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Dancing, drinking and eating: All in a Czech day

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By MELISSA LEE / Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, Aug 06, 2006 - 12:13:21 am CDT

WILBER — Kirk Weber is 46. Guess how many times he’s polka-danced at the Wilber Czech Festival?

If you said 45, you must’ve been at Weber’s side that one fateful year when he played in an all-star high school basketball game, held — can you believe? — the same weekend as the Wilber festival.

“I missed it,” Weber said Saturday, shaking his head sadly. “Boy, I missed it.”

Story Photo
Chloe Bowman, 3, from Firth, runs to fill her candy bag, as her sister Lillie, 6, anticipates candy thrown from participants on passing floats, at the annual Wilber Czech Festival. (Michelle Le)

Weber, a Grand Island native whose mother is Czech, doesn’t plan on skipping the festivities ever again. And why would he? There’s the dancing and the pivo (that’s beer) and, most importantly, there’s a kolache-eating title to defend.

Last year, Weber was the fastest to scarf down the doughy, fruit-filled treat and whistle through his teeth, and he expects to be the champion again this time around.

Not up to challenging him? The festival has plenty more to offer.

Thousands have poured into Wilber, population 1,761, for the three-day festival, which features a parade, historical demonstrations, bands and a Miss Czech-Slovak USA pageant.

Wilber, about an hour southwest of Lincoln, claims to be the Czech capital of the nation — and it follows through. During the festival, the town’s main street is clogged with sightseers from near and far, browsing tables of traditional Czech heirlooms, polka CDs, ruffled dresses and, of course, food.

Kris Riechers, who farms near Wilber, was selling tasty pork loin with her husband, Tim.

Riechers, who’s half-Czech, has been coming to the Czech festival for as long as she can remember.

“You just don’t leave town,” she said. “The fun part is all the people that come here.”

Families whose members have scattered often reunite in Wilber during the festival. That was the case for Deb Hazim, whose Czech father has remained in Nebraska while she’s moved to Topeka, Kan.

Hazim, camped out in a shady spot before the parade began, reported she’d already enjoyed some poppyseed kolache and, yes, a little bit of pivo.

“That’s real beer!” piped in her father, George Kratina, who wore a T-shirt that said, “Proud to be an American. Proud to be Czech.”

“It’s nice to be able to get into the culture a little bit,” Hazim said, laughing.

Nearby, Robert and Agnes Novak awaited the parade’s start in starched white shirts and vests.

The Yankton, S.D., couple came to Wilber to listen to accordian jamborees and eat polish sausages.

“It’s all pretty nice,” said Agnes Novak, whose grandparents are Czech.

The buttons on Robert Novak’s vest were so very Czeck. One read, in the native language, “Give me a kiss.”

The other: “I (heart) pivo.”

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.

Sunday in Wilber

7:15-11:15 a.m., breakfast at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church

8:15 a.m., community worship, outdoor theater

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., motorcycle show, Dvoracek Library

10-11:30 a.m., accordion jam, bandstand

10 a.m., Czech heritage demonstration, Wilber Museum

10:30 a.m., travelogue with Evelyn Schleis-Roesler, T.J. Sokol Hall

11:30 a.m., Wilber Czech Dancers, bandstand

Noon, Meet the Czech Queens, bandstand

Noon, Czech heritage demonstration, Wilber Museum

2 p.m., parade

4 p.m., welcome program, introduction of State Czech Queen, outdoor theater

4-5 p.m., dance with the Milligan Brass Band, bandstand

4 p.m.-close, dance with the Dave Salmons Band, Hotel Wilber

4:30-5 p.m., Kramer Sisters, outdoor theater

4:30 p.m., Ostry Family Singers, T.J. Sokol Hall

5 p.m., kolache eating contest, bandstand

5-5:45 p.m., Wilber Junior Czech Dancers/Beseda, outdoor theater

5:45-6:15 p.m., Alumni Band, outdoor theater

6:15-6:30 p.m., Dave Salmons Goodtime Czech Band, outdoor theater

6:30-7 p.m., dance contest, outdoor theater

7 p.m., Miss Czech-Slovak USA Pageant, outdoor theater

6-10 p.m., dance with the Math Sladky band, T.J. Sokol Hall


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Thom Payne wrote on August 6, 2006 2:12 am:
" Would love to go, but always hear about it after the fact (or too late to make plans). "
fred wrote on August 6, 2006 7:39 am:
" spare me "
Lisa wrote on August 6, 2006 11:48 am:
" This is more than just a celebration of Czech treats and goodies. It is about good old fashioned pride and what coming from a small town is all about! Our family goes every year and we're not even Czech. We just love the celebration and sense of community! "
Never again wrote on August 6, 2006 12:41 pm:
" Thom, it is always the first weekend in August, mark your calendar now. I used to go with my American Legion post and march in the parade on Sunday. I haven't been back since one of Wilber's finest pulled me over for "weaving in and out of traffic" while leaving town. I wasn't speeding and I was using my turn signal to indicate my lane changes. The officer was belligerent and thought he had a drunk. He was genuinely upset when he couldn't run me in because I was stone cold sober. Nice way to treat your "guests" officer. I wonder how many others they've run out of town with that attitude. "
evp wrote on August 6, 2006 5:40 pm:
" Having lived in a nearby community that has experienced a lot of immigration into their town, I was wondering if the same feelings would be expressed if they had a 3-day festival celebrating Hispanic heritage? Some of the biggest complainers about the influx of another group of immigrants into our town are those from Czech descent. I worked in a bar in the late 50's as a young kid, and I recently reminded a guy about his grandpa and father that used to come in there. The grandpa only spoke Czech and I did not, and when he first asked me for "pivo" I showed him where our restroom was. The father did speak some English (but very poorly) and told me it was beer. Everyone laughed at me, and at the time I guess it was funny. But what if something like that happened with a Hispanic family that came together as a first generation to Crete? (oops) Would the attitude toward them be the same? I think not, in fact I know not. The entire town of Wilber has Czech language signs in town year round and the language is also being taught in special classes to kids. How quickly we forget where we were as a state just 50 years ago when it's not "my" heritage era of time. We need more tolerance and respect for others. My mother was half Cherokee Indian, but I did not have hard feelings against the Czechs who came here and made this there home also. "
Lisa wrote on August 6, 2006 6:30 pm:
" The difference? Those of Czech descent in the community came to this country legally, they assimulated into the culture - they WANTED to be Americans. A celebration of heritage is completely different than the current situation where hispanics/latinos marched and demanded to be taken care of by American citizens. Perhaps those here illegally should come to community celebrations in Wilber, Clarkson, O'Neil. See what a joy it is to come to this country legally and celebrate your heritage with honor - as an American. We are tolerant of those who follow laws - not lawbreakers! "
evp wrote on August 7, 2006 12:05 am:
" Ah but you are wrong about our neighbors Lisa. The families I speak of ARE American citizens - and very proud of it. They are stigmatized though because of the others who are here illegally. It is unfortunate that because of assumptions like yours, people may see them on the streets of those towns and look upon them with the same disdain you do now. There are millions here who truly want to be Americans and are trying hard to do so. I do hope someday you get a chance to meet a few of them, once you can get past your assumption that they are here without honor. Not only have they learned English, but they are hard workers who are proud to be here. The older men I spoke of never learned much English in their generation - if you went to visit them at the Care Center, they spoke Czech until they passed. I'm sorry you assume "all Hispanic people are lawbreakers" - at least my friends have learned our language and are trying hard to assimilate - with or without the help of folks who think like you do about them. "

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