By JACK NICHOLL

jnicholl@dailynews.net

WILSON -- The city of Wilson missed out on one opportunity for international recognition, but in return will receive a visit from two international dignitaries.

Chamber President Sharon Holloway said that last year Wilson, which is officially the Czech Republic of Kansas, applied for grant to help build the world's largest Czech egg. The grant didn't come through, and Wilson was told to re-apply at a later date.

However, Czech dignitaries found out that Wilson will be celebrating its 50th annual Czech Festival this year, which starts Friday and goes through Saturday.

Holloway said the United States-Czech consulates from Washington and the Czech Republic will attend the festival.

"It's pretty exciting," Holloway said.

Holloway said the consulates will at the very least participate in the parade 10 a.m. Saturday. The Wilson Fire Department will serve as the grand marshal for the event.

The entire two-day festival includes 51 events, including live music, arts and crafts presentations and the Czech queen pageant Saturday afternoon.

This year, much of the festival focuses on the 50th anniversary. The parade has a looking "Looking Back, Moving Forward" theme. There will be a fireworks show Friday night for the first time.

As for the consulates, Hunter said she doesn't know of any other Czechs as prominent as them to ever visit Wilson.

"I think it's quite an honor," Hunter said. "I am just pleased that they are coming."

Hunter has been working at the festival since 1957, three years before it was officially named the After Harvest Czech Festival.

Prior to 1960, there were two festivals: one for the Lion's Club at the end of July, and another for the Czechs at the beginning of July. The Lion's Club had been going on the longest -- since before World War II -- and it always involved three meals, Hunter said.

"Since the same people were doing all the work behind the scenes, they put them together after probably, maybe, 10 years or so and it became the After Harvest Czech Festival, and now it's just basically a Czech festival," Hunter said.

The festival always falls after harvest season, and Hunter said another aspect never seems to change - the hot weather.

The festival draws less of a crowd than it used to because of increased competition with other festivals. Hunter said that for a time, about 8,000 to 10,000 people attended the festival every year.

"We were usually kind of exclusive for the last Saturday in July for a lot of time, but everyone wants to make a nickel, so it's kind of hard with all the competition that's going on around us," Hunter said.

Overall, the festival hasn't changed its events much over the years. It's still known for food, dance and a Czech atmosphere.

"We have added a lot of modern stuff, different activities," Holloway said. "We have our huge craft show, and this year we have pig wrestling. We try to do that. But the main thing is trying to stick with the Czech heritage and keep as much Czechoslovakian stuff going on, because it's dying out."