The Czech Village Association (CVA), Czech Heritage Foundation (CHF), National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, The District and the City of Cedar Rapids, present the 47th Annual "Houby" Day Festival Parade on Saturday, May 17, 2025.  Parade organizers from the CHF are interested in participants expressing the spirit of their heritage and encourage family walking units, schools, military, youth groups, bands, and decorated floats.

The day begins with staging the floats on the East side of the River along the East Side of 2nd Street SE starting at the corner of 16th Ave. S.E. Staging begins at 8:30 AM. There will be a flag raising at the Kosek Band Stand by Scouts and the American Legion to start the day with the Czech Plus Band. The parade gets underway at 10:00 AM. The parade will cross over the "Bridge of Lions" and continue through Czech Village to C St. S.W.

This year's Grand Marshal is Ashley (Pudil) Osborn, past Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa.  She will be joined by our own Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Tiffany O'Donnell. The Houby Day Celebration will be dedicated to Marj Nejdl, for all her dedication and love of Czech Village. Please come support your community!

Why we celebrate

The Houby Days Festival is an annual event in Historic Czech Village.  Houby (pronounced hou-bee) is the Czech word for mushrooms.  Hunting them is a major activity of the Czechs and Slovaks and they gather them by the basket full.  There are many varieties that are eaten and as the Czech's are fond of saying, "All mushrooms are edible, at least once!"  They are gathered from early in the spring until late in the fall and the woods are always full of mushroom pickers.  It is a family activity, so children usually know by the time they are 10 years old which mushrooms to pick and which mushrooms not to touch. On a beautiful summer day, the woods will be full of families, walking, talking and gathering mushrooms.    

Here in Cedar Rapids, we celebrate the tradition and all that it means to the Czech and Slovak.  Houby are not only a source of food but they are also a fun family activity.  At our Houby Day Festival, we strive to bring a fun family day, filled with food, music, games, vendors, carnival, balloon glow and activities of Czech-Slovak heritage.

Schedule of Events:

08:00 am: Latin Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church   
09:00 am - 04:00 pm: Venders Open
10:30 am: English Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Iowa Accordion Club performs at  Kosek Bandstand  
12:00 pm - 03:00 pm: Craft Demonstrations in the Museum Grand Hall
12:30 pm - 01:30 pm: Kolace demonstration, Museum Classroom
12:00 pm - 01:00 pm: Miss Czech Slovak Iowa Pageant and Crowning at Kosek Bandstand
12:00 pm - 02:00 pm: Tours at St. Wenceslaus Church  
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm: Kolace Eating Contest at Vintage Market Stage   
01:00 pm - 02:30 pm: Music (To be announced) at Kosek Bandstand   
02:30 pm - 03:30 pm: Svetlusky Dancers at Kosek Bandstand   
02:00 pm - 04:00 pm: Czech-Slovak Food Traditions Museum Theatre "Zabijecka"
04:00 pm: Festival ends