CEDAR RAPIDS – It’s been a fun weekend to be Czech, or at least spend time in Czech Village, where the annual Houby Days festival is taking place.
Houby, the Czech word for mushroom, takes center stage during the celebration, along with other Czech traditions, such as the Parade of Kroje, or folk costumes.
Trophies were awarded for smallest, largest, most unusual, and best display of morel mushrooms, those rare, seasonal treasures found in wooded parts of the state. Lou Thompson, owner of the Village Meat Market & Cafe, where the contest took place, promised to post photos with the largest morel winner, who had to leave early (or perhaps didn’t want to risk leaving his valuable mushroom on display??)
Find photos of the other winners here, along with more images from the event, which continues on Sunday, May 19, 2013.
These morel mushrooms weren’t entered in the Houby Days contest, but some were given to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was spending time at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Czech Plus Band performs at the Kosek Bandstand on Saturday, May 18, 2013, during Houby Days in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Julie Wiedner of Cedar Rapids fixes her niece’s crown before the Parade of Kroje on Saturday, May 18, 2013, during Houby Days in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Longtime Czech School teacher, Bessie Dugena, is shown with Brennan Bell, one of her former students, during Houby Days in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Dozens of morel mushrooms along with calla lillies and other flowers, combined to win the Best Display award Saturday, May 18, 2013, during the mushroom contest at Houby Days in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The winner of the smallest morel was barely visible during the mushroom contest at Houby Days in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
This double-morel took honors as most unusual during the mushroom contest Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Houby Days in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Czech Heritage Foundation’s royal court is shown after the Parade of Kroje during Houby Days on Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Czech Village. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
That prince child looks like an Czerican treasure.