CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The annual Houby Days celebration in Czech Village managed to dodge most of the weekend’s thunderstorms, with crowds enjoying summer-like weather. Highlights of the 48th annual festival, held May 16-17, 2026, included a parade, morel mushroom contest, chalkfest, live entertainment, car show, folk dancers and more in the historic Czech Village. […]
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Tag: Houby Days
Morel mushroom contest returns with Czec...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mushrooms will take center stage during the Houby Days festival in Czech Village. The 48th annual festival, set for May 16-17, 2026, in the historic business district along 16th Avenue SW, celebrates houby, the Czech word for mushrooms. In years past, the morel contest was one of the highlights of the […]
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, […]
Hawkeye Hannah Stuelke leads Houby Days ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Summer came early for Czech Village as temperatures soared into the 80s during the 46th annual Houby Days. The three-day festival, which celebrates morels (houby is the Czech word for mushrooms) began Friday, May 17, followed by a parade and other festivities on Saturday, May 18, and more to come on […]
City vows bridge closure won’t deter Hou
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — As the city prepares to close the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions once again, this time for preventive maintenance, Houby Days organizers hope the closure doesn’t rain on their parade. The annual festival, scheduled for May 17-19, 2024, in Czech Village, will honor Iowa Hawkeye women’s basketball player and former Washington […]
Picture perfect Houby Days 2023 in Cedar...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Organizers couldn’t have asked for more picture-perfect weather for the 45th annual Houby Days celebration. The festival, featuring live music, food, vendors and more, started Friday, May 19, and continued with a parade Saturday, May 20, through Czech Village in Cedar Rapids. The night ended with a Balloon Glow next to […]
Comeback planned for Czech Village Houby...
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 […]
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 […]