Small Towns, Wisconsin Southwest Region Summer 2014 | Page 16

Gandy Dancer Festival “Gandy Dancer” is one of those terms that I never heard before moving to Wisconsin. It refers to the railroad workers who laid (and maintained) track, back before machines took over the process. The gandy dancers sang railroad songs while they worked, both to synchronize their labor and to maintain morale. In Mazomanie, the Annual Gandy Dancer Festival features bluegrass music and trains, as well as other family-friendly entertainment such as face painting, wagon rides, and barn dancing. Admission is free (although donations are accepted) and a wide variety of food is available for purchase. We hear the pies often sell out, so it’s worth having dessert early! This year’s festival will be Saturday Aug 16th, 11am to 8pm, at the Westland Promenade. The website is www.gandydancerfestival.org. p.16 Small Towns, Wisconsin | 2014 Southwest Summer Edition | www.smalltownswisconsin.com | e. [email protected]