CHELSEA, Iowa — St. Joseph’s Parish has survived floods and other challenges of biblical proportions in the more than 150 years since its founding in 1867, but parishioners wonder if it can endure the major restructuring taking place in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Under the “Journey in Faith” plan, which takes effect July 14, 2026, […]
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Category: Czech
Czech festival celebrating beloved kolac...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The annual Kolach Festival is underway from June 12-14 at St. Ludmila Catholic Church. Celebrating the beloved Czech fruit-filled pastries, the festival begins Friday, June 12, from 5-9 p.m. on the church grounds at 211 21st Ave. SW. See photos from a past kolache bake. The festival continues from 10 a.m. […]
Mural artist creates cultural intrigue i...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Artist Thomas Agran’s murals typically cover the entire side of buildings, but customers at Lion Bridge Brewing Co., can get an up-close view of his most recent work that includes nods to Czech culture and history. “I tend to do large-scale buildings,” Agran said, as he put the finishing touches this […]
Photos: Houby Days 2026 celebrated in Cz...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The annual Houby Days celebration in Czech Village managed to dodge most of the weekend’s thunderstorms, with crowds enjoying summer-like weather. Highlights of the 48th annual festival, held May 16-17, 2026, included a parade, morel mushroom contest, chalkfest, live entertainment, car show, folk dancers and more in the historic Czech Village. […]
New Czech Village bar opens in former Sy...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Just in time for the annual Houby Days festival, a new bar has opened in the former Sykora Bakery building in Czech Village. Horseshoe & Hide, 73 16th Ave. SW, opened Saturday, May 16, 2026, as the morning’s Houby Days Parade ended, with plans to stay open to 10 p.m. that […]
Morel mushroom contest returns with Czec...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mushrooms will take center stage during the Houby Days festival in Czech Village. The 48th annual festival, set for May 16-17, 2026, in the historic business district along 16th Avenue SW, celebrates houby, the Czech word for mushrooms. In years past, the morel contest was one of the highlights of the […]
Angels unveiled on Czech Village clock t...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Two marble angels will watch over Czech Village after their unveiling as the latest addition to the Buresh Immigration Clock Tower. Dozens of visitors and family members of donors gathered Friday, May 1, 2026, along with dignitaries as the angels, made of Carrara marble from Tuscany, Italy, were revealed on two […]
Czech ‘Three Ice Kings’ legend provides
Iowa gardeners have been on a roller coaster this spring, with record high temperatures followed by a blizzard in March, and a similar — though less drastic — situation on the way. According to weather forecasts, temperatures that reached the 80s this week will dip below freezing this weekend. The wild weather swings make the […]
New bookstore honors vision of ‘Angel of
UPDATE: The coffee shop portion of the business is opening Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. The entire shop will have business hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mary Kay Novak McGrath didn’t live to see her vision for a […]
Christmas traditions celebrated in Czech...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Czech celebrations of Christmas carried into Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, with more to come this weekend. The Svatý Mikuláš tradition, known in the United States as St. Nicholas Day, was marked on Dec. 5, 2025, the day before it’s traditionally celebrated in the Czech Republic. Czech Village in Cedar Rapids […]