Cedar’s annual polka party was an “incredible” success, festival co-chair Lisa Rossi-Brett tells the Leelanau Ticker. “Gate admission proceeds were up about 28 percent from last year…and those were up 30 percent over 2019.” (There was not a festival in 2020.)

Recipients of the 2022 Polka Fest proceeds — which fund year-round charity work and community projects in Cedar — will be decided this fall. In previous years those proceeds supported college scholarships, firefighters, families in need, and projects maintaining and beautifying the downtown.

“We don’t have attendance numbers from the 70s and 80s but it’s the best in recent history. Attendance had been declining, but it’s fair to say Polka Fest is again reminiscent of the heydays…just with a little more control.” (There are some wild tales from the earliest Polka Fest that also were not saved for posterity...)

Last year the festival invested $20,000 into the food court infrastructure, moving it outside the tent and giving it a bigger footprint. “I was not expecting that kind of growth again,” says Rossi-Brett, “Everyone had an amazing time, with one big caveat, the food court…I’m on it. We can’t have people waiting in line so long for food. We will be looking to add more food vendors.”

She also notes the “unreal amount of support we got for the polka mass service on Sunday, led by the bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord. As of last night, we have $8600 raised and will likely hit the goal of $10,000 to send to Poland to aid Ukrainian refugees there.”

Polka bands are already being booked for 2023, and the festival organizers have been brainstorming the last 48 hours. “Now that we’ve seen that kind of growth, we are looking at reworking and changing some things. Stay tuned,” says Rossi-Brett.

In the meantime save the dates for the 2023 Polka Fest, August 24-27.