POLAND – The community of Poland is gathering this weekend to mark a milestone anniversary of its annual summer festival. The event, known as Celebrate Poland, begins tonight, Friday, June 26, and continues through Saturday, June 27. This year represents the 20th anniversary of the celebration, which brings together residents from Poland and surrounding areas for two days of activities, live music, food, and family entertainment centered around Poland Village Hall, 308 South Main Street.
Because the volunteer festival committee does not own any permanent real estate or dedicated parking lots within the municipality, there is no centralized festival parking lot. Visitors should use public parking spaces scattered throughout the community and surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Festival admission and a large portion of the daily activities remain entirely free to the public due to corporate sponsorships from regional entities like Farmers National Bank, WesBanco, and Xfinity.
Friday schedule details opening night activities
The festival’s official gates and activities open this evening. The scheduled events for Friday include:
5:00 p.m. – Food vendors open at the Cortland lot located behind Village Hall.
5:00 p.m. – Kids World opens at Cortland Field behind Village Hall, featuring mechanical rides, inflatable bounce houses, and games provided by Bortner Shows Midway LLC.
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – The traditional Strawberry Festival takes place at Poland Presbyterian Church, located at 2 Poland Manor.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – A mini-golf course organized by the local Lions Club opens on the Village Hall lawn.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – American Legion Post 15 opens its specialized charity auction inside the American Legion Hall.
5:00 p.m. lineup, 6:00 p.m. step-off – The annual Fireman’s Parade, organized directly by the fire department, moves down Main Street and concludes at College Street. A specific quiet zone is established at the beginning of the route, and safety rules strictly prohibit vehicle drivers from throwing candy into the crowd; walking participants must distribute any treats instead.
6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Attendees can purchase tickets for the large basket raffle and a 50/50 drawing at the main Celebrate Poland tent next to the stage.
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Live musical entertainment features the band Disco Inferno performing on the Main Stage at Cortland Field, with the performance sponsored by Brokers Realty.
Saturday morning introduces arts and youth sports
The festival resumes early Saturday morning with a focus on competitive art and family recreation. The schedule for Saturday morning features:
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Registration for the annual Chalk the Walk sidewalk art contest takes place at the front corner of Cortland Street and South Main Street by Village Hall.
8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – The Chalk the Walk contest runs along the sidewalks surrounding the municipal building. Sponsored by Walgreens alongside the Perry and Aurini families, the competition is free to enter, and organizers supply pastel chalk to participants. Artists may bring their own vibrant colors or specialized shading tools. Competitors are divided into age brackets encompassing elementary, middle school, high school, and adult divisions, alongside a dedicated group category. Participants design works around three distinct themes: movies, television, or cartoons; historic, patriotic, or local Poland themes; and original or whimsical concepts.
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Marketplace vendors arrive to set up their displays on the front lawn of Village Hall.
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. – American Legion Post 15 reopens its internal charity auction inside the hall.
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. – The public marketplace opens officially on the front lawn of Village Hall, showcasing a wide variety of local arts, crafts, and commercial items.
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Kids World reopens behind Village Hall, with sponsorship provided by Josh and Alexa Sweeney Blackann.
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – A petting zoo sponsored by the Poland Historical Society operates at Cortland Field.
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Pony rides sponsored by the Dr. Ricchiuti family are available at Cortland Field.
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – A specialized mobile ninja obstacle course, managed by Ninja Nation Mobile, opens to children on Cortland Field.
Afternoon events feature historical exhibits and competitions
The afternoon schedule features a blend of local history, art appreciation, and community judging. The timeline of events includes:
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – The Poland Historical Society hosts an art show inside its dedicated tent. The historical society is also hosting an exhibition of artifacts specifically curated for local baby boomers, allowing longtime residents to view historical items from their formative years.
12:00 p.m. – Festival officials announce the winners of the morning sidewalk art competition at the Poland Village Gazebo.
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – The marketplace tent houses a daytime ticket sales station for the basket raffle and the 50/50 drawing.
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Afternoon musical entertainment is provided by DJ Jeff Dunn, who will perform at the gazebo under the sponsorship of Armstrong.
12:30 p.m. – Registration for the Patriotic Pet Costume Contest starts at the pet contest tent next to the gazebo.
1:00 p.m. – Judging and winner announcements take place for the pet show. Pets are expected to wear patriotic outfits, and participants can win various prizes.
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – The historical society conducts its official art show judging at the historical society tent.
2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. – Contestants must deliver their baked goods to the baking tent next to the gazebo for the Great Poland Bake-Off. This year, all entries must utilize a red, white, and blue color scheme or theme. The contest is divided into an adult division for individuals 18 years of age and older, and a junior division for those aged 17 and under.
3:00 p.m. – Judging begins promptly for all entries in the baking contest, with winners announced immediately afterward.
4:00 p.m. – The historical society announces its formal art show winner at the historical society tent.
Evening entertainment leads to large firework display
The final segment of the festival begins in the late afternoon and runs late into the night. The schedule includes:
4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Ticket sales for the basket raffle and 50/50 drawing move back to the main Celebrate Poland tent next to the stage.
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – DJ Jeff Dunn returns to provide musical entertainment on the Main Stage at Cortland Field under the sponsorship of Armstrong.
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Family-focused performance art features physical comedy and balloon twisting by Porgie the Funny Balloon Guy in front of the main festival tent, sponsored by Dave and Joan Smith.
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – A stilt-walking performance by Brittany Stilt Walker, sponsored by the Creed Family, takes place at Cortland Field.
9:00 p.m. – The basket raffle and 50/50 drawings conclude on the Main Stage, where the winning ticket numbers will be announced publicly. Ticket prices are structured at five dollars for a five-ticket sheet, 10 dollars for a 15-ticket sheet, and 20 dollars for a package containing three 15-ticket sheets. Ticket holders do not need to be physically present to claim their prizes.
9:30 p.m. – The American Legion holds its final drawing for the internal chair-ity auction.
10:00 p.m. – The entire festival concludes with a large fireworks display at Baird Mitchell Field. The display is produced by American Fireworks and funded through numerous contributions from local community members and businesses. The organizers increased the fireworks budget to $20,000 this year to expand the show in celebration of the festival’s 20th anniversary and the upcoming national America 250 milestones.
Culinary options and parking logistics for visitors
Food choices are a major component of the two-day gathering, with numerous regional concessions operating throughout the weekend. The vendor lineup includes:
Tom’s Concessions – Serving pasta dishes, bread bowls, and chicken parmesan sandwiches.
Brady Concessions – Providing snack options such as pretzel bites, fried ravioli, and multiple types of fried cheese.
Paisano’s Pizza – Offering pizza and pepperoni rolls.
Curt’s Concessions – Focusing on traditional festival food, including hot dogs, french fries, cheesesteaks, and sausage sandwiches.
E & E Concessions – Serving sweet items like apple dumplings, ice cream cones, sundaes, and milkshakes.
Vlahos Greek Gyros – Preparing Greek gyros.
Molnars – Providing sweet baked items like cinnamon and pumpkin rolls.
Bartell’s Take – Preparing heavy meals, including fried rice alongside teriyaki shrimp, chicken, and steak.
Moy Sabroso – Serving empanadas and related items.
Tra’s Gourmet Sandwiches – Offering burgers, jalapeno grilled cheese sandwiches, special sandwiches, and waffle fries.
Mechling Enterprises – Operating two separate stations providing lemonade and french fries at one, alongside elephant ears and funnel cakes at the other.
The festival is planned and coordinated by an all-volunteer committee that meets throughout the year. The organizers must raise all the necessary funds independently, as the village administration doesn’t financially support the operation. Last year, total festival expenses exceeded $50,000. For the 2026 event, the projected budget is close to $60,000.