Ring In This Holiday Season Polka-Style

The Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum (PLCTM) is hosting two Christmas Open Houses in conjunction with the Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center on Saturday December 2 and Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The public is invited to bring in the holidays … polka style with music and entertainment both days.

The Open Houses are based around Czech culture within the Czech Village of the La Grange Fairgrounds and the public is invited to attend either or both of the events. These open houses are celebrations igniting efforts for the beginning of the holiday season; we trust you will make time to attend.

The Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum (PLCTM) is located at 275 W. Fairgrounds Road within the La Grange Fairgrounds. Refreshments will be served throughout each day. The museum will provide a gathering place for long time friends re-uniting and remembering days gone by, and those wishing to know about polka music and dance. Each day will conclude at 3 p.m.

The main attraction begins on Saturday, December 2, with Gene Hackemack kicking off the program at noon for your listening entertainment, enjoyment or dancing pleasure if you so choose.

Born in Burton, Gene, fondly known as Squeezeman, is a 5th generation Texan but had to learn English in 1st grade. A Vietnam Veteran, he served two years with the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Search and Rescue, he built and owned “Hackemack’s Hofbräuhaus” near New Ulm with his late wife, Barbara.

Gene and singing partner Jason Keepers received a plaque from NASA in July 1995 for “1st Polka in Space” for waking up the Space Shuttle Crew with the “Beer Barrel Polka”. He traveled extinsevly to the Czech Republic as guest of Josef Vevoda, whose father composed that song. Gene retired from NASA 2006.

On Saturday, December 9, the main attraction will begin at 11 a.m. with a book signing for his newly published book, “The Texas Toad,” by the author, Lawrence Rominger. Rominger, a Pearland resident and music enthusiast. He will also entertain attendees with music by various bands and renditions of polka music.

Wait, that’s not all…attendees are invited to share blessings with those less fortunate. Museum officials will be accepting Toys, non-parishable food items or monetary donations for the AMEN Food Pantry and The Fayette County Deputy Santa Program.

The PLCTM opened in La Grange in 2006 with the primary mission to provide a facility to incorporate the accumulation of memorabilia from the many competitions, parades and events members of the Texas Chapter of Polka Lovers Klub of America (Po.L.K.of A.) acquired.