Houby Days Festival set for next weekend

Cindy Hadish
The Gazette

Maypole dancers unwrap the maypole as they perform during the 2007 Houby Days Festival in Cedar Rapids' Czech Village. Last year's flood won't stop the festivities / Gazette photo

CEDAR RAPIDS — Last summer’s flood won’t prevent the biggest annual event in Czech Village from happening.
The Houby Days Festival, scheduled for Friday through May 17, will celebrate the mushrooms for which it’s named and the resurgence of Czech Village.

A flood curfew will be enforced. Outdoor events, including the carnival, will end by 9 p.m., but businesses can stay open and operate during their normal hours, said John Berge, Czech Village Association president.

At least half the businesses have reopened since last June’s historic flood inundated the village on 16th Avenue SW.
After months of rebuilding, antiques stores, bakeries, restaurants, gift shops and bars are ready for the festival, and a large-scale cleanup is under way this weekend.

Streets will be blocked off around flood-damaged homes. So festivalgoers are encouraged to park in lots by the Riverside Roundhouse and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library or on the other side of the Cedar River.
The museum guild’s Taste of Czech & Slovak will be at St. Ludmila Church on Friday night, and breakfasts are scheduled at the Local P3 building across the river at 116 14th Ave. SE, but other events are in Czech Village.
Following are some highlights.

For a full listing, see the Web site of the Czech Heritage Foundation: http://czechheritage foundation.org

Friday, May 15

• 5 to 7 p.m., Taste of Czech & Slovak, St. Ludmila Church Social Hall, 211 21st Ave. SW. $8 for 20 samples or $5 for 10 samples.
• 6 p.m. Walking Tour of Historic Czech Village, starting at museum building, 30 16th Ave. SW. $6 for members, $7 for non-members.
• 5 to 9 p.m., carnival behind Sykora Bakery. 
• 7 to 9 p.m., Czech Plus Band Summer Kickoff Concert at Kosek Bandstand.

Saturday, May 16

• 7 to 11 a.m., Egg and Houby Breakfast, P3 Building, 116 14th Ave. SE, $6 in advance, $7 at the door.
• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., car show at Sokol Park.
• 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tractor Expo in parking lot at C Street and 16th Avenue SW.
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Houby Contest. Awards given for largest, smallest or most creatively displayed morel mushrooms, next to Sykora Bakery.
• 9 a.m., flag-raising ceremony, Kosek Bandstand.
• 9:30 to 11 a.m., concert featuring Czech Plus Band and Czech Heritage Singers, Kosek Bandstand.
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Carnival, behind Sykora Bakery.
• 11 a.m., Maypole Dance, Kosek Bandstand.
• Noon, parade.
• 1 to 2 p.m., Miss Czech & Slovak Iowa Pageant and Kroje Competition, Kosek Bandstand.
• 1 to 5 p.m., Bingo at P3 Building
• 2 p.m., National Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak Folk Dance Festival, Kosek Bandstand.
• 4 p.m., Folk Hymn Mass, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1230 Fifth St. SE.
• 6 to 7 p.m., Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Crowning Ceremony, P3 Building.
• 6 to 9 p.m., Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen on the C Street Stage.

Sunday, May 17

• 7 to 11 a.m., Egg and Houby Breakfast, P3 Building.
• 10 a.m., children’s tractor pull, A Street and 16th Avenue SW.
• Noon to 5 p.m., carnival behind Sykora Bakery.
• Noon to 5 p.m., Houby Identification Exhibition.
• 2 to 2:30 p.m., Svetlucky Folk Ensemble, Kosek Bandstand.
• 2:30 p.m., Cabbage Roll for all ages, in front of Sykora Bakery.
• 4 p.m., children’s parade.
• 4:30 p.m., children’s bicycle giveaway.