Masopust to be at Pivo Brewery

CALMAR - Masopust, the annual Czech Mardi Gras, will again be held at Pivo Brewery in Calmar. After 15 years of being held in Protivin, volunteers found it was easier to use a venue, which required less physical work for the volunteers. 

It is being held on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the doors opening at noon, the celebration beginning at 1 p.m. and dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. There will only be advanced tickets sold.

This year’s Coat of Arms is from Veliš. The Pecinovsky family is the main family featured, although almost everyone in the area with Czech ancestry either married into or out of the Pecinovsky family. Some recognizable local names linked to the early settlers include Slifka, Mikesh, Moudry, Novak, Prochaska, Riha, Blazek, Andera, Fencl, Svestka, Stika and Lukes.

What’s happening?

Czech Heritage Partnership (CHP) members Craig and Sara Neuzil of Pivo Brewery of Calmar offered their facility. “This is a nice change,” said Zajicek. “Craig and Sara are very excited to do this.”

The brewery is planning to put Czech labeling on some of the beers. “They are making a signature beer for us, a dark beer,” explained Eileen Tlusty. 

Other than a change of venue, everything else is the same.

Tickets are $40 and can be reserved by calling Audrey Lensing at 563-380-3015; Ken and Lois Zajicek at 563-379-4100; or Tlusty at 641-229-6049.

• Veliš: Michael Klimesh will give some history of the featured Czech town. One fact about the family is they were mainly farmers and tailors, and there are about 52 pages in the church book of Pecinovsky families. Frank and Barbara Pecinovsky were the first of the family to arrive and settle in Protivin.

• Snacks: Zelnicky (flour pastry with sauerkraut) and popcorn will still be set out on the tables.

• Silent and live auctions: One of the favorite items to be auctioned off is the hand-painted ostrich egg by Sara Neuzil of Blepta Art Studio.

• Purse sale: You never know what goodies will be in the purse!

• Kolaches: A CHP member will be making the Czech sweet pastry that holds a portion of fruit surrounded by puffy dough. They will be sold by the dozen. Come early to get your favorite!

• Band: Malek’s Fishermen Band of Garner will perform at Masopust. The modern band plays a wide range of dance music that includes the traditional old tyme polkas, waltzes, two-steps and schottisches as well as country, big band, dixieland, and other dance hall favorites.

• Dinner: Get ready for all your Czech favorites — Breaded pork cutlets, jitrnice, dumplings, red parsley buttered potatoes, dill gravy, kraut/red or white, tomato/cucumber/onion salad with vinegar dressing, rye bread, kolache and rohlicky, white and poppy seed cake and beverage (coffee or milk).

It will be catered by U-2 BBQ of Calmar.

• Costumes: Anyone attending is encouraged to wear ethnic costumes.

• Scholarship: The presentation to the recipient of the Joseph J. and Martha M. Pecinovsky Scholarship will also take place at Masopust.

• Special guests: It is always hard to say who will stop by for the celebration. 

This year, Deputy Ondrej Pometlo and his family will be coming on behalf of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Jaroslav Kanturek.

Czech it out on Feb. 18!