2009 Illinois Polkafest - February 6 - 9

What an experience dancing to some of the best bands in the country for a long weekend in Chicago. Stan and I took a quick 2 hour flight from Denver to the windy city, grabbed a cab ride for $65 to Naperville about 20 miles from O'hare. The sun was shining and the temperatures were a brisk 30 degrees up from zero that had been posted the week before. Our cab driver was a friendly guy from Morocco. We had a chat about our visit there last fall talking about the colorful doors painted bright blue in the meandering pathways through the streets of Essaoura.

The Holiday Inn in Naperville didn't have the charm of the Riad in Fes, Morocco but the anticipated energy of the weekend blasted through to us as we were greeted in the lobby to an accordion playing a polka tune. We hurried to settle into our room so we be could join the fun.

There were two ballrooms for dancing and one room set up for jamming. There were seven bands playing throughout the next 3 days. This is the best buy at $40 per person for three days of entertainment and fun.

Ron "Austie" Austalosh playing the Mozart Polka




Eddie Rodick Band - Ripping it up



Great dancers

We had heard the Del Sinchak band in Las Vegas last February 2008. We loved them and bought one of their CDs which we played almost every week. They have the best accordion players (Ron "Austie" Austalosh) I have ever heard. We saw him checking out a new accordion at the Baldoni display right outside the ballroom. I mentioned that we loved his music and talent and commented that Mozart polka was my favorite. He said they hadn't played that one for a while. When they started playing, it was the second song they played. Stan and I danced our brains out around the floor stopping only briefly to take a quick video and cheer loudly.


Steve Meisner Band Wisconsin
Dancing


Kenny Brandt Band