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In a city named for a river in northwestern Canada, the state of Oklahoma’s largest contingent of Czech descendants is gearing up for the silver anniversary of its signature cultural event. Originally conceived as a celebration of Yukon’s 75th year of cityhood in 1966, the Czech Festival has exploded into the state’s largest free outdoor festival. The festival’s popularity helped earn Yukon the unofficial title of “Czech Capital of Oklahoma” way back in 1969. Sorry about your luck, Prague!
The festival’s quinquagenarian entry will draw tens of thousands of people to the metro’s Yukon territory on Saturday, October 3, for a day of Czech-themed fun and frolic. A parade commencing at Main St. (Route 66) and Garth Brooks Boulevard marks the unofficial kickoff at 10 a.m. Longtime festival volunteer, Betty Kohler, is this year’s Grand Marshal. Honorary marshals are former Oklahoma Governor and First Lady George and Donna Nigh.
You’ll want to arrive early to get a good spot along the route of one of the largest parades in the state. Besides, there is plenty to see and do before the bands start playing. For the uninitiated (un-Czeched?), there will be a lot to learn as well.
“The Czech Festival is our way of preserving and sharing the old Czech customs,” said Marjorie Jezek, President of the Oklahoma Czechs, Inc. “These customs and food recipes have been handed down from generation to generation.”
For anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in this Central European culture on the south-central plains, the Yukon Czech Hall building will be open early.
Long the central focus point of Czech life in this Canadian County city, the historic Czech Hall is recognized as a State and National Historic Site. So a visit to the building itself is worth the trip. But don’t cheat yourself—prepare to spend some time absorbing the local and international flavor.
“The exhibits will be open at 8 a.m.,” says Jezek, who serves as the lead contact person for the festival. What Czech treasures await? “You name it,” Jezek promises. “There are over 150 display booths.”
Authentic Czech-themed goods and souvenirs will be available along with some unusual entries, including homemade root beer. New this year will be a book heralding the area’s long and proud Czech history.
“Czechs first settled around Yukon in the late 1800s,” Jezek shares, well before Oklahoma was granted statehood.
Festival-goers can find traditional trappings to deck out their homes and togs to don on the dance floor. As with any ethnocentric engagement, food is at the heart of the Czech festival. Each year, volunteer bakers artfully construct thousands of kolaches—sumptuous fruit-filled pastries.
“We’re going to have fifteen varieties [of kolaches],” says Jezek. “They always sell out.”
Klobasa—a Czech sausage consisting chiefly of pork and garlic—is another popular item, whether in sandwich form to eat right away or by the pound to take home. (Both options come highly recommended!)
Music and dance is a central theme to this and every Czech festival. Local dance troupes will perform the beseda, the Czech national dance, as well as the rollicking polka (or “pulka,” in the Czech spelling), a lilting waltz or two and other traditional folk dances. After downing a few pilsners at the Pivo (i.e. “beer”) Garden, anyone can get out on the dance floor and shake a leg.
The day’s activities will come to a grand conclusion in the afternoon. At 4 p.m. parade winners will be announced and the coronation ceremony of the 2015 Czech Royalty takes place. A traditional Czech dinner caps off the day’s events—Czech beans, new potatoes, pork and sauerkraut.
Amusements, games, rides and other entertainment will keep the kids happy all day. If they get a little restless, there are always those kolaches ready to come to the rescue. Mark Saturday, October 3, on your calendar, and make a beeline for this truly unique Oklahoma event. Yukon’s Czech community is serious about preserving its heritage, but even more serious about having one great day of celebrating with all of the neighbors.
For more information about the Czech Festival, visit czechfestivaloklahoma.com.
By Sean Becker | Photos Provided by Czech Festival & The Yukon Review
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