Famous for its spectacular bluebonnet fields, Ennis also boasts a rich cultural heritage as an early Czech settlement. You can learn about and pay homage to this fascinating history at the National Polka Festival in Texas, a yearly celebration of Czech customs, music, dance, and food. Come spend your Memorial Day Weekend eating kolaches and learning how to polka dance. You’ll never forget the experience!
Every year on Memorial Day Weekend, thousands of people converge on the tiny town of Ennis for the National Polka Festival.
Facebook/National Polka Festival Held annually for the past 55 years, the festival celebrates the town’s rich Czech heritage with traditional foods, song and dance, religious services, and an outdoor market.
The festival will take place from Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29.
Facebook/National Polka Festival Between the live bands, kolache eating contest, Saturday morning parade, and a plethora of other activities, the whole family is sure to have a blast.
Speaking of live music, there will be a total of 14 polka bands playing across three spacious halls.
Facebook/National Polka Festival One of the groups is Grammy Award-winning Brave Combo, and they sound even better in person!
Festivities kick off on Friday night with the all-important King and Queen Dance Contest.
Facebook/National Polka Festival Then, the rest of the weekend is filled with Czech customs that delight all the senses, from authentic cuisine to a beer garden and so much more.
Dance the night away, sporting traditional Czech attire if you wish – visitors are welcome and encouraged to do so!
Facebook/National Polka Festival If you’ve never done polka dancing before, don’t worry - the locals are happy to help you find your footing.
You’ll get the chance to try all sorts of Czech delicacies, from klobase (sausage) to dumplings and everything in between.
Facebook/National Polka Festival Prepare for a culinary trip around the world without ever leaving Texas!
Of course, no Czech festival would be complete without kolaches, and they’re in no short supply here.
Facebook/National Polka Festival What’s your favorite filling?
Don’t leave without taking a stroll through the marketplace to check out all the local businesses selling their wares.
Facebook/National Polka Festival From hand-poured candles to homemade jewelry, you’ll see every type of artisan good imaginable.
Visit the National Polka Festival website or Facebook page for more information, including ticket prices.
Facebook/National Polka Festival
Held annually for the past 55 years, the festival celebrates the town’s rich Czech heritage with traditional foods, song and dance, religious services, and an outdoor market.
Between the live bands, kolache eating contest, Saturday morning parade, and a plethora of other activities, the whole family is sure to have a blast.
One of the groups is Grammy Award-winning Brave Combo, and they sound even better in person!
Then, the rest of the weekend is filled with Czech customs that delight all the senses, from authentic cuisine to a beer garden and so much more.
If you’ve never done polka dancing before, don’t worry - the locals are happy to help you find your footing.
Prepare for a culinary trip around the world without ever leaving Texas!
What’s your favorite filling?
From hand-poured candles to homemade jewelry, you’ll see every type of artisan good imaginable.
Have you ever been to the National Polka Festival in Texas? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience! Tell us in the comments. Don’t forget to check out our previous article for another spring festival in Texas worth visiting!
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Address: Ennis, TX, USA
