Back to its roots: Houby Days adds events, focuses more on Czech heritage

CEDAR RAPIDS - As Czech Village continues to bounce back from the Floods of 2008, so does its signature festival - Houby Days.

The 34th annual festival celebrating houbys, the Czech word for mushrooms, will be held May 13 to 15. New events such as a Kids' Day will be held along with traditional activities such as a parade, vendors and Czech food and music.

“It's the perfect storm for the festival,” says Calvin Spinka, Houby Days organizer and Czech Village Association vice president. “The museum move is drawing interest, we have a lot more sponsors this year; this will be the best one we've had in a while.”

Robyn Rieckhoff, director of the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District, agrees the event is generating more interest.

“We received a lot of donations from businesses within the district and beyond,” she says. “Everybody is ready to see this area come back.”

To spruce up the area for next weekend's big event, Boy Scout troops cleaned up Czech Village on May 4. On Monday, seventh grade students from Franklin Middle School will plant red geraniums and hang baskets in Czech Village as the result of a $1,000 Youth Power grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

“Czech Out Our Flowers” is a joint project between the Czech Village Association, students and Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street.

“We are thrilled with this and it couldn't have happened at a better time,” Rieckhoff says. “Business is picking up in the Main Street district, and I attribute that to the Czech Museum move and the streetscape project on Third Street SE. People are interested in what's going on down here and they want to see us succeed at becoming the heart of the city.”

This year's Houby Days festival kicks off with the 11th annual Taste of Czech and Slovak from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW.

Chefs from Czech Village, New Bohemia and downtown Cedar Rapids restaurants, along with veteran home cooks, will dish up Czech favorites such as jaternice (sausage), goulash, cerna kuba (casserole), kolache and chocolate sauerkraut cookies. Two Czech beers also will be available to sample.

In the New Bohemia district, Czech jazz artist and composer George Grosman will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Gatherings, 905 Third St. SE. His free concert, co-sponsored by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and Gatherings, will feature swing, gypsy jazz and klezmer music.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the Egg and Houby Breakfast at Kuncl Mall, 59 16th Ave. SW, will feature morels.

As well as mushrooms, this year's festival will focus on Czech culture such as traditional music, dancing, costumes and artisans.

“We really tried to make Czech heritage more front and center this year,” Spinka says. “We really want to stress the cultural aspect of it.”

Another focus this year is kids' activities. Sunday has been designated as Kids' Day with events such as a children's parade, sack races, karaoke, puppet theater, pedal pull and a construction zone.

“It's going to be a great weekend of activities,” Spinka says. “There's a lot more energy than there has been in recent years.”