It’s polka time in Ennis, Texas! Preparations are underway for the 52nd Annual National Polka Festival. The Polka Festival is rich in tradition and brings Czech culture to life. Known for music, dancing, food, Czech costumes and of course the parade, this event is not to be missed.
Believe us you have never experienced polka like this before! This unique family festival has something for all ages…king and queen dance contest, a festive parade through the heart of downtown, unique arts and crafts, polkafest 5k run, authentic Czech food (including those delicious kolaches), costumed dancers, 13 live Polka bands including Brave Combo, and a special country Concert featuring Parker McCollum, with special guest, the Vandoliers.
The Pivo (Beer) Pavilion will host live music downtown both Saturday and Sunday and is a great shaded area to enjoy music, dancing and cold beer in historic downtown. This year we are thrilled to have Alpenmusikanten on the stage from 4:00pm-7:00pm on Saturday. They are an awesome polka party band known for getting crowds on their feet. They have performed at Addison Oktoberfest, Wurstfest and many other events.
This year’s parade theme is “A Little Bit of Old Czechoslovakia Celebrating 100 Years of Czechoslovak Independence” and the official hashtag is #EnnisPolka2018. We are thrilled to welcome Mary Walker, Ennis’ world champion barrel racer, as our parade Grand Marshal.
Every year we welcome thousands of locals and visitors to the festival who are eager to embrace their Czech heritage or simply join in on the fun. Everybody loves to be Czech for a weekend! Details of the event are as follows:
WHERE: Downtown activities:
- Free shuttle buses provide transportation to the three music halls and
- to downtown: Downtown pick-up is at corner of NW Main and W. Belknap.
- Live polka bands at:
- Sokol Hall – 2622 E. Hwy 34, KJT Hall, 1216 S. Paris St.
- Knights of Columbus Hall - 850 S. I-45
WHEN: May 25-27, 2018 – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Fri., May 25
Kick-off Dance-King/Queen Dance Contest- 6 pm- 11:30 pm- Sokol Hall
Saturday, May 26:
20th Annual Ennis Polkafest Run, sponsored by Rotary Club of Ennis… 10K, 5K
and 1-mile fun run www.polkafestrun.com 7am
Farmers Market 8 am- 1pm (Downtown Ennis)
Polka Parade 10 am (Downtown Ennis)
Kolache Eating Contest- 1:00 pm (Downtown stage North Plaza Parking Lot)
Pivo (Beer) Pavilion- 9 am- 7 pm (North Plaza Parking Lot in Downtown Ennis)
Arts and Crafts, children’s activities, live music and food-9 am- 5 pm (Downtown Ennis)
Music at all three dance halls: KJT, Sokol and KC Hall- starting at 11:30 am
Country Concert 9 pm- midnight (Sokol Hall)
Sunday, May 27:
Live Broadcast: KBEC Polka Party 9 am - 11 am (KJT)
Arts and Crafts, children’s activities, live music and food 11 am- 4 pm (Downtown Ennis)
Polka Mass 9 am, (St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church)
Pivo (Beer) Pavilion noon-4 pm (Downtown Ennis)
Music at two dance halls – Sokol and KJT - KJT is the closing hall
Follow National Polka Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NatPolkaFest
Official #EnnisPolka2018
Visit www.nationalpolkafestival.com or visiteennis.org for the full detailed schedule or download the Ennis Y’all mobile app.
The National Polka Festival would like to thank Miller Lite, KJT Catholic Union of Texas, Kolache Depot Bakery and other sponsors for their support!
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