Polka Fest promises a barrel of fun

With a multiple Grammy-winner in the lineup, Bob Doszak knows polka fans from as far away as California, Florida and Arizona will make the pilgrimage to Naperville this weekend for Illinois Polka Fest 2008.

And busloads of fans from closer to home and points across the Midwest will make the trip, too, said Doszak, the event organizer from Joliet.

This year's three-day festival features Grammy winner Walter Ostanek and His Band among the 10 bands playing in three ballrooms Friday through Sunday at the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 Naper Blvd.

Doszak estimates between 1,500 and 1,800 people will visit the festival during the course of the weekend.

He attributes the 20-year-old festival's continued success to its wealth of star talent.

"We've always got the best you can find," he said.

Headliner Walter Ostanek and His Band, a renowned polka group from Canada, is in contention for another Grammy this February.

The group has been nominated for Best Polka Album for its recording of "Dueling Polkas," made with fellow nominees Brian Sklar and the Western Senators.

"We kind of feature him and he plays with all the bands," Doszak said of Ostanek.

Also playing will be bands featuring Kenny Brandt, Gary Brueggen and Steve Meisner, all of Wisconsin; Eddie Rodick of Cleveland; the Karl Lukitsch band from Ohio; Don Lipovac of Kansas City; Klancnik and Friends of Michigan; and the International Main Street Polka Band.

Doszak, a longtime musician, also will take the stage with his band.

"I've done this all my life, playing music," he said.

Doszak said the festival's style of polka music emphasizes accordions, banjos, guitars, drums and bass while playing down the brass more prominently featured in other polka styles.

"This style is a little more peppy," he said.

Visitors are welcome to jam with the professionals and other amateurs in the hotel lobby, he said.

The festival is marking its second year in Naperville. Previously presented in St. Charles and Oak Brook, Polka Fest moved to Naperville to accommodate growing crowds, Doszak said.

If you go

What: Illinois Polka Fest 2008

Where: Holiday Inn Select, 1801 Naper Blvd., Naperville

When: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; noon to 1 a.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $25 Friday, $30 Saturday, $10 Sunday; $40 for a three-day pass; children younger than 16 free with paid adult

Info: (815) 722-0783