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Czech days draws crowd from near and far

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BY CARA PESEK / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Aug 02, 2008 - 08:37:20 pm CDT

WILBER — Early Saturday morning, Shirley Znamenacek dragged some lawn chairs to a shady spot across from the grocery store, ensuring her and her family prime spots for viewing the afternoon parade.

Znamenacek's daughters, Denise Knuppel and Delorie Case, both come home each year for the Wilber Czech Festival, which is this weekend. Both march in the Wilber-Clatonia Alumni Band (Case is the band's majorette; Knuppel plays the clarinet.)

The rest of the family waves to them from the sidelines, Znamenacek makes lots of food and her home, right in Wilber, becomes the family headquarters throughout the weekend.

Story Photo
Veryl Hohn of Mitchell, S.D., plays along in the Accordion Jamboree during the 47th Annual Wilber Czech Festival on Saturday. (Heidi Hoffman)

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Most of her family has stayed in Saline County, Znamenacek said. But Case comes from Fremont, and Knuppel comes from Fort Collins, Colo.

"That's her vacation and her meeting up with her friends," Znamenacek said as she watched the parade. "It's like a class reunion for her."

Many of those who attend the nationally known Czech festival have ties to Wilber, but many others don’t. Instead they attend out of an interest in Czech culture and history, out of a love of small-town festivals or out of sheer curiosity.

"We're just here for a day of seeing the parade and seeing stuff," said Brian Kell, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln  graduate student who also happened to be celebrating his 25th birthday on Saturday.

Kell has attended the Czech festival the past three or four years, he said. This year, the 47th year of the event, he also brought his friends, two other UNL grad students, Yanqiu Guo and Kangni Li, who are both from China.

They ate duck and pork and dumplings at the Hotel Wilber, then visited the town’s Czech museum and watched the parade, which included marching bands, polka bands on flatbed trailers pulled by pickup trucks, an array of vintage tractors, Czech Queens from across Nebraska and the United States (including Alaska) and one float that included a giant teeter-totter, an outhouse, and, inexplicably, a large stuffed bear.

The parade was their favorite part.

Norman and Joyce Michal came from Colorado for the weekend. He is of Czech descent but she is of German descent. She had never had a kolace before Saturday.

Norman Michal spent some time at the library, researching his genealogy. He visited the grave of his grandfather. The Michals also watched a historical program Friday night about Czech history, ate lots of Czech food and checked out the car show. Saturday afternoon, they planned to attend something called the Bohemian tractor pull.

Norman Michal was right in his element, his wife said.

"He loves it so — all the commotion going on and the parade."

Phil and Bernie Stephenson came all the way from Florida for the festival.

Their grandson lives in Lincoln, and they'd heard about the Czech festival for years.

So this year they decided to come.

They walked around downtown and, like just about everyone else, watched the parade.

"The tractors were wonderful," Bernie Stephenson said.

And they also did some shopping, buying Czech-themed T-shirts for an acquaintance of theirs with Czech ties.

Saturday afternoon, she still had one more thing on her list of things to do at the festival.

"My goal is to have a kolace," she said.

Reach Cara Pesek at 473-7361 or cpesek@journalstar.com.


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Gg wrote on August 2, 2008 10:14 pm:
" Too bad its so hot and humid. Alot of older people would like to have
gone to it but can't stand the heat and humidity. "

 DC Husker wrote on August 2, 2008 10:51 pm:
" I had this "atmosphere" shoved down my throat for more than 20 years. I'm so glad I moved away. "

 JT wrote on August 3, 2008 12:34 am:
" I went on Friday and the had the best Czech fest ever. What a great time, and this is from a German from Russia. "

 been there wrote on August 3, 2008 12:49 am:
" You'd be surprised. I was there today and there were a lot of older folks there. Yes it was hot but every Czech Days weekend I remember has been HOT. "

 yelyaol.com wrote on August 3, 2008 3:03 am:
" What about making czech days when it is not so hot? "

 Nebraska Resident wrote on August 3, 2008 9:35 am:
" Having grown up in the area, attended as a spectator, and have marched in this parade I can say it's a great time and is worth going to. However I wish they would change the dates and push it back into September and make it a fall parade so that it's not 100+ degrees. A lot of people who would have liked to have gone (myself) can't with the heat. "

 Czech wrote on August 3, 2008 11:00 am:
" For the love of God, please move Czech days to September or October. Every year this seems to be the hottest weekend of the summer. My dear old Czech dad would LOVE to go to Czech days, as would I, but it is just too darn hot. I don't understand it. Is it because school isn't in session that Nebraskans insist on putting on festivals and fairs in June, July, and August? Couldn't the Czechs have an "Oktoberfest" kind of celebration instead? I bet attendance would double. "

 Happy Czech Days wrote on August 3, 2008 11:38 am:
" Maybe come a little later in the day. Thurs, Friday evening was just perfect and people had a great time. JT is right, Friday evening was a blast!! Last night was still warm, but the crowds came out. Czech Days has been hot since I can remember coming in the 70's - but even yesterday with a high heat index, it was tolerable in the shade, especially with the breeze. Just be sure to take a few minutes to sit in the shade and rest or go inside one of the local establishments to cool off and have some refreshments. "

 DT Wilber wrote on August 3, 2008 12:28 pm:
" To DC Husker Don't even bother reading this and commenting if you don't like Czech Days. I'm glad that you move away too! "

 Janeen wrote on August 3, 2008 2:48 pm:
" Just returned home to Clarkson from 4 days in Wilber and we had a fantastic time as ever. The people are so nice and the town full of people from all over the US. Our czech days blows and we can't seem to change anything without upsetting the manure cart. We will be back to Wilber again . Yeah its hot but we live in Nebraska so deal with it. Drink more PIVO. "

 Okie wrote on August 3, 2008 4:33 pm:
" Ha! Amusing post by DT Wilber. As usual, the goodfolk want to stifle any speech but their own. Keep posting DC Husker. "

 Judy Cantrell wrote on August 3, 2008 5:47 pm:
" I enjoyed hearing the audio clip of this story as my great-aunt, Millie Aksamit was mentioned. I was also amused to see the name of Shirley Znamenacek in the print story. She and my mother graduated together in 1956.

Judy Cantrell (Greenbelt, MD) "

 JoBeth wrote on August 3, 2008 7:40 pm:
" I remember (sort of) riding on that teeter-tooter back in 1978. It was a blast. Czech days are great. Keep it up Wilber!!! Let's have a shuttle from Lincoln to Wilber!!!! "

 Another JT wrote on August 4, 2008 10:37 am:
" I like the hot weather during the Czech Days. Keep it on the first weekend of August. "

 Hmmph wrote on August 4, 2008 11:18 am:
" When Hispanics have this type of celebration, they are blasted for not embracing the American culture. Double standard? "

 Long Time Attendee wrote on August 4, 2008 12:17 pm:
" I understand people's concerns regarding the weather that always seems to accompany Czech days, but the date is tradition. And, moving the festival further into the fall would only confilct more with high school sports, Husker football and harvest. Don't let the heat keep you away, there are plenty of places to cool off! "

 Number One Czech Days Fan wrote on August 5, 2008 1:46 pm:
" I have been a participant in Czech Days all my life and believe that the tradition is a great experience to go through. I understand that it's extremely hot outside but at the same time it's all part of the tradition. If we were to move Czech Days we would be changing a nearly fifty year tradition.

I have participated in the children's parade on Friday night every since I was little, at first walking through for the best dressed girl category then riding in floats until I was old enough to be a chair-person for the parade. I now serve as a volunteer for it and help to get it set up.

When I was younger I would watch the queen pagents and tell my mom that someday I wanted to be up on that stage. I was a little sister for a year and that next year I tried out for Wilber Czech Princess and made it! I learned a lot about my heritage that year and enjoyed going to all of the parades around Nebraska.

Being from Wilber I I have also marched through the parade with the band in high school and am now in the Alumni Band. Not including all of the other floats I've help to create and ride on. Our parades are something special that no other small town can re-create. We should be proud of ourselves and our town for this matter alone.

I will not argue it's hot but we're all suffering together so understand you're not alone when you tell someone it's "hot" out. I believe Czech Days is an amazing event and want the tradition to go on for many more generations. This town is very special in my heart and many others so let's try to keep a positive look on Czech Days and the many people we attract. "

 Alaskan for Nebraska wrote on August 8, 2008 7:12 pm:
" Let's make Czech Days more like Oktoberfest? Seems like that would take away from the Czech component of the whole thing. As far as doubling attendance goes, I don't really think that would be a good idea either as the last time I was present (2007) it appeared as though it was pretty much maxed out and there wasn't much room for many more people. How is the saying, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen? "

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