By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Great weather last Saturday in Yukon provided an ideal setting for the 56th Annual Oklahoma Czech Festival.
Tens of thousands of people came to Yukon for the day-long celebration of Czech traditions and customs.
“Welcome to the amazing, some-kind-of-wonderful City of Yukon, the ‘Czech Capital of Oklahoma’,” Mayor Shelli Selby told the crowd. “We are so thankful that you’re here with us today.
“Enjoy this day as we celebrate our great Czech history.”
Presented by Oklahoma Czechs, Inc., this year’s festivities featured the return of the carnival and midway, along with a traditional downtown parade, live music and dancing, royalty crowning, craft fair, food booths, and more.
Czech volunteers sold about 30,000 kolache (the famous Czech pastry) and 1,800 pounds of klobasy on the festival grounds.
After the parade, the crowd gathered at noon “under the big tent” outside the Czech Building at 5th Cedar. There, everyone sang the U.S., Czech and Slovak anthems – capping it off with the Oklahoma state song.
Two state legislators who represent Yukon greeted festivalgoers.
“We have people here from all across the great State of Oklahoma and nationally – from South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Texas,” said State Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon. “This is something that we are so proud of, because our Czech heritage is a part of who we are in this community.
“Thank you for coming on such a beautiful day to celebrate with us!”
Rep. Baker reminded the crowd that Yukon hosts Czech Day on the first Saturday every October. The tradition started in 1966 when Yukon celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Also addressing the audience was District 43 State Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, who thanked Mayor Selby for “ordering up this awesome weather.”
“Isn’t this a great day to be here?” Rep. Steagall asked, to rousing cheers.
Throughout the afternoon, the Oklahoma Czech Folk Dancers performed to the delight of the audience.
The program was led by Director Elaine Benda, whose parents help start the festival in the mid-1960s.
“Thank you for coming … you’re welcome any time in our Czech community,” Benda said.
Oklahoma Czechs Inc. President Marjorie Jezek gave her assessment of last Saturday’s festival.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Jezek, in her 20th year as festival chair. “It was a wonderful show.
“We sold out of everything (by 2 p.m.) and all the vendors were happy. Nobody had any complaints.”
PARADE, ROYALTY WINNERS
About 110 entries were featured in the morning Czech Day parade along Yukon’s Main Street. Winners were announced in three divisions.
Youth:
1st – YHS Student Council
2nd – Banner School
3rd – St John Nepomuk Catholic School
Commercial:
1st – R&B Trees
2nd – Jewelry Closet
3rd – Conquest Martial Arts
Adult:
1st – Central Oklahoma Ballet
2nd – Corgis of Yukon
3rd – Youth and Family Services
Parade judges were Gloria Olvera, Rob O’Hara and Susan O’Hara. Grand parade marshal was Natalie Jasinski.
Crowned as the 2022-23 Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty were:
- Queen Jayden Mason of Stillwater
- Junior Queen Hannah Thomason of Yukon
- Princess London Lippencott of Mustang
- Prince Rex Gering of Oklahoma City
Thirteen contestants competed during the Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty Pageant on Sunday, Sept. 25 at Yukon Czech Hall, 205 N Czech Hall Road.
Pageant judges were Katrina Imhoff, Aimee Sikes and Heather Smith.
The grand march of the newly crowned Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty Court was last Saturday night, back at Yukon Czech Hall.
The Bohemian Knights Band and The Masopust Polka Band entertained with live music in the afternoon outside the Czech Building and in the evening inside historic Czech Hall.
