CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The popular Houby Days Parade will mark its return during the annual celebration this May, and other major Czech events are also scheduled in Cedar Rapids the following month. Sokol Cedar Rapids, with its focus on physical fitness instruction, social activities and educational and cultural programs, is in the final planning […]
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Category: Czech
Holiday traditions continue in Czech Vil...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A Czech holiday known as Svatý Mikuláš was marked a few days early in Czech Village. The tradition, known in the United States as St. Nicholas Day, is celebrated in the Czech Republic on Dec. 6. Czech Village in Cedar Rapids has long held its annual celebration on the first Friday […]
Czech festival celebrates centennial in ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The St. Wenceslaus Church Czech Goulash Day marked a milestone of 100 years on Sept. 25, 2022. Brisk winds did not deter from sunny skies and pleasant temperatures, as crowds lined up for food, music, games and more to celebrate the festival’s centennial. See photos from the 2021 Czech Goulash Day […]
Czech festival in Iowa to celebrate 100 ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church will celebrate a century of its popular festival Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, with the return of Czech Goulash Day. See photos from the 2021 Czech Goulash Day Czech Goulash Day, celebrated in various forms since 1922, features its namesake goulash – what some might consider a beef […]
“Your buddy, Mike” Letters returned to I
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan Monica Morley and her sister, Maria Hamilton, never met their uncle, who was killed in World War II before they were born, but a remarkable coincidence led the Cedar Rapids women to a close friend who had lived near their uncle and corresponded with him during the war. Mike Bisek, 99, […]
At age 99, World War II veteran in Iowa ...
UPDATE Nov. 10, 2023: Mike Bisek turned 100 earlier this year, but still has not received the Purple Heart for which his friends have advocated. By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan It was 1944. U.S. Army Air Corps photographer/gunner Mike Bisek and fellow crewmates bailed out over Nazi-occupied France after their B-24 bomber was hit by enemy […]
Bridge of Lions ribbon-cutting celebrate...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Fourteen years after unprecedented flooding forever changed the historic Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods, a new flood protection system was celebrated in Cedar Rapids. A ribbon-cutting Friday, July 22, 2022, on the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions marked the completion of the $12 million roller gate system that can be […]
Kolach Festival making comeback in Cedar...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Like many events that were put on hold for the pandemic, the St. Ludmila’s Kolach Festival plans a return for 2022. Volunteers bake thousands of the popular fruit-filled Czech pastries for the festival, scheduled this year from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 11, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. […]
Finding morels and photos of Houby Days ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The line to buy morel mushrooms stretched a half-block to Sykora Bakery when the sponge-like delicacies went on sale the Saturday morning of Houby Days. Organizers were scrambling to bring in more morels after 120 pounds of the popular item sold out, and hoped to have the mushrooms for sale again […]
Houby Days set for comeback in Czech Vil...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After canceling the 2020 event due to the coronavirus pandemic and holding a scaled-back version last year, supporters are eager to see a return of the popular Houby Days festival to Czech Village. Still, the closure of the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions due to construction, and other work along the […]