Czech Out the National Polka Festival in Ennis

Polkas, waltzes, and fun are part of the National Polka Festival held on Memorial Day Weekend as Ennis, celebrates 56 years of Czech heritage and traditions. Brave Combo and Alex Meixner headline the festival and they are accompanied by more than a dozen bands from around the state.

Czech music was played by settlers from Czechoslovakia who emigrated to central Texas during the 19th century. Today’s Czech music is part of the settlers’ living cultural heritage and includes traditional and modern forms of folk music.

The pre-festival begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 25, and the festival continues Friday through Sunday, May 26 to 28.

The annual event offers several activities to be enjoyed by the entire family in a small town atmosphere.

The two-time Grammy Award winning band Brave Combo of Denton performs Saturday and Sunday at the KJT Hall. KJT is short for Katolická Jednotá Texaská, or Catholic Union of Texas in the Czech language. KJT is located at 1216 S. Paris Street in Ennis.

The festival also features Grammy-nominated Alex Meixner of New Braunfels. His energetic style on the accordion and several other instruments is popular among Czech music fans. He also promotes national brands such as Hormel Pepperoni and appeared in The Polka

King with Jack Black (2017). Meixner was nominated for Best Polka Album in the 2008 Grammys for Polka Freak Out

Bands from Ennis and around the state include The Moravians, Czech and Then Some, the Ennis Czech Boys, the Jodie Mikula Orchestra, Stribrnanka, the Czechaholics, Texas Sound Czech, the Dujka Brothers, the Texas Dutchmen, Alpen Musikan, the Praha Brothers, Mark Halata Texavia, Jerry Haisler & the Melody 5, Vaneks of West, and Fritz Hodde & the Fabulous 6.

For information call (972) 878-4748 or (888) 366-4748 or visit www.nationalpolkafestival.com.