Thu 11/23-Sat 11/25
If you hear the strains of accordion emanating from downtown Cleveland all weekend, don’t be alarmed. It’s only the 54th annual Thanksgiving Polka Music Weekend, hosted by the National Cleveland-style Polka Hall of Fame at the downtown Marriot.
For three days, visitors from polka havens such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois and even Texas will be descending on Cleveland to enjoy three days of music and dancing to bands such as the reigning Polka Hall of Fame Band of the Year the Jeff Pecon Orchestra, the Don Wojtila Orchestra, Fritz’s Polka Band from New York, Barefoot Becky and many more.
A highlight is always the appearance of Nashville-based Joey Miskulin of Riders in the Sky, an adopted Cleveland son. The Chicago-born musician got his start as a teenager playing in the band of Cleveland polka king Frankie Yankovic and has carried on his tradition of non-stop smiling, demonstrating why polka is called “the happiest sound around.”
The action takes place in the Grand Ballroom as well as side rooms where jam sessions are scheduled. And there’s plenty of food and drink available right there so dancers don’t have to take long break to re-fuel.
The big event of the weekend is the Polka Hall of Fame Awards show, taking place for the 30th year, in the Marriott Ballroom, a two-hour show on the theme of “Take a Polka Road Trip.” Barefoot Becky and Canadian Polka King Walter Ostanek (another guy with a great big grin!) will be among the performers. Three accordionists will be given Lifetime Achievement awards: Stan Blout, Frank Stanger and Kathy Hlad (pictured). Another much-loved event takes place immediately: the following: the Polka Mass with Minnesota’s Father Frank Perkovich. Both take place Saturday afternoon.
Admission is $20 Thursday and Friday and $10 on Saturday. Tickets to the awards show are $25.
For tickets, call the Polka Hall of Fame at 216-261-FAME or 866-66-POLKA.
Cleveland, OH 44115