Tabor Czech Days in South Dakota

Czech Days – an annual celebration that has kept alive the heritage of the early founders of the little South Dakota community who came to Tabor from Czechoslovakia as early as 1869 – are synonymous with fun, music, entertainment, dancing, and traditional Czech foods.

This year’s celebration on June 16, 17 and 18 – the 63rd annual Czech Days in Tabor – will be kicked off by Mac’s Carnival and Attractions on the Midway and the Craft Fair in the school gym on Thursday evening. There’s a fireworks display later.

The Information Center in the Community Center is open Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Here Czech souvenirs including cook books, kolace baking video’s and DVDs, jewelry, tapes, CDs of the Tabor 1890 Band, and other items may be bought. A Kolace and roll baking demonstration will be held on both days in the Information Center. There’s a quilt display at Quilter’s Quarters. 

An authentic mini Czech Pioneer Village and Museum located south of Sokol Park in Vancura Memorial Park is open to the public both days with walking tours. The adjacent Blachnik Museum is also open. 

Friday’s festivities include a giant parade, free concerts and a Polka Dance-off Contest. Saturday’s fun will include a Kiddie Parade with plenty of clowns and balloons (the categories are: Dolls, Bicycle, Pet, and Miscellaneous), Kolace baking demonstrations, and a sanctioned Pedal Tractor Pull Competition with Fred’s Combo Concert in Sokol Park in the afternoon.   

The Czech Polka Mass at 5pm in St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church will have the Tabor Area Czech Singers and Musicians providing Czech singing and music.

The crowning of the 2011 Czech Days Queen at Sokol Park will be followed by the Coronation Ball.

For more information about top events in South Dakota take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in South Dakota. 

For more information on Tabor’s Czech Days visit  www.taborczechdays.com

Fremont Fair in Seattle

The 40th Annual Fremont Fair on June 18 and 19 is a celebration off Seattle’s eclectic and artsy Fremont neighborhood. 

At the heart of the Fair are over 300 vendor booths filled with original arts and crafts, whimsical creations, handmade jewelry, imported tapestries and much more. Strolling through the streets of the Fair, you will find not only hundreds of artistic whimsies from chalk art to body paint, but some 50 funky hand painted art cars. Cars travel from across the country to create this huge gathering of Art Cars.

Showcasing Seattle’s favorite bands on four stages, plus a grilling competition, yoga for the solstice and artsy spectacles, the Fremont Fair has an outstanding music and entertainment line-up. With music on the Redhook Main Stage until 10pm, fairgoers can celebrate the solstice until the sun goes down.

Among the must-see-and-do artsy activities for the weekend is the Fremont Arts Council Solstice Parade on Saturday, June 18 at noon, a showcase of art via human-powered floats.

On Sunday, June 19 – the Dads & Dogs Day –  fairgoers are invited to bring their four-legged friends to participate in this fun pup procession. Bring your puppy in creative costume or let your dog strut his or her stuff au naturale.

The Fremont Fair is free and open to the public and runs from 10am to 8pm on Saturday with the Redhook Main Stage and Redhook Main Stage Beer Gardens open until 10pm. On Sunday, the Fair is open from 11am to 6pm.

For more information about top events in Washington State take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Washington State. 

For more information and a complete schedule of activities at the Fremont Fair visit www.fremontfair.org