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, […]
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Category: Czech
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 […]
Czech clock tower in Cedar Rapids to rea...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — After a winter “slumber,” North America’s only astronomical clock will “reawaken” this Thursday, March 20, 2025, the first day of spring. The Buresh Immigration Clock Tower, located at the entrance of Czech Village on 16th Avenue SW, has been quiet during the cold Iowa winter, but the figurines will once again […]
Cedar Rapids Czech community mourns the ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Just last year, Marj Nejdl was honored with an exhibit of her exquisite Czech folk art at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Nejdl died Monday, March 10, 2025, after suffering complications from a stroke. She was 88. Designated a “Living Iowa Treasure” by the Iowa Arts Council, Nejdl […]