St. Wenceslas Celebrations

International Folklore Festival

FREEDOM AND SPORT - 70^th anniversary of the American football match played by the U.S. Army

St. Wenceslas Celebrations will once again take place during the last weekend in September, this time extended by an extra day (25- 28 September). The International Folklore Festival will be a traditional addition and a new addition this year will be the FREEDOM AND SPORT event.

Individual participating folklore ensembles will present their skills in the town streets on Friday starting from 4 pm and make the entire town alive with dancing. A folk trio will provide musical entertainment: Nezmaři, Epydemye and Wabi Daněk with Miloš Dvořáček.

The folk theme will continue on Saturday as well. Apart from folklore ensembles shows there will also be music of Celtic Brittany performed by the band Bran. You can also enjoy dancing at the Eggenberg gardens, take part in the fun afternoon for kids or learn more about procession of wine grapes. St. Wenceslas Open Door Night of Museums and Galleries commences at 8 pm giving free of charge access to various interesting exhibitions and expositions.

An authentic story of our country will take place on the main square on Sunday - The Story of Cyril and Methodius. It is a road show composed of theatre, quizzes, games, crafts,music etc. You can also learn more about our town by taking part in a free guided tour or relax at the Eggenberg gardens.

The Celebration´ conclude on a festive note on Monday with St. Wenceslas Holy Mass and extraordinary tours of the St. Vitus Church and St. Wenceslas Chapel.

FREEDOM AND SPORT - REPLAY AFTER 70 YEARS

The very first American football army league match in post-war Europe took place in Český Krumlov in September 1945. The match was between the 94^th Infantry Division and the 22^nd Armored Division of the U. S. Army.

The idea came to fruition this year as Český Krumlov celebrated 70^th anniversary of WW II end and attending guests included the U. S. Ambassador Andrew Shapiro and Commander of the U. S. Armies in Europe General Ben Hodges. The Dragoons have agreed to return to Český Krumlov in September to remember this historical match  by a symbolic replay. A team of the 2^nd Cavalry Regiment of the U. S. Army led by Tim Payment who was commander of the Dragoon Ride through the Czech Republic in spring 2015 will play against Prague Panthers, the Czech champions of American football.

And so the friendly American football match will be played on Saturday 26 September 2015 on the football stadium in Český Krumlov between the Dragoon and Prague Panther teams. The event is generously supported by the Czech Republic Army, the U. S. Ambassador Shapiro and especially the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic Lt. General Bečvář and General Hodges. A soccer match will follow on Sunday 27 September between the Dragoon and Czech Army teams. This will be the first soccer match in history between two allied armies. A historical military camp will be built near the stadium with weapons demonstrations and an enactment of the 94^th Infantry Division that operated in Český Krumlov during the 1945 match.

www.ckrumlov.cz/svs2015