MONROE - The official song encourages everyone to come to Cheese Days in Monroe.
A lot of people took that advice Friday, as the 2008 Cheese Days got under way with music, an opening ceremony, plenty of food and the Royalty Ball.
It was only the first day of the three-day weekend, but the south side of the Square was packed with people in lawn chairs and standing to attend the festival's kickoff.
"The whole weekend honors the dairy and cheesemaking industry," Cheese Days King Gary Grossen said. "It's going to go fast, and then it's over."
Cheese Days Chairman Virgil Leopold said the weekend is about Green County traditions.
"Green County is built on traditions. The tradition of dairy farming, cheesemaking and Swiss heritage," he said.
Swiss heritage was the theme Friday at the Swiss Roots and Royalty Ball. Former kings and queens, as well as those who enjoy Swiss music, performed by the Zweifel Brothers Band, and dancing, turned out at Turner Hall to celebrate.
It also was a chance to enjoy the coronation of the king and queen and other royalty,
Betty and Roy Vetterli, king and queen in 1996, have attended the ball "many times," Betty joked.
"I love seeing all the people," she said. "You don't get to see them very often but they always come here."
They attended the ball as spectators, only, Betty said. They didn't plan to do much dancing.
Cheese Days Prince Noah Zimmerman, 8, Monroe, planned to dance with the princess Olivia O'Dea before the night was over. Attending the ball and leading the children's parade were two of the things he did Friday.
Roxie Kolasch, Monticello, said she has attended the royalty ball from the time she was a little girl. She estimated her first Cheese Days was 1966. She and her husband, Tim, were at the ball to listen to the music and to eventually hit the dance floor.
Roxie knows how to polka, she said. Tim "tries," she smiled.
For many people, the royalty ball has become a part of Cheese Days they look forward to.
"I've been to a lot of them" Nate Roth, Monroe, said. "I've attended Cheese Days for 80 years. The only ones I missed were during World War II."
Green County Dairy Queen Breinne Hendrickson and the rest of the county's dairy queens, were on hand to visit with people and enjoy the night, she said.
A lot of people took that advice Friday, as the 2008 Cheese Days got under way with music, an opening ceremony, plenty of food and the Royalty Ball.
It was only the first day of the three-day weekend, but the south side of the Square was packed with people in lawn chairs and standing to attend the festival's kickoff.
"The whole weekend honors the dairy and cheesemaking industry," Cheese Days King Gary Grossen said. "It's going to go fast, and then it's over."
Cheese Days Chairman Virgil Leopold said the weekend is about Green County traditions.
"Green County is built on traditions. The tradition of dairy farming, cheesemaking and Swiss heritage," he said.
Swiss heritage was the theme Friday at the Swiss Roots and Royalty Ball. Former kings and queens, as well as those who enjoy Swiss music, performed by the Zweifel Brothers Band, and dancing, turned out at Turner Hall to celebrate.
It also was a chance to enjoy the coronation of the king and queen and other royalty,
Betty and Roy Vetterli, king and queen in 1996, have attended the ball "many times," Betty joked.
"I love seeing all the people," she said. "You don't get to see them very often but they always come here."
They attended the ball as spectators, only, Betty said. They didn't plan to do much dancing.
Cheese Days Prince Noah Zimmerman, 8, Monroe, planned to dance with the princess Olivia O'Dea before the night was over. Attending the ball and leading the children's parade were two of the things he did Friday.
Roxie Kolasch, Monticello, said she has attended the royalty ball from the time she was a little girl. She estimated her first Cheese Days was 1966. She and her husband, Tim, were at the ball to listen to the music and to eventually hit the dance floor.
Roxie knows how to polka, she said. Tim "tries," she smiled.
For many people, the royalty ball has become a part of Cheese Days they look forward to.
"I've been to a lot of them" Nate Roth, Monroe, said. "I've attended Cheese Days for 80 years. The only ones I missed were during World War II."
Green County Dairy Queen Breinne Hendrickson and the rest of the county's dairy queens, were on hand to visit with people and enjoy the night, she said.