Czech festival in Cedar Rapids to honor memory of beloved folk artist

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, the Czech word for mushrooms, with a special emphasis this year on Nejdl, a Master Czech Folk Artist who died March 10.

More: Community mourns loss of Master Czech Folk Artist Marj Nejdl

A two-day event is a departure from past years, when Houby Days was typically three days.

This year, Friday night events, called “Pre-Houby Days Fun” include a performance by the Czech Plus Band from 5-7 p.m. at the Kosek Bandstand, and Cimbál Music by Šafrán from 7-8 p.m. at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Cost for the museum event is $10 for members and $15 general admission.

Houby Days, hosted by the Czech Village Association, officially kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 17, with opening ceremonies by the Czech Plus Band at Kosek Bandstand and a flag-raising.

Street vendors are open that day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with one of the main attractions, the Houby Days Parade, set for 10 a.m.

Sponsored by the Czech Heritage Foundation, this year’s parade marshal is Ashley Pudil Osborn, who was crowned Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa 10 years ago and went on to be awarded second runner-up at the national Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. pageant.

See photos from the national pageant in Wilber, Nebraska.

Visiting out-of-state Czech queens will be represented in the Houby Days Parade, as well as the current Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa, Isabel Sherman.

Other highlights on Saturday include Chalk the Walk at 70 16th Ave. SW, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; craft demonstrations in the museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; crowning of the Czech Royal Court at 11 a.m. at the Kosek Bandstand, and a Balloon Glow, weather permitting, on the south lawn of the museum at 7:30 p.m.

Tours of St. Wenceslaus Church, across the Cedar River at 1224 Fifth St. SE, will be noon to 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Street vendors will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. The Iowa Accordion Club performs at the Kosek Bandstand at 11 a.m. that day, with the Cedar County Cobras at the bandstand at 1 p.m. and the Svetlusky Dancers at 2:30 p.m.

The Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa pageant takes place at the Kosek Bandstand at noon Sunday, featuring current queen Isabel Sherman in an on-stage interview, Kroj modeling and talent.

Kolaches, a beloved Czech pastry, will be featured Sunday during a demonstration at the museum at 12:30 p.m. and a kolache-eating contest at 1 p.m. at the Vintage Market stage, and will be sold at the Health Hut, 83 16th Ave. SW, Sweet Mercantile, 98 16th Ave. SW, and elsewhere during the festival.

A morel mushroom contest and sales of the sponge-like delicacy were mainstays during past Houby Days festivals. This year, morels, purchased locally and sometimes from out of state, will be sold outside of Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio, 81 16th Ave. SW, until they are gone.

Volunteers can sign up to help with the festival at: www.czechvillagecedarrapids.com

Nejdl, whose Houby Days button designs were miniature works of art, was known for her decorated eggs, and other artwork, which represented her Czech heritage. She was a longtime volunteer at the museum, with Sokol, and other Czech organizations.

Her sons will be in the Houby Days Parade to represent Nejdl.

See photos from last year’s Houby Days.