45th Annual Protivin Czech Days set for Aug. 18-20

PROtiVIN - What does it take to make a community of only 269 people, swell up to several thousand?  You throw a Czech Days celebration!

All is falling into place for the Holy Trinity 45th Annual Czech Days, as the schedule is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 18, 19 and 20 with tons of activities, polka music, Kolache’s, homemade Rolicky and more!

A larger crowd than usual will be expected for 2023 as every five years features a huge Parade.  The procession will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with units lining-up at Farmers Mill Feed & Grain and traveling the streets of Protivin, likely for more than one hour.

Granted, the parade will be spectacular and bring in an outstanding crowd, but the big attraction for the weekend is always the homemade food and Polka music.  

Protivin will be serving each day at the Community Center (Friday 5-8 p.m., Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Kolaches, Rolicky, Creamed Chicken over bread, barbecued pork, ribeye steak sandwiches, brats, dessert and more!  If you leave hungry it’s your fault! Food booths will also be set up outside the church and at the Ballpark, along with Beer Garden’s in the Main Tent and the Ballpark. 

As for each day’s activities, the schedule is as follows:

 

Friday, August 18

• 6 p.m. - Softball Tournament at Protivin Ballpark; Fireman’s Water Ball at the Protivin City Park; and Tim the Music Man will be playing from 6-8 p.m. in the Community Center.

~ The Softball Tourney will be all three days and features one of the top slow pitch softball tournaments in Northern Iowa.  

~ The Protivin Fire Dept. will sponsor and run the Water Ball competition as many local departments will compete for top hardware.  

~ Tim the Music Man offers a nice variety of music, with Tim Howland singing along on several tunes.  

• 9 p.m. - Enjoy some Fireworks at the Ballpark, starting at dusk.  

~ The Fireworks show is entertaining, and can be seen throughout much of the community.  

 

Saturday, August 19

• 8 a.m. - Volleyball Tournament will start.

~ Volleyball will feature several co-ed teams offering some excellent play. Must pre-register by calling (319) 230-9891.

• 8:30 a.m. - Softball Tournament resumes.

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Antique Tractor & Car Show. If any questions call (563) 380-1502.

• 10:30 a.m. - Huge Parade.

~ Please call ahead if possible at (563) 419-2982. Starts at Farmers Mill for line-up. 

• 12 noon - 5 p.m. - Kid’s Inflatables.

• 12 noon to 7:30 p.m. - Bingo 

• 1 to 4 p.m. - Cake Walk.

~ Take a chance and walk to music with a winner eventually being called, earning the right to pick out a cake.

• 1 p.m. - Bean Bag Tourney. Any questions, please call (641) 330-4296. You do not have to pre-register.  Teams of two. 

• 1 to 5 p.m. - “Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen” Band (Main Tent).  

~ Look for Becky Livermore to put on a show with her band, featuring Polka, waltzes some country and more.  

• 6 to 8 p.m. - “Tim the Music Man” at the Community Center.

• 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. - “The Dweebs” (Main Tent).  

~ The Dweebs will offer colorful costumes, crazy stage antics, and lots of crowd participation offering 60s rock n’ roll music up ‘til today’s pop. 

 

Sunday, August 20

• 9 a.m. - Softball Tourney resumes.

• 10:30 a.m. - Polka Mass at Holy Trinity with “Mollie B & SqueezeBox”. 

~ Growing up and traveling with the Jim Busta Polka band, Mollie B now performs nationwide, offering a large variety of music and showing her skills by playing several instruments. If you have yet to see the band perform, it is “a must” on everyone’s bucket list!

• 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - “Community Band” (Main Tent). Come and see the locals play!

• 12 noon to 5 p.m. - Kids Activities.

• 12 noon to 6 p.m. - Bingo.

• 12 noon - Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull. Just arrive a little early to register.  

• 1:30 p.m. - Kid’s Water Ball.  Another chance to cool off!

• 1 to 3 p.m. - “Mollie B & SqueezeBox” Band (Main Tent). 

• 1 to 4 p.m. - Cake Walk.

• 3:30 to 6 p.m. - “Malek’s Fishermen” Band (Main Tent).

~ One of the finest polka bands in the Midwest, Malek’s Fishermen will definitely “Roll Out The Barrel” and get you dancing in the Main Tent! The band plays a wide range of dance music that includes the traditional old time polkas, waltzes, two-steps, and schottisches as well as country, big band, dixieland, and other dance hall favorites. 

• 6:30 p.m. - Parish Raffle & Auction (Main Tent). 

~ Come and bid on some items, but also win at the raffle.