Weekend Lineup
Here a fest, there a fest, everywhere a fest!

Fort Worth!
Oktoberfest Fort Worth is a three-day German festival so authentic, you'll forget you're in Texas. The festival, presented by Spaten, will stay true to the traditional, Munich-style Oktoberfest with authentic German food, music, and entertainment. Enjoy the indoor and outdoor biergartens including a main hall where authentic German beer, Spaten, will serve its Oktoberfest brew, and a craft biergarten that will serve fall and Oktoberfest craft beers from around the country.  The Alex Meixner Band will join the entertainment lineup this year all three days, along with Auf Geht's, Alpenmusikanten, Das Ist Lustig, and more. After you're through dancing, enjoy the dachshund races, a keg-rolling contest, chicken dancing, stein-lifting competition, and dancers of all ages performing traditional folk dances

Lockhart!
Lockhart welcomes you to the 2nd Annual Western Swing Festival on Sept. 28, 28, and 29. The weekend kicks off  with the 32nd Annual Hall of Fame  induction and show. The event was  held for five years in Austin, 25 in San  Marcos, and last year was moved to  Lockhart, also known as the BBQ  Capital of Texas.
Saturday's entertainment takes  place on eight stages.   The headline act is  Bob Wills' Texas  Playboys  directed by Jason Roberts.  The Playboys will play at the Saturday  Night Festival Dance located at the  Main Stage. Other Western Swing  acts include Al Dressen's Super Swing  Revue (also known in Lockhart as the  BBQ Playboys),  Billy Mata and Texas  Tradition, Tony Harrison Band, Lake  Travis Fiddlers, Hillary Klug, Big  Cedar Fever, Sophia Johnson Band, Hot  Texas Swing, Rollfast Ramblers, Erik Hokkanen Band,  and the  Hall of Fame All Stars.

McKinney!
McKinney celebrates its annual Oktoberfest the last weekend in September (Sept. 27-29) by closing off the historic downtown square to create a 14-block beer garden. It's a family-fun event with plenty of mouth-watering authentic German food and drink and attractions for all ages set in one of the largest, most authentic and beautiful historic downtowns in Texas.  A new component to this year's festival is a "McKinney to Munich" sweepstakes in which one lucky person will win a trip for two to Munich's Oktoberfest in September 2020. Enjoy music by Royal Klobasneks, Alpenmusikanten, Czech & Then Some, Auf Geht's, Brave Combo, and Alex Meixner.

Hallettsville!
The Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce invites you to the 25th Annual Kolache Festival on Saturday at the KC Hall. F estivities start off with the "42" Domino Tournament Friday Night Warm-Up and then Tournament Play on Saturday.  
The 5K will take place bright and early on the Courthouse Square Saturday at 7:30 am followed by the Parade at 10:00 a.m.  There will be a Kolache Eating Contest along with the Kolache Baking Demo by 2019 Kolache Queen, Emily Castillo.  There will be arts and crafts booths, food booths, BBQ Cook-Off, and Car Show along with a train ride and Texas Born Amusements Carnival for the kiddos Thursday through Sunday.  Of course, it wouldn't be a festival without music! Come out and enjoy the Dujka Brothers, Chris Rybak, Texas Sound Czech, The Red Ravens, Czechaholics, and Los Kolaches.

Houston!
Put on your lederhosen and dirndls, it's time for 2 DAYS of Oktoberfest Houston!
Oktoberfest Houston features live music from some of the best polka bands in Texas,  including Enzian Buam, Off the Grid, Chris Rybak, Wie Gehts, Eurofest, and Gene  Hackemack along with German folk dancers and performances. There will be a wide  variety of German & Texas beers to sip on while enjoying Bratwurst or other tasty  German food from one of our food vendors. Upgrade your ticket to VIP for  complimentary beverages and food as well as expedited entry, preferred seating, and  more!

San Antonio!
Have a stein of beer and enjoy some German sausage while you sing and dance to your favorite polka on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The color, music, spectacle, festivities and of course THE BEER from the world's largest Oktoberfest in Munich, can be sampled right in San Antonio, at the Riverwalk Bier Garten every day of the year, but special emphasis is placed on the German tradition during Oktoberfest on Sept. 27-29. Enjoy music by Austin Polka Band, Off the Grid, and more.

Blanco!
Raise the Roof Fundraiser @ Twin Sisters Dance Hall - Start with Friday Night Fiesta including salsa making compeitition, then enjoy music on Saturday by Tibby, Temper & Cadillac, 11:30A; Master Fiddler Belen Escobedo, 1P; Zydeco Blanco & Bobby Mack, 3P; The Champions, 6:30-8:30P; John Christopher Way Band, 8:30P-12A

Church picnic alert!
SEALY: Immaculate Conception Bazaar @ Columbus Club Hall - Kovanda's Czech Band, 11A
HOUSTON: St. Jerome Fall Festival - Black Tie Affair, 7-10P on Friday; Grupo Vital, 5-8:45P on Saturday

Check out these TPN/polkabeat advertisers
Cistern Country Store Friday: Vic Rodriguez...Saturday: Tracie Lynn...Thursday (10/3): DJ Marty-Mar
Krause's Cafe Wednesday (10/2): All Mixed Up Variety Band
Mullins Prairie Store Saturday: Al Sulak & Country Sounds
Schroeder Hall Friday: Joel Nava...Saturday: Rocky King Band...Sunday: Shiner Hobo Band Polka Party

Also this weekend
Houston Slavic Heritage Festival on Sunday at Northside Columbus Hall...Check the schedule on homepage of polkabeat.com for more Ofest action at breweries and an OFest on Sunday in New Taiton: Texas Legacy Czech Band will provide the music from 2-6 pm, but come early for a great dinner from the kitchen of Freddie P. Vacek. It will be piping hot and ready for you at 1 pm--PORK STEAK, SAUSAGE, SAUERKRAUT, POTATOES, RICE SALAD, AND GARLIC TEXAS TOAST. For $8 you cannot beat that! It will also be available while it lasts after the dance starts for those who wish to eat later. Bring your instruments for a 5:30 pm jam...Red Ravens at Methodist Church dance in Shiner Saturday...Cajun dance at Houston VFW with Jason De Leon...Wade Andrew Smith & Driftwood at Lodge 88 in Houston...Lost Cause at Lodge 18 in Elgin on Sunday...Southern Breeze at Houston VFW on Sunday

Looking ahead to next week: Monday - Charles Thibodeaux & Austin Cajun Aces in Austin.   Tuesday The Gathering Music Show @ Geronimo VFW, Featuring Jade Jack Stone & Dottie Jack...Houston Accordion Association Jam @ Son Nam Vietnamese Restaurant... Wednesday - Sean Orr in Austin...Brave Combo at State Fair in Dallas...Pettit Brothers in Schulenburg... Thursday - Farm Street Opry in Bastrop with Billy Mata and Myra Rolen...Floresville Opry with Bobby Flores and Hayden C. James

Oktoberfests next weekend: Fredericksburg, San Antonio Riverwalk, Southlake, King's Biergarten in Pearland, Crockett, Kilgore, La Grange, Muenster




May your stein never be empty as you Polka On!

The Round Top Brass Band is keeping the tradition of community brass bands going. Gary E. McKee looks at the German influence on the Texas social scene. Theresa Parker invites readers to support live music venues such as Pavlas Tavern in Moulton and Mullins Prairie Store near La Grange. Justin Everett reviews music by country teen singer Mason Ramsey, profiles DJ Egon Barthels of Gonzales, and features Mason Nesvadba, the newest member of the Red Ravens. Find out more about a celebration at Wied Hall, located halfway between Hallettsville and Shiner, coming in November. Of course, we have your October calendar of dances, festivals, and live music events, and the listing of church picnics. Visit
texaspolkanews.com to see latest issue.

Photo Gallery 
Victoria Czech Fest Musiky & Fun
Click on photo to see images by Karen Kurtz, Joe Cool Pavlicek,  Gary E. McKee
Victoria Czech Fest Fun Things Do
Click on photo to see images by Karen Kurtz, Joe Cool Pavlicek, Gary E. McKee, and Bernadette Bellanger
 
OFest at Houston Liederkranz
Click on photo to see images by Julie Matus
OFest at Karbach Brewery
Click on photo to see images by Julie Matus 

Polka Trending
 
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How authentic is Denver's Oktoberfest? We sent a German reporter to find out.

11 Houston festivals you need to attend this Fall

7 beers to help you feel the fall vibes in Austin

Oktoberfest Houston 2019 brings fun-packed weekend to city

Island Oktoberfest brings oompah fun, festivities Oct. 25-27


Czech Influences Live On
Texas Czech Genealogical Society will present a program on Sat., Sept. 28 at the Caldwell Civic Center, Caldwell, TX.
Speakers will address painted churches, early Brethren churches, Czech cemeteries, Czech ceramics & glass. Learn more and register.
 











Houston Polish Festival
Click on photo to see imagges by Julie Matus and Harvey Wise

Watch the videos  by Walt Harfmann of Schuetzenfest with 
The Original Bavarian Blasmusik and  Donnie Wavra...James & Halie Marek wedding reception with Dujka Brothers, Fritz Hodde/Fab 6, and Lee Roy Matocha Review...
Walburgfest with Walt & Kurt Harfmann, Walburg Boys, & AlpenMusikanten...Fritz Hodde & Fab 6 at Granger picnic...Dujka Brothers & Praha Brothers at Praha Picnic...Mark Halata & Texavia at Elgin.


Watch the videos  by George Weber of Czech & Then Some and The Moravians at Caldwell Kolache Festival...Texas Sound Check, Charles & Fab 4, Mark Halata & Texavia at PoLK of A party in New Taiton...Ennis Czech Boys, Dujka Brothers, Mason Nesvadba at at East Bernard Kolache Fest...Shiner Hobos and Mark Halata/Texavia at Shiner Picnic.
WEEKLY LAUGH
I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to   join a fitness club and start exercising.  
I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.  
I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour.  But,   by the time I got my leotards on,   the class was over.

Submitted by Roy Haag   Share your jokes:
Theresa@polkabeat.com
Texas Polka News