Ward Off Winter At The Kurentovanje Festival

When winter has run its course, the Kurents come out to play. The eighth annual Kurentovanje Festival unfolds at the Slovenian National Home in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood Feb. 17-22. Help chase away winter with a host of cultural events and the colorful masked and costumed creatures for which the festival is named. Here are three ways to get involved.

Feb. 17-20: Brush up on Slovenian culture at the Slovenian National Home by attending a language workshop, a strudel baking class led by Ellie Omahen Rickard of Chardon's My Mom’s Bakery and a string art course.

Feb. 21: Join the Kurents — enormous feathered and horned costumed beasts — as they partake in the Kurent Jump ritual 6-9 p.m. to chase away winter by dancing around bonfires to the tunes of the Chardon Polka Band. Tickets include one drink.

Feb. 22: The Kurent Dash 5K, hosted by Hermes Cleveland, kicks off the final festivities at 9:30 a.m. followed by a bocce tournament, food trucks, 20 vendors, a parade at noon and music from the Sell Outs, the Joey Tomsick Orchestra and more across three stages.