CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY Relay for Life Breakfast Tacos Kick Off-Civic Center Flatonia FFA and 4H Stock Show & Sale Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet Fayette County Go Texan Shrimp Boil Flatonia Fireman’s Stew Supper Turtle Wing Toast Senglemann Hall (Schulenburg)

FEBRUARY Flatonia ISD-Science Night Black History Event St. Paul AME Church Knights of Columbus Dinner Sacred Heart Catholic Church Flatonia Fireman’s Fundraiser Dinner

MARCH Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Parade of Quilts Krist Baseball Tournament and Schulze Softball Tournament

Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Spring Market Day with Texas Independence Relay Flatonia Education Foundation Dinner and One Act Play Flatonia Golf Association-Flatonia American Legion Hall Flatonia Rotary Club–Pints for Polio

APRIL Rail Fan Pavilion Party Fayette County Go Texan Shrimp Boil Flatonia American Legion BBQ Chicken Fundraiser Easter Egg Hunt-Oak Manor Nursing Center Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Crawfest Jerry Weir Golf Tournament Muldoon Volunteer Fire Department Fundraiser

MAY Flatonia Chamber Spring Wine Walk, 1st Friday

Jack Hooper Day at the Ballpark and Home Run Derby Schulenburg Sports Complex

Flatonia Cinco de Mayo Fiesta downtown parking lot

ArtWalk–Arts for Rural Texas

Flatonia Rotary Golf Tournament

Flatonia American Legion Memorial Day Service

JUNE Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool and ARTS Summer Camp Sacred Hearth Catholic Church Spring Picnic–Flatonia 90 Miles on Hwy 90 Yard Sales 1st full weekend

JULY Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool and ARTS Summer Camp Incredible Knockouts–Shrimp Boil

AUGUST Summer Fun at the Flatonia City Pool and ARTS Summer Camp

Flatonia Education Foundation Golf Association and Homecoming Dance

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Praha Prazska Picnic-Always August 15th

Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, Cistern Picnic

Flatonia Bulldog Football and Lady Bulldog Volleyball begins

OCTOBER Flatonia Sacred Heart Catholic Church-Turkey and Dressing Lunch Turtle Wing Monster Dash Schulenburg Railroad Park Oak Manor Fest-everyone invited for czhili and music CZHILISPIEL (always the 4th full weekend in October) Community Trick or Treat Oak Manor Nursing Center

NOVEMBER Rail Fan Pavilion Party-Flatonia E.A. Arnim Museum and Archives Fundraiser/stew dinner and play Harvest-Arts for Rural Texas

Praha All Veterans Day Memorial Service Flatonia Citywide Thanksgiving Service-rotating local churches Wayne Hunt Scholarship Dinner Praha Hall

DECEMBER Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Village Lighting and Santa at Gazebo Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Wonderful Winter Wine Walk Merry Market Vendors-Cookie Candy Carnival-Santa and photos Annual Christmas Musical St. Paul AME Church Flatonia Bulldog and Lady Bulldog basketball tournaments

*Each month -1st Saturday Muldoon Museum, 10am to 1pm

Highlight denotes Chamber Event

THREE DAYS IN OCTOBER Czhilispiel

FLATONIA’S ICONIC MAIN EVENT FEATURES THE BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, COOK-OFFS AND FAMILY FUN

Czhilispiel is a nod to Flatonia’s Czech and German heritage. First, the name comes from a play on the word “Chili.” The addition of the “z” is a play on a Czech spelling, and the German word “spiel” means play.

The festival started in 1973 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Flatonia. Czhilispiel began as a fundraiser to help fund a local Flatonia student’s medical school education. At the time Flatonia needed a doctor, so the residents organized the Czech heritage festival and chili cook-off, Czhilispiel.

The student agreed to serve the community for at least five years after completing medical school, but ended up staying longer. Czhilispiel continues to use proceeds from the event to benefit local needs, whether for students or community services.

Over the years, Czhilispiel has grown from a small cook-off to a larger event with a concert series, biergarten, carnival, parade, arts and crafts market, 5K and various activities throughout the weekend. It is held every year on the fourth full weekend of October. Some of the past performers have included: Robert Earl Keen, Eli Young Band, Stoney LaRue, Aaron Watson, Brave Combo, The Bellamy Brothers, The Dujka Brothers, Cory Morrow, Wade Bowen, and many, many more.

Call 361-865-3920 for more information.

WINE AND SHOP Spring Into Bloom Wine Walk

FLATONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPONSORED EVENT FEATURES AREA BUSINESSES

The Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Spring Into Bloom Wine Walk is held every year in May. Featuring businesses all over town, everyone is invited to come out and enjoy a wine tasting at each stop.

In 2021, 17 businesses and organizations participated. They included the E. A. Arnim Museum, Bubela Real Estate, Cowgirl Provisions, Darlin’s Diner, Esthetics by Cate, Flatonia Chamber of Commerce, Floy Farm Interiors, Galleria Texana, Harrison Room, Inspire Beauty Salon, Lyric Theater, Olle Hotel, Rhinestone Angel, South Central Real Estate, T-Gear, The Market, and The Market 2.

Wine cups were on sale at the Chamber Office and C&M Liquor for $20.

Contact Flatonia Chamber of Commerce at 361-865-3920 for more information.

Above, patrons enjoy walking to downtown businesses to view their wares and take home a few springtime treasures; left, local businesses offer a variety of wines to sample during the annual Spring Into Bloom Wine Walk.

SHOP AWHILE Spring Market Day

EVERY MARCH, ENJOY SHOPPING, MUSIC AND TREATS AS THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE RELAY RUNS BY

Spring into Flatonia for their annual Spring Market Day, held every March on South Main. Shoppers will thrill at discovering unique gifts, clothing, toys, homemade jellies, and home décor.

Shoppers will enjoy music and refreshments on site as they welcome the Texas Independence Relay Teams as they make their way to East South Main Street for their Team Exchange. Join Flatonia in cheering them on! The Texas Independence Relay is composed of 36 relay legs of various lengths, totaling close to 200 miles. The course starts in Gonzales, where the spark of the Texas Revolution took place, and it finishes in the preeminent city of Houston.

For more information, forms and booth spaces, contact the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce at 361-865-3920 or visit them online at www.flatoniachamber.com.

HEADS OR TAILS Flatonia Crawfest

ALWAYS IN APRIL, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO CHOW DOWN IN FLATONIA

Always in April, Flatonia’s Crawfest is an event you don’t want to miss. Chow down on a feast of crawfish, shrimp, Joel’s sausage, potatoes, corn, beer, wine, and iced tea while enjoying live music, live and silent auctions, giveaways and drawings.

Tickets are available from the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce office, 208 E. North Main Street in Flatonia.

Crawfish, crayfish, mudbugs, yabbies and crawdads are all the same freshwater crustacean, the name just depends on what region of the United States they’re in. Crawfish look like very small lobsters, and are eaten steamed or boiled.

ART DISPLAYS Parade of Quilts

BEAUTIFUL QUILTS ARE ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT TOWN

The Parade of Quilts runs throughout the month of March. Visitors can view quilt displays throughout the town and local businesses and shops.

Women brought quilting to Texas long ago and have continued to practice their art, passing their traditions down through the generations and ultimately making it one of the most highly valued domestic arts.

During westward expansion, creating quilts was a routine part of the domestic training given to young girls in the United States, where the patchwork quilt was well established as the main form of bedding. This quilt was an American innovation. In frontier Texas, that same necessity made the quilt a vital part of everyday life.

Everyone is welcome to come view the expansive display of quaility, both old and new. Stop by the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce office, 208 East North Main Street, for a map.

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER Christmas in Flatonia

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR FOR VISITS WITH SANTA AND A WINE WALK

What’s the best way to finish your Christmas shopping early this year? A wine walk in Flatonia, of course! Tickets include a one-of-a-kind imprinted wine glass. Tasting of various wines are hosted at Flatonia-area businesses.

After the walk, meet at the Flatonia Civic Center for more tastings! The event will also include wine bottle ring toss, arts and crafts vendors, a cookie and candy carnival, ugly sweater contest, and door prizes.

Every December, both young and old alike will enjoy the lighting of the Christmas Village, the arrival of Santa Claus himself on a fire truck, dancers, music and refreshments. Busy elves will want to check out the Christmas Market at the Flatonia Civic Center, 208 East North Main Street.

The annual Cookie and Candy Carnival welcomes patrons to pay-by-the-pound for their goodies. Little ones will find Santa waiting to snap a photo and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Call the Flatonia Chamber of Commerce at 361865-3920 or visit their website at www.flatoniachamber. com for more information.

FLATONIA, TEXAS | 23