Valentine's Bandit
A heart at the very end of Maine Wharf, 2015. Photo: Corey Templeton.
On the morning of February 14th, as the people of Portland, Maine, wake up and start their day, they are met with a joyful sight: on what seems like every window and door across downtown and throughout the Old Port, there is a piece of white paper with a large red heart.
Dating back as early as 1976, but occurring every year since 1985, the mysterious Valentine's Bandit has plastered the city with simple red hearts. Over the years, large heart banners have been added, placed at different sites every year: the Public Library, the Portland Museum of Art, One City Center, and Fort Gorges. Even the Portland Press Herald website has fallen victim to the Bandit.
This joyful act has spread beyond Portland as well, to other towns, the islands, Bangor, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
The identity of the Bandit and the team of helpers remained unknown until 2023, when Kevin Fahrman, the original Bandit, passed away. His wife and daughter put out a call for people to continue the tradition, honoring Kevin's selfless act of kindness, and they have. Though many of the hearts come down by the end of February each year, some still linger, with people holding on to a little bit of that joy. If you look, you can find the Valentine Bandit's hearts all year round.
