The Czech Royal Court waits to eat a plate of kolaches after their appearance at the Kolach Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Kolach Festival has been an annual tradition at St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church for decades, first getting its start in 1938.
This year’s festival, from June 8-10, 2018, was particularly poignant, as St. Ludmila’s School closed at the end of this school year, due to declining enrollment.
Scrapbooks from St. Ludmila School were displayed during the Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Part of the Holy Family school system, third- and fourth-graders had attended the center this year. Those students will now go to St. Jude’s in Cedar Rapids.
The building will still be used for a daycare, bingo and other events, including kolache baking for the annual festival.
This year, 5,000 dozen kolaches were expected to be baked during the three-day event.
Cherry, strawberry, poppyseed, apple, apricot, prune and even rhubarb were among the flavors sold of the popular Czech pastries.
The Czech Heritage Foundation’s Czech Royal Court made an appearance at the festival on Saturday.
See photos of their appearance and more from the 2018 Kolach Festival, below, and learn about other Czech activities in Iowa.
The Czech Royal Court poses for a photo after their appearance at the Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A sign directs visitors to the kolache sales inside St. Ludmila’s School during the Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Carnival rides are among the attractions at the Kolach Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Czech Prince Davis Robe gives details on upcoming Czech events in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids established its Kolach Festival in 1938. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Members of the Czech Royal Court pose for photos after their appearance. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A retro sign from an early Kolach Festival was displayed inside St. Ludmila School. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Members of the Czech Royal Court tell their favorite kolache flavors during their appearance at the St. Ludmila Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kolaches were popular with the Czech Royal Court during the annual festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Members of the Czech Royal Court were treated with kolaches after their appearance at the Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The St. Ludmila School building will still be used for kolache-baking, even after the school closed this year. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Czech Heritage Foundation Czech Royal Court poses for a photo at the Kolach Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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