Dancing In The Streets: 29th Cotati Accordion Festival In Photos

COTATI, CA — There was dancing in the streets — literally — as thousands came from near and far to enjoy the 29th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival, held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-18, 2019, under the trees — and tents — at La Plaza Park in Downtown Cotati.

As attendees danced and clapped and sang along under the Polka/Zydeco Tent set up in the middle of West Sierra Avenue — or at the Jam Tent, two main stages, Student Stage, Friday Redwood Cafe Show or the alternative Traveling Spectacular Stage — they also took time to enjoy a wide variety of food, wine and beer selections from over 70 vendors.

The Polka/Zydeco tent with its large wooden dance floor was a popular attraction for many. As the Steve Balich polka band played Saturday, the dance floor was packed and people were moving and grooving. Many onlookers even jumped in to try their hand at polka dancing, laughing all the way around the dance floor.

Earlier in the day, Jim Gilman, aka "The Squeezinator," provided some waltz music, even adding in a few tango tunes.

Late in the afternoon, as The Wild Catahoulas entertained with Zydeco music — a popular Southern Louisiana blend of French origins with elements of Caribbean music and the blues, featuring guitar, washboard and accordion — the floor was packed with followers. The same was true Sunday when Les Amis Zydeco took the stage under the big top. Many of the dancers who turned out are regulars at Monroe Hall, a social dance hall in Santa Rosa that features live music as well as dance lessons for zydeco, salsa, West Coast swing, nightclub two-step and country.

Over on the Accordion Apocalypse Stage, the Penny Opry duo drew a large crowd Saturday. The two women — one on the drums, the other on accordion — had many folks dancing on the asphalt street.

Fashion — think culturally inspired bold, vibrant hats and outfits — is always a big factor at the two-day, multi-cultural, multi-generational accordion extravaganza, and this year did not disappoint.

By charging admission, festival organizers are able to make annual, much-needed donations to local youth groups. As of 2018, the Cotati Accordion Festival has given out a total of $500,000 to groups including Boy Scouts, Cotati/Rohnert Park Education Foundation, Penngrove 6th Grade Outdoor Education and others. The group also donated to youth musicians who lost instruments in the 2017 North Bay wildfires.

This year, guests who work in law enforcement or as a firefighter or any other public safety role, did not have to pay admission and they got a free poster showcasing the 29th annual event, because the event theme was "honoring and thanking first responders for their past, current and future dedication and sacrifice."