Home » Projects » The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame & Museum • Cleveland, Ohio

The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame & Museum • Cleveland, Ohio

The Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of polka music, the happiest sound around.

The National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame is home to many nationally known Cleveland-Style polka stars throughout history. Some of the biggest and best talents are found right here within our walls and we welcome you to explore this site to learn all about the Cleveland-Style polka sound including many of the musicians who have contributed throughout the years.

The Cleveland-Style polka has its roots in Slovenian folk music, but the influence of American musicians has given it universal appeal and popularity. Just as English and Irish music has evolved into country music, the polka represents the music of central Europe.

The Polka Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the Shore Cultural Center in Euclid, Ohio, in close proximity to the Collinwood neighborhood where leading polka musicians lived such as Frankie Yankovic, Johnny Vadnal, Johnny Pecon and Eddie Habat. The Museum has free admission and is open four days a week.

The American Slovenian Polka Foundation, which operates the Museum, was founded in 1987. A volunteer board of trustees is elected by the present 1600 members. The trustees represent all segments of polka music, including musicians, promoters, cultural societies, disc jockeys, and button accordion players.

During Thanksgiving weekend, the Polka Hall of Fame produces an annual awards show. Members vote for annual categories such as Recording of the Year, Lifetime Achievement recipients, and the all-time greates polka hits among others. The honorees receive a Crystal Award trophy. The Lifetime Achievement award is the highest honor presented and includes enshrinement in the Polka Hall of Fame.

As a nonprofit organization, the Polka Hall of Fame and Museum relies on fundraising for its financing.

The museum is located on the first floor of the old Euclid City Hall. The building was renovated in the early 21st century for two museums – the Polka Hall of Fame (first floor) and the Softball Hall of Fame (second floor).

♫ Annual Awards Shows

In November of each year, the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame honors the musicians, promoters and the music itself with the Annual Achievement Awards.

♫ Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Induction into the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the American Slovenian Polka Foundation. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes valuable contrubutions by musicians, individuals and organizations to the Cleveland-Style Polka, the genre of American dance music that emerged from the city’s Slovenian neighborhoods more than a century ago and achievement nationwide popularity after World War II.

Visit: https://clevelandstyle.com/lifetime-achievement-honorees/

♫ ONLINE Polka Music Jukebox

Listen to Cleveland-Style Polkas and Waltzes on the world wide web:

https://clevelandstyle.com/polka-jukebox/

♫ Annual Slovenian Sausage Festival

SNPJ Farm, 10946 Heath Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094 – Hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum.

Enjoy polka music’s yummiest dance party! Ten top Cleveland-Style bands and entertainers serve up peppy polkas and dreamy waltzes. Eddie Rodick, Don Wojtila, the Zolka Family, the Fairport Jammers, Anthony Culkar, Al Battistelli, and others help you burn up those extra calories. Bring your squeezebox or banjo and jam along.

Sample a sausage from each maker and then choose your favorite. Pierogies, strudels and more await you between spins on the dance floor.