Ennis Polka Festival opening night ‘an unexpected surprise’

ENNIS – I had heard of the Ennis Polka Festival since I moved to the Dallas area.

This past weekend, I ended up heading over to the opening night shindig with my ECP-TV co-host Terry Murphy and Bonjour World co-host Guillaume de Vaudrey, who is visiting the area from Paris, France.

We arrived to a full KJT #35 Hall and the sounds of the Czechoholics. The anticipated King and Queen Dance contest was the highlight of the evening, which has apparently been an annual thing since 1987, when Johnnie I. and Margaret Krajca began the annual National Polka Festival King and Queen Contest.

While a Czech costume or “fancy” dancing attire was not required for the contest, as the dancers were eliminated dance by dance it did come down to two of the dance teams who the room was whispering about as “being the best” and they did have the Czech attire along with big polka smiles.

A local Czech dance group also danced a variety of songs before the dance contest began, and this year’s “Polka Prince & Princess” contest was held too. The boys and girls for that contest ranged in age from six to 10-years-old, and will represent the National Polka Festival throughout the year.

Overall, the polka festival activities lasted all weekend with parades, foods, dancing, and a variety of bands. 

It was noted too the Polka Festival in Ennis is “one of the only festivals that have three spacious halls with large dance floors where you can dance and enjoy anything from a good polka, waltz, or even a folk dance. 

“The festival has one of the biggest parades in the surrounding areas. After the parade there is an abundance of activities to be enjoyed by the entire family.”