Accordion Players Reunite in Sharon for a Toe-Tapping Memorial Day Weekend Tradition

Every Memorial Day weekend, the rich sounds of accordion music fill the air in Sharon, Pennsylvania, as players and fans from across the country gather for the National Button Accordion Festival. Rooted in a tradition that began over 30 years ago in California, this beloved celebration of button accordion music has traveled through Oklahoma and Texas before making its way to Mercer County in 2006. For the past several years, it has found a warm and welcoming home at the Apollo Maennerchor in downtown Sharon.

The festival centers around the button accordion, an instrument originating from the central European regions of Slovenia, Austria, and southern Germany. The music played—primarily waltzes and two-steps—is lively, joyful, and deeply rooted in community celebrations like weddings and family gatherings. While the event shines a spotlight on the button accordion, musicians of all types and all styles of polka are welcome to join the fun.

At the heart of the festival is Ron Pivovar, a Greenville-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and longtime button accordion devotee. Ron discovered the instrument as a teenager and has been championing its sound for nearly 70 years. Though he acknowledges the challenges of making a living as a professional musician—particularly as an accordionist—Ron’s career has always been steeped in the arts. Until his recent retirement, he served as a ceramics professor at Thiel College.

2024 National Button Accordion Festival

The festival’s programming is grassroots and deeply community-driven. Musicians, both seasoned professionals and passionate hobbyists, sign up for 30-minute sets in the Apollo Maennerchor ballroom. Other rooms throughout the venue are open for informal jam sessions, and spontaneous performances often erupt throughout the weekend. Ron emphasizes that the Sharon region has long been a hub for button accordion music, thanks to the area's deep roots in Eastern European traditions.

Thanks to strong local support, the festival has continued to thrive. The Mercer County Visitors Bureau actively promotes the event and recognizes its impact on local tourism and hospitality. The Apollo Maennerchor, with its recent renovation that restored its original 1910 charm, provides the perfect setting. Visitors can enjoy music in the ballroom, relax in the outdoor beer garden, or mingle in the cozy bar.

This year’s festival runs Friday, May 23 (starting at 5 PM), Saturday, May 24 (noon–10 PM), and Sunday, May 25 (noon–9 PM). Tickets are available at the door each day. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer, a curious listener, or an accordionist yourself, this event offers a joyful and welcoming way to experience the vibrant traditions of button accordion music.

Learn more at www.nationalbuttonaccordionfestival.com