Weekend Lineup
National Polka Festival and Church Picnics
 
The fun at the 52nd National Polka Festival in Ennis starts tonight with the Polka On! Pre-Party sponsored by polkabeat.com and Texas Polka News. The party starts at 7 pm at the KJT Hall Bar with music by Czech & Then Some and other guest musicians. Gary E. McKee will be there to give away door prizes such as CDs, stickers, fans, t-shirts PLUS everyone attending will get the new TPN 30 koozie - hot off the press or whatever machine they use to make those. The Ennis group will be the first to see the logo and own a koozie for their very own! The festival's King & Queen contest takes place Friday night at Sokol Hall with Jodie Mikula Orchestra and Czech Republic entertainers Eva Adams Ceska Kapela. The Saturday parade is always a blast and downtown comes alive with vendors, street dances, and kolache-eating contests. Three halls will keep you polka hopping on Saturday and Sunday. Sorry I won't be there! I'll be in Los Angeles celebrating my granddaughter, Jane's first birthday!  
 
********
Church picnic alert: Sunday - Shiner Spring Church Picnic at KC Park gets underway with a pre-party Saturday night. Legal Limit is the band. On Sunday, enjoy Shiner Hobos, Mark Halata, Chris Rybak, Yodel Blitz, and The Emotions....Sacred Heart in Hallettsville features J&S Playboys, Red Ravens, and Texas Sound Check...St. Joseph in Dime Box has DJ Michael Craig playing your faves all day.

********

More great music: Donnie Broussard & Louisiana Stars will be at VFW #10352 in Houston Saturday night hosted by Cajun French Music Association. Country Jim & The Allstars will be at the same VFW the very next day for a Sunday afternoon dance.

Live from LA, y'all Polka On!

 
Subscription Drive Underway!

Only a little over a month before the big Texas Polka News birthday bash. Buy your tickets online by June 16 and you'll get a coupon to save $5 off the cost of the TPN 30 t-shirt to be unveiled at the party. Yes, if you have already bought tickets online, you get a coupon! AND, just heard today that Kountry Bakery in Schulenburg is providing the kolaches for the party. Woo hoo! Click here to get your advance tickets for $10. Mark the date on your calendar: Saturday, June 30 at KC Hall in Schulenburg. Six polka bands * Dance lessons by Valina * Door prizes * Subscription drive winners announced * Lifetime TPN subscription raffle * Slovacek's - official food sponsor * Shiner Beer - official band sponsor * Texas Folklife - official stage sponsor * Original Kountry Bakery Schulenburg - official kolache sponsor


Coming in June: Meet the winners of the Big Squeeze contest and how they came to love the national instrument of Texas. Gary E. McKee recalls his first visit to Sefcik Hall in Seaton. Get the details on the Texas-sized birthday party for TPN's 30th anniversary. Squeezebox will be in town in July for a fundraiser for the Brazosport Cares Food Pantry, and for a Sunday dance at Flag Hall in Cyclone. Alex Meixner spent some time with band students in El Campo. Justin Everett reviews the Czech Harvesters 40th Anniversary CD, talks with DJ Harold Otto of Wisconsin, and introduces us to Mason Ramsey, an 11-year-old channeling Hank Williams. We remember Jodie Hermes, one of the founders of the Red Ravens band. Check out photos from the Hostyn Picnic and the Rybaks' latest European tour. Of course, we have your monthly calendar of music events including church picnics brought to you by Live Oak Brewing Co.  
Photo Gallery brought to you by 
Polka Party Cruise!

Maifest in Anhalt
Click on photo to see images by Lauren Haase and Gary E. McKee.

Dancers & Friends



Grand March
Bluebonnet Opry Polka Show
Click on photo to see images by Julie Matus and Gary E. McKee
 

Slavnost in La Grange
Click on photo to see images by Julie Matus and Gary E. McKee.

Cajun Fest Fayetteville
Click on photo to see images by Gary E. McKee
 

SPJST Founders Day Fayetteville
Click on photo to see images by Samuel Vanicek and Theresa Parker

El Campo Thursday
Click on photo to see images by John Roberts
 
Polka Trending


Pennsylvania PolkaFest features Polish, Slovenian bands

It's polka time in Minnesota

 Pennsylvania: New Memorial weekend fest

Sitting Down with Chmielewski Family as Polkafest Begins









 











Sweet Home Volunteer Fire Depart dances. Click on photo to see images by Joe Cool Pavlicek

Swiss Alp Dance Club Click on photo to see images by John Roberts

Eva Adams Ceska Kapela at Czech Center Museum in Houston. Click on photo to see images by Julie Matus.

Watch the videos by Walt Harfmann of the polka jam at the SPJST Car Show
WEEKLY LAUGH
A couple of Bohemians - Willie and Joe are riding in a truck. Willie asks Joe what's in the cup holder. "That's my thermos," Joe said. "What's a thermos?" Willie asks. "It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold," Joe says. "Wow," says Willie, "I'm going to have to get me one of those."

The next week, Willie is at work when one of his co-workers asks him about his thermos he just bought. "What's that?" Willie tells him it's his thermos. "What's a thermos?" the co-worker asks. "It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold," Willie explains. "That's great. What's in it?" asks the co-worker. Willie quickly answers, "Chili and iced tea."
 
Submitted by Judge Janecka       Share your jokes: Theresa@polkabeat.com
Texas Polka News