By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
The Oklahoma Czech Building, 5th and Cedar, has a refreshed look just in time for Yukon’s upcoming Czech Day festivities.
Yukon Middle School art teacher Leslie Aubrey took on a summer painting project for Oklahoma Czechs, Inc., which presents a Czech heritage celebration on the first Saturday each October.
Aubrey painted and restored the folk art on the peeling and rusting exterior doors of the Oklahoma Czech Building, 5th and Cedar.
The YMS teacher spent many long hours working in this summer’s extreme heat.
“She did a wonderful job, and we really appreciate the time and care she took preserving and bringing that art back to life for us,” said Oklahoma Czechs committee member Debbie Kessler.
The 57th Annual Oklahoma Czech Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 7 in Yukon – the “Czech Capital of Oklahoma.”
The Oklahoma Czech Building serves as the festival “hub,” with music, dancing and food all day highlighted by the announcement of new Oklahoma Czech-Slovak royalty.
Passing on their crowns during a 4 p.m. ceremony will be the 2022-23 Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty:
Queen Jayden Mason of Stillwater, Junior Queen Hannah Thomason of Yukon, Prince Rex Gering of Oklahoma City, and Princess London Lippencott of Mustang.
ROYALTY PAGEANT
The Oklahoma Czech-Royalty Pageant will be Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1 at historic Yukon Czech Hall, 205 N Czech Hall Road.
Contestants for the 2023-24 Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty will be judged in several categories while wearing their Czech kroj (native attire).
“We have 13 participants this year,” said Kessler, who serves as the pageant director. “One queen-elect, three junior queen contestants, four prince contestants, and five princess contestants.”
A story and photos of this year’s royalty candidates will appear in an upcoming edition of The Yukon Progress.
