POLAND — The 14th annual Celebrate Poland community event will take place 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Poland Village Hall grounds, 308 S. Main St.

It will feature the second annual Poland firefighters vs. Poland police softball game. A parade, food, music, craft show, Poland Idol contest, kids activities and fireworks will be featured.

The Poland firefighters invite people to participate in the annual parade, for which lineup beings at 6 p.m.

Everyone also is welcome to participate in Poland’s annual Idol contest. Judges all have musical backgrounds and will be choosing winners in four age categories.

The Celebrate Poland Committee this year moved the event date.

The event traditionally is scheduled for the last weekend of June, but for 2021 was moved to a one-day happening on Saturday. That had to do with the committee of 10 going two years without a fundraiser, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

With the new fall date, it opened up the possibility of new fall-time events. One of those is a pumpkin decorating contest.

“We are so excited as the event gets closer,” said Cindy Best from the Celebrate Poland committee. “We decided since it is fall, let’s do it right.”

She continued: “We have a few new things. First, this year’s pie flavor for the baking contest is pumpkin. So we need bakers to bring in their best pumpkin pie. We are also having a pumpkin decorating contest. I mean, you can’t have a fall event without that.”

There will be four categories, broken down by age. Contestants can go to Countryside Farms in Poland prior to the event. They then decorate the pumpkin at home and bring it to the event. Decorated pumpkins can be dropped off starting at 2 p.m. the day of the celebration. Judging will be at 5 p.m. right before the parade.

Flyers will be sent home with children from school and also are available at the Poland Village Hall.

Something else new this year, Best said, is B & T Chainsaw Carvers. The carvers will be demonstrating skills, and will also be bringing a carved bulldog that will be put into a silent auction. Bids can be placed all day. The winner will be announced at 9 p.m. before the fireworks.

“We also have our old standards Chalk the Walk, Poland Idol, Market Place, Kids World with petting zoo, games and bounces,” Best said. “The fireworks this year will be at 9:30 p.m. We also have 16 food vendors — many of them new to the event. You can sign up the day of the event for Poland Idol, Chalk the Walk and the pumpkin pie baking contest. It is also not too late to get a spot at our market place.”

Donations are still a key and with the governor’s green light to have events again, it left little time to prepare for this year’s event. People wanting to support the annual event can visit the Celebrate Poland Facebook page or follow the link on the Poland village website.

Best said this will be considered the 14th annual event. She said 2020, which would have been No. 14, simply will not count.

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