB174) was passed in November and is currently sitting waiting in a House committee.
At the time the bill was passed one of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) said, “No one is a winner in parenting disputes. But if anyone is, it should be the kids. By passing this legislation, the Ohio Senate is taking the first step toward encouraging cooperation between separated parents.”
The bill has a number of provisions looking to make it easier for a judge to give equal rights to both the mother and father.
For example, it would prohibit a judge from giving preference to a father or a mother based on a person’s financial status or gender.
It also requires a parenting plan be filed that shows parenting and decisions will be a shared responsibility regardless of marital status.
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There is also a prevision that would allow unmarried parents to file a complaint at no charge, requesting the allocation of parenting rights and responsibilities upon the father establishing parentage and provides an expedited hearing and temporary orders.
Rocket Arena One Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115
Witness the excitement of NBA basketball as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Philadelphia 76ers at the Rocket Arena. These two Eastern Conference powerhouses will battle it out on the court in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.
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