The Iowa Accordion Club performs Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, during the St. Wenceslaus Czech Goulash Day in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Meals included rye bread and goulash. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Kolaches might be the attraction, but volunteers are the heart of festivals, such as the St. Wenceslaus Czech Goulash Day, held Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018.
Preparations take weeks, with planning going beyond that time.
Kolache bakers were up before sunrise, including one woman in her 80s, who had hosted a get-together the night before – lasting until 11 p.m. – in which volunteers peeled potatoes and prepared other vegetables for the festival’s signature dish.
Michael Moncada performs at CzechFest. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kolaches quickly sold out and live music entertained the crowds, including the Czech Plus Band, Mike Lasack and his Rhythm-Aires and the Iowa Accordion Club.
Music also was center stage at CzechFest, held across the Cedar River in Czech Village, where bands such as Michael Moncada and Whiskey High performed outdoors on the Kosek Bandstand.
A scarecrow contest, hayrack rides and giant bubble “pond” were among other activities.
Last year’s festivals were met with an unseasonably warm day, with temperatures that soared into the 90s, but this year, weather was picture-perfect for the two neighboring events.
Learn about other Czech events in Iowa.
See photos of Goulash Day and CzechFest 2017 and more from both festivals this year:
The Czech Heritage Foundation’s Czech Royal Court poses for photos at the St. Wenceslaus Czech Goulash Day in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Mike Lasack and his Rhythm-Aires perform during the St. Wenceslaus Czech Goulash Day. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Bakers added apple this year to the list of kolaches sold at the St. Wenceslaus Czech Goulash Day on Sept. 23. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kolaches quickly sold out at the Czech Goulash Day in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Visitors to the Czech Goulash Day stand during a performance of “God Bless America” on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Potatoes, carrots and other vegetables are among the goulash ingredients. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Visitors eat goulash and more inside the Glovik Parish Center at St. Wenceslaus Church. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A handmade quilt was among the raffle prizes at Czech Goulash Day in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Members of the Czech Royal Court greeted visitors at the entrance to the Glovik Parish Center. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Vintage linens were among the items sold outdoors during Czech Goulash Day. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Vegetables, baked goods and more were sold at the Country Store during Czech Goulash Day. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A scarecrow contest was among the activities during CzechFest in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A “bubble pond” entertained visitors outside of Sykora Bakery during CzechFest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Michael Moncada and Whiskey High perform Sept. 23, 2018, on the Kosek Bandstand in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Hi Cindy, After reading about the Czech goulash I am curious – exactly what is Czech goulash? I mentioned it to one of the library patrons and she said she thought it was a sort of stew. My Mom made a goulash of sorts, although she called it slumgullion, which had macaroni, hamburger, tomatoes and red beans or they may have been kidney beans. Anyway, I would like to know the difference and if it would be possible to get a recipe. Thanks so much, Patti Kupka
Thanks for your note, Patti! Goulash recipes vary widely. I remember the macaroni variety you described back in my school days. The goulash I ate in the Czech Republic was a meat/gravy dish served with dumplings, while the one made at St. Wenceslaus uses celery, carrots and potatoes in addition to the meat and sauce, so it is more of a stew. I think their recipe is a closely guarded secret, but I’ll see if that’s still the case!