Gibbon, Minnesota sports more square footage of dance floor per population than any city in the United States. And for more than 30 years, RVs from all over the country have descended on Gibbon each summer for the Gibbon Polka Fest, where thousands of polka-loving dancers party until dawn. POLKA TIME looks at this rural and Midwestern cultural tradition through the stories of some of its devotees, whose joy for polka includes a zest for life that belies their age. But with attendance declining and the Gibbon Ballroom for sale, POLKA TIME may also be capturing the twilight of a great American musical tradition and the end of an era.

Steve Seeboth and his father Dick decided to buy the ballroom as a way of supporting the health and vitality of the small towns around Gibbon, promising to give it a go for five years. But times are tough—attendance at the Polka Fest has plummeted since the polka heyday of the “Fat '70s”—and the ballroom’s days may be numbered. In POLKA TIME, Steve shares his knowledge of the ballroom, the polka and the history of the Polka Fest, and numerous couples demonstrate their love for the polka through dance, personal anecdotes and observations. Donna and Roy tell audiences how they found love late in life with each other at a polka dance. Rudy and Joyce explain why dancers wear matching outfits. Doris and John talk about the synergy of the polka on the dance floor. A group from the Polka Lovers Club of America, or the P.O.L.K. of A., extols the virtues of holding your partner when you dance. Wally Pikal, bandleader of the Dill Pickles, recounts his longtime career as a trumpet player. He’s in his seventies and he “ain’t quittin’.”

Despite the fact that the average age of polka lovers hovers around 75, there are glimmers of hope that polka is not dying out. Native son Dan Witucki returns home from his ongoing gig at Disney World’s German Pavilion to play for his hometown fans. Young bands like Jon Dietz and the Twin Lakes Trio keep the tradition alive, their excitement and attachment to the music clearly visible in their playing. By mixing traditional tunes with modern sensibilities, their way may be the only way that polka will live on in younger generations. But it’s an uphill battle. Regardless of whether the polka carries on in full force, the polka people will still have a good time. As Sharon Nienkark, who’s been to every Gibbon Polka Fest but two, says: “Polka music is happy music. The music is happy. The people are happy.”

In July 2004, filmmaker Lisa Blackstone reported:

“The Gibbon Ballroom is up for sale. This year may be the last Gibbon Polka Days, unless a new buyer is found. A little slice of culture will have passed on.”