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Duncanfest celebrated

Goodtime Dutchmen

by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –

DUNCAN, IOWA – The 10th Annual Duncanfest was celebrated September 15th and 16th at the Community Ballroom in Duncan, Iowa.

The festivities started Saturday at noon with Malek’s Fishermen Band playing until 2:00 pm. Bob and Peggy Malek, from Duncan, are not only involved in the Band, but also help organize and promote the Community Ballroom. The Ballroom has the capacity to hold 500 people, and it was close to being full.

After the Malek’s Fishmen Band was done playing, the Goodtime Dutchmen from Kewaskum, Wisconson started to play. The beautifully decorated, air-conditioned, 50×75 foot, hardwood dance floor was full. With Polka music filling the air the dancers were swarming the dance floor. Without concentrated effort, the dancers were light on their feet, like they had been dancing for years.

At the same time, there was a line for the free ice cream. A free Ice Cream Social was offered in celebration of the Special Tenth Anniversary of Duncanfest.

The third band that would be playing Saturday at 7:00 pm was, Larry Rysavy & The Out-of Town Czechs from Rochester, Minnesota. The music played until 10:00 pm.

Ice Cream Social

Sunday morning, second day of Duncanfest started at 8:00 am with Polka Mass by Malek’s Fishermen Band at St. Wenceslaus Church, with a 9:00 buffet breakfast following at the Ballroom.

At noon, the dancing will start again with the Larry Rysavy & The Out-of-Town Czechs and Barefoot Becky & The Ivanhoe Dutchmen. There will be non-stop music up til 6:00 pm.

Admission was $12.00 on Saturday and $10.00 on Sunday. A two day pass could be purchased for $20.00.

Duncan also offered camping, for those that traveled. Camping fees are $15.00 per night for electric and $10.00 per night for non-electric.

A little history of Duncan, that was taken from their website:

Duncan Community Ballroom, nestled in the small Czech village of Duncan, Iowa, located just west of Garner on Highway 18, has been a popular event center in North Iowa for many years. This ballroom proves that the small towns in America’s heartland are still active today with pride in volunteerism as well as their heritage.

In September of 1899, 13 men gathered at a country school and organized the Catholic Workman, Branch 51. As the town grew, a community hall wa needed. In 1922, members of Branch 51 organized the construction of a new brick community hall. On the night of the grand opening the Duncan Band played, while a generator and Model-T engine hooked together supplied lights in the hall. The Community Hall was a very active place and held many fundraisers, dances and Czech plays.

On June 25, 1951, a tornado destroyed the Community Hall, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, homes, businesses and farm places. Through the strength and faith of the community, the town of Duncan was rebuilt. Through collaborative efforts, a new Duncan Ballroom was built. The community that worked together could once again celebrate together.

Go to their website, http://www.duncanballroom.com/ to read more on the history of Duncan and on the Ballroom.

The dance floor. Click photo to view larger.

Watch video:

httpv://youtu.be/71Fy4oJ6OZI

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