Green County Cheese Days - World’s Biggest Polka Dance
Wisconsinites in Green County are deeply committed to the Swiss heritage of their region of the state. They make great cheese. And they throw a cheese party that’s so big, they take every other year off to rest.
When they set their mind to a goal, it’s bound to happen. Back in 2014, it was the 100th anniversary of the oldest food fest in the Midwest. They wanted to recruit 100 accordion players to perform the festival’s anthem of the long-standing event. Watch 137 squeezebox players and the Monroe City Band play the song. It’s a pure moment of celebrating history and community spirit.
That’s why when you’re visiting Green County and chit-chatting over beverages about things like “wouldn’t it be cool if we broke the world record for the number of people dancing the polka at the same time? Especially for the 30th anniversary of polka becoming Wisconsin’s state dance?” you should be ready to put the dream in action.
The idea got out. It took hold among the county leaders involved with the semi-annual Green County Cheese Days. We made it happen.
On Friday, September 20 we got to warm up our dancing skills with a street dance downtown. I played some tunes on the main stage before heading to Turner Hall for a little schweizer gemuetlichkeit at an event to recognize leaders in the local cheese industry.
Saturday, September 21 was the big day. Thousands of people started checking in at a tent in the town’s square to sign up for our attempt to break the international record for the world’s biggest polka dance. Everyone who signed in got a numbered button. Event volunteers made 3000 buttons and we ran out. They made 1000 stickers as a backup plan. We ran out of those too.
Who knows how many other people joined us in the streets of Monroe to dance that day, but we are confident that we had at least 4000 people doing the polka.
My experience of the day looked like wait — hurry up — holy mackerel is this happening — holy cow we actually did it. I was nervous leading up to the actual dance. There were SO MANY PEOPLE downtown. Even though I’d already been on stage the night before and had worked with the audio engineers, the live music was running long and first responders were working hard to make sure their staff were in place to help in case of emergencies. We were running late as I scrambled to set up. Sweaty Palm City.
I’m so glad I invited my friends up on stage to dance! They made me feel like it was just us (pay no attention to the thousands of people yelling “POLKA! POLKA! POLKA!” as we waited for the cue to fire up the music. We started with Frankie Yankovic’s version of the “Pennsylvania Polka” which I chose as a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. Then we played a recognizable song, but a less common recording of the “Beer Barrel Polka” by Normie Dogs and the Melody Boys. It was hot and the dancers were doing great despite the sun and heat.
I was told there was going to be a confetti cannon. Have you ever seen a confetti cannon in action? I don’t think I really had before this day. When I played “Cheese Days in Monroe” by Rudy Burkhalter and Martha Bernett — the traditional theme song for the festival — the confetti cannon puffed a huge cloud of ticker tape over the crowd and people went NUTS. I nearly burst into happy tears, it was so joyful.
This moment achieved everything we set out to do. Encourage people to come to Cheese Days and visit Monroe. Recognize the 30th anniversary of polka becoming Wisconsin’s state dance. Give people a happy experience they will remember.
It was a thrill to be a part of it.
Media coverage
Wisconsin State Journal story and full video
Wisconsin Public Radio event coverage and inclusion in 2024 top photos
Monroe Times preview and event coverage
Monroe County Cheese Days’ World’s Biggest Polka Dance among Barry Adams’ top stories and photos in the Wisconsin State Journal.