POLAND — Poland Heritage Day is back once again to celebrate the growing community and rich history of Poland Spring, Maine on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration, held each year on the grounds of the Poland Spring Resort & Preservation Park, is open to the public featuring free admission and parking.
“We are excited to work with Poland Spring Resort, the Town of Poland, Maine, and Poland Spring Water to continue to bring Poland Heritage Day to Poland Spring, Maine,” said Laura Brown, Director of Operations of the Poland Spring Preservation Society. “We love to share with our community, as well as those who travel here to attend, the cherished history of Poland Spring and to see families and friends come and celebrate with us for the day.”
Poland Heritage Day, our most festive community event of the year, is a family-friendly event which kicks off at the gazebo – on the lawn of the Poland Spring Resort and Preservation Park – with locals, Nora & Isla Haynes singing and signing the National Anthem followed by music from their father, Chad Haynes. Catch some high-flying spirit from tri-town cheerleaders and don’t forget to stick around to watch The Sibley & Company Band perform.
Poland Heritage Day is filled with entertainment also featuring a Cruise-In Car Show, classic fair games, a wide variety of local food vendors, raffles, guided history tours and so much more
“The Town of Poland has supported and been part of Heritage Day since inception. It is a wonderful event that brings together residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy crafts, music, history, great food, and the fantastic view from the Poland Spring Resort,” said Matthew Garside, Poland Town Manager.
Garside went on to share, “Heritage Day does have a very positive economic impact on the Town. Vendors at the event have the opportunity to sell merchandise, and visitors gain a new perspective of Poland – they see it as a place worth spending more time in.
History is a big part of the event. The Poland Spring Resort is the site of some fantastic history. Many U.S. Presidents up to and including John F. Kennedy stayed at Poland Spring Resort at some point in their lives. The Maine Golf Hall of Fame is in the Maine State Building located onsite. T
he Maine State Building was part of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, or Chicago World’s Fair, and was disassembled, brought back to Poland, and then put back together. All Souls Chapel is right across the street and the Poland Spring Bottling Museum is a short walk down the hill.
The Town is involved because it is a town-wide event. Our Parks and Recreation Department runs numerous games and other fun events, Poland Fire Rescue always offers the best food and a hug a truck, and other volunteers give willingly to help make this a fantastic event.”
New this year, Nonesuch River Brewing will provide a Beer Garden and Northeast Charters is providing trolley rides around the property Also new for 2025, our friends from the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society are holding a “Pets are Family” Adoption Event at Poland Heritage Day as we celebrate the “Year of Togo at Poland Spring
Activities
• Delicious Bites from Poland Fire Rescue Department – serving up hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill plus fried dough this year
• Live Blacksmith Demonstration – watch sparks fly
• Bounce Houses – for the young (and young at heart)
• Trolley Rides & Guided History Tours – come park on the grounds and take a trolley around the sprawling property to see it all Northeast Charter is providing trolley rides and mini-bus rides with stops at the Maine Inn front lawn, the 1893 Maine State Building, All Souls Chapel and Poland Spring Bottled Water Museum
• Classic Fair Games by the Poland Recreation Department
• Cruise-In Car Show near the All Souls Chapel – chrome and classics galore
• NAPA Auto Parts in Mechanic Falls is organizing a Cruise In from their location at 9:30 a.m. – call Bobby at NAPA Auto Parts to join the Cruise-In or just come to Poland Heritage Day and park for the day
• Over 35+ Local Craft Vendors & Non-Profits – with treasures, treats and information to share
• Poland Spring Resort will set up to sell ice cream by the cones and in dishes
• Poland Spring Preservation Society will sell ice tea & lemonade as well as root beer floats in front of the 1893 Maine State Building Don’t mist their raffle with great prizes.
• A Beer Garden by Nonesuch River Brewing
• Raffles & 50/50
This year, we’re unleashing excitement for the 100th anniversary of the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. Togo and musher Leonhard Seppala braved 271 miles of snow and ice to deliver life-saving medicine and then made Poland Spring their home To honor their legacy, the Seppala Siberian Sleddog just raced into the history books as Maine’s official State Dog.
“Mel Robbins, my husband, told me the story of Togo over 50 years ago, and he would be so proud that this year we are celebrating Togo’s legacy,” shared Cyndi Robbins, Innkeeper of Poland Spring Resort. Cyndi went on to say, “We invite you to come and learn all about Togo with a stroll through the Togo Storybook Trail, see the life size bronze Togo Statue in front of the 1893 Maine State Building and get a signed copy of The True Tails of Togo the Sled Dog”.
Don’t miss Jonathan Hayes of Poland Spring Kennels as he shares his thrilling Centennial Expedition—reliving the original serum run with a team of Togo’s great-great-grand pups, mushing over 700 snowy miles just like Seppala did a century ago.
“In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the original Serum Run – made famous by Leonhard Seppala and his legendary dogs Togo, Fritz, Balto, and Fox – Jonathan Hayes of Poland Spring Kennels will give a presentation on the Centennial Expedition he undertook this past January. Hayes and his team set out to recreate the original serum run, traveling by dog team from Nenana to Nome, Alaska a journey of over 700 miles.
“Hayes’ dogs are the registered, direct descendants of Seppala’s own, and they endured the same conditions and followed the very same route traveled a century ago by a relay of brave mushers and their sled dogs,” stated Cyndi Robbins. The presentation will take place at the All Souls Chapel at 11 a.m. with a book signing to follow.
If the story of Togo and the Seppala Siberian Sleddog – newly minted as the Official Maine State Dog – inspires you to welcome a dog or pet into your own family, come find your new friend at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society “Pets are Family” Adoption Event at Poland Heritage Day. Our friends from the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society will be on hand all day and will bring pets for adoption at Poland Heritage Day as well as have their team on site to answer questions about what they do.
Fetch a keepsake at Gini and Doug Haines’ dog photo booth ($10 per paw-trait), and browse Togo-inspired art from a local artist. Want a portrait of your own pooch? Commissions are welcome
In celebration of the “Year of Togo”, there will be a variety of vendors with pet inspired products along with the Poland Spring Preservation Society’s own Togo themed apparel such as Togo tee shirts and stuffed Togo dogs Expect find dog treats, dog collars, specialized Togo paintings and more
Poland Heritage Day is held at the Poland Spring Resort & Preservation Park to benefit Poland Spring Preservation Society and other local non-profits. Poland Heritage Day is made possible by the generous support of Poland Spring Water, the Town of Poland, Maine and Poland Spring Resort.
“We are honored to be a part of Poland Heritage Day, supporting the tradition and spirit that make Poland such a special place for so many. Celebrating our shared history with the community is deeply important to us, and we look forward to helping preserve these cherished memories for generations to come,” shared Senior Community Relations Manager, Heather Printup of Primo Brands, owner of Poland Spring Water.
There’s something for everyone, so bring your crew and join the celebration For details and vendor applications, visit Poland Heritage Day or reach out directly to Laura Brown, Director of Operations | Poland Spring Preservation Society by email at [email protected] or by phone at (207) 998-4142.
Poland Heritage Day is Sponsored by:
The Town of Poland, Maine, Poland Spring Water, and Poland Spring Resort.