The Turner Hall of Monroe will provide area residents and visitors in town for the balloon rally this weekend a first-hand opportunity to experience...and taste... local Swiss folk culture.

As part of Turner Hall's on-going Swiss Heritage Series, Turner Hall Ratskeller staff members Kurt Kline and Gert Waechli will present a Swiss cooking demonstration on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall of Turner Hall, following the Ratskeller's appearance on the Square as part of Taste of Monroe. The free one-hour presentation will include preparation of two of Turner Hall's signature items, Käsechüechli (cheese pie) and Swiss mocha ice cream, as well as Schwarzwälder (Black Forest) Cake and the traditional mountain preparation of potatoes and melted cheese known as Raclette. All recipes used are from the cookbook, Old World Swiss Family Recipes, published in 1996 by the Monroe Swiss Singers, one of Turner Hall's member organizations. The unique cookbook is currently undergoing revision for the printing of a soon-to-be-released second edition. Copies of the recipes used in the demonstration will be available to those in attendance.

At 8:30 p.m., also on Saturday in the Grand Hall, beginning-level polka dance lessons will be offered by instructors Steve and Sharon Streiff, accompanied by accordionist and jokemeister Del Heins. Polka Dancing 101, also part of Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series, is designed for those who have little or no polka dancing experience, but want to find out what the fun is all about. It takes mastering only a few basic steps for participants to be kicking up their heels in no time, all with the guarantee of a great time and lots of laughs.

Then on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall, new dance skills can be tried out at a real polka dance played by the Greg Anderson Band of Monroe, a local crowd pleaser. Turner Hall of Monroe features weekly Sunday afternoon polka dancing with live bands from throughout southern Wisconsin. Normally a charge event, this weekend there will be no admission fee to the dance. More information on Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series is available here.