By J.T. WHITEHOUSE

Staff writer

Celebrate Poland is ready to kick off at 5 p.m. today and continue through Saturday with a huge fireworks display at Baird Mitchell Field.

New for 2024 is the “Most Patriotic Pet Contest.” It will begin with registration at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and will be judged at 1 p.m.

“You can dress up your dog, cat, rabbit, or chicken, whatever your pet might be,” said Celebrate Poland Director Cindy Best. “Simply dress them in patriotic wear and take a chance at winning a prize.”

Another returning event this year will have a new theme. The Great Poland Bake Off will be themed “Chocolate.” All entries must have chocolate in them and can be submitted between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday. There will be prizes for the top three places in the age 17 and under, and the age 18 and older classes.

The Fireman’s Parade will start at 6 p.m. tonight. Last year it was held on Saturday afternoon.

The band No Funk No Justice will perform tonight at 7 p.m. on the main stage at Cortland Field.

Cindy Best said this year’s budget was set at $45,000. As of midweek, a total of $36,000 has been raised toward that goal.

“We hope to raise the rest during the event,” Best said. “It takes a lot to put on this two-day event. Our budget pays for fireworks, portable potties, a petting zoo, garbage collection, lighting rental, tents, tables and chairs.”

She said it also covers an electrician who will hook up and disconnect everything for the event. The electrician also is on-call during the event should a problem arise.

“We hope to have a little to start next year’s event,” Best said. “We also are hoping to raise $3,700 for a special project.”

She said the event could attract more vendors, but there is a shortage of available electric hookups.

The $3,700 would enable Celebrate Poland to add more electric service to the area for future events.

Celebrate Poland will try to fill the budget and raise enough for the project through selling raffle tickets and T-shirts at the event tent. A new fundraiser this year will be a drawing for a stay-cation.

“Besides our usual basket raffle, we are going to have a special drawing for a stay-cation,” Best said. “The stay-cation will feature one free night at the Poland Inn on the Green, a $100 Aqua Pazzo gift card, and breakfast at the House of Bennys.”

The tickets will be $5 and will be available at the Celebrate Poland tent.

Celebrate Poland Schedule

Friday

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Strawberry Festival, Poland Presbyterian Church

5 p.m. – 9 p.m. — Chair-ity Auctions, American Legion Hall

5 p.m. — Kids World, Cortland Field behind Village Hall

6 p.m. — Firemen’s Parade on Main Street

6 p.m. — Food Vendors, Cortland Lot behind Village Hall

6 p.m. — Basket Raffle Tickets sold at Celebrate Poland Tent

6 p.m. — Mini-Golf, Lawn of Village Hall

7 p.m. — Village Graveyard Tour, Poland Presbyterian Church

7 – 10 p.m. — Live Music by NO FUNK NO JUSTICE, Main Stage/Cortland Field

Saturday

8:30 – 10 a.m. — Registration for Chalk the Walk, Village Hall

8:30 – 11 a.m. — Chalk the Walk near Village Hall

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. –Marketplace Set-up, Front Lawn of Village Hall

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. — Kids World, Cortland Field, behind Village Hall

11 a.m. – 7 p.m. –Marketplace, Front lawn of Village Hall

Noon — Chalk the Walk winners, Poland Village Gazebo

Noon – 4 p.m. — Basket Raffle Tickets sold at Marketplace, Front lawn of Village Hall

Noon – DJ Jeff Dunn, Gazebo, Front lawn of Village Hall

12:30 p.m.– Registration for Poland Patriotic Pet Contest, Gazebo, Front lawn of Village Hall

1 p.m. — Judging of the Poland Patriotic Pet Contest Gazebo, Front lawn of Village Hall

1 p.m. — Walking Tour meets at Historical Society Tent, South Main Street

2:30 p.m. — 2:50 p.m. Great Poland Bake-Off!, Bake-Off tent, near Gazebo (age 18 and up)

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. — Great Poland Bake-Off! Bake-Off tent, near Gazebo (ages 17 and under)

3 p.m. — Great Poland Bake-Off! Bake-Off tent, near Gazebo JUDGING! All entries!

4:15 – 9 p.m. — Basket Raffle Tickets sold at Celebrate Poland Tent

5:00 – 1 p.m. — Live DJ Jeff Dunn Main Stage, Cortland Field

6 – 9 p.m. — Porgie the Funny Cortland Field

7:30 – 9 p.m. — Brittney Marie’s stilts hoops and fire, Main Stage / Cortland Field

9 p.m. — Flag Disposal American Legion Hall

9:30 p.m. — Basket Raffle Winners Main Stage/Cortland Field

4:15 – 9 p.m. — Basket Raffle Tickets sold at Celebrate Poland Tent

5:00 – 10 p.m. — Live DJ Jeff Dunn Main Stage, Cortland Field

10 p.m. — Fireworks, Baird Mitchell Field