ASSINIBOIA - The 20th Anniversary of the Assiniboia Polka Fest was held July 19 and 20 at the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia.
Organized once again by Lynn and Grant Sangster, music filled the auditorium by Len Gadica, a one man band.
Dancers enjoyed the old time polkas, waltzes and Schottische in a fun filled evening.
Started in 2002, the more than two decade run for Assiniboia’s annual Polka Fest has seen attendance decline in the past several years. Organizers continue faithfully planning and manning the annual summer event, but they are left to wonder how long it can continue.
Long time volunteer, Lynn Sangster told the Assiniboia Times and SaskToday.ca, “Last year was the first time we were in the red. Attendance has declined from the hundreds of attendees to last year seeing 63 participants on the Friday night and 96 for the Saturday night.”
Some polka fest events across the province have ceased operations as their once jam-packed dance floors were diminished to less than a hundred attendees, making it more work to host than the benefits received from it. Added to the matter is organizers who have grown older and weren’t as able to prepare and man the event themselves.
While Sangster affirms, they have lots of volunteers who help set up the Prince of Wales Centre, sell tickets and work the bar, they no longer are able to prepare and serve all the food, like they once did and it is now in the hands of a concession operator.
In the beginning years, when attendance was in the hundreds, with many attendees coming from around Saskatchewan, there was some profits made and were donated back to the community, usually in health-related causes acknowledged Sangster.
Both organizers of these style of events and musicians who play at them want to keep this old-time music alive.
Now, Sangster says, as long as their expenses are paid, they are happy with the results.
“We will decide this fall if we are going to keep doing this event. There are no younger people attending and those that used to travel around to these events have aged beyond being able to travel, or dance, while others have since passed away.”
Out of town attendee, Miguel Fenrich, told the Assiniboia Times and SASKTODAY.ca, “Frankly, I came out to attend the Assiniboia Polkafest with my grandparents this year to celebrate polka music. I know personally that Polkafests and Old Time (Tyme) Dances are certainly on the decline in rural Saskatchewan, and although it's a shame, it's clear that we have to celebrate and support those who continue to celebrate this type of music in this way.”
“I've been attending dances with my grandparents since I was 13, and there's something almost magical about the artform; uplifting, distinctly prairie, almost mythical in nature as many of the dance clubs and festivals continue to shutter.”
Fenrich also acknowledges that as a visual and literary storyteller himself, he feels these dances are overflowing with stories of the many seniors who have been attending these Polkafests across Saskatchewan, for, in some cases, nearly a quarter of a century.
Fenrich is currently working on a project involving photography, interviews and literary storytelling in an efforts to preserve these culturally iconic events. His efforts are intended to share Saskatchewan’s history, culture and ties to folk music and dance with more people.
“As far as my perception of the event goes, this is my first-year attending. Again, I'm not the only person to note that attendance for Polkafests across the province are declining. Aberdeen's Polkafest didn't go forward this year. Nor did Saskatoon's. Fortunately, those who were in attendance at Assiniboia were in high spirits and the music of Len Gadicia and Leon Ochs was wonderful as always,” added Fenrich.
As probably one of the youngest attendees at the Assiniboia event, Fenrich affirms that he is hoping that these events can continue for as long as possible, and that the efforts to preserve, revitalize, and disseminate information and stories about this distinctly prairie artform are successful.
“And of course, Assiniboia itself is a fabulous town, with a fabulous venue (The Prince of Wales) and I'm excited to hopefully return again in 2025 for more Polkafesting! “
Gone are the days of Saturday night dances, and a fistful of orchestras and bands to play them. Young people’s interests have taken new priorities and turns and as communities got smaller, the desire to travel to bigger centres for entertainment didn’t have dance cards on the agenda. This part of Saskatchewan’s community culture isn’t as popular as it once was.
Often younger generations say unless their grandparents or parents taught them to polka, schottische, the butterfly or waltz, they are in unfamiliar territory if these tunes are played at a dance they attend.
While Fenrich’s comments sound positive and hopeful, those that grew up on old time music and the dances that accompanied it would love to see it preserved, however, they are not all optimistic that it can continue unless the next generation takes an interest in it.
