You may know them as kolache, but the Czech-American pastry is known as kolacky in Minnesota, and this weekend the town of Montgomery puts on their big party in honor of the filled pastry.  The first festival was in October of 1929 (just days before the big stock market crash!) .  The festival was later held in August, and then moved to late July at the request of the local Green Giant canning facility so as not to interfere with corn processing season.

One of the big events of the festival is the home-baked kolacky contest.  Awards will be given in the categories of Best Tasting Traditional Kolacky (traditional means prune or poppyseed filling), Best Tasting Non-Traditional Kolacky (any other filling), Most Perfectly Shaped Kolacky, and Largest Kolacky.  There’s also an Authentic Czech Dinner Friday evening, a beer garden, plenty of food stands, an ice cream social on Saturday, and the Kolacky Eating Contest on Sunday.

Of course, there will be plenty of Czech music and dancing, a Queen’s pageant, and the big parade on Sunday.  Check out the full schedule at the Kolacky Days website.