Cleveland Kurentovanje

Clevelanders aren't the only ones who despise the cold winter months. For the last 50 years, citizens of Slovenia have been celebrating Kurentovanje, a cultural festival designed to chase the winter away. This Saturday the third annual Cleveland Kurentovanje will be held in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.

The festival centers around the Kurent, a shaggy, horned creature who is believed to chase winter away and usher in spring. The Cleveland version is expected to draw thousands of people this year.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on St. Clair Avenue between East 62nd Street and Addison Road with food, krofe (Slovenian donuts), coffee and children's crafts. At noon a parade will stretch throughout the neighborhood from St. Vitus Church on Lausche Avenue to the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair. The parade will feature Kurents, polka music, marching bands, dance groups and organizations dressed in traditional Eastern European garb.

Following the parade, head over to the Slovenian National Home from 1 to 6 p.m. for food, wine, beer and live music. Local businesses will sell handmade goods and dance groups will perform throughout the afternoon.

The after party will take place at Sterle's Country House on East 55th Street where guests can enjoy traditional food, drinks and live polka music.

Help chase winter away and experience a little bit of Slovenia during Cleveland Kurentovanje!

Cleveland Kurentovanje hours:
Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
*After party lasts from 6 p.m.-midnight

For more information or directions, visit Cleveland Kurentovanje. 

Orchid Mania

Looking for a way to beat the winter blues? Head over to the Cleveland Botanical Garden Jan. 31 through March to view the exquisite annual Orchid Mania exhibit.

Thousands of exotic orchids will fill the Botanical Garden and glasshouse. This year's theme is Mardi Gras so expect to see orchids in vibrant colors and exciting arrangements. Experts will be on hand Saturday afternoons to answer questions about the flowers and offer advice on how to care for orchids at home.

Tickets are $11 for adults, $6 for children and free for members. The exhibit runs through March 8.

Orchid Mania hours:
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sundays from noon-5 p.m.
*Closed Mondays

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Cleveland Botanical Garden.

Winterfest 2014

Winterfest, hosted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, has become the premier holiday celebration in downtown Cleveland. This year's event is packed with festivities and, for the first time, the city's Christmas tree will be lit in U.S. Bank Plaza, across from the sparkling lights of the chandelier in PlayhouseSquare.

Winterfest activities start at 1 p.m. on Saturday with a holiday pop-up shop at PlayhouseSquare, family-friendly entertainment, food trucks and free horse-drawn carriage rides outside the Cleveland Public Library. At 4:45 p.m. the Old Stone Church choir will take to the main stage to perform Christmas songs and choral music. The main event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a concert, lighting ceremony and grand fireworks display at PlayhouseSquare.

Other downtown establishments are getting in to the holiday spirit as well. The Festival of Trees returns to the Allen Theatre and will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Tower City will feature a holiday express train ride, Kringle's Inventionasium and Bruce the Talking Spruce starting at 10 a.m., followed by Toy Soldier and Fairy Godmother Holiday Shows at 1, 3 and 7 p.m.

The Hard Rock Cafe will offer pictures with Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the 5th Street Arcades will host the Cleveland Bazaar, Northeast Ohio's longest-running independent craft show, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton will feature its annual gingerbread house display in the lobby and the Horseshoe Casino will once again take guests back in time with its Holidays at the Higbee display.

Celebrate the start of the holiday season in Cleveland by spending the day downtown at Winterfest!

Winterfest 2014 hours:
Saturday, Nov. 29 from 1-7 p.m.


For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit Winterfest.

The Cleveland Flea Holiday Market

Suzuran Photography / The Cleveland Flea

The holidays are right around the corner, which means many people have already started their Christmas shopping. If you're looking for unique gifts this year, or want to support local artists this holiday season, stop by The Cleveland Flea's Holiday Market this weekend.

The Cleveland Flea, which began in early 2013, is a monthly pop-up event. The flea has grown to include more than 150 local vendors and artists. At the holiday flea expect to find a huge assortment of items and gifts, from jewelry to clothing to home decor to vintage items.

Expect there to be plenty of food and drinks at the holiday market as well, including holiday cocktails, mulled wine, hot cider and craft beers. Spice Kitchen + Bar will set up a pop-up cafe during the event on Saturday, and Jack Flaps and Luxe Kitchen and Lounge will offer brunch to shoppers on Sunday.

The market, held indoors at 6555 Carnegie Ave. in downtown Cleveland, is free both Saturday and Sunday. Those who want first dibs on items can purchase $25 tickets to a sneak peak party on Friday.

Shop local this holiday season at The Cleveland Flea.

The Cleveland Flea Holiday Market hours:
Friday, Nov. 21 from 5-9 p.m. (tickets required for the sneak-peak party)
Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information, visit The Cleveland Flea.

Crocker Park's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

The holiday season officially kicks off at Crocker Park this Saturday as the outdoor shopping center hosts its annual holiday tree lighting celebration.

Starting at 3 p.m., a handful of local food trucks will line up on the property to dish out tasty food and desserts. Community group performances will take to the stage beginning at 5 p.m.

Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan, from Disney's original series "Liv and Maddie" will perform live at 7 p.m. The main event of the evening, an appearance by Santa Claus and the lighting of Crocker Park's 50-foot Christmas tree, will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Following the tree lighting, a spectacular fireworks show will light up the night sky. Crocker Park's stores and restaurants will remain open throughout the event.

Get into the holiday spirit this weekend at Crocker Park!

Crocker Park's annual holiday tree lighting hours:
Saturday, Nov. 22 from 5-8 p.m.

For more information, visit Crocker Park.

Haunted House Highlights: 7 Floors of Hell

7 Floors of Hell is a must-visit for Halloween fans. The haunt, located in Middleburg Heights, has been featured on the Travel Channel, won a handful of awards and been dubbed one of the scariest attractions in the country.

This year 7 Floors of Hell upped the ante by offering 10 (that's right, 10!) brand new attractions for its "World of Nightmares" theme. Every monster imaginable comes to life to terrorize guests in the various houses.

This year's haunted attractions include the Mental Ward, Hillbilly Horror, Zombie Apocalypse, Clowns Domain, Shadows, Killer Theater, BioX, Journey into the Belly of the Beast, Body Snatchers and House of Nightmares.

The thrills aren't limited to the houses. Creatures roam the waiting lines and the Monster Midway, making people scream and run before they even enter the first attraction.

Tickets to this giant-sized haunt are $25 for general admission and $33 for speedpass admission. 7 Floors of Hell is open Thursdays and weekends through Nov. 2.

Prepared to be scared this Halloween weekend by visiting this monstrous World of Nightmares!

7 Floors of Hell hours:
Thursdays and Sundays from 7-10 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays from 7 p.m.-midnight
*Nov. 2 hours are 7-9 p.m.

7 Floors of Hell is located at 19191 Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights. 

For more information, visit World of Nightmares.

Pumpkin carving contest at Bier Markt

Halloween is just two days away, which means it's time to get your jack-o'-lanterns ready! Bier Markt in Ohio City will host its annual pumpkin carving contest tonight.

Any guest who purchases one of the bar's pumpkin beers will receive a free pumpkin to carve at his or her table. The finished pumpkins will be displayed at the bar throughout the weekend so diners can vote on their favorite jack-o'-lantern. The winner will receive dinner for two at Bar Cento.

Grab you friends and show off your pumpkin carving skills tonight in Ohio City!

Pumpkin carving contest hours:
Wednesday, Oct. 29 starting at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit Bier Markt.

Haunted House Highlights: Factory of Terror

What do you get when you combine an abandoned aluminum foundry with mirror mazes, creatures of the night and gory decorations? Ohio's largest haunted house in Canton!

The Factory of Terror utilizes 160,000 square feet of space for an hour-long haunted house experience. Many visitors have exited the haunted house mid-way through, too scared to make it to the end.

The haunt features five different attractions. Guests start at the Asylum, filled with deranged patients and the first mirror maze ever constructed in U.S. haunted houses. Next is the Industrial Nightmare, featuring dangerous pieces from the original factory used to attack victims. Make it out alive and visitors are faced with another maze in the pitch-black Labryinth of Darkness. The Massacre on Mahoning is up next, which takes a treacherous journey through the former mansion of Mr. Terniz, the founder of the factory. Legend is that Mr. Terniz moved in to the factory to keep a close watch on his workers, but after experiencing a mental breakdown he went on a killing rampage and built his own personal cemetery confined within the walls of his mansion. Finally, guests will venture into the House of Nightmares, filled with blood, guts, gore and nightmarish creatures.

Tickets cost $26 for general admission and $36 for FASTpass admission. The haunt is open weekends through Nov. 1.

Ready to see if you can conquer this massive haunted house? Then head over to Factory of Terror this Halloween -- if you dare!

Factory of Terror hours:
Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m.-midnight
Sundays from 6-9 p.m.

Factory of Terror is located at 4125 Mahoning Road in Canton.

For more information, visit Factory of Terror.

Halloween is right around the corner, which means haunted houses are popping up all over the city. Over the next couple weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the creepiest, ghoulish and most sinister haunted houses Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Haunted House Highlights: Haunted Prison Experience

The Ohio State Reformatory, more commonly known as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison and a notoriously haunted building in Ohio. Stories abound of tortured spirits and ex-guards who remained trapped within the prison walls.

With once inhumane conditions and brutal treatment of prisoners, it's no surprise that Mansfield Reformatory is one of the most haunted places in the state.

The Mansfield Reformatory begins a truly haunted experience each fall as the Haunted Prison Experience takes shape inside. During the 45-minute haunt, guests will explore the darkened cellblocks and hallways while experiencing in-your-face thrills from actors and animatronic monsters. Spooky lighting and a spine-tingling soundtrack complete the haunted experience.

Who knows, maybe you'll even encounter an actual ghost during your haunted house journey!

Tickets cost $18 per person or $28 for a speedpass, which allows you to jump to the front of the line. Guests must be 13 years or older to enter. The haunt is open through Nov. 1. 

Haunted Prison Experience hours:
Thursdays from 7-11 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m.-midnight
Sundays from 7-10 p.m.
*Gates open at 6 p.m., box office opens at 6:30 p.m.

The Ohio State Reformatory is located at 100 Reformatory Road in Mansfield.

For more information, visit Haunted X.

Halloween is right around the corner, which means haunted houses are popping up all over the city. Over the next couple weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the creepiest, ghoulish and most sinister haunted houses Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Haunted House Highlights: Carnival of Horrors

A large majority of people have a phobia of clowns. I'm definitely one of them. From their ghoulish makeup to their menacing smiles, clowns are enough to give you nightmares.

If you're ready to face your fear of clowns, or you're just a glutton for punishment, head to Blossom Music Center for its annual Carnival of Horrors.

Carnival of Horrors offers four haunted attractions. Guests start out at the Fun House, which is brimming with creepy clowns, then move on to the Wicked Woods where they're handed only a flashlight to help light their path. If you make it out of the woods, you'll venture into the Insane Asylum where the inmates run wild, and finally into the Freakshow in 3D Terrorvision.

Tickets purchased online cost $20 for general admission and $24 for a speed pass admission, which allows you to skip to the front of the line at each attraction. Tickets purchased at the venue cost $21 for general admission and $25 for a speed pass. The haunt is open weekends through Nov. 1.

Carnival of Horrors hours: 
Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m.-midnight
Sundays from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
*Nov. 1 hours are 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Blossom Music Center is located at 1145 W. Steels Corner Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

For more information, visit Carnival of Horrors. 

Halloween is right around the corner, which means haunted houses are popping up all over the city. Over the next couple weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the creepiest, ghoulish and most sinister haunted houses Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Haunted House Highlights: Nightmare in the Wilderness

The woods are a common setting in horror movies. As nighttime falls and fog rolls in, you never know what may be lurking around the trees up ahead. A haunted house in Lodi has utilized the eerie setting of the woods and combined it with a local urban legend to create Nightmare in the Wilderness.


As the legend goes, about 150 years ago the Smith family once lived in an old farm house situated on an apple orchard near Medina. A stranger appeared in town one day and was drawn to the Smith house. The next morning, the family, and the stranger, were all found dead. The family and the stranger were buried in a forest just past the apple orchard. Although the Smith house has since been torn down, till this day apparitions can be seen roaming the forest and forsaken orchard.

After being told this ghostly story, visitors at Nightmare in the Wilderness are taken on a 1/2 mile hayride out into the haunted forest and left to fend for themselves. More than 80 beasts, clowns, monsters and surprises await along the Psycho Path. If you survive the trail, a wagon will take you back to the Apple Cabin for some much needed refreshments and treats.

The haunt has been in business since 1993. Many of the dedicated actors have been working at the haunted house for more than seven years, allowing them to perfect their costumes, makeup and scares!

Tickets cost $17 for adults and $12 for children. Children ages 5 and under are free. The haunt accepts cash only! Nightmare in the Wilderness is open Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween.

Nightmare in the Wilderness hours:
Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m.-midnight

Nightmare in the Wilderness is at 7665 Lafayette Road in Lodi.

For more information, visit Nightmare in the Wilderness.

Halloween is right around the corner, which means haunted houses are popping up all over the city. Over the next couple weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the creepiest, ghoulish and most sinister haunted houses Northeast Ohio has to offer.

Haunted House Highlights: Bloodview

Halloween is right around the corner, which means haunted houses are popping up all over the city. Over the next couple weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the creepiest, ghoulish and most sinister haunted houses Northeast Ohio has to offer.

First up, a personal favorite of mine: Bloodview.

The scares at Bloodview begin the moment you step foot outside your car. A handful of actors course through the waiting lines, scaring countless customers who are waiting to go inside the first house. I've even seen people chased throughout the parking lot!

Bloodview is built and staffed by The Legion of Terror, the world's oldest improvisational horror acting, makeup and special FX production company. You won't find any cheap masks at this haunted house. Each actor designs and perfects his or her own character, complete with clothing, wigs and special effects makeup, to make you scream.

Bloodview is an interactive haunted house, which means the actors may touch you. To keep things interesting, the haunt puts on a different theme each weekend (The Witch Trials are this weekend, followed by The Zombie Hordes and finally All Hell Breaks Loose). Bloodview is comprised of three attractions: The Gorehouse, the outdoor Haunted Wooded Path and finally the Main House.

Bloodview also is fully nonprofit. The actors are all volunteers and the Broadview Heights Lions Club, which sponsors the haunted house, donates profits to charity. 

Admission is $20 on Fridays and Saturdays and $10 on Sundays. The haunt is open until Nov. 1.

Bloodview Haunted House hours:
Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m.-midnight
Sundays from 8-10 p.m.

Bloodview is located at 1010 Towpath Trail in Broadview Heights.

For more information, visit Bloodview.

Halloween Town

With Halloween two weeks away, parties and celebrations are in full swing! PlayhouseSquare is getting in the festive spirit by hosting its first Halloween party for families this Saturday.

Families and children are encouraged to dress up in their best costumes and head downtown for the Halloween Town celebration. Guests will enjoy Halloween crafts, spooky photo-ops, apple cider, cookie decorating and raffle prizes.

Tickets cost $8 per adult, $14 per child or $40 for a family four-pack. All proceeds benefit community engagement and education programs at PlayhouseSquare.

Don't miss out on this frighteningly good time!

Halloween Town hours:
Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon

For more information, visit PlayhouseSquare.

Goblins in the Garden

It's finally October, which means Halloween season is in full swing! The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland is kicking off the festivities this weekend with its 2014 Goblins in the Garden.

The family-friendly (and dog-friendly!) event will include trick-or-treating, cornstalk mazes, leaf trails, face painting, wagon rides and live entertainment. Children, parents and their four-legged friends are encouraged to dress up in their spookiest costumes.

The event also will feature Scarecrow Row, filled with dozens of scarecrows decorated by local schools and organizations.

The event costs $20 per car for nonmembers and $10 per car for members. 

Get in the Halloween spirit and take a drive out to Holden Arboretum this weekend! 

Goblins in the Garden hours:
Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information, visit Holden Arboretum.

NEOCycle Night Ride

Northeast Ohio's cycling culture has grown dramatically in recent years. Many neighborhoods have added bike lanes to main roads and organizations that promote bike culture and alternative methods of transportation continue to pop up across the city.

To celebrate Cleveland's cycling culture, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will host a special Night Ride this Saturday as part of NEOCycle, the city's first weekend-long urban cycling festival.

The Night Ride will begin at Edgewater Park and take bikers on a journey down the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway through Gordon Square, Battery Park and the North Coast Harbor neighborhood, before returning to Edgewater Park. Riders will take in spectacular views of the sunset and the Downtown Cleveland skyline.

Each participant will receive a Micro Sport Headlight and a flashing LED light. All riders must wear helmets and follow bike laws.

The full ride costs $35 per person while the half tour costs $30. Online registration closes at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. On-site registration will be available at Edgewater Park from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Prior to the race, riders can participate in several contests, including the Glow and Roll bike decoration contest, Wacky Wheels costume contest and #ThisIsCLE outfit contest. Contests will be judged between 6 and 7 p.m. at Edgewater with winners being announced around 7:30 p.m.

After the race, be sure to hang out at Edgewater Park for drinks and live music!

NEOCycle's Night Ride hours:
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6-11 p.m.

For more information or to view a complete schedule of events for the festival, visit NEOCycle.

 

Whiskey Island Brew-B-Q

Fall is right around the corner but there's still one last chance to soak up the summer sun this weekend at Whiskey Island!

Hosted by Great Lakes Brewing Co., the Whiskey Island Brew-B-Q will feature some of the area's tastiest BBQ, interactive booths, food trucks, a corn hole tournament and a Great Lakes Beer Tent with a special collaboration beer available that day brewed by Great Lakes and Fifty West Brewery.

Local bands Billy Likes Soda, The Jimmy Jack Band and The Spazmatics will perform live throughout the afternoon.

Tickets start at $15 and children aged 10 and under are admitted for free. Proceeds benefit the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.

Soak up the last rays of summer on the lakefront with Whiskey Island Brew-B-Q!

Whiskey Island Brew-B-Q hours:
Saturday, Sept. 20 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

For more information, visit Whiskey Island.

2014 Cleveland National Air Show

One noticeable thing missing from Labor Day weekend last year was the sound of jets and planes flying through the sky in downtown Cleveland. Fortunately, the Cleveland National Air Show is back in action this year!

The air show features a variety of acts, including the U.S. Army Golden Knights Precision Parachute Team, vertical takeoff of the British Aeroxpace Sea Harrier, an L-39 Albatross jet demonstration and the Shockwave jet truck that spews fire. The famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels will close out the show each day.

If you want to sit near the action, tickets for Burke Lakefront Airport are $23 for adults or $16 for children aged 6 to 11 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are admitted for free. You can also check out the show for free from multiple locations downtown, such as the plaza of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the grounds near the Great Lakes Science Center and the East 9th Street pier.

Don't miss this Cleveland Labor Day weekend tradition!

2014 Cleveland National Air Show hours:
Saturday, Aug. 30 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 1 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
*No entry/re-entry after 3 p.m.

For more information, visit Cleveland National Air Show.

Smoke on the Water Labor Day Festival

Music Box Supper Club is the newest addition to The Flats in downtown Cleveland. Located next to Shooters, the restaurant/music hall hopes to showcase some of the best national touring musicians and local musicians on its two stages.

This weekend, the Music Box will celebrate its recent opening and the long weekend with the Smoke on the Water Labor Day Festival.

Starting Friday, the venue will be serving up some tasty BBQ while hosting performances by a variety of bands throughout the weekend, including Cats on Holiday, the JiMiller Band, Backstage Politics and the Joe Moorhead Band, among others. Admission is free all weekend.

Celebrate Labor Day weekend by relaxing by the water at Music Box Supper Club!

Smoke on the Water Labor Day Festival hours:
Friday, Aug. 29 from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 30 from 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 from 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 31 from 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
*Dining begins at 4 p.m. Aug. 29 and 11 a.m. Aug. 30, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

For more information or directions, visit Music Box Supper Club.

Salute: A Toast to Taste

Wine and beer lovers won't want to miss this event!

Since relocating to the East Bank of the Flats last year, Lago Restaurant and Wine Bar has been hosting various events to encourage the community to check out their new location. Their newest event, Salute, celebrates food and drink.

Guests will enjoy an array of top European wines and craft beers. Each wine and beer has been carefully paired with one of eight tasting stations, featuring delectable bites created by Lago's chefs. It all takes place on Lago's veranda where guests can enjoy beautiful views of the sunset and Downtown Cleveland's skyline.

General tickets cost $40 and include 16 drink tickets and complimentary paired appetizers. VIP tickets are $60 and include drink tickets, complimentary paired appetizers as well as access to a special VIP area with additional high-end wines and beers.

Salute: A Toast to Taste hours:
Saturday, Aug. 23 from 8 p.m.-midnight

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Salute.

116th Feast of the Assumption

www.davidschwartzphoto.com

The Assumption of Mary is an important holy day for Catholics around the world. For the last 116 years, Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood has been celebrating this feast day with a weekend-long festival.

The 116th Feast of the Assumption kicks off Aug. 14 with rides, games and food at Holy Rosary and vendors lining Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads. The festivities continue into the weekend with live music, strolling entertainment, special sales at local stores and plenty of Italian food and dessert!

The actual holy day, Aug. 15, will include a solemn mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, followed by a massive procession through the streets. The procession is truly a sight to behold, with thousands of locals, many dressed in traditional Italian costumes, carrying a giant statue of Mary up and down Little Italy. The feast closes on Sunday with a final candlelight procession at 9:30 p.m. and fireworks at Tony Brush Park.

You don't want to miss out on one of Cleveland's longest running summer festivals!

116th Feast of the Assumption hours:
Thursday, Aug. 14 from 6-11 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 from noon to midnight
Saturday, Aug. 16 from noon to midnight
Sunday, Aug. 16 from noon to 11 p.m.

For more information, visit Historic Little Italy.