47th Annual Czech Days set for Aug. 15-17 weekend

PROTIVIN - Get ready for Polka Dancing, excellent music, great food and wonderful Czech hospitality, as the little city of Protivin, with Holy Trinity Parish, hosts their 47th Annual Czech Days Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 15-17.  

A full weekend of activities is planned, and if you have a hungry stomach for delicious Czech foods, then this is the place to be!  Serving all three days (starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, and ending at 5 p.m. on Sunday), you can go to the Protivin Community Center and taste Czech/Bohemian cuisine, including homemade chicken noodle and creamed chicken soups, homemade Kolaches and Rohlicky, and the usual ribeye steak sandwiches, BBQ sandwiches, Brats and splendid desserts.

Friday, August 15

6 p.m. - All will start off with the huge Softball Tournament held at the Protivin Ballpark.  The tourney is one of NE Iowa’s biggest tournaments of the year, featuring teams throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin competing with 16 teams, double-elimination.  

6 p.m. -The Firemen’s Waterball Tournament will also start, but will take place at the Protivin City Park where a street will be blocked off for the water fun.

6 to 8 p.m. - Tim Howland “The Music Man” will perform at the Protivin Community center. 

7 p.m. - A “Back to School” Movie will take place in the Main Tent, sponsored by Trinity Catholic. 

 

Saturday, August 16

8 a.m. - A Volleyball Tournament will take place featuring co-ed teams battling it out for the top hardware.

8:30 a.m. - The Softball Tournament will continue and run throughout the day.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - The Antique Tractor & Vintage Car Show will  will bring back memories. 

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Kids’ Inflatables.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - The Area Community Band will be playing in the Main Tent. 

12 noon to 7:30 p.m. - Bingo, held in tent by parking lot on Main Street. 

12 noon - Bean Bag Tournament.

1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - The Annual Cake Walk will feature plenty of cakes/treats to win.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen will be playing in the Main Tent.  The live band is from Mt. Vernon, iowa and boasts plenty of high-energy music, having been performing since 1988.  Leading the charge is Becky Livermore, known just as much for her accordion skills and vocals as for her signature bare feet! (Yep—it started for comfort and stuck for fun.)

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Tim Howland “The Music Man” will again play in the Community Center offering his excellent mix of polka, country and calm, yet fun, melodies. 

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Braelyn McCarville will be in the Main Tent, pouring out some great country and pop tunes.  The talented 14-year-old has been building on her music career and puts on an excellent two-hour show, boasting plenty of stories and laughs.

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. - The live band ‘Rhino” will be in the main tent.  Based out of the Twin Cities, the four-piece band will offer alt-rock and 80s nastalgia to today’s hottest hits.  There may be some unexpected country and surprises thrown in for good measure.  Expect a great show!

 

Sunday, August 17

9 a.m. - Softball Tournament continues.

10:30 a.m. - Polka Mass with Gary Brueggen Family Band and the Ridgeland Dutchmen. Gary plays a great accordion and his family offers a nice mix of vocals including 10-year-old daughter Maddie.  

11 a.m. - Garden Tractor Pull at the Ball Park.  If you have yet to see these modified mowers run down a track, you have not lived!  It’s like a mini modified tractor pull sporting jet engines, big blocks and more!  

11;30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - The area Community Band will again play in the Main Tent.  

12 noon to 6 p.m. - Bingo.

12 noon - Kiddy Pedal Tractor Pull. Starts at age 4 Class. 

12 noon to 5 p.m. - Kids’ Activities.

1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Cake Walk.

1:30 p.m. - Kids’ Water Ball.

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Gary Brueggen Family Band in the Main Tent.  

3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Malek’s Fishermen Band will cap off the event in the Main Tent.  Known as one of the finest polka bands in the Midwest, Malek’s Fishermen will continue the tradition of excellent polka music, offering a unique mix of brass, reeds, concertina, rhythm and vocal harmonies.  Now in its third generation of Malek musicians, Malek’s Fishermen Band continues to play a mix of Czech/Bohemian and German styles of music for dances and festivals throughout the Midwest.

6:30 p.m. - Parish Raffle & Auction in the Main Tent.