Poland celebrates with fireworks, parade, pie and more

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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Celebrate Poland Day in Poland Village hosted Poland Idol, open to various age groups on June 27.

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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Despite the rain, families still came to enjoy Celebrate Poland Day to support their town and take part in the various activities provided throughout the day. Pictured are Nancy (left) and Olivia Tondy.

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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.There were various activities available at Celebrate Poland Day on June 27, including bounce-a-rounds, food from vendors, games and more.

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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Siblings and friends joined Celebrate Poland Day on June 27 to take part in the festivities provided around Poland Village. Pictured, from left, are Joanie McNally, John McNally and Braden Joss.

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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Parents, friends and judges crowded under tents to see contestants of Poland Idol perform on June 27 during Celebrate Poland Day.

On June 26, Celebrate Poland 2015 kicked off with the Annual Strawberry Festival at Poland Presbyterian Church, followed by the Firemen’s Parade at 7 p.m., led by parade marshal Larry Warren. The fireworks — orchestrated by Colonial Fireworks — went off on June 27 at 10 p.m. This was the fourth year that the display will end Poland’s celebration.

“Saving the fireworks until the end has really worked for this community. People like ending the celebration that way,” Celebrate Poland organizer Tricia Perry said. “There is so much to do at the event on Friday night and all day Saturday that everyone is ready to settle down and watch the display.”

All activities can be found in the yellow Celebrate Poland program, on the Celebrate Poland Web page and at mycityhangouts.com.

Some Celebrate Poland activities included live bands and food vendors on Friday night.

On Saturday, an arts and craft showed on the Village Green touch-a-truck, bounce-a-rounds, a putting green, rubber duck races on Yellow Creek, a corn hole tournament and the ever-popular Poland Idol contest at noon. Graveyard tours at Poland Presbyterian and Riverside Cemeteries happened on both Friday and Saturday. Across from Village Hall, the Poland library held a book sale and activities for kids.

New this year, Howard Hanna sponsored a pie-baking contest at their canopy on the Village Green.

Once again this year a shuttle service was available to accommodate the crowds and make parking easier. All bussing and parking has been donated to Celebrate Poland and was free to the public.

“As the years have gone by, we see more and more people coming to Celebrate Poland to start their Fourth of July holiday and enjoy some small-town family fun,” Celebrate Poland President Greg Morrison said. “Many even plan their vacations around it. They don’t want to miss it, it is that much fun.”