"Local Green County Cheese Days organizers set themselves a big goal for this year’s event, which was held last weekend, Sept. 20-22. The challenge was to break the Guinness Book of World Record mark for the largest polka gathering in history," The Monroe Times reports.

"The previous world record was 802 dancers, set in Germany in 2013. On Saturday in Monroe, more than 4,000 people registered for the event, and when DJ Shotski (Stacy Harbaugh of Madison) played a series of polka hits just after 2 p.m., the streets surrounding the historic downtown square were jam-packed with dancers and spectators alike.

"The new world record was set 30 years after Wisconsin declared polka the official state dance, and 110 years after the first “Cheese Day” festival was held in Monroe."

"Those that registered beforehand received a commemorative button or sticker while supplies lasted. Once the official record-breaking dance attempt began, the members of this year’s Cheese Days Royalty were on the southwestern stage, while DJ Shotski was surrounded by organizers on the Martha Bernet Main Stage on the south side. Confetti shot off into the air to celebrate the quirky, prideful achievement," The Monroe Times reports.

"The large crowd fought off temperatures into the mid-80-degrees mark. The higher-than usual temperatures for this time of the season — along with dehydration issues — kept local first responders busy all day. Green County EMS took more than 30 calls.

"Rain and thunderstorms descended upon Monroe hours later. The threat of storms was too much for organizers to take on the following day, so they made the careful — and heart-wrenching — decision to cancel the Swiss Colony Parade, which brings in tens of thousands of spectators and participants from across the country."

"In 1914, the concept of Cheese Days originated from the notion that if some little town in Illinois could have a festival commemorating sauerkraut, then a celebration based on cheese would be an even better idea," the Cheese Days says.

"A group of local businessmen planned the festivities in just nineteen days, driving a roadster through the city of Monroe to publicize the event. A hand-lettered sign attached to the vehicle proclaimed “FIRST CHEESE DAY COMMITTEE 1914 – WE STARTED SOMETHING!” And did they ever." says.

"The largest Polka dance featured 802 dancers and was achieved by Banater Schwaben Crailsheim (Germany) at the Hirtenwiesenhalle in Crailsheim, Germany, on 29 June 2013," the Guinness World Records says.

"The world record breaking attempt for the largest polka dance on 29 June 2013 was part of a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the dance group Banater Schwaben from Crailsheim."

"The record to beat was 802 dancers in Germany in 2013, according to Guinness World Records. On Saturday, organizers said more than 4,000 people registered for the dance. And a little after 2 p.m., in over 80-degree heat, polka they did," the WPR says.

"Madison’s Stacy Harbaugh, also known as DJ Shotski, host of the radio show “Polka Time,” emceed the event. She got the idea for the record-breaking attempt over beers with friends in New Glarus.

“This is important to our state, this is important to our history and our culture and you’re all a part of it with me today,” Harbaugh said to the crowd."

"Notable moments over the years here at Cheese Days have included yodelers, musicians playing 10-foot-long alphorns and cheese sandwiches made by volunteer firefighters and local meat cutters as far back as 1914," the Wiscnews.com says.

"Thousands circled the historic Green County Courthouse Square on a sweltering September day in attempt to break the world record for the most people dancing the polka.

"A series of speakers set up around the square blared recorded music played by DJ Shotski, and if the estimates hold, the masses here, fueled on Spotted Cow and Limburger, likely shattered the record of 802 dancers set in 2013 in Crailsheim, Germany."

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