Join Us for Christmas Open House December 5, 2020
Veselé Vánoce! A Czech Christmas Open House will take place Saturday, December 5, 2020, from 10 am to 3 pm. A variety of specialty Christmas & Czech items for purchase in the gift shop. Festival of music display in the museum. Pastries and cookies in Hanslik Hall. Wander the Czech Village to see vintage Christmas decorations. Read more.
TCHCC To Host Annual Gala December 5, 2020
The Fair Pavilion at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center in La Grange, Texas will be the site of the annual Gala on Saturday evening, December 5th. The yearly event spotlights the contributions of three honorees who have advanced the Czech Culture in Texas.
Doors open at 5:30 and the Gala begins at 6 PM with music/dancing and a meal, followed by the honoree program. The 2020 honorees are: Larry Sodek, DJ; Ellinger Combo; Harold Strand Orchestra. Larry Sodek is from Fayetteville and as a disc jockey has produced and aired a polka show in Fayette County for many years on the local KBUK radio station, keeping the music culture alive. Larry has also played in several bands including the Ellinger Combo.
The next honoree is the Ellinger Combo from Fayette County. The Combo, founded in 1985, is a unique band in that, initially, none of the six-piece group had ever played in a band before. The Combo had a great three decade run traveling all over Central Texas because…it was fun!
The third honoree is Harold Strand from the Temple-Waco area. Harold began his music career in Minnesota, but the military relocated him to Central Texas where he remained playing with the West Melodians and Urby and the Czech Mates. He later formed the Harold Strand and the Little Fishermen which later became the Harold Strand Orchestra. The ten-piece band played polkas and ballroom music around Central Texas. After retiring he sat in with numerous orchestras, most notably Harry Czarnek and the Texas Dutchmen.
Throughout the evening there will be door prizes, an open bar, silent auction, and the annual Gala Raffle drawing. After the program, the Czechaholics Band will enliven the festivities with dancing until the closing at 9:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center. Call 888-785-4500 or email info@czechtexas.org.
Case Traction King 1200 to be Featured at the Heritage Festival October 17
The annual Heritage Fest at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center will feature a tractor of a different time period compared to the tractors that were featured at past shows. Farmers across the state farm differently with the array of crops grown from one side of Texas to the other. The Czechs on the central coastal bend of Texas are predominantly rice farmers, along with other crops such as corn and milo. This year, the Heritage Fest will jump ahead in time as engineering advanced and feature a tractor that helped these farmers with large acreages along the Gulf Coast. Read more.
Heritage Fest & Muziky Has It All!
The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange will host the annual Heritage Festival & Muziky on October 17, 2020. The Fest will be altered to a one-day event for 2020 only. The Fest kicks off at 10 am with heritage & culture in 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 saw mill, the operation of the Czech Newspaper Museum press and engine, blacksmithing, corn shelling and grinding, hay pressing, and more. Plenty of food and cold beverages will be available as well. The day will end with muziky by the Dujka Brothers followed by a fireworks show. Read more.
TCHCC to Publish Texas Polka News
The Texas Polka News has entered a new chapter! On August 1, 2020, Theresa Cernoch Parker donated The Texas Polka News to the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center. Without this extraordinary beacon, Texas rich musical history would be jeopardized. The TCHCC is humbled by Mrs. Parker’s donation and would also like to thank the subscribers and advertisers of The Texas Polka News and PolkaBeat.com and look forward to keeping this publication one of the best musical outlets in the state! TCHCC has partnered with the Fayette County Record to produce the paper and other supplements to the paper. Read more.
TCHCC Seeks Donations for Archival Building, General Store; FACEBOOK LIVE ONLY July 18 to Raise Funds
TCHCC is asking for donations to build a larger archival building and create a new general store/tavern in the Czech Village. Each project has reached the halfway mark in reaching the $80,000 goal. Read more about these exciting projects and donate today!
LCRA, CITY OF LA GRANGE AWARD $10,000 GRANT TO
TEXAS CZECH HERITAGE AND CULTURAL CENTER
La Grange’s Sanford Schmid Amphitheater to get new roof
The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center will replace the aging roof of a popular amphitheater, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of La Grange. Read more.
Donate the Gift that Keeps Growing!
TCHCC is planning to plant several Texas Live Oak trees in the Czech Village. Purchase a tree as a memorial or in honor of an individual, organization, family, etc. or just as a donation. A Live Oak tree will provide shade and beauty for generations to enjoy! Choose one of two options for donating: 5” Live Oak - $1,500 or 6” Live Oak - $2,000. The prices include the price of the tree, planting, irrigation installation, recognition stone in front of the tree, and first year’s fertilizing. Dowload donation form
Remembering Charles Chandler
The TCHCC family is mourning the loss of Charles Chandler who passed away on April 2, 2020 at the age of 86 following an extended illness. He and his wife, Retta, TCHCC president, helped establish the Czech Center in La Grange. He could always be seen at the Center’s special events as a volunteer selling tickets, greeting visitors, and anything else that needed doing to make the events successful. Read more about Charles’ life.
Slavnost May Fest Raffle Winners Announced
Thanks to everyone who supported the raffle by purchasing tickets and congratulations to the winners!
TCHCC Recognized Among Cultural Centers Supporting Communities Across America
Americans often boast of our history of immigration, which created the diverse culture we now enjoy. But many of those immigrant groups will be forgotten if their contributions are not discussed and preserved. TCHCC and other organizations all work to keep alive the history of specific American communities and their cultural legacies. Read more.
People's Choice: Best Fayette Co Museum
Each year, the Fayette County Record newspaper asks its readers to vote for the best the county has to offer. Categories include businesses, services, restaurants, and museums. TCHCC was once again chosen as the best museum in the county. Děkuju (thank you) to our volunteers who work hard to make the center an inviting place to visit, and to Fayette County residents for voting us best! See the Best Of magazine
Unique Valentine Experience
Enjoy a formal evening at the Valentine Dinner and Piano Concert on Sat., Feb. 15. Read more.