KOLACHE FESTIVAL

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A CALDWELL TRADITION Kolache Festival

ANNUAL EVENT HONORS TRADITION - AND REINVENTS IT

By Michelle Banse Stokes, dancer photo by Holly Narro

Things get tasty every year in Caldwell on the second Saturday in September. The annual Caldwell Kolache Festival, on the square downtown, offers dance, song, food, crafts, period costumes, children’s activities, classic cars and beautiful quilts. The festival symbolizes the warmth and fellowship of the Bohemian people. They are proud of the heritage they honor and kindly invite you to this wonderful celebration of the kolache (pronounced koLAH-tch, with no “ee,” in local dialect).

WHAT THE FESTIVAL IS ALL ABOUT

“The festival is about celebrating the kolache,” said Janice Easter, festival chair of the Burleson Chamber of Commerce sponsored event. “We have a bake show where youth, adults, and professionals can enter multiple categories. You can also purchase kolaches from vendors that come from all over Central Texas to sell their homemade wares at the festival.”

Dating all the way back to 1984, the festival started off small, however it didn’t take long for visitors to catch on that there really is something special going on at the Kolache Festival.

“We went from tiny to a giant explosion,” shared Easter. “There were four or five years, consecutive years, where we had over 25,000 people, and the kolaches … I know that they sold 1000s of dozens, and that’s a lot! We’ve been sold out, even before noon, on a particular festival day. People get here super early for the kolaches. In addition, we have a kolache eating contest that you can join in teams, and you don’t have to sign up in advance.”

In addition to the kolaches, the festival also offers activities and entertainment for both the young and the young at heart.

“We have wholesome music all day,” added Easter. “We love polka music; who doesn’t? I’m 100% Czech, so I grew up with it. We also have approximately 250 vendors, arts and crafts and food. We have a kiddy land so, if you have small children, there is something for them, as well. There’s an antique tractor and machinery show, and a classic car show at Davidson Creek Park under the shade trees. It’s a beautiful setting.”

FUTURE OF THE FESTIVAL

Any festival of this size takes manpower and volunteers to make the magic happen and the Kolache Festival in Caldwell is no exception.