Czech Village Association Plans Houby Days! Please look over their website for specific details and updates: (20+) Facebook
The Czech Heritage Foundation is sponsoring the Czech Plus Band at the Kosek bandstand a Friday during the Summer. Come join us for beautiful weather and great music!
Czech Plus Band is a group of musicians dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Czech band music in the mid-west. Czech Plus has been declared the official band for Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is the only band in the United States to be able to perform the national anthems of The United States, The Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Performing in costumes (kroje) patterned after the brass bands of Southern Bohemia, the Czech Plus Band has a library which is constantly being up-dated with new music from the Czech Republic, thanks to a contact in Prague
The Czech Heritage Foundation will have an Iowa representative at the National Pageant in Wilber, Nebraska at the Wilber Czech Fest! Please come support our representative in her quest to become Miss Czech-Slovak US. Schedule of events and information: Czech Festival (nebraskaczechsofwilber.com)
Pageant and Royal Court information schedule: Czech Royalty (nebraskaczechsofwilber.com)
Please join the Czech Heritage Foundation for our Výroční Piknik (Annual Picnic) at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library on Sunday August 20 from 6-8 PM.
We'll be celebrating another successful year - potluck style. Break out your favorite side dish or dessert recipe ... Babi's kolach recipe, Aunt Mary's favorite “salad” or Deda's sauerkraut ... bring enough to share! We'll take care of everything else (meat, drinks, etc.).
Please RSVP by August 5th. Call 319-677-1609 (If no answer, just leave your RSVP in Voice Mail.)
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music and cultural celebration, brought to you by The Czech Heritage Foundation. Immerse yourself in the lively tunes of Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen as they take the stage at the DanceMor Ballroom on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Tickets are priced at $10 per person and can be purchased at the door, with those 21 and under enjoying free admission. Join in on the chance to win big in the 50/50 raffle or indulge your sweet tooth at the tempting Bake Sale. Come together with friends and family for a joyous celebration of Czech culture and music in the heart of the community.
Click here for more information.
Please look forward to this event! The annual Czech Heritage Foundation and National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20,2024 and will begin at 5:30pm with the annual meeting of NCSML, a potluck meal following the meeting around 6:30/7PM. The Czech Heritage Foundation meeting will follow dinner starting approx 7:30PM. Reservation can be made by CLICKING HERE TO RSVP, and this must be done by FEB. 14, 2024 in order to guarantee there will be enough meat for everyone. We hope to see you all there! Please remember our annual membership is from Jan-Dec. Please renew if you haven’t!
Join us for our annual membership drive! Meet any new nominations for elections. Updates from various committees. Members are encouraged to bring a side dish or desert to the meeting to share.
2023 Wreath Raffle is Czech Heritage Foundation main event! This is in conjunction with the Czech Museum’s Old World Market and is in the Ballroom. Be sure to put the Old World Christmas Market | National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (ncsml.org) on your calendar! Look for more information as the Christmas season approaches. Susan Houser will be the main contact for this event in 2023. The event will offer Pop up vendors, food, music, and crafts. The event will be open and offer lunch and dinner until 8:00 PM.
This is the main fundraising event which helps support our Exchange Program (Homestay), The Royal Court, our scholarship programs for students, Czech bands, and our annual picnic. Please help support this wonderful event!
Czech Traditions of Christmas
Svaty Mikulas
Dec. 1 at 5:30 pm at Hospoda 62 16th Avenue SW. Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Svaty Mikulas (St Nicholas) Andel (angel) and Cert (devil) will greet the children followed by a short presentation on the Czech and Slovak traditions of Christmas.
Activities include singing Christmas carols & cookies, Christmas Traditions of the Czech and Slovak Republic, walk to Kosek Bandstand, and a tree lighting ceremony at Kosek Bandstand or the center circle tree in front of the museum.
Everyone is welcome! Please see the flier for additional information, or reach out to CHFwebmaster@gmail.com with any questions.
Please join the Czech Heritage Foundation for our Výroční Piknik (Annual Picnic) at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library on Sunday August 15 from 6-8 PM.
We'll be celebrating another successful year - potluck style. Break out your favorite side dish or dessert recipe ... Babi's kolach recipe, Aunt Mary's favorite “salad” or Deda's sauerkraut ... bring enough to share! We'll take care of everything else (meat, drinks, etc.).
Please RSVP by August 5th. Call 319-677-1609 (If no answer, just leave your RSVP in Voice Mail.)
Looking forward to 2023! Houby Days is on May 19-21, 2023.
More information and Schedule can be found here. Through the Czech Village Association website.
We will add Queen & Royal Court information as it becomes available.
Saturday May 20 9-4PM Czech Heritage Association booth will be on Czech Village Ave. Come by the Czech Heritage Foundation and say hello! We’ll have some super cool CHF mugs and other goodies for sale.
Silent Auction Baskets!
Parade! 2023 is back!
Come join us for our 2023 St. Joseph’s Day Dance! It will be held on March 19th from 1-5pm at the Dancemor Ballroom. Tickets are $10 per person and anyone under the age of 21 is free! There will be live music from Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen along with a 50/50 raffle and bake sale. This event is hosted by the Czech Heritage Foundation and the proceeds will be used to support their educational programs.
Please look forward to this event! The annual Czech Heritage Foundation and National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 and will begin at 5:30pm with a potluck meal following at 6:30pm. The Czech Heritage Foundation meeting will follow at 7:00pm. Reservation can be made by CLICKING HERE TO RSVP, and this must be done by FEB. 14, 2023 in order to guarantee there will be enough meat for everyone. We hope to see you all there! Please remember our annual membership is from Jan-Dec. Please renew if you haven’t!
Join us for our Annual Fall Harvest Dance at the Dancemor Ballroom in Swisher! This event is sponsored by the Czech Heritage Foundation and there will be live music by The Mark Vyhlidal Band. Tickets are $10 and guests under the age of 21 are free. This is a great opportunity to support the many educational projects and programs the Czech Heritage Foundation provides. We hope to see you there!
Come check out the National Wilber Czech Festival to get a look at the Czech and Slovak heritage across the US. There will be vendors, live music, a silent auction, and the National Miss Czech-Slovak Pageant.
This tradition will carry on to next year and should be the weekend of 5/12-14 or 5/19-21. We will await the announcement of the 45th Czech Village Association Houby Days. The 44th Annual Houby Days. This weekend is filled with many activities and lasts Friday through Sunday.
Come join us for Houby Days 2022! Celebrate Czech and Slovak traditions as well seeing what new Czech Village has to offer. We will have live music and entertainment, food and craft vendors, classes, and of course Kolaches! There will also be a Fun Run sponsored by SOKO. Royal Court interviews 8:30 Czech Museum w/light breakfast. 11:30 Kosek Bandstand Kroj introductions followed by Kroje walk parade.
The annual St. Joseph’s Day dance will be back in 2022 with a bake sale and live music by Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen. This event will be held Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 1pm-5pm at the Dancemor Ballroom. This event is sponsored by the Czech Heritage Foundation and all profits will go to support the CHF educational programs.
In Czechoslovakia, St. Joseph’s Day was a day of fun and gaiety. Musicians of the village serenaded the homes of people where a Joseph lived. The band traveled by horse and wagon and the festivities continued late into the night. It is thought that St. Joseph’s Day originated in Italy in the 14th century. A friar named Joseph was honored on March 19. In 1870 Pope Pius IX declared Joseph a patron saint to honor the day of his death. Many Czech families use the name Joseph in honor of the saint. Unlike the green on St. Patrick’s Day, red is used in clothing, bread and even beer. (From Czech and Slovak Heritage, Family Traditions, Stories and Recipes … available at https://store.ncsml.org.)
The date for 2023 TBA! Please look forward to this event! The annual Czech Heritage Foundation and National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library meeting will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2022 and will begin at 5:30pm with a potluck meal following at 6:30pm. The Czech Heritage Foundation meeting will follow at 7:00pm. Reservation can be made by calling (319) 677-1609, and this must be done by March 9 in order to guarantee there will be enough meat for everyone. We hope to see you all there and don’t forget to bring your own table service!
2022 Wreath Raffle is Czech Heritage Foundation main event! 12/4-5, 2022. This is in conjunction with the Czech Museum’s Old World Market. We know everyone missed the wreath raffle in 2020 … so did we. It’s back in 2021! Be sure to put the Old World Christmas Market at NCSML on your calendar! Look for more information as the Christmas season approaches. Holly Stepanek will be the main contact for this event in 2022.
2022 Fall Harvest Dance will be 10-1-2022 at DanceMor in Swisher from 1-5. How long has it been since you’ve cut a rug? Months? Years? Come join us at a Fall Harvest Dance and break that dry spell!
Dožínky (doe-shink'-key) is a Slavic harvest festival. In various places throughout Europe - including the Czech Republic - it is celebrated annually to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.
Malek’s Fishermen Band continues the great tradition of dance music excellence started by Syl Malek in the 1930’s. If you’ve never experienced a live polka band before, there is no better way to start than this!
NEW LOCATION!
Join us at the DanceMor Ballroom in Swisher for our dance. Tickets are $10 cash at the door.
We will have a bake sale (including kolaches), as well as Czech Heritage Foundation merchandise for sale!
Please join the Czech Heritage Foundation for our Výroční Piknik (Annual Picnic) at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library on Sunday September 12 from 5-7 PM. Date in 2022 TBA
We'll be celebrating another successful year - potluck style. Break out your favorite side dish or dessert recipe ... Babi's kolach recipe, Aunt Mary's favorite “salad” or Deda's sauerkraut ... bring enough to share! We'll take care of everything else (meat, drinks, etc.).
Please RSVP by September 5th. Call 319-677-1609 (If no answer, just leave your RSVP in Voice Mail.)
The Czech Heritage Foundation’s own Breckyn Pokorny will represent Iowa at the National Pageant in Wilber, Nebraska at the Wilber Czech Fest! Come support Breckyn in her quest to become Miss Czech-Slovak USA.
Pageant events are 7 PM Saturday & Sunday at the Outdoor Theater.
The Czech Heritage Foundation is sponsoring the Czech Plus Band at the Kosek bandstand on Friday July 23rd. Come join us for beautiful weather and great music!
Czech Plus Band is a group of musicians dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Czech band music in the mid-west. Czech Plus has been declared the official band for Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is the only band in the United States to be able to perform the national anthems of The United States, The Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Performing in costumes (kroje) patterned after the brass bands of Southern Bohemia, the Czech Plus Band has a library which is constantly being up-dated with new music from the Czech Republic, thanks to a contact in Prague
Come celebrate the 4th of July Czech-style with Barefoot Becky!
Mix a cup of German, Czech & Slovenian style polkas and waltzes, a cup of country, two steps, foxtrots and big band, a dash of latin and line dances, and party favorites to taste. Once it’s to your liking, you’ve got a recipe for a band that’s really cookin’! That’s what you get when you see a live performance featuring Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen, a group based out of Mt Vernon, Iowa.
Don’t forget to stick around (or come back) for the Fireworks Display hosted by Freedom Fest!
Join the NCSML President and CEO Dr. Cecilia Rokusek, Czech Heritage Foundation President Jim Gruntorad, Slovak Ambassador to the U.S. Radovan Javorcik, and Director of the Czech Center in New York Miroslav Konvalina and Deputy Director Jan Zahour at the Czech National Cemetery at 10 a.m. to dedicate the planting of four new Linden trees, donated by Trees Forever. Many cultures consider the Linden tree, with its heart-shaped leaf, a sacred symbol representing peace, love, prosperity, friendship, and good luck.
Ceremony will be held near the Jan Hus memorial (enter from C St. SW).
Looking forward to 2023! TBA dates when it’s confirmed It’s BACK! Houby Days is on for the 2nd weekend in May … May 14-16, 2021.
Friday May 14 5-10 PM Sidewalk Sale
Friday May 14 6-7:30 PM Czech Plus Band
Saturday May 15 10-4PM Czech Heritage Association booth in front of the Kosek Building. Come by the Czech Heritage Foundation and say hello! We’ll have some super cool CHF mugs and other goodies for sale.
Saturday May 15 10-10PM Sidewalk Sale Continues
Sunday May 16 10AM-5PM Sidewalk Sale continues
Join us for the annual membership meeting of the Czech Heritage foundation, Tuesday April 20, 2021 at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Instead of a potluck this year, refreshments will be provided.
6:00 PM - NCSML Annual Meeting
6:30 PM - Food & Refreshments
7:00 PM - Czech Heritage Foundation Annual Meeting
Have you renewed your CHF membership for 2021? Your dues must be current in order to be eligible to vote. Membership is $20/person or $30/family. Pay at the meeting, or pay online today!
Not a member yet? No problem! Join online any time before the meeting.
The 2022 Royal Court Crowning will happen 5-13-22 entries due by 3-18-22. Royal Court and Queen can fill out the application online & watch for details on the website and your email. The 2020 has been CANCELLED out of an abundance of caution. For information on the emerging COVID-19 health issue, visit the Iowa Dept of Health’s web site at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus.
The new Royal Court will be crowned during Houby Days weekend. Come support youth who are taking an initiative to spread their heritage! The crowning is open to the public and will feature visiting royalty and the new Iowa queen.
The 2020 CANCELLED out of an abundance of caution. For information on the emerging COVID-19 health issue, visit the Iowa Dept of Health’s web site at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus.
Come celebrate the heritage at the 18th annual Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant. Pageant events are free and open to the public. More information on the Iowa pageant can be found here.
Due to the current recommendations from the Iowa Dept of Public Health, the Czech Heritage Foundation has made the decision to cancel Houby Days for 2020. We appreciate your continued support, and look forward to seeing you next year!
The Houby Days parade is a dynamic, vibrant, and energetic event each year that celebrates the rich Czech and Slovak culture! The parade will run through Czech Village.
The 2020 dance has been cancelled out of an abundance of caution. For information on the emerging COVID-19 health issue, visit the Iowa Dept of Health’s web site at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus.
Join the Czech Heritage Foundation for our annual St. Joseph’s Day Dance! All profits will support the many educational projects and programs of CHF. There will be live music, dancing, a bake sale, a silent auction, and raffle prizes. Food and drink will be available for purchase from Connie’s Catering.
Tickets are $10/person and are available at the door.
The Czech Heritage Foundation was among organizations to participate in the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s Community Cultural Celebration & Expo. Held March 7, the event happened before social distancing guidelines went into place in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart kicked off the celebration alongside the Czech Heritage Foundation’s Royal Court, including Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Breckyn Pokorny, followed by a bagpipe procession to the upper level of the library, where a number of community organizations showcased information about their groups. The Czech Royal Court — young people ages 6 to 16 who represent the Czech Heritage Foundation at festivals and other events — tried their hand at traditional Japanese archery, learned about numerous non-profit groups and met elected officials, including state representative Art Staed. Entertainment was provided by singers and dancers, such as the Amen Choir and the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance, in the library’s Whipple Auditorium. Czech Heritage Foundation board members provided information about college scholarships, Homestay and other programs, as well as its newsletter and publications, for visitors who stopped at the group’s table.
Given that the library is among the many resources closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are reminded of the importance of libraries everywhere in expanding our world through events such as these.
– Cindy Hadish, Czech Heritage Foundation, Communications & Outreach chair
Join us for our annual membership meeting! The potluck will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief meeting at 7 p.m. with updates from various committees. Members are encouraged to bring a side dish or desert to the meeting to share.
