The Texas Wendish Heritage Society proudly announces the 36th Annual Wendish Fest, set to take place on September 22, 2024. Each year the festival shares Texas Wendish culture and history through delicious Wendish food, live polka music, unique cultural activities, drinks, folklife exhibits, and demonstrations.
The Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum, located at 275 W. Fairgrounds Rd., La Grange, Texas located within the Czech Village of the La Grange Fairgrounds, experienced a once in a lifetime event on Saturday, July 13th. Czech Republic President, Petr Pavel and his wife, Eva Pavlova along with their Presidential Brigade, Secret Service, DPS, Local Law Enforcement, the U.S. Czech Ambassador, his staff and representatives of the Czech Center Museum Houston were hosted by the Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center (TCHCC) located at 250 W. Fairgrounds Rd., La Grange, Texas.
Acknowledged Western Swing founder Milton Brown, told his brother, Roy: “The secret was that it had a good dance tempo, mm-pah-mm-pah, a 2/4 rhythm. If I pattern my music and make it a good polka tempo out of the songs I play, and play the polka tempo just a little bit harder, I think I’ll have a good band.” --- Leon “Pappy” Selph ( Light Crust Doughboys, Bob Wills, Blue Ridge Playboys) explained the success Western Swing: “When you boil it down, it was a good simple, polka beat”. In the list of music styles that West Texas hillbilly (country) bands played in the dance halls they always included polkas as the a staple, because people came to dance, not listen.
The morning of July 16, 1988 in Pearl Lake, Minnesota was warm and sunny and the Catholic Priest of Holy Cross Church decided to carry out his plan to hold worship services outdoors.
