Visit New England in early June and help to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of literature's most inspiring creations.

The official Pollyanna Glad Day festivities take place on Saturday 8th June in the town of Littleton, New Hampshire.  Held annually, this year's celebrations take on extra significance as they mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Eleanor H. Porter's world-famous bestseller Pollyanna.

Littleton-born Porter created a character whose very name has become synonymous with optimism, cheerfulness and community spirit ... and who is now represented by a jubilant bronze statue on the town Library's lawn. Each day, visitors and passers-by make a point of returning Pollyanna's 'welcome wave', with many also stopping to rub the statue for luck and gladness.

Visitors joining these quintessentially New England celebrations on 8th June will be able to take part in the annual welcome wave, group photo and cake-eating which has become almost a ritual in itself!  To complete the experience, why not stay at historic Thayers Inn, which boasts its own recreation of Pollyanna's bedroom?

Pollyanna of Littleton is just one of the delightful discoveries awaiting visitors in this beautiful riverside town, including a popular walking tour of the historic downtown area, a 115 year-old opera house, a decades-old independent diner and the unique shops along Main Street  -  among them Chutters, home to the world's longest candy counter!  Fine dining awaits at Bailiwicks while many visitors travel to the nearby town of Sugar Hill where Polly's Pancake Parlor prides itself as 'home of the perfect pancake'.

With its setting in the scenic White Mountains, Littleton is also the perfect base from which to discover more of New Hampshire's attractions.  Just half an hour away is the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the steepest railroad track in North America, providing spectacular views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, north into Canada and east to the Atlantic, as passengers travel to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington.  The same area is also home to one of New England's best-loved resorts, the Omni Mount Washington Resort, with a range of sports and outdoor activities available.

For more information on Pollyanna and the town of Littleton, visit www.golittleton.com/pollyanna.

Virgin Holidays has seven-night fly-drive holidays in New England departing 5 or 6 June from £620 per person, including economy class flights to Boston and car hire, bookable at www.virginholidays.co.uk. 

For further information on New England, visit www.discovernewengland.co.uk  

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Issued by the Discover New England UK Press Office.

Editor's Note:

Discover New England represents the six American states of Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont to promote international visitation. 

For more information and/or high resolution images please contact: David Ezra at KBC PR & Marketing on 01825 763636 or email david.ezra@kbc-pr.com.