14th Annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival and Parade

Kurentovanje (koo-rahn-toh-VAHN-yay) is evidently the most popular carnival event in Slovenia. The central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers. The Kurent, by the way, is like something freakish and mammalian out of Parade the Circle: a massive sheepskin creature with bells and beads and all sorts of birdlike, pagan-inspired ornamentation. Today's event starts at 9 a.m. at East 64th St. and St. Clair Ave. with a 5K. The parade starts at noon, and a party featuring four stages of live music follows. It's free. clevelandkurentovanje.com.