Kolache Capital of Texas (Caldwell); Home of the Official Kolache (West)

The kolache (a Czech pastry) is so important that there have been two bills before the Texas leagislature! In 1989, the city of Caldwell was declared the “Kolache Capital of Texas.” Then, in 1997, the city of West was declared to be “Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature.”
 
Caldwell hold an annual Kolache Festival. West holds an annual Westfest that features a Kolache Baking Contest. Both towns originally contained many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
 
   
Texas Monthly, 9-1-2005
Best Fests | The month in kolaches.
Even if you’ve never eaten a kolache, you’ve surely seen the roadside signs duking it out for the attention of weary travelers barreling down the highways of Central Texas: “Exit now! Get your kolaches here!” “The very best kolaches are here!” Clearly a claim to fame for more than a few small-town bakeries, these golden rounds of buttery sweet yeast dough with a dollop of fruit or other filling in the middle are a culinary gift from the Czech and Slovak immigrants who began settling here about 150 years ago. And to connoisseurs, they’re serious business. The Legislature designated the town of Caldwell the Kolache Capital of Texas in 1989, then eight years later honored West, kolache mecca for many Texans, as the “home of the official kolache of the Texas Legislature” (whatever that means). Regardless, both towns are getting a run for their money: Kolache bakeries are sprouting up like bagel shops in trendy neighborhoods in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. And each of them has its own version of the perfect kolache. Of course, purists will argue that the true Old World pastry is a large, flat pizzalike confection. And they’ll insist on traditional fillings like prune, cottage cheese, and poppy seed, even as these are fast giving way to such innovations as pesto chicken, jalapeño-cheese, and barbecued beef. But you can judge for yourself this month—and enjoy polka music, folk dancing, and kolache-baking and -eating contests while you’re at it—at these three beloved festivals. Courtney Bond
 
Thirtieth annual Westfest, West
September 3 and 4
westfest.com
 
Twenty-first annual Kolache Festival, Caldwell
September 10
bc-chamber.com
 
Eleventh annual Kolache Fest, Hallettsville
September 24
hallettsville.com/kolache.htm
 
Welcome to Burelson County, Texas
Czech it out! 23rd Annual Kolache Festival™
“The Kolache Capital of Texas” 
Join us for the 23rd Kolache Festival to be held on Saturday, September 8, 2007 from 9am-10pm (always 2nd Saturday in September).  Czech out photos and more from the 22nd annual Kolache Festival. 
 
Westfest
Kolache Baking Contest Sunday September 2, 2007

Everyone is invited to enter their kolaches in the Westfest Kolache Baking contest.

Back this year…..Buchta Contest…....buchta must be 6’” in length and unsliced.
 
This contest is open to both professional and non-professional bakers. Kolaches must be made of scratch yeast dough and the entries must consist of six average size kolaches of the same filling.
 
Registration is at the West Community Center at 9:00 am to 9:45 am and after the l0:15 Polka Mass. Judging begins at 1:00 pm. Winners announced at 3:30pm
 
There is no entry fee for this event.
 
Official Capital Designations - Texas State Library
Kolache Capital of Texas
Caldwell
House Concurrent Resolution No. 171, 71st Legislature, Regular Session (1989)
   
Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature
West
House Concurrent Resolution No. 185, 75th Legislature, Regular Session (1997)
 
Texas Legislature
SENATE RESOLUTION 210
Senator Sibley offered the following resolution:
 
WHEREAS, On February 8, 2001, many proud residents from West will gather in Austin to celebrate West Day at the State Capitol; and
 
WHEREAS, Established in 1881, this charming town in McLennan County was named for prominent businessman, landowner, and postmaster Thomas West; originally a farming community, West has grown through the years and now has a diverse economy that includes varied manufacturing; and
 
WHEREAS, Many citizens of West are of Czechoslovakian descent, and the city recognizes this part of its unique heritage with an annual Westfest celebration that draws visitors from across the Lone Star State and features music, arts and crafts, and traditional foods, such as sausage, homemade dumplings, apple strudel, and luscious fruit and meat kolaches; in addition, the city earned the notable honors of being designated as the Czech Heritage Capital of the State of Texas and home of the official kolache by the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas; and
 
WHEREAS, This thriving small Texas town is also home to more than 90 businesses, a hospital, a library, and the Katy Depot Museum; residents and visitors can keep up with all the news and events in West and the rest of the state in the West News, a weekly newspaper that was established in 1889 and holds the distinction of being the oldest business in the city; and
 
WHEREAS, Located a scant 80 miles south of Dallas, West provides its citizens with a splendid combination of small-town virtues and access to big-city life; and
 
WHEREAS, Today, West has a population of more than 2,800 people and remains one of the Lone Star State’s great assets; it is an outstanding place in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it is most appropriate to pay tribute to it at this time; now, therefore, be it
 
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 77th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 8, 2001, as West Day at the State Capitol and extend to its citizens sincere best wishes for future success and happiness.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark KOLACHE FESTIVAL
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Annual Kolache Festival event with promotional merchandise (i;e; t-shirts, caps, mugs, bags, vases, koozies, stickers, pens, jackets, fans, posters, and brochures). FIRST USE: 19850901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19850901
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78682350
Filing Date August 1, 2005
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Burleson County Chamber of Commerce Brenda Van De Walle-President (USA), Robert Collins-Chairman (USA), Jerry Lickman-Chair Elect(USA),Brenda Boedecker-Treasurer (USA), Amanda Flencher-Vice Chair (USA), Dalinda Davis-Vice Chair (USA), Melanie Becka-Secretary (USA) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TEXAS 212A W. Buck Street Caldwell TEXAS 77836
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date August 22, 2006