fasnacht
The Second Gathering
What's Love Got To Do With It?
February 14, 2026 · Barberton, Ohio
2:00 PM – 11:00 PM Polka & Traditional Music 2–5 PM · Main Fasnacht 5–11 PM
Fasnacht is a seasonal folk gathering marking the turning of winter into spring, rooted in older European Carnival traditions shaped by ritual, misrule, and communal release.
Reimagined for Northeast Ohio, Fasnacht takes place during what locals traditionally refer to as the Crazy Days, transforming the gathering into a temporary Carnival Wonderland of music, living art, masks, and shared participation.
It is a time to release winter, gather together, and prepare for what comes next.
Music opens the gathering at 2:00 PM in the main hall with polka, while informal jams and roving percussion drift through the small hall and bar.
The Procession & Effigy Burning
The Revealing of Old Man Winter
As evening approaches, the community gathers at the Slovene Center where the effigy of Old Man Winter is revealed. Carried forth like a seasonal guardian, he embodies the weight of the cold months we have lived through — the stillness, the hardships, and the memories of winter that now ask to be released.
The Walk Together
From there, a communal procession moves through the street toward Atomic Rodeo. Drums, voices, and footsteps carry the moment forward as neighbors, friends, and strangers walk side by side. Along the way, participants may prepare small hand-woven Wicker Effigies — wheat-straw dolls accompanied by a parchment scroll and twine — to hold a personal intention, a wish for the coming year, or something they are ready to release from their New Year’s resolutions.
Release & Renewal
At journey’s end, Old Man Winter is set aflame in a symbolic farewell to winter. In this same moment, participants may offer their wrapped Wicker Effigies to the fire alongside him — a collective act of letting go and making space for what is to come. As the flames rise, the ritual opens naturally into celebration, carrying the gathering forward with music, warmth, and community.
From Fire to Song
As the flames settle and the night deepens, the energy of release turns back toward celebration. The drumbeats fade into melody, the crowd moves back toward the Slovene Center, and Fasnacht shifts from ritual into revelry — where fire gives way to music, dance, and collective joy.
Music & Performers
Music is the heartbeat of Fasnacht. From afternoon to late night, the Slovene Center comes alive across three interconnected spaces — the Main Hall, the Small Hall, and the Bar — each carrying its own character, acoustics, and atmosphere.
Beginning at 2:00 PM, the festival opens in the Main Hall with lively polka to welcome the gathering, warm the room, and bring people together in a true carnival spirit. As the evening unfolds, performances flow between halls, blending folk traditions, contemporary roots, and rhythmic ritual.
At approximately 8:30 PM, the celebration moves outdoors for the procession and effigy burning at Atomic Rodeo, just half a block away. After the fire ceremony, the music returns stronger than ever — carrying the crowd back inside for a final crescendo of sound, dancing, and communion that continues until 11:00 PM.
FEATURING
Bryan Elijah Smith (Shenandoah Valley, VA)
Appalachian-rooted songwriter blending Americana, Delta blues, outlaw country, and modern pop sensibilities with warm baritone vocals and expressive fingerstyle guitar.
The Polkamaniacs (Pittsburgh, PA)
A high-energy Pittsburgh favorite that fuses traditional polka with roots rock, Americana, classic punk spirit, and sharp humor to keep the dance floor moving.
A Band Named Ashes (Akron, OH)
A progressive folk ensemble known for intricate, layered arrangements that weave together folk, funk, and rock, featuring prominent cello, keys, rich harmonies, and a guest performance by rapper King Locust.
A Couple of Wanderers — Faith Kelly & Caswyn Moon (Catskills, NY)
Two traveling solo artists who perform together: Caswyn opens with punk-tinged, melodic Americana rooted in old country traditions, followed by Faith’s expansive, Moog-inflected folk rock with Appalachian influences.
Steve Trent (North Canton, OH)
Rockabilly and roots musician drawing from classic American song forms with driving rhythm, vintage tone, and storytelling that bridges early rock ’n’ roll and country blues.
Additional Featured Artist — TBA
HOSTED BY
Flicker (Daniel Eady — Silver City, NM) — MC / Story Guide
A dynamic one-man band who layers percussion, guitar, harmonica, and voice into rhythmic, kinetic folk-blues, guiding the spirit and flow of Fasnacht.
FESTIVAL AMBASSADOR
Psychic Sonya Horstman — Reader & Community Guide
RITUAL, PERFORMANCE & IMMERSIVE ELEMENTS (TBA)
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Diving Harmony — movement / embodied art performance
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Marching band
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Drumline / percussion ensemble
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Fire performance
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Art performance / ritual performers
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Wandering Bones Museum of Curiosities (popup installation)
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Roaming performers and ritual participants
COLLABORATORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Venue & Host Partners
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Slovene Party Center — Barberton
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Atomic Rodeo Art & Vintage — Barberton
Art & Production Collaborators
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Wandering Bones Museum of Curiosities
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Diving Harmony