Czech Fest revives Czech Village tradition on Saturday

An old tradition is new again in Czech Village.

Village business owners are reviving an annual fall festival in the form of Czech Fest, set for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Preparations have been under way this month, with cornstalks, pumpkins and other decorations lining the district along 16th Avenue SW.

“We really came together as business owners to do this,” said Deb Christensen, vice president of the Czech Village Association and owner of Art 2 M Broidery, 92 16th Ave. SW. That cohesiveness was hard-won.

Each of the owners, as well as new merchants, had individual concerns battling back from the 2008 flood that devastated the historic business district and surrounding neighborhood.

Now that a majority of businesses have rebuilt and new businesses have joined, Christensen said it was time to celebrate with the festival, also touted as a grand reopening.

“This is to let people come down and see what's open,” said John Carl Berge, co-owner of Czech Outlet, 76 16th Ave. SW.

Food and craft vendors will be featured, along with music and an auction at the former Salvation Army parking lot. Antiques, as well as new items donated by Czech Village merchants, will be auctioned.

Berge said the festival is family-friendly, with balloon animals, face painting and free hayrack rides. Toy footballs will be given away to the first 200 guests.

While the festival takes place in Czech Village, the New Bohemia Group across the river is providing volunteer help and coordinating music and arts and craft vendors.

Jim Jacobmeyer, president of the New Bohemia Group, said if the weather holds, bands will perform in the Czech Village bandstand, as well as indoors in Czech Village bars.

Events continue into the night with drink specials and more live music in the bars.

“I think this is a really exciting time,” Jacobmeyer said. “One of the outcomes of the flood was that we're really getting more unified as a district.”