Radio host Val Pawlowski will bring live polka music, traditional food, and community remembrance to Kirtland this Memorial Day with an annual dance that celebrates veterans and their families while keeping a beloved cultural tradition alive.
The event runs Monday, May 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Kirtland Veterans Memorial Hall, 9240 Chillicothe Road. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door, with proceeds benefiting the Lake County Veterans Service Commission. Attendees can purchase tickets online at kirtlandpolka.org or by calling (440) 555-0142.
From the Airwaves to the Dance Floor
Pawlowski, host of Polka Time on WKYZ-FM for the past 12 years, has spent more than a decade building Cleveland's polka community through her weekly radio show and live events. She launched the Memorial Day dance in 2016 after noticing that many veterans in her audience missed the social halls and dances that once anchored their post-service years.
"Polka has always been music for gathering—for weddings, for holidays, for homecomings," Pawlowski said. "Memorial Day is a solemn day, yes, but it's also a day to come together and say thank you. The dance lets us do both. We remember, and we celebrate the lives they lived."
An Evening of Remembrance and Celebration
The night opens with a moment of silence at 6 p.m., followed by a color guard presentation from the Kirtland American Legion Post 201. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. with The River Valley Ramblers, a five-piece Cleveland polka band performing Slovenian and Polish standards alongside Memorial Day favorites.
First-time dancers need not sit out. A free beginner lesson starts at 7 p.m., led by Pawlowski and longtime dance instructor Joe Kowalski. Open dancing continues until 10 p.m.
The hall's kitchen will serve a buffet of Eastern European specialties, including pierogi, kielbasa, haluski, and stuffed cabbage, prepared by Kirtland's St. Mary's Catholic Church parish volunteers. Soft drinks and coffee are included; a cash bar will offer beer and wine.
Who Should Attend
The event welcomes all ages, though Pawlowski notes it draws a strong crowd of veterans, active-duty service members, and multigenerational families.
"I've had World War II veterans tell me this is the one event they still look forward to every year," she said. "Their children and grandchildren come too. That's the whole point—keeping these stories and these traditions going."
How to Go
- What: Memorial Day Polka Dance
- When: Monday, May 27, 6–10 p.m.
- Where: Kirtland Veterans Memorial Hall, 9240 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland
- Cost: $15 advance, $20 at the door
- Tickets: kirtlandpolka.org or (440) 555-0142
- Parking: Free on-site lot with accessible spaces near the entrance
For updates, follow Val Pawlowski on Facebook at @PolkaTimeVal or tune in to Polka Time Saturdays at 9 a.m. on WKYZ-FM 98.5.
