Music & Dance Music-Dance News July-Aug '19 | Page 27

Music & Dance News
July/August 2019
Page 27
Submitted photos
A crowd of dance enthusiasts gathers under the tent for food, beverages, music, dancing, and
fellowship.
Look for the big yellow tent Sept. 5-7
The 10th annual Otter-
tail Polka Daze will take
place Thursday, Sept. 5
through Saturday, Sept.
7 in Ottertail, MN – 12
miles south of Perham,
MN on Hwy. 78, then
one mile east on Hwy.
108.
Look for the big yel-
low tent, and enjoy the
music of several bands
throughout the weekend.
For a full schedule of
bands and other infor-
mation, see the ad on
page 17.
How it all began
Ten years ago, the Ot-
tertail Lions Club want-
ed to add another project
to its agenda. Not know-
ing what kind of recep-
tion awaited them, they
forged ahead with Polka
Daze.
The Lions rented a
large tent, installed a
wooden dance floor, ad-
vertized the event, and
anxiously awaited the
outcome.
There is plenty of room for vehicle parking, as well as primitive camping for
recreational vehicles and motorhomes.
The first year was a
real challenge – it rained,
putting a damper on the
festivities.
The following year
proved to be more prom-
ising, and as the years
passed, more and more
dancers attended.
In 2013, the day the
event was to begin with
an evening dance, a
storm hit the area, caus-
ing the tent to collapse.
With dogged determi-
nation and the help of
many of the campers in
attendance, the tent went
back up and the event
went on.
The venue includes
a very large primi-
tive camping area. Last
year, there were 49 units
camped.
There is also plenty of
room for vehicle park-
ing.
Dancers from Min-
nesota, North and South
Dakota, Wisconsin, Ari-
zona, Texas, Washing-
ton, Montana, Manitoba,
British Columbia; and
Alberta, Canada have
attended the event in the
past years.
Organizers work hard
and pride themselves on
accommodating guests
and insuring they have a
good time.
Attendees
appreci-
ate the nice dance floor,
food, and general hospi-
tality.
Everyone is welcome
and encouraged to attend
Ottertail Polka Daze.