Omaha Festival Celebrates Czech and Slovak Heritage

April 8th, 2025

The Omaha Czech Slovak Cultural Club will host its annual Czech Slovak Cultural Festival on Saturday, April 13, in Omaha. The festival will celebrate culture, tradition, and heritage.

The event will feature polka music, traditional dancing, and authentic Czech meals, offering attendees a vibrant and hands-on experience with the customs of Czech and Slovak communities.

“We want to share our culture and to celebrate it,” said Coleen Kurmel, treasurer of the Omaha Czech Slovak Cultural Club.

The city’s Czech and Slovak roots run deep. More than five percent of Omaha’s population can trace their ancestry to Czech or Slovak immigrants, many of whom helped build the foundation of neighborhoods like Little Bohemia.

The Omaha Czech Slovak Cultural Club, which began in the 1970s, has played an important role in preserving that heritage. Its early efforts focused on keeping the Czech language alive. Today, the group continues to foster community through events, education, and cultural exchange.

“At one of our recent meetings, the Slovak ambassador and his wife gave a presentation on Slovakia,” said Victory Sedlacek, the club’s secretary. “We’re always looking for ways to connect our members with the modern culture, as well as the traditions.”

This year’s festival will also include a raffle to support the club’s scholarship fund for students of Czech or Slovak heritage.

“We want to make sure that we are supporting education—that’s very important to us,” Kurmel said. “If you have Czech or Slovak roots, we encourage you to apply.”

Guests can also take photos in traditional Czech clothing, known as kroj, provided by the Czech and Slovak Educational Center and Cultural Museum.

The event is open to the public. The Czech Slovak Cultural Club’s Facebook page has more details.