49th annual Czech Festival starts Thursday
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- Published on 03 August 2010
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For those who may not have been counting down to the 49th Annual Czech Festival, events kick-off this Thursday.
Locals and visitors who don’t have the schedule memorized could have picked one up at an area business, or taken a look online at the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber web-site at nebraskaczechsofwilber.com.
In May the group became the legal owner of the famous “Czech Dancing Couple” design, as registered March 17, 2010, by the Secretary of State.
The “Czech Dancing Couple”, which will presumably be seen somewhere in Wilber this weekend, has become a national symbol of the Wilber Czechs. It was created for the organization in 1962 by Elizabeth Zikmund, the artist who created so many great and authentic Czech designs for the organization.
The Nebraska Czechs of Wilber web-site features a detailed schedule beginning this Thursday with the pre-Festival Celebration with the Wilber Czech Dancers and a special appearance by the Wilber Alumni Band. Music of The Chelewski Brothers will also be at the Hotel Wilber Beer Garden.
Friday will be a day for the Accordion Jamboree at 5 p.m., Community Awards at 6:30 p.m., a Children’s Parade followed by the Wilber Czech Dancers and the Historical Pageant, all taking place downtown.
Downtown will be the place to be Saturday for the traditional Duck and Dumpling Run at 7 a.m., Accordion Jamboree from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The introduction of Czech Queens will be at noon with a Flag Raising Ceremony at 1 p.m. The Parade is a 2 p.m. with a Talent Contest at 3:30 p.m. and the Wilber Czech Dancers/Beseda Dancers following at 5:45 p.m. The first night of the Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Pageant will begin at 7 p.m.
The Sunday parade will again be at 2 p.m. and the enjoyable Kolache Eating Contest is at 5 p.m. at the bandstand. The final night of the Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Pageant will start at 7 p.m. at the outdoor theatre.
Locations for events are easy to find and all accessible by walking. The bandstand will be at 3rd and Wilson streets to feature music groups and dancing at times throughout the festival. The outdoor theatre is located a few blocks to the south past the pool. Other events and presentations will take place at Sokol Hall on Wilson
Street and Kuncl Funeral Home on the west end of 3rd Street.
Czech food and cultural items are in abundance and a good accordion player is not hard to find.