Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers Polka Band are set to play from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday on the Main Stage at this year’s Palmerton Community Festival.

Rick Hasonich, drummer, said the band plays a mixture of polka, German songs, waltzes, obereks (three-quarter time waltz) and that the band tries to appeal to a larger crowd.

“We’re a very happy group of people, happy musicians,” Hasonich said. “We love watching the smiles on the faces of people as they dance around.

“We’re looking to keep polka music alive, because it’s a dying tradition. Polka music is very popular in the western part of the U.S. Wisconsin has multiple festivals throughout the year that they bring thousands and thousands of people to.”

Hasonich said that agreeing to return after being asked to come back and play at the Palmerton Community Festival was a no-brainer.

“I said, ‘absolutely.’ We love playing there,” he said. “As you get more established playing there, the people are becoming more and more friendly.”

That, Hasonich said, has been quite the welcoming feeling for the band.

“There are a lot of people requesting (us) to come back,” he said. “We thoroughly enjoy coming up to that area to play.”

As they continue to establish themselves, Hasonich said the five-member band continues to play bigger festival, carnivals and shows that they really enjoy.

He said they typically play songs like “The Chicken Dance” and the “Fliergerlied,” a German line dance that has caught on in the area.

Combined, Hasonich said the band has over 80 years of experience.