LA GRANGE — The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange will host the 10th annual Heritage Fest & Muziky on Oct. 14 and 15. This year’s Fest will include SPJST’s 125th Anniversary Celebration with added venues and entertainment!
The fest will open on Friday in front of the Main Center and TCHCC’s famous homemade chicken and dumplings will be served while it lasts in the Hanslik Banquet Hall at 5:30 p.m. The KJT Octoberfest on the Deck will start at 4 p.m. with music by the Dujka Brothers from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
The big day kicks off Saturday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m., with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. The Cavender’s Auto Country Hos- poda will be filled with cold pivo and musical entertainment by the famous Round Top Brass Band of Round Top and Czech & Then Some Band of Ennis from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In the SPJST Pavilion, enjoy hospitality and music, including performances by the SPJSTs Houston Concert Orchestra and the Dallas Czech Orchestra. E n joy more music at the Muziky, Muziky event from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater. Always a popular part of the Heritage Fest, this year’s Legends Series show will surely be the biggest yet!
The final event of the Fest will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with Divine Testament providing great country gospel music for the social hour.
Then at 7 p.m., The King Lives! Don’t miss the ultimate tribute to Elvis Presley in concert, starring international award-winning artist Kraig Parker, with the Royal Tribute Band & Brass. For over 20 years, this act has toured the world, keeping the spirit and timeless music of Elvis alive in the hearts of eager fans. Experience the authentic look, voice and presence of music’s greatest icon.
You will be “all shook up” by the show that has been hailed as “the closest thing to the King!” Elvis has not left the building! Admission to the show is $10.
The huge HEB Fireworks Finale above the amphitheater will finish the night with a real bang.
In addition to enjoying the great music, you’re invited to stroll the Czech Village, an early 1900s recreated village complete with residential houses, barns, and stores. Demonstrations of early life for the immigrants will take place throughout the grounds all day, including working in the Zapalac Saw Mill, the operation of the Czech Newspaper Museum press and engine, blacksmithing, corn shelling and grinding, hay pressing, and the making of textiles, soap, noodles, sausage, honey and more.
Children’s activities will be available by the Leo’s Club (train ride) and KJZT (pumpkin painting), along with many other activities for everyone to take part in. SPJST and TCHCC will hold a Corn Hole Tournament, the Kolace Eating Contest, the Dunking Booth and the TCHCC Beer Tasting Competition.
An antique farm equipment show sponsored by the South Texas Wheel Spinners & Crank Twisters Club and an antique/classic car show by H&H Automotive, Schulenburg, will spread through the village. Visit the country store for some good buys, including fresh, stone-ground corn meal for cooking.
The Janak Barn & Texas Czech Agricultural Museum displays farm practices and implements from the late 1800s to 1940. There will also be mule-drawn wagon rides around the grounds all day!
The Czech Village houses two music museums. The Czech Music Museum of Texas, located in the Kalich House, features four genres of Czech music – classical, folk, polka, and liturgical. The Polka Lover’s Club of Texas Museum, located in the Hoelsher House & Huebner Center, features a display of Texas polka bands and memorabilia and photos of the Polka Lover’s Club of America, Texas Chapter.
Inside the TCHCC Main Center, stop by the Czech Gift Shop to browse the brand-new stock of authentic Czech items, T-shirts, caps, crystal, periodicals, music CDs, and new Christmas decorations for 2023.
The Hanslik Hall will be the site of the annual KJT State Taroky Championship. Swing in there and they’d be happy to teach you this fun card game.
Enjoy the current featured exhibits at the center, the 125 Years of SPJST in the Museum and the updated military and glass exhibits in the library. Have you always wondered about your Czech roots? The spacious Melnar Library will offer help with genealogy research. There is plenty to do for the entire family!
Come and Czech out all the fun!
