BEATRICE – A annual ethic festival that draws thousands kicked off Friday night in southeast Nebraska.


Friday is for the kids… at the annual Czech Festival in Wilber. A children’s parade helps start the celebration Friday night. Families of Czech heritage believe strongly in preserving that heritage and culture, even at the very youngest ages.


Czech dancers put on performances Friday night on Main Street prior to the parade…with some special significance included in this 2023 celebration, according to Czech Dance instructor, Dirk Altman.  "Charlie Keller....Mr. Charlie Czech Days, has been gone ten years. And, ten years ago, we almost had 100 kids....I believe 104...do the Schottische. So, ten years later, not only for Charlie but for the Keller family.....I've got about 70 kids and the alumni have been recruiting hard....we're gonna warm up with one....the gypsy polka....and then we're going to do the Schottische."


Each year, the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber honor up to a dozen men and women for their long-term dedication to the celebration……which this year carries a theme of “Celebrating 150 Years of Czech Heritage.


The weekend schedule for this 62nd annual Czech Festival is loaded with events, displays, Czech food, historical information, a National Czech-Slovak Queen contest…and polka bands at the Hotel Wilber beer garden and the T.J. Sokol Hall.


Both days over the weekend, parades will be held through neighborhoods and the downtown area, with Sunday’s parade televised on News Channel Nebraska.
This year’s parade grand marshalls are family descendants of Charles Dana Wilber, a pioneer, scientist and founder of the community of Wilber, in 1873….which is the only town in Nebraska….named for a professor.