The Polka Fest is calling once again.
For the 43rd time, the Cedar Polka Fest will light up the big tent in Cedar, Thursday through Sunday.
“This is always an exciting time. We are in good shape, and the last-minute crunch is here,” event coordinator Lisa Rossi-Brett said.
This year is technically the 50th year since the first PolkaFest in 1975, but after a few years off here and there, the beloved festival is just 43 years old.
The Cedar Polka Fest is an annual festival celebrating the town’s rich Polish history. Lasting four days and nights, roughly 10,000 people are expected to polish traditions, food, drinks, dog events, and more.
The Cedar Polka Fest has two events that are sure to have your dog flying through the air in the Ultimate Air Dog contest and getting all dressed up for the popular pooch pageant Saturday and Sunday. The air dog competition begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m.
“My dog participates in this event, not because he’s a professional dog diver ... I don’t care how far my dog jumps, and number two, my dog doesn’t care how far he jumps. He does it because he truly enjoys the moment. He loves the crowd. When I’m on the dock and he’s sitting there 40 feet from me, I’m trying to fire the crowd up because I know it gets him excited to jump,” dog enthusiast Jeff Rabidoux said. “It’s the pure joy of the moment. He loves the water, loves to swim, and so the reward is coming out of the pool, soaking wet, and hearing the crowd applaud for him. That’s really what it’s all about.”
Rabidoux and his wife Katie will be welcoming guests to the area of the fun event. While signing up participants, they will discuss the Fisher Fund.
This new foundation helps raise money as a last-ditch effort to help pet owners with insurmountable bills from the veterinarian, which is now housed at the Cedar Polka Fest Foundation.
This year’s event technically represents the 50th anniversary of the first Polka Fest in 1975.
“A group got together and decided to have it, but they were not organized,” Rossi-Brett said.
The sheriff threatened to shut the event down in the 70s. Eventually, they got organized to put on the Cedar Polka Fest properly.
The Polka Fest Car show on Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. will be free to register, as Leelanau Performance picked up the bill for people to put their hot rods on display.
New this year is also Bingo, which will take place throughout the entire weekend.
Rossi-Brett is also excited to announce a last-minute event that will be for special needs families on Friday.
“We are adding a special event for special needs families. Nonprofit Norte in Traverse City is bringing modified bikes for people to ride. They will also have private dance lessons and private jumps from the ultimate air dogs. Please reach out through email or call,” she said. This will be the sixth year that BATA Bus will be offering free shuttles from Meijer in Traverse City to Cedar from 5 to 11 p.m. and 5 to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
The events schedule is as follows:
Thursday
First Responder Appreciation night, 4 to 11:30 p.m.; flag raising & national anthem, 4:30 p.m.; Bingo, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday
Leelanau Performance Car Show, 5 to 8 p.m.
Saturday
Flipping pancake breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m.; Run 4 The Kielbasa, 8:30 a.m. to noon; Craft fair & farmers market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Ultimate Air Dogs, 10 a.m to 5 p.m.; Cedar Polka Fest Parade, noon; Kids day, 1:30 to 4 p.m.; The Scottville Clown Band, 2 to 4 p.m.; Bingo, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Leelanau Sands Casino, veterans tribute, 5 to 11 p.m.; Bingo, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday
Polka Mass under the big tent, 10 to 11 a.m.; Polish Pooch Pageant, 11 a.m. to noon.; Ultimate Air Dogs, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Cornhole tournament, noon to 4 p.m.; Bingo, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Music on The 4Front Credit Union Stage Bavarski- Polkas NYC, playing all weekend, 5 to 11 p.m.; The Diddle Styx, playing Thursday & Friday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Larry & His Larks, playing Saturday and Sunday, 4 & 11 p.m.; Polka Generations, Saturday and Sunday, 4 to 11 p.m.; and The Scottville Clown Band, Saturday, 2-4 p.m..
Food vendors participating are D&K Woodfired cuisine and catering; Krysia’s Kitchen; Pierogi Rig Chicago; Good to Go MI,; and T.C. Queen Bees.
