Fri 11/29 @ 1 PM
Sat 11/30 @ 2PM
Polka is a beloved part of Cleveland’s ethnic heritage.
It comes from the area’s large Slovenian community, which, early in the 20th century, developed its own regional take on its native folk music. That came to be known as “Cleveland-style” polka, which is honored in the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum in Euclid. (Go visit if you’ve never been. It’s not as flashy as the Rock Hall, but well worth the trip.)
And every Thanksgiving for the last five decades, Slovenians and other polka-lovers from around the region and even other parts of the country gather here for Cleveland’s Thanksgiving Polka Party Weekend, taking place at the Marriott downtown. The event was started in the ’60s by polka radio host Tony Petkovsec, also one of the drivers behind the Polka Hall of Fame and currently its chairman emeritus.
The three-day event culminates with the Hall of Fame awards ceremony at 2 pm Saturday at the Euclid Auditorium. Unlike the Grammys, anybody can come just by buying a $15 ticket.
Like the Grammys, it will feature performances by past winners and special guest presenters. Three accordionists with be given lifetime achievement awards: the late Frankie Zeitz, the late Jim Kozel (a co-founder of Cleveland’s Polka Hall of Fame), and Detroit’s Frankie Adamic, 82, (pictured below), who will be on hand to accept his award.
But lest you think polka is all about geezers and is dying off, among the nominees this year is the very youthful Chardon Polka Band (pictured above).
They’re also among the multitude of bands and artists who will be playing at the Marriott over the weekend. Local mainstays like Fred Ziwich’s International Sound Machine, the Wayne Tomsick Orchestra, and the Don Wojtila Ochestra will be joined by luminaries like Canadian polka king Walter Ostanek and Michigan’s Linda Lee Brown. Even hipster polka maven DJ Kishka will be on hand.
Music and dancing will be going on in several locations in the hotel, including the Grand Ballroom. Slovenian food will be available, including sausage from the winner of the Slovenian Sausage Festival competition held in September, Euclid’s Azman Quality Meats. Expect to see bus groups from Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, among other places.
Saturday winds up with the popular polka mass at 6pm in the Marriott Grand Ballroom, followed by the Joey Tomsick Orchestra and the Eddie Roddick Orchestra, plus a polka all-star jam session in the Superior Room at 7 pm.
Again, this is one gala event that’s affordable for everyone. Tickets for each day’s events are only $15 per day. Kids 18 and under are free, so bring the whole family.
