2

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Festival tuning up
for another year
Music remains focus of Polka Days
By Brady Van Deurzen
news@wolfrivermedia.com

Dancers enjoy the polka sounds at a previous Pulaski Polka Days. The annual celebration runs from July 21-24 this year.

LEADER FILE PHOTO

Throughout its 38-year

history, Pulaski Polka
Days has seen events and
acts come and go, yet enthusiasts can always rely
on the festival for their fix
of polka music.
Music on the polka
grounds this year starts at
5 p.m. July 21 and continues until 6:30 p.m. July 24.
Zielinskis Ballroom will
also host bands on July 22
and July 23.
According to the festival
organizers, the ballroom
will spotlight the German/
Slovenian/Bohemian style
polka; the festival grounds
has a variety of the faster
Polish style polka music.

The lineup includes

two bands that were honored last year by the U.S.
Polka Association, which
promotes Polish polka
music, dancing and entertainment: The Knewz, out
of New York, and Polka
Country Musicians, from
Connecticut.
The Knewz won the
2015 USPA Polka Recording of the Year award for
Breaking Knewz, and
the bands Andy Bojczuk was the Male Vocalist of the Year. Breaking
Knewz was also the Favorite Polish Polka Album
as selected by the International Polka Association
for 2015, and Root Beer
SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE 3

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

FESTIVAL
FROM PAGE 2

Rag was named the IPAs

Favorite Song.
Polka Country Musicians was the USPA Band
of the Year and won Song
of the Year honors with
Thats the way Polka
Country Rolls.
The Polka Days schedule also features a past
Grammy Award nominee.
John Gora & Gorale, from
Canada, will perform on
Friday and Saturday.
This years schedule
includes Wisconsin favorites such as Jeff Winard,
Chad Przybylski and his
Polka Rhythms, New Generation, Maroszek Brothers, TNT Band, Polkadynamics, Aaron Socha and
Livewire, Polish Connection, Music Connection,
Hausers Hot Shots and
Concertina Rich.
Other out-of-state performers at Polka Days this
year are Doctor Kielbasa,

LEADER FILE PHOTO

The Pulaski High School Red Raiders marching band will perform for
the Tournament of Roses president on July 23 and in the annual Pulaski
Polka Days parade on July 24. The band will march in the 128th Rose
Parade on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, California.

from Minnesota; Polka

Family, Pennsylvania; Box
on Band, Michigan; Stephanie and Her Honky Band,
New York; Molly B & Ted
Lange (Squeezebox), Ohio;
The Boys, Maryland; and
IPA Tribute Band, Illinois.
All of the bands have
played at Polka Days before.
Although the music

starts at 5 p.m., the annual

fireworks show will officially start the festival with
a bang at dusk on July 21.
Dance lessons were offered at the festival for the
first time last year. It went
so well that brother-andsister instructors Duane
and Robin Wilks return
again this year to help
people learn Wisconsins

official state dance from

2-3 p.m. July 22 and 12:30-2
p.m. July 23.
Learning
how
to
dance, it is great, said
Richard Blaha, coordinator of the Wisconsin Polka
Dance Championship that
will be held at 6 p.m. July
23 in Zielinskis Ballroom.
It isnt too hard at all, and
people there will help you.
It is a very nice crowd.
Blaha said the dance
competition shouldnt be
taken too seriously.
Its just a fun event,
he said, and a great way
for people to display their
dancing talents.
For the more competitive dancers, trophies will
be awarded in junior, senior and open divisions, he
said.
As if doing the polka
werent enough exercise,
the Polka Trot 5K begins
at 8 a.m. July 23 at Pulaski
Community Middle School.
Its followed by a 1/4-mile
kids run at 9:30 a.m.
An arts and crafts fair

3
featuring over 75 vendors
runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
July 23 and July 24 on Pulaski Street.
Organizer
Suzanne
Flesch said festival goers
will be able to drop by and
view a wide selection of
handmade items, including jewelry, quilts, T-shirts,
souvenirs and more.
The festivals final day
begins with a pancake and
porkie breakfast at 8 a.m.
July 24. The annual parade
begins at 11:30 a.m. at the
middle school and high
school. Up to 150 units are
expected to participate, according to parade director
Wayne Wood.
Wood expects another
good crowd to line St.
Augustine and Pulaski
streets and watch as the
parade winds its way to the
fest grounds.
We think we will have
a large turnout again this
year, Wood said. The
parade always has great
responses from the community.

The
Pulaski
High
School
Red
Raiders
marching band will be the
main act in the parade and
will present a special performance at 11 a.m. July 23
at the main gate entrance
for the Tournament of
Roses executive committee president, Brad Ratliff.
The band is raising
money to help fund its
participation in the Tournament of Roses parade
in Pasadena, California,
on Jan. 2, with a special
Pasadena Plate at Polka
Days.
Wood said credit for the
success of the parade and
festival goes to the many
community members who
volunteer countless hours
to Pulaski Polka Days.
It is amazing to see
how great of a job they
do with the events every
year, he said. It makes
the festival go along much
easier. I cannot be any
happier with them or how
the festival turns out each
year.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Przybylski will lead parade as well as polka band

Wichlacz named
honorary parade
marshal for 2016
By Brady Van Deurzen
news@wolfrivermedia.com

The 38th annual Pulaski Polka Days will honor

two residents who have
been cornerstones of the
community and festival
over the last several years.
Chad Przybylski, of
Chad Przybylski and His
Polka Rhythms, will serve
as grand marshal of the
fests annual parade, and
Fire Chief Randy R.W.
Wichlacz, who has been
on medical leave from the
Tri-County Fire Department since May 2015, will
serve as the honorary
grand marshal.
This years festival will

run
from
July 21-24
at the Pulaski Polka
Grounds
and venues
across the
community.
RANDY
PrzybylWICHLACZ
ski, whose
music has
reverberated throughout
the festival for the last 30
years, said he was surprised to be selected for
the honor.
I was shocked, Przybylski said. I am always
very busy, so when they
approached me I didnt
know what it was for. I told
them that I was a team
player, but that I didnt
know what they were approaching me for; then
they finally told me and
I was completely drawn

back. I was just absolutely

shocked.
Przybylski said he looks
forward to the festival every year, and that being a
grand marshal as well as
performer will be an unreal experience.
It is a great honor and
an added bonus to be performing and to be the honorary grand marshal this
year, Przybylski said. It
is an honor to represent
the community and to play
the music that I am passionate about year after
year. It is just awesome.
Despite playing his music on the polka grounds
for around 30 years, Przybylski said that whatever
stage he plays on is like
playing at the Super
Bowl.
Playing in front of his
SEE PARADE, PAGE 5

LEADER FILE PHOTO

Chad Przybylski has performed at Pulaski Polka Days for about 30 years. He will serve as the annual parades
grand marshal this year.

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WOLF RIVER MEDIA

PARADE
FROM PAGE 4

community is a surreal experience, he said.

Every time I play
there it always seems like
the first time, Przybylski said. I love seeing the
happy people that I play
for. Playing for them just
lets them focus on the here
and now. We like to show
people a good time and let
them forget about their
busy lives for a while.
Przybylski and his band
hope to keep Polka Days
on their schedule for many
more years to come.
I will play as long as I
am able, he said. I have
a passion for it. Getting
to perform for Pulaskis
Polka Days festival is
amazing every year, and
it is something I will never
want to stop doing.
Przybylski and his band
will play in Tent 1 at 6:30,
8:30 and 10:30 p.m. July 21
and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. July 23.
Wichlacz, 58, was selected as honorary grand
marshal in honor of his
years of service to the
festival, department and
community.
Wichlacz joined the fire
department when he was
18 and rose through the
ranks. He was involved in
the departments charitable efforts and was instrumental in developing the

citys memorial to police,

fire and rescue personnel
and in developing mutual
aid agreements with area
communities. He became
acting chief in 2008.
He was a member of
the Pulaski Polka Days
committee since the beginning, served as secretary/treasurer, and helped
with the parade, camping
and other events.
He took his place in
the parade with the other
firefighters, acting Fire
Chief James Styczybynski
recalled. They always do
it, and he was always there
when he could be.
Styczybynski said he often saw Wichlacz out and
about in Pulaski before he
went on medical leave. He
also was a Village Board
trustee for a number of
years.
He was very active in
the community, Styczybynski said. He was always around town, being
friendly to everyone.
Wichlacz resides at Sun
Valley Homes II in Pulaski
and was unavailable for
comment.
Przybylski
thought
that the decision to honor
Wichlacz was a great idea.
Its definitely well deserved, Przybylski said.
Hes definitely earned it.
The parade steps off
from the middle school
and high school at 11 a.m.
July 24.

Unique atmosphere attracts bands

Groups come
from near and
far for event
By Brady VanDeurzen
news@wolfrivermedia.com

Whether
traveling
across town or across the
country, bands return to
Pulaski Polka Days year
after year for the same
reasons: the people and
the atmosphere.
The musical lineup this
year includes a band from
Canada, 11 from Wisconsin and nine from other
states.
The
Michigan-based
family band Box On will
return to Polka Days for
the third time this year
when the 38th annual festival opens July 21.
The people and the
environment are amazing there, father Rick Vinecki said. We were very
well received our first
year that we played, and I
think that the people love
and want to see the kids
play more and more, and
Pulaski is such a great
environment to play in because of that.
The Vineckis have
played several venues, including stops in New York,

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Everyone in the Vinecki family performs in the Box On band. The Michigan-based group will perform at Pulaski Polka Days on July 23 and July 24.

Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, since forming

their band four years ago.
Compared to the other festivals, Pulaski Polka Days
is much more communityoriented, Vinecki said, and
that feels much more like
home to the family.
The festival is a whole
community thing in Pulaski, Vinecki said. The
whole community gets
involved. Instead of it being a separate event, it

seems like everything in

the community is focused
on the Pulaski Polka Days
festival. It is really easy to
fit in and feel at home that
way.
Vinecki said that traveling is pretty common for
the fans, too.
The people that I
see at the festival come
from all over, Vinecki
said. New York, the East
Coast, Ohio and Chicago
are places that I have seen

people from. It is great to

see the large variety of
people coming from other
areas of the country.
Alex Maroszek has no
problem feeling at home
in Pulaski; it is his home.
Maroszek plays bass
guitar for TNT, a band
birthed in Pulaski. TNT
stands for The Natural
Talent.
I am honored to be
SEE BANDS, PAGE 6

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

BANDS
FROM PAGE 5

playing in front of my home

crowd again, Maroszek
said. To play for them every year, and to be a part
of a community with such
a nice following, is such a
cool thing.
Maroszek said Polka
Days provides a unique
environment.
Everyone tells us
that Pulaski has its own
sound, Maroszek said.
With all the bands playing, the festival just sounds
better.
And everyone has fun.
I think that bands come
from all around because
the festival is more family
oriented than most, Maroszek said. It is just a fun
local environment that is
fun for everyone.
Maroszek and the TNT
band will perform at 6, 8
and 10 p.m. July 21 in Tent
2, 2:30 p.m. July 22 in Tent
1, and 12:30 p.m. July 23
near the front entrance of
the polka grounds.
Box On will perform at
2, 4 and 6 p.m. July 23 in
Tent 1, and 12:30, 2:30 and
4:30 p.m. July 24, also in
Tent 1.

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

The Knewz making headlinez for 6th time at PPD

Band continues to win awards, fans
By Brady Van Deurzen
news@wolfrivermedia.com

Pulaski Polka Days has

hosted a variety of wellknown acts throughout its
38-year history, and this
years lineup includes one
of the more decorated
bands of recent years
The Knewz.
Tom Picciano, who grew
up listening to polka music
with his parents, started
The Knewz in 1990 in Buffalo, New York. It released
the album Have You
Heard the Knewz? before
disbanding a year later.
The band, which will be
making its sixth appearance at Polka Days, regrouped in 2004 and went
on to record several awardwinning albums and songs.
The U.S. Polka Association named Headlinez
its Recording of the Year
in 2007 and When I Call
Your Name its Song of the
Year. The bands fourth album, 4th edition, was the
International Polka Associations Favorite Album

or CD of 2008.
The Knewz scored another Song of the Year
from the USPA in 2011
with Years Ago and Recording of the Year with
Knewz Flash.
The band won the 2015
USPA Recording of the
Year award for Breaking
Knewz, and the bands
Andy Bojczuk was the Male
Vocalist of the Year.
Breaking Knewz was
also the Favorite Polish
Polka Album as selected by
the IPA for 2015, and Root
Beer Rag was named the
IPAs Favorite Song.
The bands current lineup includes Picciano, Bojczuk, John Fomenko, Brian
Urbanczyk, Tommy Wanderlich and John Zelasko.
The band members have
garnered seven Grammy
nominations:
Fomenko
and Picciano each has one,
Zelasko has two and Wanderlich has three.
Picciano received his
nomination in 1991 as a
part of the band Dynatones.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Knewz will perform July 22-23 at Pulaski Polka Days. The award-winning band is making its sixth visit
to the festival.

I was so shocked,
Picciano said. Like other
awards, it is just such a
great honor.
Picciano said although
the awards are appreciated, playing in front of fans
remains his biggest thrill.
The awards are great,
dont get me wrong, Picciano said. But I think that

playing for our fans is such

an honor. We are blessed
and privileged to do this.
We appreciate the support
so much when our fans
come out to hear us play.
Picciano expects the
band will get plenty of requests for Root Beer Rag
in Pulaski.
People are going to re-

quest the song, of course

they will, Picciano said.
The song isnt requested
because it is the Song of
the Year, though, it is the
Song of the Year because
so many people requested
it.
Picciano said Pulaski
Polka Days is recognized
among artists as one of
the largest Polka festivals
in the nation with a fun,
unique environment.
We really like the festivals atmosphere, Picciano said. It has such a large
fan base, and its just an
awesome environment.
Picciano said playing
Polka Days, and performing in general, is about having fun with the music and
with the fans.
People approach us
and say that they enjoy us
because it looks like we
are having a great time,
Picciano said. It is nice
to hear because we like to
have fun when we play. We
like to show the fans a good
time too.
The Knewz will perform
the first of three July 22
sets at 9:30 p.m. in Tent 1,
and will return at 8 p.m., 10
p.m. and midnight July 23
in Tent 1.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Music Schedule
THURSDAY, JULY 21

Aaron Socha & Livewire: 6:30-7:15

p.m.

Zielinskis Ballroom
Hausers Hot Shots: 4-5 p.m.

The Knewz: 10-11 p.m.

Music Connection: 5-6 p.m.

Polka Family: 11-12 a.m.

New Generation: 7:15-8 p.m.

Molly B: 5-6 p.m.

The Knewz: 12-1 a.m.

Jeff Winard - Frankie Yankovic

Tribute: 6-7 p.m.

Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Aaron Socha & Livewire: 8-8:45

p.m.

Hausers Hot Shots: 6-7 p.m.

Molly B: 7-8 p.m.

Tent 2
IPA Tribute Band: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Molly B & Ted Lange Squeezebox:

7-8 p.m.

New Generation: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

The Boys: 8:45-9:30 p.m.

Hausers Hot Shots: 8-9 p.m.

John Gora: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Music Connection: 8-9 p.m.

Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:

8:30-9:30 p.m.

The Knewz: 9:30-10:15 p.m.

Molly B: 9-10 p.m.

IPA Tribute Band: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Jeff Winard - Frankie Yankovic

Tribute: 9-10 p.m.

New Generation: 9:30-10:30 p.m.

The Knewz: 11-11:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 23

Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:

10:30-11:30 p.m.

The Boys: 11:45-12:30 a.m.

Tent 2
Maroszek Bros: 5-6 p.m.

Tent 2
Polka Dynamics: 2-3:30 p.m.

By Main Entrance
PHS Marching Band: 11:30-12:30
p.m.

Tent 1
New Generation: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

TNT: 6-7 p.m.

Maroszek Bros: 7-8 p.m.
TNT: 8-9 p.m.
Maroszek Bros: 9-10 p.m.
TNT: 10-11 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 22

The Boys: 10:15-11 p.m.

The Knewz: 12:30-1:15 a.m.

Polish Connection: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Dr. Kielbasa: 4:30-5:15 p.m.
Polish Connection: 5:15-6 p.m.
Dr. Kielbasa: 6-6:45 p.m.

TNT: 12:30-1:15 p.m.

Tent 1
Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:
1-2 p.m.
Box On: 2-3 p.m.

Polish Connection: 6:45-7:30 p.m.

Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:

3-4 p.m.

Dr. Kielbasa: 7:30-8:15 p.m.

Box On: 4-5 p.m.

Polka Country: 8:15-9 p.m.

John Gora: 9-9:45 p.m.

Chad Przybylski/Polka Rhythms:

5-6 p.m.

New Generation: 4-5 p.m.

Polka Country: 9:45-10:30 p.m.

Box On: 6-7 p.m.

Aaron Socha & Livewire: 5-5:45

p.m.

John Gora: 10:30-11:15 p.m.

Polka Family: 7-8 p.m.

Polka Country: 11:15-12 a.m.

The Knewz: 8-9 p.m.

New Generation: 5:45-6:30 p.m.

John Gora: 12-12:45 a.m.

Polka Family: 9-10 p.m.

Tent 1
TNT: 2:30-4 p.m.

John Gora: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

IPA Tribute Band: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
John Gora: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Polka Country Musicians: 6:307:30 p.m.

Molly B & Ted Lange Squeezebox:

10-11 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 24

The Boys: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Tent 1
Box On: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Polka Country Musicians: 8:309:30 p.m.

Polka Family: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

The Boys: 9:30-10:30 p.m.

Polka Family: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Polka Country Musicians: 10:3011:30 p.m.

The Boys: 11:30-12:30 a.m.
Zielinskis Ballroom
Concertina Rich: 12-2 p.m.
Music Connection: 2-3 p.m.
Jeff Winard - Frankie Yankovic
Tribute: 3-4 p.m.
Molly B & Ted Lange Squeezebox:
4-5 p.m.

Box On: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Box On: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Polka Family: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Tent 2
Stephanie: 12-1 p.m.
Maroszek Brothers: 1-2 p.m.
Stephanie: 2-3 p.m.
Maroszek Brothers: 3-4 p.m.
Stephanie: 4-5 p.m.
Maroszek Brothers: 5-6 p.m.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Polka days of yesteryear

LEADER FILE PHOTO

Members of the Maple Grove Countryside 4-H Club hand out candy along the Pulaski Polka Days parade route
during the 2015 celebration.

LEADER FILE PHOTO

Dancers enjoy the polka sounds at a previous Pulaski Polka Days. The annual celebration runs from July 21-24
this year.

Pulaski Polka Days is all about the music, the dancing and the fun.

PHOTO BY JOEL KIND, KIND PHOTO

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

LEADER FILE PHOTO

From left, Christie Borchardt and Tammy Gudowicz, both of Armstrong Creek, and Jenifer Hahn, of Deshler,
Ohio, get their own line dance going at the 2014 Pulaski Polka Days. The annual celebration runs from July
21-24 this year.

PHOTO BY JOEL KIND, KIND PHOTO

LEADER FILE PHOTO

Members of the Minnesota girls celebrate on the dance floor at the 2014 Pulaski Polka Days. The annual
celebration runs from July 21-24 this year.

A huge parade is one of the highlights of the final day of Pulaski Polka Days each year. This years parade steps
off at 11:30 a.m. July 24 at the middle school and high school and proceeds down St. Augustine and Pulaski
streets. Up to 150 units are expected to participate, according to parade director Wayne Wood.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

10

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Arts and crafts

fair continues
to grow in 2016
20 new vendors coming this year
By Brady Van Deurzen
news@wolfrivermedia.com

PHOTO BY JOEL KIND, KIND PHOTO

Visitors browse the selections available at the arts and craft fair held in conjunction with Pulaski Polka Days. The fair continues to grow, with about 75
vendors expected for this years show on July 22 and 23.

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You dont have to be a

fan of polka music to enjoy the arts and crafts fair
held in conjunction with
Pulaski Polka Days, but
it helps.
People from the community go to the fair solely to see the crafts and
vendors, said Suzanne
Flesch, director of the
fair. Some people dont
even come for the festival at all, but when they
see how fun it looks, they

walk over to the festival.

The fair is one of the
community events
along with a run/walk,
porkie pancake breakfast
and others held during
Polka Days but not part of
the festival itself.
About 75 vendors are
expected to man booths
along Pulaski Street, outside the festival grounds,
for this years arts and
crafts fair, which is sponsored by Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary
SEE CRAFTS, PAGE 11

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

CRAFTS
FROM PAGE 10

Church, on July 22 and 23.

Pulaski Polka Days runs
from July 21-24.
Vendors pay $40 for a
booth for one day, $50 for
two days. Offerings include jewelry, handmade
crafts, T-shirts, artwork
and more.
This year we have 20
new vendors that have
never been to the fair,
Flesch said. I think it is
awesome to see such a
large growth in vendors.
Flesch said that the
fair has expanded and
can accommodate up to
100 vendors.
We
added
space
this year for more vendors to use, she said.
We thought that adding
space would be a great
way to get more people
too and give more people
a chance.
The fair became part
of the Pulaski Polka Days
weekend in 1994. Harold
Otto, Polka Days chairman, said that the response has been great
and he hopes to continue
helping the fair in any
way that he can. The fes-

tival promotes the fair on

its website and in the information it provides to
the news media.
Everything we do is
for the community, Otto
said. Both events are
for the whole community,
and we want to make everyone in the community
happy.
Flesch said the fair
provides a respite for
festival-goers who want
to take a break from the
polka powerhouse next
door.
It is something else
that is fun to do, Flesch
said. You get to meet all
these vendors who are
extremely nice, and who
are creative and unique.
It is just a really cool experience that is a nice
sideline to the festival
that will be around for as
long as we can keep doing
it.
Otto said the fair organizers have been easy to
work with and also looks
forward to continuing the
relationship.
The people are so
friendly,
Otto
said.
There is usually a huge
turnout, and its just going to be a great event
again this year.

Weekdays 9:30am-8pm, Weekends 8am-9pm

Happy Hour Daily 2-5PM

COUPON
ONE FREE

FOUNTAIN DRINK
W/ENTREE PURCHASE

Offer expires 9/30/16. Not valid with any other specials!

Limit 1 Per Visit!

11

PHOTO BY JOEL KIND, KIND PHOTO

The arts and craft fair held in conjunction with Pulaski Polka Days brings out plenty of people each year. It helps provide a respite for the thousands
of polka fans that hit the community annually.

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PULASKI POLKA DAYS

12

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Events Schedule
THURSDAY, JULY 21
Dusk: Community night will include fireworks,
along with food, music and souvenirs at the
Pulaski Polka Days Grounds.

FRIDAY, JULY 22
2-3 p.m.: Dance lessons taught by Duane and
Robin Wilks to music performed by TNT in
Tent 1.

SATURDAY, JULY 23
8:30 and 9:30 a.m.: Pulaski Polka Trot 5K
begins at 8:30 a.m. at Pulaski Community
Middle School; the 1/4-mile kids run follows
the Polka Trot 5K and begins at 9:30 a.m. To
pre-register, contact pascswim@gmail.com or
call Brandy at 920-660-2654. Sponsored by
the Pulaski Area Swim Club.
9-3 p.m.: Arts and crafts fair will be held on
Pulaski Street.
12-2 p.m.: Dance Lessons taught by Duane
and Robin Wilks to the music performed by
Chad Przybylski in Tent 1.
6 p.m.: Dance competition that includes se-

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nior, junior and open divisions will be held in

Zielinskis Ballroom. Registration forms must
be completed and turned in to the registration
desk at Zielinskis Ballroom by 5 p.m. July 23.
Entry forms are available at Zielinskis Ballroom, entrances to Pulaski Polka Days and
online at http://pulaskipolkadays.com/dancecontest.

SUNDAY, JULY 24
8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.: Lutheran service by
Pastor Larry R. Yaw. Catholic Polka Mass follows, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Bring your own
lawn chairs for both events.
8-11 a.m.: Pancake and porkie breakfast will
be held at the Pulaski Polka Grounds.
9-3 p.m.: Arts and crafts fair will continue on
Pulaski Street.
11 a.m.: Parade starting at Pulaski Community
Middle School and Pulaski High School. The
parade travels down St. Augustine Street and
Pulaski Street, and will finish at the Pulaski
Polka Days Grounds.
5 p.m.: Cash raffle will begin; participants do
not need to be present to win.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

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13

Polka Days A to Z

Aaron Socha & Livewire,

one of the 21 bands performing at the 38th annual
Pulaski Polka Days

Gora, John Gora, that is

Grammy-nominated musician performing on July 22
and July 23.

Breakfast, featuring porkies and pancakes, will be

served from 8-11 a.m. July
24 on the Pulaski Polka
Grounds.

Hausers Hot Shots, a New

London-based band returning to Polka Days this
year.

Cash raffle, with $1,000

first prize; drawing will be
held at 5 p.m. July 24.

D
Dr. Kielbasa Minnesota
musicians who have the
prescription for when you
need a a healthy dose of
polka music.

E
Eight local nonprofit organizations that serve as Pulaski Polka Days community sponsors: American
Legion Post 337, Tri-County Firefighters, Tri-County
Optimist Club, Pulaski
AMVETS, Pulaski Lions
Club, Knights of Columbus, Pulaski FFA Alumni
& FFA, VFW.

F
Free admission to Pulaski
Polka Days on July 24.

PULASKI
PHARMACY

Fast, Friendly Service

We accept virtually all
prescription insurance
Deliver in village
Hours: M-F 8:30am5:30pm &
Sat 8:30amNoon
121 N St. Augustine St Pulaski

920-822-3011

In Heaven There Is No
Beer, polka favorite perhaps best popularized by
Frank Yankovic and com-

posed by Ernst Neubach

and Ralph Maria Siegel in
1956.

J
Joel Kind, longtime photographer of Pulaski Polka
Days and honorary grand
marshal of the 2015 parade.

K
Knewz, more accurately
The Knewz, a highly decorated polka band returning to Pulaski Polka Days
for the sixth time and playing on July 22 and July 23.

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July

23 and July 24.

Lets Dance theme

of the 38th annual Pulaski
Polka Days.

None number of bands

making their first visit to
Pulaski Polka Days this
year.

M
Maroszek Brothers, a
mainstay that has played
every Pulaski Polka Days
and spawned local bands
New Generation, TNT
Band and Polka Dynamics.

O
Overabundance of quilts,
jewelry, T-shirts, souvenirs and more are available at the Arts & Crafts
Fair, on Pulaski Street,

Pierogis, one of the ethnic

Polish foods available at
Pulaski Polka Days, along
with Polish sausage, cabbage rolls, czarnina (duck
soup) and more.

SEE POLKA, PAGE 14

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

14

POLKA
FROM PAGE 13

(Catholic) July 24.

Quiet, something in
short supply at Pulaski
Polka Days.

Squeezebox, featuring
Ted Lange and Molly B,
one of the bands performing at Zielinksis Ballroom on July 22 and July
23.

United We Jam, one of

the albums by Polka Country Musicians, an awardwinning band that favors
the Chicago, or push, polka style, and will perform
on July 22 and July 23.

Religious
services
are offered at 8 a.m.
(Lutheran) and 9:30 a.m.

Trot, as in the Polka

Trot 5K Run/Walk, being
held at 8:30 a.m. July 24.

Vinecki, family name

of the 10 members of Box
On, a Michigan-based

group making its third visit to Pulaski Polka Days

and performing on July 23
and 24.

W
Wilks
(Robin
and
Duane), the brothersister instructors for the
dance lessons offered
from 2-3 p.m. July 22
(music provided by TNT
Band) and 12:30-2 p.m.
July 23 (music provided
by Chad Przybylski).

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

X
Xylophone, an instrument not usually found in a
polka bands U-Haul.

Y
Yankovic,
a
name
synonymous with polka
because of the legendary
Frankie Yankovic, who
will be honored by
Wisconsin Polka Music
Hall of Fame inductee

Jeff Winard with his

Frankie Yankovic Tribute
on July 23 at Pulaski
Polka Days.

Z
Zielinskis Ballroom,
site of the dance contest
(junior, senior and open
divisions) at 6 p.m. July
23, as well as live music
July 22 and July 23. The
ballroom is located at
149 W. Pulaski St. in
Pulaski.

www.sennhometownins.com

www.sennhometownins.com

WOLF RIVER MEDIA

Polka Trivia
Ten things you might
not know about the polka:
Although the polka
is generally known
as a Polish dance,
most histories agree
a Czech farm worker
named Anna Slazak created the first polka step
in Prague in 1836.

1
2
3

Polka is the only

19th century dance
on record that is
still danced today.
It is widely believed
that the word polka
comes from the
Czech
word
pulka,
which means half-step.

2009 marked the

last year that musicians could receive
a Grammy for polka music.

After World War II,

the U.S. witnessed
a polka revival after Polish immigrants
claimed it as their nations official dance.

The polka became

popular after a
Czech dance instructor named Raab performed the new dance in
front of a crowd in Paris.

7
8

The polka, when

first created, was
actually called the
madera.
The polka was
the second official
couples dance to
be introduced in Europe;
the first was the waltz.

The polka is typically performed in

2/4 time. Its sister
dance, called redowa, is
performed in 3/4 time.

10

Beer
Barrel Polka is
played at every Milwaukee Brewers
home game, typically during the seventh-inning
stretch.

PULASKI POLKA DAYS

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