Change of venue for Masopust

CALMAR - After 15 years of being held in Protivin, the annual Masopust, Czech Mardi Gras, is being held in Calmar at Pivo Brewery, 101 Huber Drive, on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. Advance ticket sales only.

A couple of the longtime organizers of the event, Eileen Tlusty and Ken Zajicek, explained the change of venue.

“We were trying to book Masopust in the middle of COVID, and the Protivin Community Center wasn’t sure when they would open up,” Tlusty said. “And we needed to book something.” 

This year’s Coat of Arms is from Bechyne. Local families who came from that area of the Czech Republic include Neuzil,  Jarosh, Frana and Koutek.

 

What’s different?

Czech Heritage Partnership (CHP) members Craig and Sara Neuzil of Pivo Brewery offered their facility. “This is a nice change,” said Zajicek. “Craig and Sara are very excited to do this.”

Tlusty agreed. “It is getting different people interested. Also, there are a lot of pluses. 

 

 

 

 

 

The venue can have over 400 people, the dance floor is nice, and they have microphones already set up. The best part is they will set up the tables, and we don’t have to clean up! This is a great thing all the way around.”

The brewery is planning to put Czech labeling on some of the beers. “They are making a signature beer for us, a dark beer,” explained Zajicek. Some of the other beers will have “dark beer” or “light beer” in Czech on the label.

 

What’s the same?

Everything else!

Doors open at noon, with the celebration starting at 1 p.m. The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and advance ticket sales are required.

 

 

 

Tickets are $35 and can be reserved by calling Audrey Lensing at 563-380-3015; Zajicek at 563-379-4100; or Tlusty at 563-569-8744.

• Snacks: Zelnicky (flour pastry with sauerkraut) and popcorn will still be set out on the tables.

• Silent and live auctions: Because Masopust could not be held in 2021, there are even more items to be auctioned. One of the favorite items is the hand-painted ostrich egg by Sara Neuzil of Blepta Art Studio.

• Purse sale: You never know what goodies will be in the purse!

• Kolaches: A CHP member will be making the Czech sweet pastry that holds a portion of fruit surrounded by puffy dough. They will be sold by the dozen. Come early to get your favorite!

• Czech skit: The skit is a fun part of the Masopust celebration. This year’s skit is Kdo Je Blázen (Who is Crazy?) The four individuals in the play are Steve Klimesh, Jim Zajicek, Gerald Busta and Lensing.

• Band: Gary’s Ridgeland Dutchmen of Cashton, Wis. will make their first performance at Masopust. Members of the band play a variety of Polka music including Dutchmen, German, Czech-style, Polish-style and Slovenian-style.

• Dinner: Get ready for all your Czech favorites — Breaded pork cutlets, jitrnice (which is served without liver, while jaternice is served with liver), dumplings, red parsley buttered potatoes, dill gravy, kraut/red or white, tomato/cucumber/onion salad with vinegar dressing, rye bread, kolache and rohlicky, poppy seed cake and beverage (coffee or milk).

It will be catered by U-2 BBQ of Calmar.

• Costumes: Anyone attending is encouraged to wear ethnic costumes.

• Scholarship: The presentation to the recipient of the Joseph J. and Martha M. Pecinovsky Scholarship will also take place at Masopust.

• Special guests: It is always hard to say who will stop by for the celebration. 

This year there will be three exciting visitors.

~ Jaroslav Kanturek: Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago

~ Josef Ivaska: World renowned singer and composer             

~ Helen Cinebeau: Expert in Slovakian Kroje [Folk Dress]   and Author 

Czech it out on Feb. 26!