By Julia Eckardt
Reporter
Although only about 2,800 people live in West, approximately 20,000 people are expected to visit this weekend.
Consistent with every other Labor Day for the last 39 years, West will hold its annual Westfest Czech and Polka Festival Friday through Sunday.
Brian Muska, the festival’s director of publicity, said he thinks the festival will be enjoyable for guests. Events include a carnival, helicopter rides and tractor pulls.
“There will be fun, food, music and dancing,” he said. “It will be just a good ole time for all.”
The Preview Party begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the Miss Westfest Pageant. The winner will be crowned at 7 p.m. followed by musical performances from Curtis Grimes at 8 p.m. and Pat Green at 10 p.m. Admission to Friday’s events is $20 for guests 13 and older and free for children.
The festival will last from 11 a.m. until midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Polka bands including Brave Combo, Czech & Then Some and Czechahollics will perform throughout the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, adult tickets are $8, tickets for children 6 to 12 are $6 and children 5 and under are free.
The festival will also include a kolache baking contest. Judges will end their deliberations on Sunday at 1 p.m. There are both professional and non-professional divisions, each with several categories.
Though kolaches might be the most widely known Czech food, attendees will also have the opportunity to try other sausage-themed delights such as sausage-on-a-stick, sausage burgers and sausage boats. For those who are less interested in the wide array of sausage possibilities there will be other fest favorites such as fajitas, skunk eggs and hamburgers.
On Saturday and Sunday the Sefcik Amphitheater will host a multicultural event featuring more than 20 groups of entertainers donning colorful costumes as they dance.
