11th Annual Masopust takes over Protivin

Protivin - This past weekend the area saw a little bit of everything — rain, sleet, snow, thundershowers and wind, but that didn’t stop hundreds from making their way to Protivin to attend the 11th Annual Masopust on Saturday, Feb. 25.

The Czech Mardi Gras, which was led by first-time chair Audrey Novak Hurd, and co-chaired by Ken and Lois Zajicek, was brought back to Protivin after a three-year hiatus. And the event was welcomed with open arms by community members and guests. 

The Protivin Community Center was decorated with bright colors in the form of streamers, balloons, party hats, horns and masks.

Doors opened at 1 p.m., with Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen immediately engaging the crowd with waltzes and polkas. A 1:45 p.m. introduction was followed by the Gerald Pecinovsky Scholarship. Judy Busta, sister of the late Gerald Pecinovsky, presented the $750 scholarship award to Crestwood High School Senior, Sarah Schoeberl, daughter of Deb Hurst and Kevin Schoeberl, both of Cresco.

“This is an honor to receive this scholarship,” said Schoeberl. “I want to thank my parents as well because they always encouraged me. I have applied to both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Iowa and am waiting to hear back. I plan on majoring in communication arts and go into video editing and film production.”

Following the scholarship presentation, attendees were encouraged to look over and bid on silent auction items and visit the Pivo Brewery booth. 

Pivo Brewery, Calmar, is a new northeast Iowa brewery that will be opening in October and is owned by Craig Neuzil. Neuzil was offering samples of two beers; one with hops from the Czech Republic and the other with American hops, from Washington State.

“Both of the beers we’re sampling today are from the Saaz hops, both have the same ph and the same amount of water. Right now we are pretty even on the voting,” shared Neuzil. “Whichever is ‘winner’s choice,’ will be made and called Protivin Pivo.”

Music continued, followed by the Czech play. The play, translated by JoAnn Dostal and Eileen Tlusty, was secured from the Mary Hudecek estate. The play is part of the Czech Heritage Document Center and was written in 1895. 

“The Misadventures of Mr. Sukalek,” a romantic comedy, consisted of an ensemble of seasoned CHP actors and the folk comedy was well received. The actors’ script trips and ad libs added to the fun.

After the play, Barefoot Becky entertained again before the silent auction closed and winners were announced. 

The live auction then took place with the highest bid of $350 going for a Czech stained glass lighted sign donated by Lou Svoboda.

As bidding ended, the Czech meal, catered by Val’s Catering, was served. The menu consisted of breaded pork cutlets, dill gravy, tomato-cucumber salad, parsley potatoes, dumplings in sauerkraut, Czech sausage, kolaches, rolicky, rye bread and choice of poppy seed or white cake.

No matter where guests came from, near or far, one thing was for sure, there were smiles galore, hearty laughter, hugs and handshakes as Masopust returned to Protivin.