Weekend Lineup
Celebrate cotton, fiddles and spring!

OMG! I don't think you could squeeze in one more event this weekend even if you brought your accordion! Below is a list of happenings. Get your GPS out and see how many you can hit in one day!
 
Burton
Texas Cotton Gin Museum Festival. Sat. April 27. Parade, contests, tractor pulls, classic car show. Music by Robert Zientek, Allison & The Two By Fours, and the Dujka Brothers. Museum tours are also available and there are classic cars and antique tractors to see. Start the party on Friday night at the White Horse Tavern with music by Allison & The Two By Fours. Then wrap up the fest at the tavern with music by Risky Liver Band.  Click here for more info on the day's events.

Hallettsville
Fiddlers' Frolics. April 26-28. Fun begins Friday night with the Cajun Fun Night starring Chris Rybak, Bonnie Riley, Keith Junot, and Sean Orr. Look for TPN Editor Gary McKee at the entrance. He'll have some free passes to give away (if you buy him a beer)! Just kidding. TPN is giving away free passes cuz we are a sponsor of this fun event. Saturday features performances by Keith Junot, Chris Rybak, Jade Patek, Randall King, and Casey Donahew. On Sunday, enjoy music by Joel Nava & The Night Riders. Click here to see the schedule for the rest of the weekend.
 
Muenster
Germanfest. April 26-28. One of the most anticipated festival of the year! German and Texas music. German food and bier. Vendors. Carnival. Sanctioned BBQ Cook-off. Fun Run. Bring the family. It's definitely one of those places where memories are made! Ennis Czech Boys and Alpenmusikanten will start the party on Friday night, along with Bellamy Brothers and Time Machine Band. Saturday, enjoy more Ennis Czech Boys and Alpenmusikanten PLUS Das Ist Lustig, dance group performances, Flatland Cavalry, and Texas favorite Ray Wylie Hubbard. On Sunday, Das Ist Lustig and Alpenmusikanten keep the polka music going while you can get your groove on with Blackout Betty, The Brehm's Band, Live 80: The Ultimate 80s Experience, and Billy Hogan. Click here to see daily schedule.
 
Bellville
Fruehling Saengerfest. Sun., April 28. Concordia Hall. The Bellville Lions Club and Bluebonnet Chapter of the German Texas Society have been hosting a spring song fest for 16 years, and this may just be their biggest and best ever. In addition to the great performances by are German singing choirs, you will be treated to a performance by Hansi, a popular entertainer from Germany. Enjoy music by Round Top Brass Band, Enzian Buam, and the Bellville High School Polka Band. The La Grange German Dancers will also perform. Rumor has that these Bellville Lions make the best barbecue chicken in the area. So get your taste buds ready for that and some cold bier. Click here for more info.
 
Houston
Czech SpringFest. Sun., Apr. 28. SPJST Lodge 88. Czech food. Vendors. Czech heritage info and items for sale. Guest artist from the Czech Republic demonstrating and selling his wood carvings. Music by Kovanda's Czech Band and Texas Legacy Czech Band. Click here for more info.
 
Sealy
Texas Heritage Music & Dance Club public dance. Sun., Apr. 28. American Legion. Dance to Fritz Hodde & Fabulous 6. This band is hot - just inducted into the South Texas Polka Hall of Fame. Always have fun extras like raffle, silent auction, and door prizes.
 
West
Spring Awakening Dance. Sun., Apr. 28. KC Hall. Dance to TWO bands - Czech & Then Some and Dujka Brothers. Feast on chicken fried steak dinner with all the trimmings. Yum!
 

Also this weekend
Friday - The Fab 5 Beatles Tribute at Lodge 88...TubaMeisters at Beethoven Maennerchor in San Antonio...Nathan Colt Young at Smithville Jamboree...Edward Kopecky's Fun Time Czech Band in Walburg. Saturday - Czechaholics in Angleton...Glen Collins & The Alibis in Austin...Pettit Brothers in La Grange...Red Ravens in New Braunfels...Shiner Hobo Band in Palacios...Pearland Opry on the Square featuring Brian Black...Jeff Woolsey in San Antonio...Johnny Bush at Smithville Jamboree...Billy Mata, Jody Nix, Jason Roberts at Bob Wills Day in Turkey, TX...Charles & Fab 4 in Wallis...Kenny James in Webster. Sunday - Brave Combo at Denton Art Fest...Country Jim & The Allstars at Houston VFW...Charles & Fab 4 in Sweet Home.




Church Picnics on Sunday
St. Mary's Grotto Celebration in Frydek with Al Sulak & Country Sounds and Texas Sound Check.
St. Michael's Springfest in Weimar. Polka Mass at the church. Food, games and music at Veterans Park featuring Lost Cause, Czechaholics, and Broken Alibi.


Looking ahead to next week: Monday - Central Texas Accordion Association meeting in Austin. Tuesday - San Antonio Accordion Association meeting. Wednesday - Pettit Brothers in Schulenburg. Thursday - Farm Street Opry in Bastrop...Floresville Opry.


Spring has sprung!  Polka On!
 


Coming in May: Al's last name may be Sulak, but he comes from a long line of musicians by the name of Krenek. Gary McKee gives us some insight into church picnic mania. We remember drummer Ernest Kurtz. TPN reader shares her story on dancing across Texas. Justin Everett reviews the Incredible Music Makers CD and profiles DJ Frank Milder from KULP. He also reports on Mason Ramsey, known as Little Hank Williams, who is causing quite a stir on the country touring circuit. Alex Meixner and Mollie B share their thoughts on their lastest Texas tours. Aggies learn to polka, thanks to Das Ist Lustig. Lots of photos from South Texas Polka & Sausage Festival and the Tomball German Heritage Festival. Of course we have your May calendar of dance, festivals, and live music events, and the listing of church picnics.

Photo Gallery 
Port Arthur Cajun Fest 
Click on photo to see images by Lauren Haase and Gary E. McKee
Moulton Church Picnic
Click on photo to see images by Joe Cool Pavlicek

Polka Trending
 
















 












Watch the videos  by Walt Harfmann of Jodie Mikula, Dujka Bros, Red Ravens, Ennis Czech Boys & Fritz Hodde at the South Texas Polka & Sausage Festival in Hallettsville...Fritz Hodde & Fab 6 in Elgin...The Moravians at TPMM Fundraiser...Alex Meixner Band at Sefcik Hall...Praha Brothers in Corn Hill...Red Ravens with special guests in Cyclone.

Watch the videos  by George Weber of the El Campo Polka Fest featuring Red Ravens, Fritz Hodde & Fab 6, The Majeks...Enzian Buam in Sealy...Red Ravens & Texas Sound Czech in Rosenberg
WEEKLY LAUGH
Jesus was wandering around Jerusalem when He decided that He really needed a new robe.
After looking around for a while, He saw a sign for Finkelstein, the Tailor.  So, He went in and made the necessary arrangements to have Finkelstein prepare a new robe for Him.  A few days later, when the robe was finished, Jesus tried it on -- and it was a perfect fit!
He asked how much He owed. Finkelstein brushed him off: No , no,  no, for the Son of God? There's no charge!  However, may I ask for a small favor?  Whenever you give a sermon, perhaps you could  just mention that your nice new robe was made by Finkelstein, the Tailor.

Jesus readily agreed and as promised, extolled the virtues of his Finkelstein robe whenever He spoke to the masses.
A few months later, while Jesus was again walking through Jerusalem , He happened to walk past Finkelstein's shop and noted a huge line of people waiting for Finkelstein's robes.

He pushed his way through the crowd to speak to him and as soon as Finkelstein spotted him he said: 'Jesus, Jesus, look what you've done for my business!  Would you consider a partnership ?'
'Certainly,' replied Jesus.  'Jesus & Finkelstein it is.'
'Oh, no, no,' said Finkelstein.  'Finkelstein & Jesus.  After all, I am the craftsman.'  The two of them debated this for some time.

Their discussion was long and spirited, but ultimately fruitful -- and they finally came up with a mutually acceptable compromise.  A few days later, the new sign went up over Finkelstein's shop:

Lord and Taylor

Submitted by Glenn Foster        Share your jokes: Theresa@polkabeat.com
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