Polka party

Fans enjoy

celebration at

Gibbon Ballroom

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

GIBBON -- Shortly after the echoes of Heritagefest drifted away from the Brown County Fairgrounds, Polka Days got under way Wednesday at the Gibbon Ballroom.

The fact that it was Wednesday noon meant little to the polka lovers as recreational vehicles began lining the fence around the ballroom property along State Highway 19 at the east edge of town.

Polka fans from around the state, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Colorado enjoyed the music, dancing and socializing. The Bruce Bradley Band of Brownton played at noon in the main ballroom and the Marv Nissel Band of New Ulm took the stage in the Boom Room.

A steady line of people signed up for booths as the bands played on Wednesday afternoon. Some customers even wanted to reserve a booth for next year's event.

Bill and Dorothy Van Kley of Sanborn, Iowa, drove three hours to Gibbon even though Bill, a retired milk hauler, doesn't dance to the oomp-pah-pah music. He enjoys the music enough to make the trip.

"There isn't much old-time music where we live so we came up for the day," said Bill. "This is my favorite polka festival because it's all inside."

Sylvia Kruschek of Little Falls rode to Gibbon to camp out for the weekend and enjoy the festive atmosphere for the third consecutive year. She's related to members of the Jolly Fishermen and Country Polkateers of the Little Falls area.

"It's great here, very well run," Kruschek said. "The people are nice and I feel refreshed after I dance. I forget what's going on in the rest of the world."

She attends other polka festivals including Heritagefest in New Ulm, the Bird Island Ballroom, the Larson Barn in McGregor, Ellsworth, Wis., and at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

Carol and Don Gehlman of Stockholm, Wis., didn't mind driving a couple hours to Gibbon.

"It's fantastic fun to dance in the middle of the day in the spacious ballroom and I like the bands," Don said. "It's tough to find another place that has such great dance floors."

The Gehlmans have enjoyed Heritagefest and a German festival in Milwaukee.

Ballroom owner Dick Seeboth of New Ulm said he was pleased with the turnout.

"It's a great start," Seeboth said. "Our average customer drives more than 100 miles to get here. "Dancers tell me they like the setup, band variety and bird's eye maple floors. We get lots of repeat customers."

Walt Disney World concertina player Dan Witucki, formerly of New Ulm, will appear with Karl and the Country Dutchmen Wednesday through Friday.

The 38th Annual Concertina Jamboree will take place from noon to midnight Thursday in the South 80 room.

Ballroom facilities were recently connected to the City of Gibbon sewer and septic system. They already were connected to Gibbon's water system.

Other services help too. Polka fans enjoyed watching videos of past Polka Days while eating in the Pumpernickel Room between the ballrooms. Shuttle buses transport polka visitors between the ballroom and downtown Gibbon every half hour beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday through Sunday and starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

Ballroom music continues noon through midnight through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.