An early sign advertises the annual Fall Festival in Chelsea, Iowa, which began in 1919 and celebrated its centennial this year. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
NOTE: The 2020 Fall Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
CHELSEA, Iowa — Carefully kept records describe dinner donations from parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church for its annual Fall Festival.
“Mrs. Anthony Novak: strudel, kolaches, potato salad, cream. Mrs. Jos. Musil: meatloaf, sauerkraut, potato salad. Mrs. John Sichra: loaf of rye bread, qt. pickles, 1 pie,” notes a portion of the more than 100 donations made in 1932.
A volunteer carries potatoes out of the church basement for the Fall Festival in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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In 2019, St. Joseph’s still relies on its parishioners and volunteers as it celebrated its centennial year of the annual festival, held the Sunday before Labor Day, and dating back 100 years.
Settled in the mid-1800s by Czech immigrants who found the rolling hills of east-central Iowa similar to their home country, Chelsea residents and surrounding farm families still retain Czech traditions, notably in their cuisine.
Jamie Kupka — who prefers not to have a title but is the de facto chairwoman of the festival’s dinner — said the meal typically attracts 600 or so people who dine on chicken, ham, potatoes, thin Czech-style noodles, sauerkraut, salads, desserts and the Czech favorite: fruit-filled kolaches. For the centennial year, it appeared they might top that number, she said.
Pointing to where poppyseed-dotted Czech dinner rolls known as rohlicky had run out, Kupka murmured that more rohlicky bakers were needed.
About 50 to 60 volunteers are needed for the dinner, which, as it did in the beginning, relies on donations from St. Joseph’s parishioners.
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Some of the earliest financial records of the festival are in Czech, making them difficult to decipher, Kupka added, but the parish has kept track of the years since the first festival, marking the 100th this year.
Games, such as balloon darts, have long been used at the Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
She and other members recalled when the dinners were held in the church basement and even earlier, in what’s commonly called the Chelsea community hall, next to the church grounds.
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The school, which long ago closed its doors, is now the site of the dinners and is also rented out for social events for parishioners.
Bingo, paddle wheel, ring toss and other games are held on the church grounds, with some iconic games, such as the balloon darts, used for decades and others, such as “cow chip bingo” that are newer.
Like many rural communities, Chelsea has struggled with a declining population, particularly following devastating floods in 1993 and other years. Currently, an estimated 250 people live in the town, located about 15 minutes away from the Tama County seat of Toledo.
The priest for St. Joseph’s, which originated in 1867, also serves Catholic parishes in Belle Plaine and Tama.
But, quashing a rumor, one point Kupka wanted made clear is that although 2019 is a monumental year for the St. Joseph’s Fall Festival, “this is not the last one.”
Learn about one of the best places to buy authentic kolaches in Iowa, and see more from the St. Joseph’s Annual Fall Festival, below:
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is seen Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kolaches, a fruit-filled Czech favorite, are served at the St. Joseph’s Fall Festival dinner in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Stained glass windows are seen inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A caller announces numbers for bingo, one of several games played at the Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Names on stained glass windows reflect the Czech immigrants who started St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Stained glass windows line the wall inside St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Home-baked pies are among the desserts offered at the Fall Festival dinner. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Guests dine inside the former St. Joseph’s School during the annual Fall Festival in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
“Train” rides have long been a part of the Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Photos of graduating classes from Chelsea High School were displayed in the community center, in the hopes that visitors could identify names of some of the graduates. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Guests line up for dinner tickets for the St. Joseph Annual Fall Festival dinner. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
“Cow Chip” bingo was one of the newer games during the Fall Festival in Chelsea. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A country store that sells baked goods, vegetables, houseplants and crafts is another attraction at the Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Paddle wheel is among the games played at the Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Custom crocks were sold to mark the centennial year of the Fall Festival in Chelsea, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Diners enjoy their meal at the annual Fall Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The St. Joseph’s Annual Fall Festival is held each year the Sunday before Labor Day. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
My grandparents, Emil and Libby Behaunek lived a block away. Lots of great memories in Chelsea, year-around but love the Fall Festival! Polka music on main street in the summer…The Silver Dollar Tavern is a fun place too!
Thanks for your note, Brian! Great memories for our family there, too!
Always nothing but good times at the fall festival. It was like the big event of the year in Chelsea. We younger girls (at that time) had to wait on tables when the dinners were served family style, we wore beautiful aprons, we did our little shifts then other gals would take over and we could go out and play the games. Cake walk and bingo my favs. But the ladies had to work the whole time, not only supplying tons of food from each family, but they slaved away all morning and afternoon, cooking and making the mashed potatoes, gravy, meats, cutting the pies, there was so much going on behind the scenes but those ladies pulled it off seamlessly every year. Oh yeah did I mention, real plates and silverware were used and no dishwashers beside the 2 legged kind! Then after all the afternoon activities wound down, we had to go home and take a little nap before the dance in the evening. The farmers had to go home and do chores and come back into town for the dance. Good times!! Simple times! Miss those days!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing your memories, Virginia!