Yukon's Oklahoma Czech Festival turns 60 with a free two-day celebration in downtown Yukon. Organizers expect more than 30,000 visitors, a parade along Route 66 and close to 200 vendor booths.
The festival runs Friday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities center on the Oklahoma Czechs building at 25 N. Fifth St.
This year's theme, "Czechin' Our Roots on Rt. 66," ties the milestone anniversary to the Route 66 centennial. The festival is a registered Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Event, and Saturday's parade rolls directly along the historic highway through downtown, according to the festival's official website.
"Here we are at 60 years. Who would've known that we would still be doing this and celebrating our heritage?" Alanna Bradley, publicity chair of Oklahoma Czechs, told KOCO on Sept. 24.
The festival started in 1966 to mark Yukon's 75th anniversary and has grown every year since. Oklahoma Czechs, the nonprofit that hosts the event, bakes more than 2,400 dozen kolače for the occasion. Klobásy sausage sandwiches, a beer garden called the Pivo Garden, food trucks and carnival rides round out the offerings.
Saturday's parade steps off at 10 a.m. along Main Street from Garth Brooks Boulevard to Third Street. Organizers say it will feature more than 80 floats and entries, according to OKW News. At 4 p.m., the 2026-27 Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty will be crowned, followed by a Coronation Ball at the Yukon Czech Hall, 205 N. Czech Hall Road.
Oklahoma Czechs President Kim Landes Rex said in a Sept. 9 announcement on KOKH that the festival is deeply personal for families who grew up with it. "You don't have to be Czech to be part of it," she said.
The Yukon City Council voted 5-0 on Aug. 11 to approve a $4,000 Main Street grant to the Yukon 66 Main Street Association for Czech Festival promotion, according to council minutes. The council also approved an annual services agreement with Oklahoma Czechs at its July 28 meeting, covering city support, equipment and use of city property.
Drivers should plan ahead Saturday. The city of Yukon will reduce Garth Brooks Boulevard to one lane in each direction and restrict Main Street from Garth Brooks Boulevard to Third Street to local traffic only until the parade ends.
Admission is free.
More information is available at czechfestivaloklahoma.com.
Upcoming community events
- Thursday, Oct. 1: YWCA OKC Wreath of Hope ceremony at the state Capitol
- Friday-Friday, Oct. 2-3: 60th Annual Oklahoma Czech Festival, downtown Yukon (free admission)
