CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — An annual festival drew crowds during an unseasonably warm day, as Czech Goulash Day returned to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. The festival, on Sept. 28, 2025, featured its namesake goulash — a type of beef stew — along with popular Czech kolaches handmade by the experienced bakers of St. Monica’s Circle. […]
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Category: Czech
New Czech Village mural to be dedicated ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — “Moravian Madonna,” a larger-than-life reproduction of Joža Uprka’s painting, Girl in a Scarf, will be dedicated next week in Czech Village. Located on the historic Kosek Building, 87 16th Ave. SW, the mural will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell; Cecilia Rokusek, National […]
New Czech Village roundhouse taking shap...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — To longtime market-goers, nothing will replace the Riverside Roundhouse, but construction is underway on a new “roundhouse” where homes once stood along Czech Village. The city held a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for the LightLine Loop, a $13.84 million project that includes the roundhouse, a festival street, pedestrian promenade, gateway signage, […]
Photos: Czech Iowans at the Wilber, Nebr...
WILBER, Nebraska — Wilber’s claim to the title of Czech Capital of the USA is on full display during the eastern Nebraska town’s annual Czech Festival. While Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is home to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and hosts a number of Czech festivals, the entire town of Wilber embraces Czech […]
Cedar Rapids festival puts spotlight on ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The long-running St. Ludmila Kolach Festival, typically held in early June, is scheduled this year for June 20-22. Kolaches, a favorite fruit-filled Czech pastry, are the highlight of the festival, which takes place on the church grounds at 211 21st Ave. SW. See photos from a past kolache bake. The 2025 […]
Changes on the horizon for Czech Village...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Changes are planned in Czech Village, as longtime business owners recently sold multiple buildings and a new bookstore/coffee shop is expected to open in the coming months. Pam Lewis and her husband, Ken, who have owned and operated Czech Village Antiques for decades, are selling their properties as they look to […]
Cedar Rapids Czech School to resume in-p...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A longtime institution in Cedar Rapids will return this summer, as Czech School will once again hold in-person classes. Czech School, for ages 6 to 14-plus, will be held Monday, June 9, to Friday, June 27, 2025, at Sokol Cedar Rapids, 5200 18th Ave. SW. Tuition is $60 for one child, […]
Blustery beginning to Cedar Rapids Czech...
UPDATED: May 18, 2025, with photos of the second day of the festival, including the Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa pageant; kolache demonstration, cabbage roll contest, kolache eating contest and more. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Winds that whipped through the Houby Days festival in Czech Village didn’t dampen the spirits of participants. Gusts of up to 40 […]
Czech festival in Cedar Rapids to honor ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — For years, Marj Kopecek Nejdl designed logos for the annual Houby Days festival, and with her passing earlier this year, organizers saw it fitting to dedicate the upcoming festival in her memory. The 47th annual festival, set for May 17-18, 2025, along 16th Avenue SW in historic Czech Village, celebrates houby, […]
Gardeners tempted by warm weather should...
With warmer weather on the horizon, Iowans and others in the Midwest will be tempted to start their gardens, but a Czech legend warns against a late frost. Known under various names, including the Three Frozen Kings, the three icemen – tři ledovi muži – or Three Ice Saints, Three Frozen Men, Three Ice Kings […]