Polkas on Ice returns for a second year
By Taylor Hale
STEVENS POINT – Locals had a cool afternoon on the downtown ice rink, skating, dancing, and enjoying the bouncy timbre of polka music on Feb. 21, during the second annual Polkas on Ice.
The yearly event is hosted by the Polish Heritage Awareness Society of Central Wisconsin to get residents out of the house and introduce them to some polka classics.
“We need to continue to build relationships and have human interactions,” explained event organizer and Polish Heritage Awareness Society member Francene Gollon. “We are starving just to see somebody smile. We need to get out of the house and start finding our new normal, whether that’s little events that are safe for the community or something else.”
Polkas on Ice was rescheduled twice due to dangerously cold temperatures, but Gollon said that the show must go on.
“There were a lot of things that could have closed us down this year, but it’s for the love of polka, and (the community) wanted to do it. There’s just no way I could have said no,” Gollon joked.
Some midday snow didn’t stop guests from stopping by to enjoy fresh hot chocolate, mulled wine, and authentic Polish baked goods. Gollon said that she was blown away by this year’s turnout and that it far surpassed last year’s number of guests.
Mayor Mike Wiza was in attendance at the event and said he felt that the community was eager to get out of the house and do something outdoors.
“It gives people something to do, and I think a lot of people are craving that,” Wiza said.